While most of the top teams in the country won their weekend meets outright, or didn't compete, a few changes are made to this week's top ten rankings. Three boys teams move out, while Loyola (CA), Naperville North (IL) and Brookline (MA) move in. On the girls side, Saugus (CA) moves up a spot after an impressive Clovis Invitational performance.
MileSplit's National Team Power Rankings (Oct. 9)
Boys
1. Albuquerque Academy (NM) - An easy win at the Albuquerque City Championships keeps the Red Army on top.
2. Ventura (CA) - Running without the majority of their varsity at the Clovis Invitational, Ventura keeps the #2 spot.
3. Danbury (CT) - Staying healthy and getting stronger are two things all great teams need to do this time of year.
4. Neuqua Valley (IL) - A huge win at the Sterling Invitational, with frontrunner Chris Derrick setting another course record, keeps Neuqua Valley rolling.
5. North Central (WA) - Beat Washington ranked Mead and Central Valley once again, placing their top five in the top 25.
6. Wheat Ridge (CO) - A consistent push as the top Colorado team, Wheat Ridge is strong.
7. Crater (OR) - They did not run their varsity at the PUMA Classic, resting for bigger meets ahead.
8. Brookline (MA) - They run strong and seem to only be getting stronger.
9. Loyola (CA) - Loyola may be the only team that can challenge Ventura in the state of California.
10. Naperville North (IL) - An impressive performance two weeks ago versus Neuqua Valley, North lost 40-50, with two of their top runners quickly coming back from injuries.
Girls
1. Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) - Idle this past weekend, F-M tests how good they really are this coming weekend at the Manhattan Invitational. They face ten or so teams that are very, very good.
2. Eldorado (NM) - Eldorado easily won the Albuquerque City Championships, keying off of their top runners once again.
3. Midlothian (VA) - The biggest test of the year is coming. US #3 takes on US #1 at the Manhattan Invitational.
4. Saugus (CA) - Running the fastest team time of the day at the Clovis Invitational, which included US #6 Carondelet (CA), and doing so without a full squad, Saugus moves up a spot.
5. Burnt-Hills (NY) - With Saugus' great performance at Clovis, B-H drops one spot to #5 off an idle weekend.
6. Carondelet (CA) - One of the all-time best team performances at the Clovis Invitational, Carondelet shows no signs of slowing down this year.
7. Mountain Brook (AL) - An idle weekend rests up the team for Great American.
8. Westfield (IN) - The state series in Indiana starts this week. With Sectionals on Tuesday and Regionals on Saturday, Westfield's week is a busy one.
9. Hanover (NH) - Cancelled their weekend meet. They have a shot against US #1 F-M and US #3 Midlothian at the Manhattan Invitational this weekend.
10. Yankton (SD) - Easily won their conference meet. Won by placing their top five in the top six.
