The Dolphins have five rising juniors back from the squad that finished 5th in Division 1 last year, and they had a very good track season.
The underrated Mavericks need to develop depth, but they have been particularly good at that lately.
Depth is a concern for the Wolves, but their returning front 5 is as good as just about anyone, and they got even better during track season.
There are a lot of reasons to count out the Wildcats this season, but their track record says you shouldn't.
The pieces are all there for the Diamondbacks to be top 10 in a loaded Division 2, but things did not come together for a squad that had 3 freshmen in the top 7 in 2016.
Depth is the currency for the Comanches, who will surprise some folks if they stay healthy in 2017.
Lauren Kearney and her Dragon teammates are not your typical Division 4 team - this is a squad that can run with nearly anyone in California.
With seven returners, strong track times, a solid record of improvement, and a serious case of unfinished business, the Sea Kings boys are on the rise.
A young Musketeer team finished 9th in D3 last year without their superstar of the year before, which shows progress - and we expect more this fall.
The Jackrabbits made serious strides in the spring, and with all 7 runners returning they have a legitimate chance to advance from the Southern Section Division 1 race.
The Mustangs have unfinished business lingering from their 2016 state meet appearance, and could rise all the way to the top 5 in 2017.
Matt Strangio is arguably the nation's top freshman distance runner, he is healthy again, and he has a young Marauders team around him with enormous potential.
With two returning front-runners and demonstrated improvement during track season, the Cougars will be a force to reckon with in Division 3 this fall.
What puts the Broncos ahead of some of the other top SJS teams? An intact returning top 5, and a propensity for bringing their best when the stakes are highest.
Can a team bounce back from the loss of a star? In the case of the Chargers, the answer appears to be yes - and there might be a new star in the making.
Coming off a year with no state meet appearance, the Cougars have their eyes fixed on returning to the top of the Central Section
The Mustangs might use different tactics with their front-runner graduated, but this team has plenty of talent back for a run at the D2 podium.
Samuel Boone will be a force individually, and with 6 of 7 runners returning from the 2016 state meet this could be a big year for the whole Sundevils team.
The Sea Kings have a great program, but the loss of 4 seniors from their championship squad is a major challenge for any team.
Can a team that didn't make the state meet in 2016 move all the way into the top 10 in Division 1 in 2017? The Lions' 6 returning seniors certainly hope so.
Coming off three straight top-2 finishes in Division 4, the Lancers have proven to be a recurring power, but 2017 will present some challenges.
We already know Colby Corcoran is ready for the big time, but this year he has a chance to bring his team to the podium with him.
The Wildcats had their best race of the 2016 season one week too early and fell short of the state meet, but with their top 6 returning they can make the leap in 2017.
Graduation hit the Bobcats hard, but times from track season are an encouraging sign.
The Lions won the D4 title in 2012, and have two third-place finishes since then. Is this the year that Nadia Tabrizi and company get back on top?
The Division 4 champs took a big hit to graduation, but recent history says they will still be in the mix for a repeat title.
Lila Copeland could be the next Dolphin to reach star status, and she could elevate her team into the top12 in Division 1.
The only thing keeping the Phantoms out of the top 20 is a data error that prevented us from calculating an Improvement Rating for them, but this team has all the marks of a D3 contender.
With three consecutive titles under their belt and an intimidating track record of year-to-year improvement, the Rebels are the closest thing to a sure bet among all 5 girls' divisions.
The various statistical measures we use to evaluate teams in the preseason all agree: the Panthers are the clear favorite in the Northern Section.