Below are the subjective rankings with explanations for each of our picks. There are many athletes who were right on the bubble of the 10 spot, but we ultimately went with these athletes down below.
SUBJECTIVE RANKINGS
1. Mez Barth
Barth has had a tremendous season thus far. With various sub 16 performances with far and away the highlight being his 15:02 at COAC yesterday. We ranked Barth 1st these last two weeks, which was met with a lot of controversy on our socials. This week, I really don't see there being a debate anymore. Barth did lose to Williams in this first meet of the season, but has beaten Matthias four times. Barth wins the majority of races he's in, and is the current 6A favorite.
2. Dominic Matthias
Matthias' freshman season has been one for the history books. This week at COAC was no different. Despite losing to Barth handily, Matthias still dropped a 15:23 with falling down at around the 2 mile mark. Matthias has run the 3rd fastest time of the year in our state and has beaten Williams in both of their head to head matchups.
3. Zachary Williams
Williams has had a season of consistency. He has run 15:30 twice, 15:21 twice, and 15:17 once. If we went off times alone then he would be our number two for this week's power rankings, but Matthias' performance at COAC warrants him the number two spot. Williams is still your 4A favorite to win the individual title.
4. Brody Maasen
Massen not running conference puts him right in the same spot that he's been the majority of the season for our rankings. He has garnered multiple sub 16 performances with the highlight being at Rogers State, where he out kicked McKinney for the win in a time of 15:26. Maasen is the leader of a solid Jenks team and has a dangerous kick. He will surely be in the mix for the 6A individual state title.
5. Clay McKinney
McKinney has at times had a bit of an up and down year, but his win at the Pinnacle Conference this last week keeps him right in the middle of our power rankings. McKinney's highlight of the season was his 15:27 at Rogers State, but since then he has not run nearly as fast time wise. But this is cross country, and head to head matchups plus difficultly of courses ran on our elements we consider. McKinney is the favorite to win the 2A title and has proved time and time again that he can run with the best in the state.
6. Noah Thayer
Last year's runner up, Noah Thayer, is back. We haven't seen much of Thayer this season. His season opener at Deer Creek wasn't his best, but then he dropped a 15:34 at Mustang. After that, he didn't race for awhile but then came back for COAC yesterday. Thayer ran a smart race, and finished 3rd overall in 15:33. Thayer was our favorite going into the season, and is still very much in the mix for the individual title.
7. Ethan Jones
Jones has been consistent all year. While he has run a top time of 15:36, he has also run under 16 many times. Jones shows up when it matters. He is very much in the mix to finish top three in 4A.
8. Maxton Barker
Barker has run under 16 a few times this season, but it's his performance at COAC that puts him in 8th on our list. Barker finished 4th overall at the race in a time of 15:37. He has momentum going into the back half of October, and he is in the mix to contend for a top five finish at the 6A state meet.
9. Nelin Kimery
Kimery has consistently been Piedmont's number one, and has run various impressive times such as 14:58 for 3 miles and 15:40 for the 5k. If Kimery runs well, he will be an athlete to watch out for at 6A state. Due to an 11th place finish at COAC, he drops down a couple placements in this week's power rankings.
10. Charlie Ritchie
Ritchie has been inconsistent time wise this season, but has undoubtedly had a great year despite that. Ritchie's season has been highlighted by his 3rd place finish at Rogers State. At that race he ran 15:32 and out ran some great athletes. Ritchie is one of the favorites to take the 5A state title.
1. Bella Nelson
Nelson has the best time in the state and is top 5 ever in the history of our state in this distance. She is the 6A favorite to win the individual title and it will take a very bad day and a very good day for someone else to overtake her.
2. Natalie Duggan
Duggan has recently made her return this season. With a great run at Chili Pepper, and an even better one at COAC. Duggan is really the only athlete that has a case to potentially upset Nelson at state, at least as of right now. Her dominant win at COAC was achieved through a time of 17:41.
3. Gwyneth Meyers
Meyers is the 5A favorite to win the individual title. She has run against the best in the state many times this season and has performed well. She is third in the state off of time and has never lost to anyone on this list this season other than Nelson.
4. Charli Keely
Keely has killed it in the head to head matchups. While her time may not rank her 4th, her efforts in out running other top athletes in the state holds true. Keely has been consistent this season, and is one of the favorites to place top three at the state meet.
5. Emma Johnson
Johnson has had a great season and is continuing to only improve upon that. Her season opener at Deer Creek was a good start, but her season has for sure been highlighted by an 18:05 at Sugar Creek and an 18 flat at COAC.
6. Ava Cornelius
Cornelius is Owasso's number two and has had strong showing after strong showing. This season has been highlighted by her 18:02 at MSSU. Outside of that she has run under 18:10 a handful of times. Cornelius is an athlete to watch out for at state.
7. Brooke and Claire Collins
I did not know who to put in front of the other so I just both put them at 7 as they are both deserving of it. The sisters that lead a stacked Piedmont team have put together great seasons. Look for these two to lead Piedmont to a likely 6A state title, but also place very high in the race themselves.
8. Baylee Woodrich
Woodrich has been Lincoln Christian's best athlete this season. She has run 18:13 for 5k and is coming off of a strong showing at the Pinnacle Conference where she won the individual title. Woodrich will likely not run another 5k this season unless its after state, but watch out for her in the 2 mile distance.
9. Kate Barber
We haven't seen Barber run in a few weeks, but her great start to the season keeps her on this list. Barber has run 18:07 and has backed that up with multiple top finishes. Barber has a lot of foot speed, and works well with her teammate Keely during races.
10. Tayten Childers
Last week we ranked Childers and Rutledge in a tie for 10th, this week would have likely been the same but Rutledge did not run conference. Due to Childers running at COAC, we decided to put her as the lone athlete on the 10th spot. Childers has had a great freshman season, and has been Piedmont's 3rd pretty consistently.