An early look at the top teams in each classification
by Jerry Ulmer, OSAAtoday
Pre-season Statewide Girls Cross-Country Coaches Polls
OSAAtoday is thrilled to present its pre-season statewide Girls Cross-Country Coaches Polls in all classifications. Thanks to all the coaches who took the time and had the expertise to contribute their opinions to this first-time endeavor.
Look for the polls at least every other week during the fall season.
6A
1. Jesuit (10), 145
2. Summit (3), 99
3. St. Mary’s Acad. (1), 95
4. Sunset (1), 82
5. Lincoln, 74
6. Wilson, 64
7. (tie) Franklin, 31
7. (tie) Sheldon, 31
9. (tie) Grant, 24
9. (tie) Tualatin, 24
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Central Catholic (16), Forest Grove (11), South Eugene (11), Sprague (8), North Medford (8), Aloha (7)
Notes: Jesuit senior Makenna Schumacher is the reigning state champion. All of Jesuit’s scorers from last year’s state-title team are eligible to return as the Crusaders seek a third consecutive championship. … Summit moves to 6A after winning the last 10 titles in 5A. Summit had five of the top six finishers in last year’s state meet, of which the only senior was champion Taylor Vandenborn.
5A
1. Hood River Valley (5), 95
2. Crescent Valley (4), 90
3. Crater (1), 73
4. Ashland, 65
5. Wilsonville, 57
6. The Dalles, 42
7. (tie) North Salem, 22
7. (tie) Churchill, 22
9. Corvallis, 20
10. West Albany, 14
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Lebanon (12), Thurston (11), La Salle Prep (11), Putnam (10), Willamette 10 (1 first-place vote)
Notes: The title is wide open with Summit, the winner of the last 10 state meets, moving on to 6A. Hood River Valley juniors Frances Dickinson, Josephine Dickinson and Lottie Bromham – who placed 10th through 12th at state – are the top runners eligible to return. Crescent Valley’s Sunitha Black was 13th as a freshman.
4A
1. Tillamook (6), 79
2. Siuslaw, 63
3. Sisters, 61
4. Marist Catholic (2), 57
5. Philomath (1), 52
6. Stayton, 34
7. La Grande, 27
8. Phoenix, 22
9. Valley Catholic, 19
10. Estacada, 18
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Marshfield (17), Astoria (14), Seaside (11), Gladstone 10 (1 first-place vote)
Notes: Tillamook has won the last two state titles. The Cheesemakers’ Solace Bergeron won the state meet as a sophomore last year. … Bergeron finished 46 seconds ahead of the next-closest runner that is eligible to return, Marshfield senior Jazmin Chavez.
3A/2A/1A
1. Union / Cove (1), 50
2. (tie) Enterprise (4), 42
2. (tie) Catlin Gabel (1), 42
4. Oregon Episcopal (1), 33
5. (tie) St. Mary’s, Medford, 30
5. (tie) Kennedy, 30
7. Bandon, 28
8. Oak Hill, 27
9. (tie) Lakeview, 21
9. (tie) Southwest Christian, 21
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Pleasant Hill (17), East Linn Christian Acad. (16), Oakridge (11); Brookings-Harbor (10; 1 first-place vote); Cascade Christian (10; 1 first-place vote)
Notes: Enterprise outscored Union/Cove 63-88 to win the title last season. Union hasn’t won a title since a three-peat from 2012 to 2014. …Catlin Gabel junior Lila Fenner (fourth) is the highest returning state placer.
