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Whitney Young Returns their top seven runners from last years 14th Place State Ranked Team.  Rachel Joravsky returns from Strep Throat that kept her from winning her first CPS Cross Country Title.  Teammate Devyn Thompson took that title last year, as Lavinia Jurkiewicz went on to place 13th at the state meet, highest ever by a CPS girl.  Maisie Vachuska placed 3rd at the city meet, while trackster Raena Rhone came on at the end of the season for the Dolphins.  It is still a question as to if she will run again this year or not after being injured during the Track season.

Dolphin returnees:

Losses:

Northside Prep losses top runner Rachel Kitaaka, but returns Ani Zotti, Anna Parks, and Carmen Ableson.  Ableson wasn't at her best at the end of cross country due to injury, and held out from Track because of it.  Parks ended up finding her nitch, as she nearly qualified for the State Track meet in the 800, placing 3rd at her sectional meet.  Zotti has been consistent for the past three years, and looks to end her career at Northside on top.

Mustang returnees:

Losses:

Mather will be without Monica Rodriguez, as she moves on to run at Aurora University, but they return the Sophomore City Champions and top Senior Teresa Robledo.  Marily Angel had an outstanding track campaign, and will also be in the top pack come city time.  Look for the Rangers to contend for a trophy.

Rangers returnees:

Losses:

Lane Tech returns 2 time all-city runner Stephanie Pineda, but gone are the days when Lane Tech dominated distance running in the city.  Look for the Indians to not drop that far, however, as they have 5 runners that have the potential to break 20:00.  If they can do that, they will have a shot at a trophy come city time.

Indian returnees:

Losses

Walter Payton will look to improve their standing in the city, the question is, will they do it with or without All-State 800 runner Kat Malloy.  Malloy, who could break up the Whitney Young front pack, concentrates on Basketball and has not run a season of cross country yet.  If she does, the Grizzlies will be in the hunt for a trophy as well.  Without her, they have some work to do.  Coach Al Edwards has brought this team together, and in two years has made them a serious threat in AA competition.

Grizzly returnees:

Losses:

Lakeview took third on the Frosh Soph level at the City Championships and shouldn't be overlooked.  Adriana Ortiz will be a leader for the Wildcats, as the city looks to see the team mature into Varsity competitors.

Wildcat returnees:

Losses:

Jones returns its top six runners for the class AA competitors, however they lack a frontrunner to contend.  Incoming Freshman Sara Campos, a 6:20 miler, could provide the front runner for the Eagles.

Eagle returnees:

Losses:

NONE

Nyala Eddings, Shantee Garrett, and Breona Green provide a great 1-2-3 punch for the Morgan Park Mustangs, as they return 6 runners to their Varsity team.  Eddings is one of the tops in the city and should be shooting for a trip to Peoria. 

Mustang returnees:

Losses:

NONE

Northside Prep will be avenging a one point loss and shooting for its first ever City Championship in Cross Country.  Jon Gordon's Mustangs return six runners that could break 16:00.  Front running Cuit Pineda could contend for the City title and a trip to Peoria and looks to drag the Mustangs with him.  The Mustang hopes of being the first CPS team to qualify for the state meet since the loss of the CPS automatic bid in 2001, is very realistic. 

Mustang returnees:

Losses:

NONE

Mather returns as defending City Champions, and has individual Champion and State Qualifier Ivan Cornel to lead them once again.  Eddie Torres and Miguel Medina will be close in tow to Cornel, as the Rangers look to repeat.  Look for Junior George Young to fill in for the loss of Gustavo Martinez.  Also weighing in heavily for the Rangers has to be the desire to overcome their failure to qualify for the IHSA Sectional meet  at the hands of Northside Prep. 

Ranger returnees:

Losses:

Lane Tech didn't have their best race at last years city championship, but look to be in the hunt again.  Kulayfi Haji is becoming one of the best runners in the city, and showed great determination in turning out the best 1600 time in the CPS last season.  The challenge for the Indians will be to overcome the losses of Ed Sanchez, Kent Frayen, and Chris Gallardo.  Look for incoming Freshman Abdurahim Haji, Kulayfi's brother, to fill in one of those spots.

Indian returnees:

Losses:

Julian Deville will lead the Whitney Young Dolphins, but in order for the Dolphins to contend, they need their chase pack of Colin Rouser, Matt Schaible, Sam Redmond (Soph City Champion), and Julian Spearman to close the gap. 

Dolphin returnees:

Losses:

Individually, look for Jose Mora, city 3200 meter track champion from Payton, to be in the hunt.  No word on if their will be a complete team for the Grizzlies.  Mora only ran one three mile race last year, and finished second in the Sophomore City Championship, then went on to become the most improved runner in the city.  Also look out for Sophomore Felix Peralta from Juarez and Griffin Kelly of Jones.  Both have the potential to be in the lead pack.