Preseason North Jersey boys and girls cross-country rankings for 2026

This preseason ranking is based almost entirely off of last year’s sectional and state group championships and those athletes returning from last year’s team. If a team returns less than five varsity runners, estimates are based off of junior varsity and freshman results.

Freshmen and transfers from other sports are ignored unless they have excellent track results to work off. That makes the preseason top 25 not predictive in nature but a mildly educated guess.

The top 10 in each ranking has a question to be answered. How they answer them may determine what kind of a season they have.

Last year’s final rankings are in parentheses.

Boys

‘1. Bergen Catholic: The Crusaders dominated early in the history of the Bergen Meet of Champions, winning 10 of the first 18 titles through 1990. But they haven’t won since. Is this the year? (3)

2. Indian Hills: The Braves welcome back alum and former coach Pete Tuohy. Indian Hills won its only BMOC title in 2014 and last made the State Meet of Champions two years later. Is this their time to do those things again? (4)

3. Passaic Tech: The Bulldogs went back-to-back in Passaic County for the first time since 1989-90 and won the sectional for the first time ever. What can they do for an encore this year? (2)

4. Lyndhurst: Last year’s team made the Bergen Meet of Champions for the first time in 11 years and finished a record high fifth. Can they move even higher? (7)

5. Northern Highlands: The Highlanders need the back of the pack to get closer to front-runner Mats Knutzen to return to the State Group 3 championship (9)

6. Ridgewood: A team without any varsity experience came within two points of extending their state group appearance streak to 34 years. With a lot of experienced runners back this year, will they start a new streak? (10)

7. Leonia: The Lions hadn’t won a sectional since 1979 and their fourth place BMOC finish was their best ever? Can they duplicate either feat? (5)

8. Don Bosco: The reigning Bergen County champions won a record 19th title last fall and made the SMOC for the first time in nine years. Can they repeat despite losing all but three runners? (1)

9. Hackensack: The Comets lost Bergen County Runner of the Year Mike McGinnity and three other contributors to graduation after winning a first league title since 2010. Who’s going to step up this fall? (8)

10. Dumont: After winning its first league title since 1989 and making states for the first time since 1987, the Huskies look to compete with six of its top seven runners returning. Can Dumont make its first BMOC since 2002? (13)

11. Ramsey (18)

12. Ramapo (23)

13. New Milford (16)

14. Passaic (25)

15. Kinnelon (22)

16. Glen Rock (24)

17. Park Ridge/Emerson (21)

18. Lakeland (6)

19. Bergen Tech (14)

20. Wayne Hills (unranked)

21. Fort Lee (19)

22. Demarest (17)

23. Pompton Lakes (unranked)

24. West Milford (unranked)

25. Bogota (12)

Girls

‘1. Ridgewood: After one of the greatest seasons of any team in North Jersey history, the Maroon team returns intact with goals of winning Bergen County and Group 4 again and finishing at least second at SMOC. Can this Ridgewood team qualify for Nike Nationals for the second time? (1)

2. Leonia: Another outstanding team returns en masse and the Lions could give Ridgewood a run at BMOC. Leonia was third in Group 2 last year and just missed the SMOC. Could this year be the year they make it? (2)

3. Lakeland: The dominant ream in Passaic County for most of the last decade seems ready to stay at that level. Can they regain the sectional title from Leonia? (3)

4. Old Tappan: A trio of fine freshmen kept the Golden Knights in the top five a year ago. Can they propel Old Tappan back to the top of the Group 3 sectional? (5)

5. IHA: Another very young team with only one senior who appear to be growing together. Are they ready to return to contention in Non-Public A? (11)

6. Demarest: The Norsewomen return four top runners including all North Jersey star Sophee Estrems. Can freshman Alivia Chu propel them to the next level? (8)

7. Ramapo: The Green Raiders had to fight off injuries all last fall and graduated a very good class. But there’s still more hay in the barn. Can the Green Raiders qualify for their first state meet since 2022? (9)

8. Bogota: There are few teams that punch above their weight more frequently then tiny Bogota, which has won two sectional titles in five years and were third at BMOC last year. Can the Bucs keep the streak going without an individual favorite? (4)

9. Passaic Tech: The Bulldogs had a great 2025, winning their league and qualifying for states for the first time in a decade. Can they break through and win Passaic County for the first time? (12)

10. Ramsey: The Rams took their first Big North Patriot title since 2014 and made their first BMOC and state group 2 meet in eight years. Can the Rams do that again in the strongest overall sectional race in the North? (7)

11. Northern Highlands (16)

12. Fort Lee (19)

13. Hackensack (14)

14. Pascack Valley (21)

15. Westwood (15)

16. Kinnelon (24)

17. Pequannock (22)

18. Lyndhurst (unranked)

19. Hasbrouck Heights (20)

20. Glen Rock (18)

21. Tenafly (10)

22. Saddle Brook (23)

23. West Milford (6)

24. Pompton Lakes (unranked)

25. Holy Angels (unranked)