2024 Washington State Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

The first cross country meets of the 2024 season begin Sept. 11 for Wesco and Sept. 14 for the Northwest Conference.

Below is the 2024 Washington State Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, complied by Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association Vice President Phil English with input from advisory board members and meet directors. The Herald also included information regarding top local teams and returning runners.

Boys 4A

1. Issaquah

2. Kamiakin

3. Lincoln (Seattle)

4. Mount Si

5. Arlington

6. Lewis and Clark

7. Redmond

8. Curtis

9. Tahoma

10. Lake Stevens

Others: Puyallup, Jackson, Union, Camas

The Kamiak and Jackson boys teams finished fifth and 12th, respectively, at the 2023 Class 4A boys state meet. Returning for the Knights are seniors Zachary Altmyer, Cole Henriksen and junior Colin Wear. The Timberwolves return seniors Ethan Holmes, Benjamin Christiansen, Gavin Pepelnjak and junior Matthew Fairwell. For the 2024-28 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association reclassification cycle, Arlington, which placed fourth for boys and fifth for girls at the Class 3A state meet, has moved up to 4A and will now join the company of Cascade, Glacier Peak, Jackson, Kamiak, Lake Stevens and Mariner. The Eagles return seniors Lucas Spurling, Noah Bumgardner, Grady Fournier, Beau Pearson, Lucas Watts, Elijah Alexander, Brooke Henkin, Ava Jensen, juniors Raelyn Oetzel, Amelia Potong and sophomore Anabelle Klein.

Girls 4A

1. Mount Si

2. Issaquah

3. Eastlake

4. West Valley (Yakima)

5. Camas

6. Stadium

7. Tahoma

8. Kamiakin

9. Lewis and Clark

10. Olympia

Others: Skyline, Jackson, Puyallup, Wenatchee

Team information for 4A Snohomish County schools was not provided in the 2023 Class 4A girls state meet. Jackson’s Selena Bangerter finished sixth at state and returns for her senior season.

Boys 3A

1. Mercer Island

2. Mount Spokane

3. Seattle Prep

4. Central Kitsap

5. Bishop Blanchet

6. Cheney

7. Shorewood

8. Hermiston

9. Gig Harbor

10. Central Valley

Others: North Central, Lakes, Meadowdale

The Shorewood, Edmonds-Woodway, Shorecrest and Meadowdale boys teams finished fifth, 14th, 16th and 18th, respectively, at the 2023 Class 3A boys state meet. The Stormrays return seniors Otto Erhart, Alex Yee, junior Max Billett and sophomores Elijah Graves and Isaiah Schuelke. The Warriors return seniors Boden Chapek, Danny Loveless, junior Will Thompson and freshman Mason Kempf. The Scots return seniors Lewis Stotler, Jayden Heighway, Benjamin Wick, Benjamin Goenen and sophomore Ethan Urquhart. The Mavericks return seniors John Patterson, Matthew Patterson, Jackson Marti, Keyshawn Shepard, Patrick Steier and junior Landon Smith.

Girls 3A

1. Bishop Blanchet

2. Central Kitsap

3. Mercer Island

4. Gig Harbor

5. Stanwood

6. Holy Names

7. Ballard

8. Seattle Prep.

9. Inglemoor

10. White River

Others: Bellarmine Prep, Hermiston

The Stanwood, Shorecrest, Snohomish and Shorewood girls teams finished 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th, respectively, at the 2023 Class 3A girls state meet. The Spartans return seniors Olivia Barrows, Lauren Hruschka and juniors Mary Andelin, Stella Berrett and Brooke Berry. The Scots return juniors Scout Lynass, Vivienna Hakim and sophomore Rosalie Campbell. The Panthers return senior Greta Lewarne, junior Ashley Taylor and sophomores Milda McCormick and Jenna Poole. The Stormrays return senior Hanna Bruno, junior Lilah Becker and sophomores Lucy Eichelberger, Maya Mirabueno and Annika Crow.

Boys 2A

1. Sehome

2. Ellensburg

3. Bainbridge

4. Bellingham

5. Anacortes

6. Franklin Pierce

7. Ridgefield

8. Nathan Hale

9. Columbia River

10. Olympic

Others: Fife, Hockinson, West Valley – Spokane

Girls 2A

1. Sehome

2. Anacortes

3. Bellingham

4. Ellensburg

5. Bainbridge

6. West Valley – Spokane

7. Squalicum

8. Cedarcrest

9. Selah

10. East Valley – Spokane

Others: Pullman, Burlington-Edison, Hockinson

Boys 1A

1. Cedar Park Christian (Bothell)

2. Bush

3. Meridian

4. South Whidbey

5. Lakeside (Nine Mile)

6. La Center

7. King’s

8. Medical Lake

9. Lynden Christian

10. Colville

Others: Montesano, Klahowya, Mount Baker

Team information for 1A Snohomish County schools was not provided in the 2023 Class 1A boys state meet. King’s’ Staser Simpson finished 10th at state and returns for his senior season.

Girls 1A

1. Lakeside (Nine Mile)

2. Cedar Park Christian (Bothell)

3. Medical Lake

4. King’s

5. Meridian

6. Bear Creek

7. Cascade (Leavenworth)

8. Royal

9. Montesano

10. Naches Valley

The King’s girls team finished third at the 2023 Class 1A girls state meet. The Knights return seniors Sophia Inglin, Madelyn Biederman and sophomores Lauren Belden, Alma Decker and Molly Kyler. Belden and Inglin placed fourth and ninth, respectively.

Boys 1B/2B

1. Valley Christian

2. Okanogan

3. Pope John Paul II

4. Garfield-Palouse

5. Chewelah

6. Coupeville

7. Mount Vernon Christian

8. Cle Elum/Roslyn

9. Davenport

10. Brewster

Girls 1B/2B