AURORA - With the first contest of the 2023 boys cross country season today, check out CHSAA's top-10 rankings for each classification. The state championship will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs.

5A Boys Cross Country
Valor Christian looks to remain atop the 5A rankings despite graduating Drew Costelow, their top runner from last season, as they still boast two of 5A’s top three returning runners from 2022. Though Centaurus is a real threat, considering they are the only program in the class with four top-55 finishers returning.

1. Valor Christian
2. Centaurus
3. Fairview
4. Rock Canyon
5. Mountain Vista
6. Cherokee Trail
7. Castle View
8. Denver East
9. Fort Collins
10. Chaparral
 
4A Boys Cross Country
Battle Mountain makes a huge leap in the 4A rankings thanks to returning two of the class’s top-three runners from 2022 and four of the past season’s 55 fastest runners. Meanwhile, Niwot looks poised to compete for a state title again, with three of the top-14 returning runners on their roster.

1. Battle Mountain
2. Niwot
3. Coronado
4. Eagle Valley
5. Durango
6. Thompson Valley
7. Cheyenne Mountain
8. Central Grand Junction
9. Severance
10. Summit
 
3A Boys Cross Country
Despite losing two of the past season’s top runners, The Classical Academy stays atop the 3A rankings. They still have the fastest returning runner and four of the 14 fastest runners in the class. Frontier could pose a threat though, with four of 2022’s 50 top finishers returning to their roster.

1. The Classical Academy
2. Frontier Academy
3. Alamosa
4. Berthoud
5. Prospect Ridge
6. Estes Park
7. Salida
8. Manitou Springs
9. Holy Family
10. Jefferson Academy
 
2A Boys Cross Country
After graduating four of their top-five runners from a season ago, St. Mary’s tumbles out of the top 10 entirely, opening the door for Golden View Classical Academy to shoot up the 2A rankings. GVCA is home to four of the 32 fastest returning runners from 2022, and with that level of depth staying put, the Sentinels look like the top team.

1. Golden View Classical Academy
2. Rocky Ford
3. Lyons
4. Wiggins 
5. Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy
6. Heritage Christian Academy
7. Strasburg
8. Peyton
9. Colorado Springs Christian
10. Thomas Maclaren Charter School