Below, we sit down and look at our top 10 teams with returning athletes based on last year's state championship performances. There are obvious potential oversights with regards to transfers, new additions, injuries, etc. Our rankings are based on the 2021 cross country state meet results. So much can and will change over the course of a cross country season, but let's take a look at what we think the top 10 teams will be in the state in 5A.
| 1 | Boise Senior High School (ID) | 41 | ||
| 1) Kaden Helder | 15:49.40 | 4 | ||
| 2) Noe Kemper | 15:55.92 | 6 | ||
| 3) Jack Sheesley | 16:05.19 | 9 | ||
| 4) Jack Tobin | 16:10.21 | 10 | ||
| 5) Shiva Rajbhandari | 16:16.24 | 12 | ||
| Average Time: 16:03.39 Total Time: 1:20:16.96 1-5 Split: 26.84 | ||||
| 6) Zachary Johnson | 16:28.40 | 15 | ||
| 7) Andrew Dodds | 16:32.10 | 18 | ||
| 2 | Rocky Mountain High School (ID) | 79 | ||
| 1) Landon Heemeyer | 15:32.77 | 1 | ||
| 2) Tyler Sainsbury | 15:34.13 | 2 | ||
| 3) Keith Uitdewilligen | 15:49.82 | 5 | ||
| 4) Cody Lucas | 16:40.60 | 23 | ||
| 5) Reece Miller | 17:16.80 | 48 | ||
| Average Time: 16:10.82 Total Time: 1:20:54.12 1-5 Split: 1:44.03 | ||||
| 6) Max Beeler | 17:18.40 | 51 | ||
| 7) Sam Jensen | 17:24.70 | 56 | ||
| 3 | Mountain View High School (ID) | 109 | ||
| 1) Oclan Ryan | 16:28.90 | 16 | ||
| 2) Ben Jensen | 16:32.30 | 19 | ||
| 3) Lucas Lowry | 16:35.10 | 21 | ||
| 4) Collin Manning | 16:39.40 | 22 | ||
| 5) Brett Westover | 16:50.40 | 31 | ||
| Average Time: 16:37.22 Total Time: 1:23:06.10 1-5 Split: 21.50 | ||||
| 6) Ryan Swenson | 16:58.20 | 39 | ||
| 7) Luke Pritchard | 16:59.10 | 40 | ||
| 4 | Coeur d'Alene High School (ID) | 136 | ||
| 1) Max Cervi-Skinner | 16:11.40 | 11 | ||
| 2) Jacob King | 16:18.16 | 13 | ||
| 3) Zach Cervi-Skinner | 16:31.47 | 17 | ||
| 4) Lachlan May | 16:54.60 | 33 | ||
| 5) Kyle Rohlinger | 17:37.07 | 62 | ||
| Average Time: 16:42.54 Total Time: 1:23:32.70 1-5 Split: 1:25.67 | ||||
| 6) Ethan Hickock | 18:27.29 | 99 | ||
| 7) Levi Bird | 18:47.78 | 114 | ||
| 5 | Centennial High School (ID) | 169 | ||
| 1) Brandon Keetch | 16:41.00 | 24 | ||
| 2) Blaser Bryson | 16:49.70 | 30 | ||
| 3) Payton Knudson | 16:55.80 | 35 | ||
| 4) Addison Mcomber | 16:56.10 | 36 | ||
| 5) Jack Walker | 17:05.90 | 44 | ||
| Average Time: 16:53.70 Total Time: 1:24:28.50 1-5 Split: 24.90 | ||||
| 6) Lincoln Wood | 17:26.80 | 57 | ||
| 7) Chase McOmber | 17:55.40 | 76 | ||
| 6 | Eagle High School (ID) | 208 | ||
| 1) Andrew Ringert | 15:44.30 | 3 | ||
| 2) Michael Altenburg | 16:45.90 | 26 | ||
| 3) Paulos Woodard | 17:06.50 | 45 | ||
| 4) Thomas Stevens | 17:24.40 | 54 | ||
| 5) Grant Glenn | 18:09.10 | 80 | ||
| Average Time: 17:02.04 Total Time: 1:25:10.20 1-5 Split: 2:24.80 | ||||
| 6) Nate Collins | 18:52.30 | 117 | ||
| 7) Samuel Morris | 19:59.14 | 131 | ||
| 7 | Timberline High School (Boise) (ID) | 219 | ||
| 1) Niko Mann | 16:47.50 | 27 | ||
| 2) Casey Crumley | 16:48.60 | 29 | ||
| 3) Hunter Marlatt | 17:10.80 | 46 | ||
| 4) Aidan Simmonds | 17:23.70 | 53 | ||
| 5) Ethan Derderian | 17:39.00 | 64 | ||
| Average Time: 17:09.92 Total Time: 1:25:49.60 1-5 Split: 51.50 | ||||
| 6) Joey Bean | 17:45.60 | 69 | ||
| 7) Wil Ihmels | 17:49.00 | 72 | ||
| 8 | Vallivue High School (ID) | 240 | ||
| 1) Sam Fish | 16:03.80 | 8 | ||
| 2) Aaron Williamson | 16:54.60 | 34 | ||
| 3) David Gummersall | 17:32.00 | 58 | ||
| 4) Bryan Pelayo | 17:39.14 | 65 | ||
| 5) Bruce Vega | 17:54.46 | 75 | ||
| Average Time: 17:12.80 Total Time: 1:26:04.00 1-5 Split: 1:50.66 | ||||
| 6) Edgar Arizmendi | 18:10.80 | 84 | ||
| 7) Misael Pastor | 18:13.59 | 89 | ||
| 9 | Rigby High School (ID) | 244 | ||
| 1) Joshua Duvall | 16:44.80 | 25 | ||
| 2) Spencer Nelson | 17:03.33 | 42 | ||
| 3) Payton Bird | 17:04.60 | 43 | ||
| 4) Parker Lovell | 17:24.60 | 55 | ||
| 5) Treycen Hall | 18:07.20 | 79 | ||
| Average Time: 17:16.91 Total Time: 1:26:24.53 1-5 Split: 1:22.40 | ||||
| 6) Gavin Thompson | 18:09.50 | 81 | ||
| 7) Owen Lee | 19:10.21 | 123 | ||
| 10 | Capital High School (ID) | 260 | ||
| 1) Isaac Anttonen | 16:27.38 | 14 | ||
| 2) Noah Johansson | 16:52.73 | 32 | ||
| 3) Raymundo Herrera | 17:42.21 | 66 | ||
| 4) Jesus Gutierrez | 17:47.70 | 70 | ||
| 5) Ethan Husar | 18:01.06 | 78 | ||
| Average Time: 17:22.22 Total Time: 1:26:51.08 1-5 Split: 1:33.68 | ||||
| 6) Daniel Fernandez | 18:09.87 | 82 | ||
| 7) Brandon Drashner-B | 18:11.94 | 87 | ||