#2 Governor Mifflin Mustangs: Last year place 8th – Top returning athlete Melissa Sweigart, senior, 7th place.

Governor Mifflin follows a very similar path to victory as Dallastown. They have a very strong top four, along with a fifth runner who could be the difference-maker in winning a team title. Not only are they similar in that way, Governor Mifflin also returns all seven runners from last season’s District Championships. Melissa Sweigart was the only individual medalist for the Mustangs last season, but Governor Mifflin hopes to add three more names to that list this season. Junior Allie Darrenkamp is projected in the top 15, Molly Orndorf is projected in the top 20, and Emma Walsh is projected just outside the top 25 but could make a push for the top 20 this season. Governor Mifflin also gets some support from incoming freshman talent, with Remy Laino as their fifth projected runner. Laino could provide the spark Governor Mifflin needs to challenge Dallastown for the team title.

#3 Northern York Polar Bears: Last year place 15th – Top returning athlete Cadence Chizmar, senior, 53rd place.

Northern York leads a group of 12 teams that have a chance of making it to the State Championship as a team, with 11 teams projected within 106 points of the Polar Bears. Like the two teams projected ahead of them, Northern York is returning all seven runners from their 2025 District Championship roster. Where Northern York is strongest is their depth. They do not have anyone projected in the top 20, but both Lily Hayes and Cadence Chizmar are projected in the top 30, with freshman Luella Barlup projected in the top 45 to provide the depth that could propel the Polar Bears to a team state-qualifying score this season. Cora Swogger and Hailey Ramsey round out the projected top five for Northern York in 2026, as they are projected to finish 12 spots higher than their 2025 finish.

#4 South Western Mustangs: Last season place 13th – Top returning athlete Lyla Eltz, junior, 4th place.

South Western is projected to finish next among the tightly packed group, only seven points behind Northern York but three points ahead of Hempfield for the final team state-qualifying spot. The Mustangs stop the trend of teams returning all seven runners from the previous District Championship, as they graduated their seventh runner from last season. The good news for South Western is that they have a threat to win the individual title in Lyla Eltz, who finished fourth last season. Keira Peake is projected to finish just outside of an individual medal, but anything can change at this level when the time comes, providing the Mustangs with a strong 1-2 duo. South Western also has two freshmen in their top five, with their third projected runner, Sophia Mort, alongside Zoe Gelsinger as their fifth projected finisher. Ashlyn Peake is in between the two rising freshmen and will continue to provide strong depth for the Mustangs.

#5 Hempfield Black Knights: Last year place 20th – Top returning athlete Claire Sahd, junior, 55th place.

Hempfield is another team we expect to make a big jump in the team rankings compared to their finish at the 2025 District Championships, with big help from rising freshman Abigail Buckbee, who was our top-ranked freshman in the Class of 2030 in the district. Hempfield is projected to have a very closely bunched pack from their 2-5 runners, with Claire Sahd leading the pack and another returner, Giuliana Houseman, closely following. The next two projected runners for the Black Knights are also incoming freshmen, with Sienna Houseman and Emily Davies. Hempfield finished as the runner-up at the Iron Bridge Invitational (LL League Middle School Championships) and did not have Davies there to compete, which most likely would have boosted the Black Knights to a team title. Hempfield is only projected seven points from the third place projected team and three points from the fourth projected team, but they lack the experience the other two teams hold in front of them.

#6 Chambersburg Trojans: Last year place 6th – Top returning athlete Natalie Quinn, senior, 16th place.

Chambersburg just missed qualifying for the State Championship as a team last season, scoring two more points than Carlisle, and find themselves in a similar situation this season. Only four teams make it to the State Championship on the girls side this season, and the Trojans will make another push in 2026 to try to bounce back after just missing last season. Senior Natalie Quinn is projected to be the top runner for Chambersburg, and she is projected to finish around the top five in the district this season. Chambersburg returns their 3-7 runners from their team last season, with sophomore Lillian Spohn being the second projected runner. She finished 56th last season for the Trojans but has a chance to earn her first individual district cross country medal this fall. Kaylie Savage finished 85th last season and is their projected third runner. Arabella Rife finished just 15 seconds behind Savage and is the fourth projected runner, while Maggie Holtry was 11 seconds behind Rife and is the fifth projected runner. Isabel Clark was the seventh runner for Chambersburg last season and is the sixth projected runner this season. Freshman Braelyn Wenger is expected to be a top-seven runner this season for the Trojans, providing even more depth to an already strong team.

#7 Lower Dauphin Falcons: Last year place 19th – Top returning athlete Ella Neide, senior, 40th place.

Lower Dauphin is expecting a big rise from their team finish in 2025, returning their top six from their roster last season. Senior Ella Neide is the projected No. 1 finisher on the team and is projected just outside the top 20, but has the capability of finishing in the top 20. Lorelei Hoffer finished 58th last season, 18 spots behind Neide, and is projected to be their second runner for the second straight year. The Falcons are looking to incoming freshman talent Emmalyn McCarthy to improve their score significantly this season, as she was our ninth-ranked incoming freshman this season. Lower Dauphin’s top five is rounded out by Samantha Imundo and Nina Francis, who are both projected in the top 100 this season after they finished 149th and 124th last season, respectively.

#8 Cedar Cliff Colts: Last season place NTF – Top returning athlete Ruth Gorecki, junior, 98th place.

Cedar Cliff is expected to have arguably the most impactful Class of 2030 among the district, as five of their projected top seven are incoming freshmen. Cedar Cliff did not have a scoring team last season and even lost their top finisher from last season, but they do return two runners from their 2025 championship lineup in Ruth Gorecki and Alexa Miller. Incoming freshman Jacqueline Cline is the top projected runner for the Colts this season, as she finished with a time of 11:58 at last season’s Ben Bloser Invitational. Cline could be on the lookout for an individual district medal in her first season. Kyra Miller is another freshman looking to make an impact for Cedar Cliff, ranked in the preseason top 75. Lyla Skelly, Madeline Keller, and Madeline Biesecker are all projected to finish around the same time, as all three runners were interchangeable at meets last season. Cedar Cliff has a very bright future ahead of them, and it starts in 2026.

#9 JP McCaskey Red Tornadoes: Last year place 12th – Top returning athlete Ruby Garner-Valle, senior, 3rd place.

JP McCaskey comes into the 2026 season only one projected point behind Cedar Cliff and 84 points behind our preseason third-ranked team (Northern York), opening up the district to so many possibilities this season and making it one of the most competitive team-scoring seasons ever. McCaskey has a very talented top three and one of the best top duos in the district with senior Ruby Garner-Valle and junior Carolynn Main. Both runners are serious threats to run times that could put them in contention for the district title or land them in the top five. The Red Tornadoes’ third runner is mainly a track star but gets the job done in cross country as well. Vivian Salerno is also a junior for JP McCaskey and has arguably the most momentum coming off the spring track season of anyone in the state, making her one of the athletes to watch as she looks to crush her original preseason ranking come October.

#10 Elizabethtown Bears: Last year place 21st – Top returning athlete Gabriella Grifone, junior, 9th place.

Elizabethtown, like many of the other teams in front of them, is expected to make a big leap in the team scores this upcoming season. Elizabethtown is projected one point behind JP McCaskey, two points behind Cedar Cliff, and 85 points behind third-place Northern York. The Bears return all of their top five runners from their 21st-place roster last season and bring in two incoming freshmen who boost their projected score significantly. Gabbie Grifone is projected to be their top runner once again in 2026, coming off a top-10 finish in 2025, and can be seen in the top three this season. Mackenzie Shubert was 57th last season and comes in as the second projected runner for Elizabethtown in 2026, with incoming freshman Alyssa Grifone projected not far behind. Atapne N’Dikwe is another rising freshman expected to make an impact this season for the Bears, with Olivia Black rounding out their projected top five.

#11 Manheim Township Blue Streaks: Last year place 1st – Top returning athlete Ariel Hu, sophomore, 34th place.

Manheim Township has owned the district for the previous four seasons, winning every LL League team title and every District 3 team title from 2022-2025, but that is expected to change this season. The Streaks lost their top three runners from last season’s roster, but the runners they do bring back were underclassmen last season, suggesting it may not take long for Manheim Township to push for a team title again. Ariel Hu is the projected No. 1 runner for Manheim Township this season, with Olivia Albrecht not far behind her. Julia Whitley was the sixth runner for the Streaks last season at the District Championships and is expected to move up to their third runner this season. Freshman Elliotte Dreisbach is expected to be in the top five for the Streaks this season, with Vivian Gonzalez trailing just behind. Manheim Township does not have any seniors in their projected top seven, making 2026 perhaps more of a rebuilding season.

#12 Cumberland Valley Eagles: Last year place 4th – Top returning athlete Ava Butler, junior, 20th place.

Cumberland Valley had a very strong showing at the 2025 District Championships, finishing fourth and qualifying for the State Championships as a team. Cumberland Valley only loses one runner from the top seven they had at last year’s championship, but it was their second-place finisher, who placed 22nd. Ava Butler is looking for another individual district medal this season after placing 20th last season, and she is ranked in the top 15 in 2026. Seniors Julianne Thompson and Isabelle Thompson had very good showings last season, potentially being a big reason why Cumberland Valley made it to States as a team. Julianne is projected to be their No. 2 runner, while Isabelle is projected to be their third runner. Holly Barbetta and Brooklyn Kulisch also ran at last season’s District Championship and return as their fourth and fifth projected runners, respectively. Freshmen Genevieve Steinkamp and Avriana Tumbusch are projected to be the team’s displacers in their first high school season. Cumberland Valley, like JP McCaskey, is a team to watch as they look to move up in the team rankings rapidly.

#13 Carlisle Thundering Herd: Last year place 5th – Top returning athlete Natalya Kennedy, senior, 38th place.

Carlisle is projected to finish just two points back from Cumberland Valley in the preseason rankings. The Thundering Herd lost their top runner from last years team in Ana Bondy, who ended up winning the individual title, while also having their third runner also graduate in 2025. Natayla Kennedy was sandwiched in between the two seniors, as she was 38th in 2025. Addissen Goldsmith was one of our top ranked incoming freshman in the Class of 2030, and she joins Carlisle this season as their projected number two runner. Ellen Barrick is a sophomore and finished 52nd for Carlisle last season, and is their projected number three runner this season. Carlisle gains two more extremely talented incoming freshmen with Sydney Darnell and Solis Bollinger, who are projected to finish out their top five in 2026.

#14 Red Land Patriots: Last year place 10th – Top returning athlete Evelyn Hassler, junior, 41st place.

Red Land is the final projected team in the mix for a top-five finish this season. With 350 projected points, the Patriots sit 105 points behind third-place Northern York, but they have plenty of room to move up from their preseason ranking. Red Land returns four of its top five runners from last season, only losing its fifth runner from the 2025 District Championships. Evelyn Hassler and Lydia Maurer finished very close to each other last season, separated by just four seconds and four places. Eloise Place was Red Land’s third finisher at the District Championships, with Callista Shade finishing only nine seconds behind her. Place had a fantastic postseason to close out her 2025 cross country season and will look to carry that momentum into this fall. She could be one of the biggest risers from our projected top 100 athletes. The Patriots also expect incoming freshmen Brynnlee Colwell and Ava Lehman to provide some much-needed depth. The two freshmen are projected to finish close to one another and could easily trade positions throughout the season, giving Red Land another pair of runners to watch as the year progresses.

#15 Penn Manor Comets: Last year place 18th – Top returning athlete Rae Sandt, senior, 42nd place.

Penn Manor is looking to improve from its 2025 season as the Comets return all of their finishers from last season’s District Championship roster. Penn Manor has a very close and interchangeable top two in Claire Roberts and Rae Sandt, who will look to compete for top-30 spots this season. Hope Andreychek is projected to be the Comets’ third runner again in 2026. She finished 117th last season but enters this season ranked in the top 100. Amelia Fetter and Lynn Baker are also interchangeable entering the 2026 season, as they finished fifth and fourth, respectively, last year. With all five runners returning, Penn Manor has the experience to make a jump from last season.

#16 Mechanicsburg Wildcats: Last year place 9th – Top returning athlete Emily Sweitzer, sophomore, 37th place.

Mechanicsburg is expected to decline slightly from its 2025 District Championship finish after losing three of its top four runners from last season’s roster, including individual medalist Lindsay McCorkel. The Wildcats are expected to be led by sophomore Emily Sweitzer, who will contend for an individual medal this October. Mechanicsburg’s second projected runner is incoming freshman Jane Baughman, who ranked 11th in our Class of 2030 rankings. Mary Kuhn is the third projected runner, with Emma Faro following very closely behind after finishing just half a second behind Kuhn at last season’s championship meet.

#17 Warwick Warriors: Last year place 17th – Top returning athlete Paige Pusey, senior, 69th place.

Warwick is projected to finish in the same spot as it did in 2025, with the Warriors once again expected to place 17th. The Warriors are led by seniors Paige Pusey and Audrey Myallis, who are both projected to finish in the top 60 this season. Incoming freshman Carly McClain is hoping to make an immediate impact for the Warriors, as she is projected to be their third runner this fall. Natalie Singer and Zoey Weidman are also seniors, giving Warwick four of its top five projected runners as seniors. Their experience could be especially valuable in helping McClain settle into the high school race environment and giving the Warriors a strong veteran presence throughout their lineup.

#18 Hershey Trojans: Last year place 3rd – Top returning athlete Lauren Nutt, senior, 51st place.

Hershey is one of the teams most affected by graduating seniors, losing two runners who finished in the top 15 last season as their top two finishers, along with their fifth runner from last year’s roster. Depth was an area of improvement for the Trojans last season, and it could once again be that way this year. Bailey Winder is the top projected runner for Hershey this season after being their top returning athlete from the PIAA State Championships, with Lauren Nutt not far behind. Lulu Vitale is projected to be the Trojans’ third runner, while incoming freshman Emma Triscik is projected fourth and sophomore Sarah Munneke fifth. If Hershey can strengthen its depth behind its top five, the Trojans could outperform their preseason projection.

#19 Palmyra Cougars: Last year place 23rd – Top returning athlete Leah Senft, senior, 93rd place.

Palmyra is expected to move up in the team standings this season, as the Cougars return six of their seven runners from their 2025 District Championship roster. Leah Senft was the top runner for the Cougars last season, and she is projected to hold that position once again in 2026. Amber McCurdy is projected as Palmyra’s second runner after returning from last year’s roster as their third finisher. Freshman Annie Grinstead is expected to provide even more depth for the Cougars this fall. Along with their many returning runners, Grinstead gives Palmyra another athlete who can mix up the team scoring and add flexibility to their lineup. Alyssa McCully and Jericho Church are also expected to be major contributors, with both projected to be part of the Cougars’ top five in 2026.

#20 Conestoga Valley Buckskins: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Eliza Hess, junior, 138th place.

Conestoga Valley is one of the teams that benefits the most from new runners this fall. With the addition of freshman Leila Testa and transfer student Rachel Leaman from Pequea Valley, the Buckskins are expected to take a significant amount of points off their 2026 score that they were unable to score in 2025, as both athletes are ranked in the preseason top 35. Eliza Hess is the next projected runner for Conestoga Valley after being the Buckskins’ top runner last season. Lila King and Lena Glick were the other two representatives for Conestoga Valley at last season’s District Championships and are expected to round out the top five this season. With the addition of Testa and Leaman, the Buckskins hope to make a push toward becoming a scoring team in 2026.

#21 Exeter Township Eagles: Last year place 24th – Top returning athlete Olivia Dever, junior, 46th place.

Exeter Township only had five runners at last season’s District Championship, but that group consisted of three sophomores and two freshmen, giving the Eagles plenty to look forward to this season and beyond. With so much young talent returning, Exeter Township has a very bright future heading into 2026 and 2027. Olivia Dever is projected to be the Eagles’ top runner once again in 2026, entering the season with a preseason ranking in the top 35. Lena Bluestone and Chloe LaRiviere are projected to finish very close to each other again this season as the Eagles’ second and third runners. Exeter Township will also gain incoming freshman Noella Adams, who is expected to provide a significant boost to the team’s depth this season.

#22 Cedar Crest Falcons: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Clara Schneider, junior, 111th place.

Cedar Crest was just one runner away from earning a team place last season, but the Falcons graduated one of the best all-around athletes in LL League, District, and State history in Eliana Schneider. Eliana’s sister, Clara Schneider, is projected to be Cedar Crest’s top runner this season and enters 2026 ranked in the preseason top 75. Junior Sophie Meli is projected to be the Falcons’ second runner, with newcomer freshman Madisyn Willis projected third. Senior Vivian Doster is projected to be fourth, while freshman Chloe Artz is expected to round out Cedar Crest’s top five this fall.

#23 York Suburban Trojans: Last year place 22nd – Top returning athlete Charlee Waltemyer, junior, 74th place.

York Suburban is not expected to move much from its 2025 finish. While the Trojans graduated three of their top seven runners, their top two runners return, along with their fourth and fifth runners, giving them a strong returning core. Abby Passiarello is projected to be the Trojans’ top runner this season, with Charlee Waltemyer not expected to be far behind. Chloe Hill is also projected to be close behind Passiarello and Waltemyer as York Suburban’s third finisher this season.

#24 Central Dauphin Rams: Last year place 28th – Top returning athlete Remy Loser, senior, 146th place.

Although Central Dauphin lost two of its top five runners, including its top finisher from the 2025 season, the Rams are expected to improve on their 28th-place finish from last season. Mia Kern plays a huge role in the team’s rising ranking, as the incoming freshman was our eighth-ranked incoming freshman in the Class of 2030 and will look to make an immediate impact at the top of the lineup. Kaely Nelms is projected to be Central Dauphin’s second runner, but Remy Loser may have a little more momentum heading into the season after finishing just ahead of Nelms at last year’s District Championship.

#25 Red Lion Lions: Last year place 29th – Top returning athlete Gabrielle Houck, senior, 21st place.

Red Lion, like Central Dauphin, is expected to move up a couple of spots from its 2025 finish, as the Lions return all five of their finishers from last season’s roster. Gabrielle Houck finished just one spot outside of an individual medal last season, and she will be looking to break into the top 20 this year and claim an individual medal. Rose Detar is projected to be Red Lion’s second runner, while the Lions bring in Class of 2030 talent Maya Roeser as their projected third runner. Jillian Sawicki and Leah Clippinger are projected to round out the top five for Red Lion this season.

#26 Daniel Boone Area Blazers: Last year place 27th – Top returning athlete Julia Leady, senior, 8th place.

Daniel Boone returns all of its finishers from its 2025 District Championship roster, where the Blazers placed 27th. Senior Julia Leady is the top runner for Daniel Boone and is projected to finish in the top five this fall, putting her in contention for an individual title. Sarah Shank is the second projected runner for the Blazers after finishing second for Daniel Boone at last season’s District Championship. Shank finished outside the top 100 last year but is projected to break into the top 100 this October.

#27 Solanco Mules: Last year place 26th – Top returning athlete Mackenzie Landis, senior, 97th place.

Solanco is expected to finish around where it did at the District Championship stage in 2025, graduating two of its top five runners but returning its top runner, Mackenzie Landis. Landis finished inside the top 100 last season and is projected to move into the top 70 this year. Although Solanco graduated two seniors, the Golden Mules still have plenty of returning runners who were very close to those graduates last season. Chelsey Hanna finished between the two graduates and is projected to be Solanco’s second runner this fall. Olha Huber is an example of the depth Solanco had last season, finishing just two seconds behind her senior teammate, while Lydia Hess was only another four seconds back. With that returning depth, Solanco could remain competitive despite losing two key runners.

#28 Twin Valley Raiders: Last year place 7th – Top returning athlete Eden McHugh, sophomore, 33rd place.

Twin Valley is expected to take a drop in the team rankings this season after losing its top runner and individual medalist, Riley Servis, along with its third, fifth, and seventh runners from the 2025 District Championship roster. The Raiders do return a runner who could contend for an individual medal this season in sophomore Eden McHugh. McHugh finished 33rd last season and is projected to move into the top 20 this fall. Ella Warner is also projected to make a jump, as she enters the season ranked in the top 100 after finishing 101st last year. With McHugh leading the way, the Raiders will look to limit the impact of their significant losses and remain competitive this season.

#29 Gettysburg Area Warriors: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Samantha Campbell, senior, 19th place.

Gettysburg returns an individual District medalist in Samantha Campbell for the 2026 season, and the senior has her eyes set on a top-10 finish this fall. Audrey Trax is the next projected runner for the Warriors after competing at last season’s District Championships. Melina Sanders also competed at last year’s District Championship and is projected to be Gettysburg’s third runner this season. The Warriors will also look to several incoming freshmen to help them become a scoring team in 2026, with Morgan Smith, Campbell Thurston, and Eleanor Frey expected to provide valuable depth.

#30 Ephrata Mountaineers: Last year place 14th – Top returning athlete Mia Pfautz, junior, 65th place.

Ephrata finished the 2025 season as the 14th-place team in the district, but the Mountaineers will have a new leader in 2026 following the graduation of Ella Pfautz, who now competes for the University of Delaware. Ella was an individual medalist last season, making her shoes difficult to fill this fall. Her sister, Mia Pfautz, is projected to take over as Ephrata’s top runner and enters the season ranked in the top 40. As a junior, she could make a push for an individual medal this October. Sophia Devonshire is projected to be the Mountaineers’ second runner after finishing fourth for Ephrata last season. Grace Hoffer, Zoe Olenhouse, and Isabella Forney round out the projected top five, with projected displacers Emma Jahn and Allison Martin both very close to breaking into the scoring lineup.

#31 Donegal Indians: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Abigail Nissly, senior, 245th place.

Abigail Nissly was the only runner for Donegal last season at the District Championship, but she is expected to be pushed by several newcomers this fall. Kella Rood is an incoming freshman and the top projected runner for Donegal this season, with Nissly expected to be close behind. Abigail Reed returns from last season’s roster and is projected as the third runner for the Indians. More incoming freshmen, Sophia Nunez and Jiuliana Shoemaker, are projected to round out the top five and give Donegal a much deeper lineup in 2026.

#32 Milton Hershey Spartans: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Heaven Clark, junior, 199th place.

Milton Hershey was just one runner away from finishing as a scoring team last season, but that is expected to change in 2026, as the Spartans return three of the four finishers they had in 2025. Jocelyn McDermott is the projected number one runner for Milton Hershey, although she did not compete in the postseason for the Spartans last season. Heaven Clark and Victoria Stewart form one of the most interchangeable duos in the district, as they finished practically side by side in both postseason meets and at the Gettysburg Invitational. With three returning runners, Milton Hershey could become a scoring team this season.

#33 Waynesboro Indians: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Morgan Jones, sophomore, 75th place.

Waynesboro, like Milton Hershey, had four runners at last season’s District Championship, but the big difference between the two teams is the lack of returners for the Indians. Their top runner, Morgan Jones, was only a freshman last season, but their next three runners were all seniors. Jones is expected to lead Waynesboro again in 2026, with Braelyn Thompson, Leah Bryan, Bella Moreno, and Norra Swart projected to round out the top five.

#34 Manheim Central Barons: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Avery Ibach, junior, 31st place.

Manheim Central is fronted by talented Avery Ibach, who will look to compete for an individual medal this October. The Barons also return Cassidy Hess from last season’s team, giving them experience at the front of the lineup. Manheim Central is expected to see an immediate impact from the Class of 2030 with Adena Martin, who is projected to be their third runner this season. Junior Keely Kieffer is projected as the fourth runner for the Barons. With more of a swimming background, Kieffer has shown that she can still get the job done in cross country. Cassidy Ebersole is expected to round out Manheim Central’s top five this season.

#35 Wilson Bulldogs: Last year place 11th – Top returning athlete Lauren Mengel, sophomore, 83rd place.

Wilson is the team most impacted by graduating seniors this season, as the Bulldogs had five seniors in their top seven at last season’s District Championships. Wilson does return its third finisher from last year’s roster in Lauren Mengel, who is projected to be the top dog for the Bulldogs this fall. Mia Thompson is the other returning athlete from their championship roster and is not projected to finish far behind Mengel. Wilson will hope several newcomers can make an immediate impact and help boost the Bulldogs’ team ranking throughout the 2026 season.

#36 Central York Panthers: Last year place 31st – Top returning athlete Isabella Covello, sophomore, 91st place.

Central York returns all of its runners from its 2025 District Championship roster, giving the Panthers plenty of experience heading into the 2026 season. Isabella Covello is projected to be the number one runner once again, entering the season projected to finish in the top 60. Alexa Welter and Claire Pargament are expected to be very close to each other again this season as the Panthers’ second and third projected runners. Sophia Ferrari and Anna Lippard are projected to round out the top five once again. Central York does not have a senior among its projected top seven, giving the Panthers a strong young core for this season and beyond.

#37 York County School of Tech Spartans: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Piper Deeges, senior, 142nd place.

York County School of Tech had three runners represent the Spartans at last season’s District Championships, all of whom were juniors, giving the team plenty to look forward to in 2026. Piper Deeges is projected to lead the Spartans again this season and will be pushed by incoming freshman Aniyah Ierely, who is expected to help improve the team’s depth. Rhea Flores and Isabel Waight-Alvarado were the other two runners for York Tech at last season’s District Championships and both return in 2026.

#38 New Oxford Colonials: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Vivian Millar-Kellner, senior, 27th place.

New Oxford is led by one of the best runners in the district, Vivian Millar-Kellner, who came close to becoming an individual medalist last season and has that same opportunity again this fall. She is projected to lead the Colonials in 2026. Joanna Perez represented New Oxford at last season’s District Championships and is projected to be the second runner this fall. Sophie Howe is projected as the Colonials’ third runner, with Mary Podobindska and Marlo Wiley expected to round out the top five.

#39 Dover Eagles: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete None

Dover had just one finisher for its girls team at last season’s District Championships, with Keira Reider finishing 26th. The Eagles did not have any other runners represent them at the championship meet, but they hope to change that this season. Freshman Kenzi Snyder is projected to lead Dover in 2026 as the Eagles’ top runner. Ella Miller, also a freshman, is projected to be the second runner, followed by junior Aubri Snyder in third. Freshman Madison Lynch is projected fourth, with Eleanor Callaghan rounding out the top five for Dover this fall. With four of their projected top five being underclassmen, the Eagles have plenty of young talent to build around this season.

#40 Northeastern Bobcats: Last year place 30th – Top returning athlete Avery Ungrady, sophomore, 194th place.

Northeastern had five runners compete at the 2025 District Championships, enough to score as a team. The Bobcats graduated their top finisher from last season’s roster but return the next four, giving them plenty of experience heading into 2026. Avery Ungrady is projected to be the top runner for Northeastern this season, with incoming freshman Abigail Neidig not far behind. The next four runners are fairly bunched together, with Lily Vernick-Cohen projected third, Melanie Coleman fourth, Emma Rill fifth, and Mia Guttemeyer sixth. That tight group could give the Bobcats plenty of flexibility when it comes to their scoring lineup this fall.

#41 Shippensburg Greyhound: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Evelyn Jones, sophomore, 152nd place.

Shippensburg is expected to be led by sophomore Evelyn Jones, who was the Greyhounds’ second runner at last season’s District Championships and will now step into a bigger role this fall. Alexa Tysarczyk also raced for Shippensburg at last season’s District Championships and is projected to be their second runner in 2026. Annelise Jones and Lynell Buisch are expected to be fairly interchangeable, with the two projected as the Greyhounds’ third and fourth runners this season.

#42 Spring Grove Rockets: Last year place 32nd – Top returning athlete Kylie Allison, senior, 216th place.

Spring Grove finished as a scoring team in 2025 but will have to replace its top runner, multiple-time individual District medalist Ella Bahn. The Rockets do return their next four runners from last season’s District Championship, giving them a strong returning core heading into 2026. Kylie Allison is projected to take over as Spring Grove’s top runner, followed by Lily Evans as the second runner and Rosalee Strausbaugh as the third. Incoming freshman Cora Thompson is projected to make an immediate impact as the fourth runner, while Clara Hoffman is expected to round out the Rockets’ top five.

#44 Reading Red Knights: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Marianna Guerrero, senior, 153rd place.

Reading is another team that had four finishers at last season’s District Championships, but the Red Knights only return two of those four runners for 2026. Marianna Guerrero is the top projected runner for Reading this fall, with Camilla Reyes projected to be the second runner. Hilauris Pena De La Cruz is expected to be right there with Reyes, giving the Red Knights a close battle for their second and third spots. Anaya Smith and Natalia Rosa are projected to round out the top five for Reading this fall.

NR Cocalico Eagles: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete None

While Cocalico is not projected to be a scoring team this season, the Eagles have a bright future with rising freshman Aubrey Messner, who is projected to be their top runner in 2026. Makinley Jackson is another incoming freshman expected to join the Eagles this season, giving Cocalico a young one-two punch at the front of its lineup. With both of their top projected runners being freshmen, Cocalico has plenty of room to grow over the next few seasons.

NR Garden Spot Spartans: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Emerson Moore, junior, 43rd place.

Garden Spot had two runners represent the Spartans at the 2025 District Championships, including one of the best rising juniors in the district in Emerson Moore. Moore is projected to finish inside the top 40 this season, but anything can happen throughout the year, and she could find herself in contention for an individual medal this fall. Barbara Culbert also competed for Garden Spot at last season’s District Championships and is projected to be the second runner this season. Mariah Sensenig did not compete at the District Championship last season but is projected to move into the third spot for the Spartans in 2026.

NR Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete Avery Russell, sophomore, 82nd place.

Greencastle-Antrim did not score as a team last season, with only one runner crossing the finish line at the District Championship. Avery Russell placed 82nd and enters the 2026 season as the Blue Devils’ top projected runner for the second straight year. Russell is ranked in the top 45 this season and will look to represent Greencastle-Antrim well this fall. Sophia Denlinger is the next projected runner for the Blue Devils, with Monica Schemel projected third.

NR Lebanon Cedars: Last year place NTF – Top returning athlete None

Lebanon had no runners at the 2025 District Championship, but they hope to change that this season with Herlen Rodriguez Barrera as their projected top runner this fall.

Preseason Projected Team Rankings and Scores: