Last season marked the novel introduction of the division system, creating an even more competitive field for cross country. The 2022 season was chock-full of impressive marks both by teams and individuals which just begs the question, "What will we see this upcoming fall?". Listed below are MileSplit LA's Top 25 picks for the returning cross-country programs, based solely on our knowledge of returning runners.
| RANK | TEAM | LOSING | 2022 State Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (1,3,4) | 1st (D1) | The Blue Jays are the clear returning favorites despite losing three of their top five runners. This team is so deep and has storied success over the recent years. Just last year, they completed the first-ever perfect score at the large school state meet. From track times alone, this looks like a team with a target on its back. | |
| 2 | (5,6) | 2nd (D1) | The Crusaders lose two critical runners but stand at the number two spot. Last year, they pulled off a second-place finish at the Division I state meet and proved impressive throughout the 2022 XC season. However strong this team is the question may not be if they can snag a team championship, but if they can hold off the other teams behind them. | |
| 3 | (3,7) | 4th (D1) | The Grizzlies are looking to improve upon their fourth-place finish from last year and they probably lose the least in comparison to the rest of the teams within the top ten. This team could be a very legitimate contender for the runner-up position depending on how this season goes. We saw some really impressive times from them last year, but we'll just have to wait and see what this team can bring to the table before making any assumptions and the podium. | |
| 4 | None | 5th (D1) | Parkway is full of promise this season after not losing a single runner within their top seven. This has been a growing/rebuilding team over the years and it looks like something might just come to fruition this season. All that can be said is to not count the Panthers out because they are one of the best Division I teams to not lose any of its critical runners. | |
| 5 | (2,5) | 3rd (D1) | The Bearcats have some great potential, but they lose two of their forerunners. Ruston looks to be one of the better teams to be represented at the Division I state meet and is led by several seniors and some young talent. This team has a solid two-pronged attack with low-sticks Roller and Rogers that could change the final outcome for this team. | |
| 6 | None | 1st (D3) | Parkview Baptist might reign as the lone wolf atop Division III this year. With their dominant 27-point win from last year and conservation of their top seven, this looks like an unstoppable force and a sure pick for another team champion. As long as injury keeps its distance from this team, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where this team does not finish on top. | |
| 7 | (4,7) | 8th (D1) | Despite the Skippers losing two of their top seven, the team does not seem to flinch. If anything, this team shows one of the best promise to improve upon last year's finish of eighth place at the Division I state championship. As a primarily young team, this year may prove promising as four of their top seven return for their final year of high school cross country. | |
| 8 | (1,4,5) | 1st (D2) | Teurlings Catholic is bleeding with the loss of three of their top five runners and the question is if they can defend their state title from 2022. Surely, this team will make it interesting and not give up this coveted position easily. | |
| 9 | (5,7) | 6th (D1) | The Trojans have been an extremely young team over the past year, but now as the team matures, their prospects look promising. The team does lose two of its top seven from last year, but the potential growth for this team far outweighs the detriments. Central Lafourche may just improve upon its sixth-place finish from the Division I state championship from 2022, but just as young runners provide high potential, the variability of their growth is also unsure | |
| 10 | (2,5) | 2nd (D2) | Holy Cross breathes down the neck of Teurlings Catholic as they are in the best opportunity to challenge them for the team title. This team loses far less in comparison to the opposing Division II school and shows some promise to even be represented as one of the best teams in the state. | |
| 11 | (1,2,4) | 3rd (D3) | The Episcopal Knights will be feeling the hurt after losing three stalwart runners, but are still represented as one of the best teams within the state of Louisiana. This is a team that has, year-in and year-out. been represented among the best, and for good reason. The Knights have had historical depth in their program, so it would not be surprising if this team bounces back from this loss. | |
| 12 | None | 5th (D2) | David Thibodaux has promise with a fully returning top seven. This has been an incredibly young team with promising talent at its foundation. To say that this team has potential is an understatement. | |
| 13 | None | 12th (D1) | St. Paul's is making a comeback in comparison to their previous years. They return their entire top seven and have a strong chance to improve upon their 12th-place finish from the 2022 Division I state meet. The Wolverines have been known to produce strong talent, but the question is what will happen now the team is going to be led completely by upperclassmen. | |
| 14 | (1,3,5) | 7th (D1) | Zachary took a hard hit with the loss of three of its top five runners. It would be misleading to believe that the Broncos will have the same year as what was seen in 2022. It would be more understanding to see this as a rebuilding or redefining year for what Zachary brings to the table. This does not mean to count the team out. This team has produced very strong talent in the past and there is no doubt it will again. | |
| 15 | (7) | 20th (D1) | The Green Wave returns all but one of its members of its top seven. This team had trouble this past year at the 2022 Division I state meet, but with the growth of younger runners, this will undoubtedly change. Ponchatoula loses virtually no scoring power and it's hard to see a way that this team does not improve this upcoming season. | |
| 16 | (1,2,7) | 4th (D3) | St. Michael is hit hard with the loss of three of its top runners but is held together strong by a youthful low-stick. With the remainder of the returning runners being upperclassmen, there is no lack of direction for this team. This upcoming season may not be as illustrious as the 2022 season, but this team will certainly remain in the talk of one of the best teams in the state. | |
| 17 | (7) | 5th (D3) | Newman has been a developing team and despite the progression into the new XC season, they lose no scoring power. This is compounded by the fact that the rest of the team is still young enough to have some surprises most likely hidden away for us. | |
| 18 | (3,5,7) | 10th (D1) | Dutchtown is not in a strong position, as they lose three of their top seven. The Griffins are still comprised of an incredibly young team that has great potential to improve, it's just a question of if they are able to achieve that potential or not. | |
| 19 | None | 11th (D1) | West Monroe looks strong during this preseason review. With a strong low-stick and a young team, the ceiling for this squad is quite high. Not to mention that they don't lose a single runner from their top seven from the 2022 season. It would not be a surprise if this team slides into the top ten at the Division I state meet. | |
| 20 | (2) | 16th (D1) | Slidell narrowly put together a state meet team at the 2022 Division I state meet, but nonetheless, they remain within the top 25 for this preseason poll. This is a testament to the potential of this team, as they are mostly quite young as have plenty more room to grow. If there was a team that is underrated, this would be it. | |
| 21 | (1,3) | 2nd (D3) | University Lab's prospects are hurt after losing two of their top runners. There are still a few young runners that help pick up the slack, but the question of this team remaining on the podium in any regard is still questionable for this 2023 XC season. The Division III field will certainly smell the blood in the water and seek to capitalize on it. | |
| 22 | (4) | 13th (D1) | Barbe continues to hold onto a strong top three but is slowly losing depth on their meticulously built program. Undoubtedly, the seniors on this team will seek to make the most of their final year at the Division I state meet. If anything, this team may have the most to prove, vying for a seat at the table among the top large school competitors. | |
| 23 | (2,3,6) | 4th (D2) | Belle Chasse cannot possibly feel comfortable after the loss of three of its top seven runners. Although, they hold onto one strong low-stick and are nurturing a trio of incoming sophomores that could make a huge impact for the team this upcoming 2023 season. | |
| 24 | None | 18th (D1) | Live Oak does well to retain their runners from the 2022 season and will most likely shoot to improve upon the team's finish from last year's Division I state meet. They bring an advantage that most teams do not have the luxury of, so the question is, can this team improve at a rate greater than other teams that are replacing their missing runners? | |
| 25 | (1,4,5,6) | 1st (D4) | Episcopal of Acadiana is the only small school that makes an appearance on this list, and even more impressively so after losing four of their top seven! This is easily the greatest loss out of any team within this preseason ranking. This team has had stories of success at the level of Class B and it even continued to the newly devised Division IV. The only question that remains for this team is if they will be able to retain their title this season. | |