Boys

25. Passaic: Best race: ninth in State North 1, Group 4 sectional. Returning starters for 2026: 7 (22).

24. Glen Rock: Best race: sixth in North 1, Group 2 sectional. Returning: 6 (18).

23. Ramapo: Best race: sixth in Bergen A group meet. Returning: 4 (17).

22. Kinnelon: Best race: Won Small Schools NJAC title. Returning: 6 (11).

21. Park Ridge/Emerson: Best race: Fourth in North 1, Group 1 sectional. Returning: 5 (unranked).

20. Pascack Valley: Best race: Third in Big North National. Returning: 4 (23).

19. Fort Lee: Best race: Second in Big North American. Returning: 6 (25).

18. Ramsey: Best race: Third in North 1, Group 2 sectional. Returning: 5 (unranked).

17. Demarest: Best race: Won Bergen B title. Returning: 3 (7).

16. New Milford: Best race: second in North 1, Group 1 sectional. Returning: 6 (unranked).

15. Secaucus: Best race: Third in Hudson County Championships. Returning: 2 (15)

14. Bergen Tech: Best race: Second in Big North Liberty meet. Returning: 4 (8).

13. Dumont: Best race: Fourth in North 1 Group 2 sectional (to return to State meet for first time in 38 years. Returning: 4 (19).

12. Bogota: Best race: Won Bergen D title. Returning: 4 (6).

11. Old Tappan: Best race: Second place at Bergen B race. Returning: 3 (16).

10. Ridgewood: Unfortunately, the Maroons will remember this season most for coming up two points short of a 33rd straight appearance in the State Group 4 race in a year where they had to replace every varsity athlete. A midseason injury to Dean Ackley didn’t help but Ridgewood hopes to start a new streak next year with four returning starters (13).

9. Northern Highlands: An up and down season for the Highlanders, who looked ready to be a contender when they finished second in both the Big North Freedom and Bergen A races. Unfortunately sixth places in both BMOC and the North 1 Group 3 sectional ended their season. Mats Knutzen did make the state meet and he and five other Highlanders will return next season (10).

8. Hackensack: The good news was that Hackensack won a pair of major meets for the first time in decades in taking the Big North Freedom and Bergen A meets. The bad news was that while Mike McGinnity had the greatest individual season in Comet history, the rest of the team didn’t follow. The Comets were ninth in BMOC and 17th in State Group 4 but had a solid sectional runner-up performance. The Comets return four varsity performers next season (5).

7. Lyndhurst: A good season was expected but the Golden Bears were even better than expected and showed great consistency throughout the season. They were second in the NJIC Colonial, third in Bergen C, a stunning fifth at BMOC, easily their best finish ever, took fifth in a tough North 2, Group 2 and were 14th at States, their best finish in more than a decade. Next year could be even better as Gabriel Campos leads six returnees (9).

6. Lakeland: The Lancers have become a consistent threat in Passaic County and State sectional competition even with a head coach change from Damiano Conforti (now the school’s Principal) to Dan Burkert. Assistant coach and former Mahwah star Frank Lamberti is a constant and the Lancers keep churning out talent. They won the Big North Independence, took second at Passaic County and Group 2 sectionals and had their third top 10 finish at States in the last six years. They’ll return three varsity runners next year (12).

5. Leonia: What a year for the Lions! Another NJIC Colonial title, a close second in Bergen C, an all-time best in finishing fourth in the BMOC and a first sectional title in 46 years. The Lions finished seventh in Group 2 for their best state finish since 2010. Sectional champ Jeremy Garcia hopes to step into the sensational shoes of SMOC qualifier Calvin Daou as a leader and the Lions will return four varsity runners next year (4).

4. Indian Hills: The Braves pulled off their second straight Triple Crown by winning the Big North Patriot, Bergen C and North 1 Group 1 sectional meet for the second straight, before taking second at BMOC for the fourth time. They had an average race at the State Group 1 championship, taking fourth after being a co-favorite to win the title. All North Jersey standout Frank Coppa leads the entire returning varsity team for 2026 (2).

3. Bergen Catholic: From the first Bergen Meet of Champions in 1973 until 1990, the Crusaders won 10 of the first 18 titles. But they’ve gone winless since then and only made the top three twice before this year’s third place finish. Their fifth place finish in Non-Public A was only their fourth top five finish since 1995. But with six returning runners, a return to Bergen County and state contention may only be a year away (14).

2. Passaic Tech: A dream season for the Bulldogs, which included its first ever sectional title, its back-to-back Passaic County title in 47 years, a Big North Liberty title and a New Jersey Technical Conference title. PCTI also put three runners on first team all-Passaic and three on second team for the first time ever and Michael DeCarlo had one of the best seasons ever by a Bulldog. Passaic Tech loses a pair of great seniors, but returns five of its top seven with some youngsters looking to make the leap next year (3).

‘1. Don Bosco: From opening day to the State Meet of Champions, no North Jersey team could compare with the Ironmen. From their elite trio of Matthias Fontao, Matt Maguire and Jacob Pullen, through the middle of the line up with Blake McCarthy, Ryan Pelosi and Owen Hickey to Vincent Rodriguez and freshman Daniel Telofski in the back, Don Bosco dominated, winning a record 19th BMOC, taking ninth in the prestigious Eastern States race at Van Cortlandt Park and taking third in Non-Public A to qualify for the State Meet of Champions for the first time in nine years. Just Fontao, McCarthy and Telofski return next year (1).

Girls

25. Weehawken: Best race: Won Hudson County championship. 2026 Returning runners: 3 (12).

24. Kinnelon: Best race: 6th place North 1, Group 1. Returning runners: 7 (unranked).

23. Saddle Brook: Best race: won NJIC Meadowlands race. Returning runners: 6 (unranked).

22. Pequannock: Best race: 5th place North 1, Group 1. Returning runners: 6 (unranked).

21. Pascack Valley: Best race: 4th in Bergen B. Returning runners: 6 (24).

20. Hasbrouck Heights: Best race: 5th in North 2, Group 1. Returning runners: 4 (20).

19. Fort Lee: Best race: Won Big North American. Returning runners: 6 (unranked).

18. Glen Rock: Best race: 3rd in NJIC Colonial. Returning runners: 3 (18).

17. Rutherford: Best race: 3rd in North 2, Group 1. Returning runners: 1 (20).

16. Northern Highlands: Best race: 4th in Big North Freedom. Returning runners: 4 (10).

15. Westwood: Best race: 3rd in Bergen B. Returning runners: 5 (8).

14. Hackensack: Best race; 10th in Bergen Meet of Champions. Returning runners: 3 (17).

13. Clifton: Best race: 3rd in North 1, Group 4. Returning runners: 3 (15).

12. Passaic Tech: Best race: 2nd in North 1, Group 4. Returning runners: 4 (unranked).

11. IHA: Best race: 6th in Non-Public A. Returning runners: 7 (13).

10. Tenafly: The Tigers had a very, very good upfront trio of Makenna Wolmer, Jasmine Storr and Elia Roeca and came within six seconds of qualifying all three for the Group 3 state championships. Tenafly had excellent races in a second place finish at the Big North National and third place in Bergen B. Storr returns and has four other varsity teammates also returning in 2026 (6).

9. Ramapo: The Green Raiders had some injury problems but had a strong pack mentality that led them to a strong season in a very difficult league and county. They took second in both the Big North Freedom and Bergen A races, ran well in taking seventh at BMOC and was sixth in the Group 3 sectional, qualifying number one runner Meghan Prendergast for the state meet. But the Raiders will only return two letter winners (16).

8. Demarest: New head coach Owen Ross was placed in a difficult position having to replace a popular and successful coach whose contract was not renewed with no explanation. But the Norsewomen responded well despite a smaller than expected turnout. They took second in the Bergen B, third in Bog North National and were sixth in BMOC, and the very tough North 1, Group 2 sectional, missing the state finals by just four points. All North Jersey star Sophee Estrems leads four returnees in 2026 (5).

7. Ramsey: The Rams returned to the BMOC and State Group meet for the first time in eight years, winning the Big North Patriot, took second at Bergen C, fifth at BMOC and fourth at sectionals and finished 12th at the state meet. Kaylee Finnegan was the first Ram girl to make it to the SMOC in 16 years and she returns with four other letter winners next year (11).

6. West Milford: The trio of Ciara Clinton, Amanda Harvey and Brenna Traverso finishes as one of the greatest threesomes in Passaic County history and led the Highlanders to an excellent season including seconds in the Big North Independence and Passaic County championships, fifth in the North 1, group 2 sectionals and eighth in the State Group 2 meet, the best finish in school history. The trio graduates buut the Highlanders return three other runners (4).

5. Old Tappan: The Golden Knights were very young, with only one senior in the top seven and an outstanding freshman class. Old Tappan won both the Big North National and Bergen B meets in tight battles with Demarest, were fourth in the State Meet of Champions, fourth (and the only North Jersey state qualifier) in North 1, Group 3. With six runners returning and depth behind that group, look for them to move up next year.

4. Bogota: What an amazing season for the Bucs, with their best finish ever in the Bergen Meet of Champions (third), their best state finish since 1998 (third in Group 1) and arguably their best team ever from 1-7. Senior leaders Ana Michel and Fergie Onate-Avila came within a few seconds of qualifying for the State Meet of Champions and the Bucs scored a Triple Crown, winning the NJIC Patriot, Bergen D and North 2, Group 1. The Bucs return four varsity runners next year and have a fine junior varsity team (7).

3. Lakeland: No North Jersey team other than Ridgewood has had a better last seven years than the Lancers — four Passaic County titles, four Big North Independence crowns, five trips to the state Group 2 finals, four top 10 finishes and two sectional titles. This year was no different, highlighted by league and County wins, second at state sectionals and a fourth place finish in Group 2. With six of the top seven returning next year including one of the state’s best freshmen in Mollie Horevay, there’s no reason to think success won’t be continuing (9).

2. Leonia: The best season in school history couldn’t be marred by an injury that kept Dominique Cameron from running the SMOC and the fall that cost twin sister Daniella in the same race. Freshman Eleanor Jang was the best ninth grader in North Jersey and Sophia Jorge and Annabel Sohn made huge strides as the Lions won the NJIC Colonial and Bergen C races and won the first sectional title in school history. Leonia just missed a bid to the State Meet of Champions and finished a program high third at the State Group 2 meet. The top six runners all return next season (2).

‘1. Ridgewood: Another terrific season from the team that has dominated North Jersey cross-country for 50 years. This season is right with the best of Maroon seasons. It included a third straight Triple Crown, winning league, county group and sectional titles, a record 27th overall, (The next closest is 6 by Bogota and Ramsey), a fifth state Group 4 title, ending a six season run of runner-up finishes and a second place finish at SMOC, becoming the first New Jersey public school team to average under 19 minutes as a team. The Maroons then finished fourth in the Nike Northeast Regional with the same team that powered them all year; juniors Katherine Keating, Maeve Schoeler and Ella Recchiuti, and sophs Penelope deValence, Natalie Knowles, Hunter Witham and Abby Marino. All will be back next year along with several other talented junior varsity and freshman runners and the return of Anika Mukkitira who missed this season with injury (1).