Glacier Peak girls cross country ranked nationally

After winning the Class 3A state cross country title last season, the Glacier Peak girls look like the team to beat again.

The Grizzlies are ranked eighth in the nation in Marc Bloom’s Super 25 preseason rankings and No. 1 in the Northwest regional rankings. No other school from Washington is ranked in the Super 25 or in the regional rankings.

Glacier Peak returns four runners from last year’s team, including state champ Amy-Eloise Neale and third-place finisher Katie Bianchini.

Here’s a look at what Bloom, whose website says is “one of the nation’s foremost authorities on running, fitness and youth sports,” had to say about Glacier Peak:

“NXN bronze medalist and World Youth Games steepler (for Britain) Amy Eloise-Neale — also one of the nation’s top milers — -sets the pace for the state 3A victors and Northwest 3rd-placers who boast their top 4 back with plenty of strong running behind the team super-star.”