2027 Way To Early Cross Country Rankings

The 2026 cross country season may have just come to a close, but it is never too early to start looking ahead to 2027! Illinois Running News is excited to release our Way Too Early 2027 Cross Country Rankings, giving fans an early look at the teams that could make some noise next fall. These rankings take into account several key factors, including performances from the 2026 season, returning varsity talent, graduating seniors, and the potential impact of incoming freshmen. While plenty can change between now and the start of next season, these rankings provide an early glimpse at which programs could be in contention for conference, regional, sectional, and state championships in 2027.

3A Boys

1. Winnetka (New Trier)

2. Elmhurst (York)

3. Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

4. Arlington Heights (Hersey)

5. Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

6. Chicago (Mather)

7. Naperville Central

8. Lake Zurich

9. Gurnee (Warren)

10. Barrington

11. Wheaton Warrenville South

12. Chicago (Lane)

13. LaGrange (Lyons)

14. New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)

15. Plainfield South

16. Naperville (Neuqua Valley)

17. Edwardsville

18. Evanston

19. Lockport

20. Palatine

21. Oak Park-River Forest

22. Chicago (Payton)

23. Geneva

24. Northbrook (Glenbrook North)

25. St. Charles North

3A Girls

1. Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

2. Edwardsville

3. Barrington

4. Arlington Heights (Hersey)

5. Plainfield North

6. New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)

7. Chicago (Lane)

8. Yorkville

9. Park Ridge (Maine South)

10. Lake Zurich

11. Wheaton Warrenville South

12. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)

13. Elmhurst (York)

14. St. Charles East

15. Chicago (St. Ignatius)

16. Winnetka (New Trier)

17. Oak Park-River Forest

18. Minooka

19. South Elgin

20. Lincolnshire (Stevenson)

21. Oswego East

22. O'Fallon

23. Batavia

24. Orland Park (Sandburg)

25. Huntley

2A Boys

1. Dixon

2. Chicago (Latin)

3. Mahomet-Seymour

4. Normal University

5. Darien (Hinsdale South)

6. Washington

7. Herrin

8. Morton

9. Olney (Richland County)

10. Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)

11. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)

12. Belvidere North

13. Deerfield

14. Geneseo

15. Mt. Zion

16. Dunlap

17. Waterloo

18. Cary-Grove

19. Aurora (Marmion Academy)

20. Troy (Triad)

21. Mt. Vernon

22. Vernon Hills

23. Maple Park (Kaneland)

24. Carterville

25. Wauconda

2A Girls

1. Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)

2. Lemont

3. Dixon

4. Peoria (Notre Dame)

5. Mt. Zion

6. Belvidere North

7. Mahomet-Seymour

8. Highland

9. Arlington Heights (St. Viator)

10. LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)

11. West Chicago (Wheaton Academy)

12. Cary-Grove

13. Normal University

14. Elmhurst (Timothy Christian)

15. Bloomington

16. Morton

17. Chicago (Northside)

18. Crystal Lake South

19. Chatham (Glenwood)

20. Rockford (Boylan)

21. Mascoutah

22. Wheaton (St. Francis)

23. Sycamore

24. Dunlap

25. Lake Forest

1A Boys

1. Eureka

2. Elmwood

3. Monticello

4. El Paso-Gridley

5. Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central)

6. Clinton

7. Williamsville

8. Rock Island (Alleman)

9. Elgin (River Valley Christian)

10. East Dubuque

11. Effingham (St. Anthony)

12. Herscher

13. Toledo (Cumberland)

14. Delavan

15. St. Joseph-Ogden

16. Pleasant Plains

17. Tuscola

18. Springfield (Lutheran)

19. Pinckneyville

20. Downs (Tri-Valley)

21. Rockford Christian

22. Roxana

23. Rockford Lutheran

24. Fairbury (Prairie Central)

25. Maryville Christian

1A Girls

1. Elmwood

2. Shelbyville

3. Winnebago

4. Breese (Mater Dei)

5. St. Joseph-Ogden

6. Eureka

7. Elgin (River Valley Christian)

8. Downs (Tri-Valley)

9. El Paso-Gridley

10. Athens

11. Clinton

12. Tremont

13. Manteno

14. Aledo (Mercer County)

15. Urbana University'

16. Lisle

17. Pleasant Plains

18. Johnsburg

19. Anna-Jonesboro

20. Williamsville

21. Byron

22. Port Byron (Riverdale)

23. Neoga

24. Stanford Olympia

25. Monticello