Chris Harlow and Devin Paredes are the two lone 6A representatives in the top seven of returning runners. Photos by Alan Versaw.
Imagine having the top seven on this list as your cross country team. And a fine cross country team it would be, too. But, if any of these guys are content to stand where they are, there's a considerable pack of chew-you-up-and-spit-you-out-the-back types running right behind them. It's not easy to project what the rankings might look like at the end of the season, or even at midseason.
It is, perhaps, stunning that only two of this year's top seven returners (at least where 5K-ish course distances are involved) come from the ranks of 6A. Look for strong leaders in 4A and 5A as well this year.
It's worth noting that, of the top seven, only Devin Paredes' time to make the list came from the Rio Rancho course. The others all ran the same course at the state meet and the times from this group were, with two exceptions, very tightly packed at ...