By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Individual Boys Early Season Top 100 Rankings

The high school cross country season is in full swing, and results are starting to show who are the top individual racers are across the United States.

Here is the individual boys early season top 100 rankings list after some recent results:

1. Caden Leonard, senior, Southlake Carroll TX - No appearances yet from the future North Carolina Tar Heel but the top returner from Nike Cross Nationals remains atop the rankings.

2. Marcelo Mantecon, junior, Belen Jesuit FL - Two wins at Cecil Field Summer Classic and Florida Horse Park Invitational is the start a national title contender likes to see. Has first real test at Great American XC Festival in less than three weeks.

3. Jackson Spencer, senior, Herriman UT - Spencer dials in early with two wins at UIAA Invitational and Timpanogos Invitational, leading him to his first big test at Woodbridge on Sept. 20, where he finished sixth last year in the sweepstakes race.

4. Oliver Horton, junior, Coronado CO - A big statement win at Arapahoe Warrior XC Invitational in Colorado elevates Horton into the top five.

5. Sean Fries, senior, Minnetonka MN - Fries impressed in his two wins at the St. Olaf Showcase and Augustana Twilight XC Meet, proving he's a top five runner in the country.

6. Noah Bontrager, senior, Westview IN - Won comfortably by 26 seconds at the Marion Invitational, running 14:33, the second-fastest recorded 5k cross country time in Indiana state history.

7. Quentin Nauman, senior, Epworth Western Dubuque IA - Nation's top miler ran away from the field at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational by 25 seconds.

8. Benjamin Adams, junior, Mountain Vista CO - Opened season with 9:34 two-mile at home invitational and gets first test at 5k distance at Liberty Bell Invitational on Saturday.

9. Philip Cupial, senior, Downers Grove (North) IL - Ran 14:58.4 for win at Mike Kuharic Cross Country Invitational a year after winning the same race but running 15:31.6

10. Grady Lenn, senior, De Pere WI - Won third consecutive De Pere Invite title by 45 seconds to begin another hopeful big season in the Heartland region.

11. Paul Van Laningham, senior, Cooper KY - Led Cooper to team win at Moeller Primetime Invitational with his individual win.

12. Yohanes Van Meerten, junior, Flagstaff AZ - Rising star in Van Meerten kicks off his fall with wo wins at Peaks Invitational and Western Equinox Invitational.

13. Malachi Schoenherr, senior, Sheldon OR - Shattered course record at Marist Invitational by 52 seconds, proving this senior season is going to be a big bounce-back year.

14. Asher Oates, senior, Independence TN - Opened season with win at Brooks High School Tennesse River Classic.

15. Hunter Robbie, senior, Niwot CO - Put together a solid season opener to help guide Niwot to a team win at Centauras Bernie Gay XC Invitational.

16. Alex Fisher, senior, Loomis Chaffee CT - 20th at Nike Cross Nationals; Second at NXR Northeast; Runner-up at New England Preparatory School Division 1 Championships.

17. Kellen Williams, senior, Jesuit OR - Season opener in under two weeks at The Mook Invitational, where he finished ninth last year.

18. Conor Lott, senior, Clovis North CA - Captured a second consecutive Lowell Invitational Varsity 2 title to begin senior campaign. 

19. Aiden Le Roux, senior, Cheyenne Mountain CO - Finished second to Dylan Blair at Cheyenne Mountain Stampede. 

20. Mikah Peters, senior, Brandon Valley SD - Finished second to Sean Fries in two competitive races at St. Olaf Showcase and Augustana Twilight Meet, making a couple of cases to be a rising star in the Heartland region.

21. Ethan Locke, senior, Valor Prep TX - Locke's 14:05.06 5k on the track at Nike Outdoor Nationals last summer is just the start of a breakout senior season.

22. Rocco Culpepper, senior, Niwot CO - Culpepper's 4:03.80 mile last track season is a strong indicator he's getting back into form.

23. Daniel Skandera, senior, Alabama - 2023 RunningLane Cross Country champion has no recorded races from the 2024 cross country season. However, Skandera did run a two-mile in 8:48.09 last indoor season.

24. Noah Strohman, senior, Holliday TX - Opened the season with a big win over sophomore star Ruel Newberry at the Southlake Carroll Invitational.

25. Landon Kimmel, senior, Tippecanoe OH - Ran his best season opener of his high school career, winning the Saturday Night Lights XC Race in 15:11.8.

26. Quinn Sullivan, junior, Niwot CO - Niwot's third runner at Centaurus Bernie Gay Invitational, finishing sixth overall.

27. Nathan Lee, senior, Brunswick CT - 15th at RunningLane Cross Country Championships, 32nd at Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

28. Ruel Newberry, sophomore, Denton Guyer TX - Opened season with win at Marcus Coach T Invitational but finished second to Strohman at Southlake Carroll Invitational.

29. Dylan Blair, senior, Eagle Valley CO - Caught a ton of attention when he beat Aiden Le Roux at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede meet.

30. Luke Hnatt, senior, Christian Brothers NJ - 49th at Nike Cross Nationals; Eighth at NXR Northeast.

31. Andrew Beroset, junior, McCallie TN - Returned to his hometown of Pensacola, Fla., in style by winning the Gulf Coast Stampede in a new course time of 15:19.

32. Carson Driemier, junior, Festus MO - Fourth at RunningLane Cross Country Championships; Eighth at NXR Midwest; Missouri Class 4 cross country state champion

33. Griffin Mazeski, senior, Valor Christian CO - Seventh at RunningLane Cross Country Championships, 34th at NXR Southwest. 

34. Austin Plewe, senior, American Fork UT - 54th at Nike Cross Nationals.

35. Malachi Burnett, senior, Creekview GA - Georgia 5A cross country state champion won Grizzly Run in season opener.

36. Evan Dann, sophomore, Castle View CO - Top-returning freshman from NXR Southwest.

37. Marshall Vernon, senior, LaSalle Academy RI - Rhode Island state champion won season opener at RITCA Injury Fund Carnival by 80 seconds.

38. Ryder Keeton, senior, Niwot CO - Colorado 4A 3,200 meters state champion; 11th in 3,000 at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

39. Ryan Sykes, junior, Horace Greeley NY - Defending New York Federation champion.

40. Kai McCullough, senior, Austin Vandegrift TX - Second to Ruel Newberry at Marcus Coach T Invitational to begin season.

41. Isaac Benjamin, senior, South Kitsap WA - Runner-up at Washington 4A cross country state meet; 15th at NXR Northwest.

42. Caleb Ten Pas, senior, Des Moines Christian IA - Another strong Iowan miler who ran 4:03.01 as a junior last spring.

43. Owen Clemons, senior, Cleveland TN - 12th at Foot Locker South; 6th at Tennessee D1-AAA cross country state meet.

44. Calvin Seitz, junior, Jasper IN - 5th in 5,000 at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

45. Gabriel Marshall, senior, Niwot CO - 35th at Nike Cross Nationals; eighth at Colorado 5A cross country state meet.

46. Kavi Gibson, senior, Cary Academy NC - North Carolina 4A runner-up earned two wins at Cary Academy XC Alumni Meet and Friday Night Lights XC Festival to begin season.

47. Isaac Abbott, senior, Jesuit CA - Won Soiree at SWRA race after getting the season started with a couple of rust-busting races at Meeting of the Marauders and Oakmont Invitational. Finished 53rd at Nike Cross Nationals.

48. Gavin Schmitt, junior, Christian Brother NJ - 45th at Nike Cross Nationals; 15h at NXR Northeast; Seventh at New Jersey Meet of Champions.

49. Canaan Dunham, senior, Pella IA - Second to Quentin Nauman at Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational. Iowa 3A cross country state runner-up; Sixth at NXR Heartland.

50. Aaron Brodrick, senior, Oconee County GA - Four races, four wins under Brodrick's belt this season. Georgia 3A state cross country runner-up. 

51. Jaden Merrick, senior, Cedar Falls IA - Won Linn-Mar Invitational for third consecutive year. Two-time Iowa 4A cross country state runner-up.

52. Thomas Isenovski, senior, Saratoga Springs NY - 50th at Nike Cross Nationals; Runner-up at New York Federation Championships.

53. Carter Smith, senior Mifflin County PA - Won his ninth consecutive cross country race, dating back to last season, at Big Valley Meet to begin senior season. Pennsylvania 3A cross country state champion.

54. Sean Gray, senior, Portsmouth RI - 63rd at Nike Cross Nationals; Sixth at NXR Northeast; Runner-up at Rhode Island cross country state meet.

55. Edward Stout, senior, Taylorsville UT - 64th at Nike Cross Nationals; 25th at NXR Southwest; Runner-up at Utah 5A cross country state meet.

56. Collin Goodwin, junior Austin Vandegrift TX - 73rd at Nike Cross Nationals; 18th at NXR South.

57. Wyatt Carr, junior, Coeur d'Alene ID - Won Timberlake Farragut Invitational in season debut. 93rd at Nike Cross Nationals; 17th at NXR Northwest; Sixth at Idaho 6A cross country state meet.

58. Jameson Pifer Jr., senior, Collins Hill GA - Ran 4:07.47 mile in the spring. Georgia 6A 1,600 state champion, second in 3,200.

59. Aidan Antonio, junior, Woodbridge CA - Won first two races at The Bridge XC Challenge and Dana Hills Invitational. 12th at the California Division 2 cross country state meet.

60. Maximo Zavaleta, senior, Martin Luther King CA - Won season opener at PR City Invitational. Fourth at California Division 1 cross country state meet.

61. Griffin Saacke, senior, Bridgeland TX - Won season opener at Strake Jesuit Crusaders Invitational. Ninth at NXR Southwest.

62. Lucas Tanner, senior, DeForest WI - Won two races in three-day span to begin senior season. Seventh at Wisconsin D1 cross country state meet.

63. Wyatt Dann, sophomore, Castle View CO - Second-fastest freshman in NXR Southwest last fall. Twin brother of Evan Dann.

64. Theo Oppermann, junior, State College Area PA - Second to Carter Smith at Big Valley Meet. 44th at Nike Cross Nationals; 11th at NXR Northeast; Fifth at Pennsylvania 3A cross country state meet.

65. Matthew Dodds, senior IMG Academy FL - Won season opener at IMGA XC Summit Challenge. 12th in mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

66. Daniel Enriquez, Kapaun Mount Carmel KS - Won season opener at Wichita State JK Gold Classic. Won three Kansas 5A state titles in 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

67. Kuma Gutema, sophomore, Sioux City North IA - Finished third to Sean Fries and Mikah Peters by a combined eight seconds at Augustana Twilight XC Meet. Seventh at Iowa 4A cross country state meet.

68. Kamari Ronfeldt, junior, Ann Arbor Pioneer MI - Won first two races at Milford Invitational and SEC High School Jamboree. 11th at NXR Midwest; Michigan Meet of Champions champion. 

69. Kai Gutierrez, sophomore, Southlake Carroll TX - 55th at Nike Cross Nationals.

70. Nicholas Mazzeo, senior, Lower Merion PA - Won opener at Central Athletic League Meet. 10th at NXR Northeast; Second at Pennsylvania 3A cross country state meet.

71. Marshall McConville, senior, Baylor TN - Second to Andrew Beroset at Gulf Coast Stampede.

72. Noel Huato, senior, Del Oro CA - Won season opener at Scary Dary Invite. AAU Cross Country Nationals champion. 

73. Ashenafi McKinnis, sophomore, North Eugene OR - Won 3,000 race in first race of the season, then finished second to Malachi Schoenherr at Marist Invite. 11th at Oregon 5A cross country state meet.

74. Luke Bradbury, junior, State College Area PA - Finished third at Big Valley Meet as season opener. 85th at Nike Cross Nationals.

75. Kyle Jakary, senior, Jesuit CA - Finished third at Meeting of Marauders and second at Oakmont Invitational to begin season. 80th at Nike Cross Nationals; 11th at California Division 2 cross country state meet.

76. Miles Lechtenberg, senior, Sioux Falls Lincoln SD - Won Mack Butler Invitational in season opener, fourth at Augustana Twilight Meet. 13th at South Dakota AA cross country state meet.

77. Dylan Rowell, senior, Anacortes WA - 18th at NXR Northwest; Washington 2A cross country state champion. 

78. Ty Cirino, senior, Central OR - Finished second in 3,000 race to Ashenafi McKinnis in season opener. 29th at NXR Northwest; Fourth at Oregon 5A cross country state meet.

79. Kian Compton, junior, Eisenhower WA - 13th at NXR Northwest; Third in steeplechase at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

80. Hunter Hannah, senior, Matilda Torres CA - Second at Fleet Feet Summer Sizzle in season opener. Ninth at California Division 2 cross country state meet.

81. Drake Hoferer, senior, Jesuit CA - Second at Meeting of Marauders and third at Oakmont Invitational in first two races of season. 95th at Nike Cross Nationals; Seventh at California Division 2 cross country state meet. 

82. Benjamin Fernandez, senior, Matilda Torres CA - Third at Fleet Feet Summer Sizzle in first race of season. Sixth at California Division 2 cross country state meet.

83. Symond Martin, senior, Page AZ - Second at Peaks Invitational to Yohanes Van Meerten in season-opening race. Second at Arizona cross country state meet.

84. Keegan Decker, junior, Iowa City Liberty IA - Won season opener at Trojan Early Bird. 19th at NXR Heartland; Third at Iowa 4A cross country state meet.

85. Ibrahim Ford, senior, Arkport NY - Eighth at New York Federation Championship; Runner-up at New York Class D cross country state meet.

86. Mick Temple, senior, Pickerington North OH - Won first race of season at Wooster Invitational. 

87. Xavier Richardson, senior, Lafayette KY - Won first two races at Run for the Gold and Lafayette/Trinity Dual. 30th at NXR Southeast; Sixth at Kentucky 3A cross country state meet.

88. Jasper Smith, senior, North Oldham KY - 20th at NXR Southeast; Fifth at Kentucky 3A cross country state meet.

89. Clay Stevens, senior, Manalapan NJ - 18th at NXR Northeast; Second at New Jersey Meet of Champions.

90. Brady Monahan, senior, Jesuit LA - 11th at NXR South; Second at Louisiana D1 cross country state meet.

91. Connor Bilodeau, junior, Jesuit CA - Won first race with new school at Meeting of Marauders after transferring from Granite Bay CA; 28th at California Division 2 cross country state meet.

92. Jacob Mitchell, senior, Bloomington North IN - Third at THS Valley Kickoff and first at Rick Weinheimer to begin season. Fifth at Indiana cross country state meet.

93. Bodie Thomas, senior, Mercer Island WA - Won season opener at KingCo League meet. 21st at NXR Northwest; Fifth at Washington 3A cross country state meet.

94. Sullivan Sturtz, senior, Keene NH - Fourth at New England Interscholastic Cross Country Championships; Second at New Hampshire Meet of Champions. 

95. Owen Conley, senior, Colonie Central NY - 16th at New York Federation Championship; Second at New York Class A cross country state meet.

96. Carter Zieren, junior, Evansville F.J. Reitz IN - Second in both Run for the Gold and Rick Weinheimer races to begin season. 

97. Maxwell Friedrich, senior, St. Ignatius OH - Second at Wooster Invitational in season debut. Ohio D1 3,200 state champion.

98. Kobey Yates, senior, Marshall County KY - Third at Run for the Gold to Xavier Richardson and Carter Zieren. 10th at Kentucky 3A state cross country meet.

99. Alex Bland, senior, Flagstaff AZ - Third at Peak Invitational and second at Western Equinox Invite. Arizona Division 2 state cross country champion.

100. Jace Deledonne, senior, Poly (Riverside) CA - Won ASICS Cool Breeze Invitational title in first race of season.