Vermont XC running: Coaches' Week 2 power rankings

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Races make their way down the course during the Essex Invitational cross country meet at the Essex Tree Farm on Saturday afternoon August 31, 2019 in Essex, Vermont.

Here's the latest coaches' power rankings for Vermont high school cross-country running.

Editor's note: The full rankings can be found at

This week's rankings:

Boys Overall Top 10

1. Essex

2. U-32

3. CVU

4. BFA-St .Albans

5. Burlington

6. South Burlington

7. Middlebury

8. Colchester

9. Mount Mansfield

10. St. Johnsbury

Coaches' comments: 2019 begins just as 2018 ended with the No. 1 Essex boys firmly in place at the top of the statewide rankings. In a race containing many of the best returning Vermont runners, Essex used a dominant (30 seconds over the field) performance by Henry Farrington to establish themselves as the team to beat. The Hornets beat second place U-32 and third place CVU 50 to 85, with the Raiders and Redhawks tied on points and having to go to the 6th runner tie breaker. As CVU coach Scott Bliss commented afterward, the race provided a good “teachable moment for both (CVU and U-32) teams”. 

With limited race data, especially from the southern half of the state, and most teams still in training mode, these early rankings are subject to big changes in the coming weeks. Look for the Manchester (N.H.) Invitational on Sept. 21 to offer the next opportunity to gain some clarity with most Green Mountain teams making the cross-border trip to mix it up with many of the region’s best teams and individuals.

Division I Boys Top 5

1. Essex

2. CVU

3. BFA-St Albans

4. Burlington

5. South Burlington

Division II Boys Top 5

1. U-32

2. Middlebury

3. Woodstock

4. Spaulding

5. Vergennes

Division III Boys Top 5

1. Peoples

2. Stowe

3. Lake Region

4. Thetford

5. Rice

Girls Overall Top 10

1. CVU

2. Essex

3. Burlington

4. Harwood

5. U-32

6. Bellows Falls

7. St. Johnsbury

8. BFA-St Albans

9. Middlebury

10. South Burlington

Coaches' comments: CVU remains No. 1 after a strong race in New York this past weekend. Their team averages have been better so far from the same time last year and their top 3 may be stronger than a year ago. Essex and Burlington could both easily be No. 2 and there are arguments for each one to be in that spot. This week Essex stays at two even after Burlington beating them at the Burlington Invitational. Both teams look strong and will be challenging to move higher in the rankings. 

Division I Girls Top 5

1. CVU

2. Essex

3. Burlington

4. St. Johnsbury

5. BFA-St. Albans

Division II Girls Top 5

1. Harwood

2. U32

3. Middlebury

4 Missisquoi

5. Woodstock

Division III Girls Top 5

1. Bellows Falls

2. Rice

3. Northfield

4. BFA-Fairfax

5. Lake Region

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