Coaches Rank Brighton Boys and Pioneer Girls at Top of Michigan Cross Country Poll
The weekly poll uses projected finishes at the MHSAA Finals to determine team placement across four divisions in the Lower Peninsula.
By Luca Harrison ·
A panel of Michigan high school cross country coaches placed Brighton and Ann Arbor Pioneer at the top of their respective divisional rankings for the week of October 26, 2026. The poll, released by MichiganCrossCountry.com, evaluates teams based on their projected performance at the MHSAA Finals. Brighton leads the Lower Peninsula Division 1 boys race, while Ann Arbor Pioneer heads the Division 1 girls standings.
The voting panel considers several factors when determining rankings. The primary criterion is the team's projected finish at the state championship meet. The poll includes the top 15 teams in each of the eight Lower Peninsula divisions. Schools that received a minimum number of votes but did not make the top 15 are listed as honorable mentions.
In the boys Division 1 race, Ann Arbor Skyline sits second, followed by Traverse City West in third and Jenison in fourth. Northville holds the fifth position. The Division 1 girls race features Northville in second, Ann Arbor Skyline in third, and Hudsonville in fourth. Portage Central and Romeo round out the top five in that division.
Holland Christian leads both the Division 2 boys and girls categories. In the boys race, Pinckney is second and East Grand Rapids is third. For the girls, Grand Rapids Christian takes second place, while Otsego holds the third slot. East Grand Rapids also appears in the Division 2 girls poll at fourth.
Hanover-Horton tops the Division 3 boys list, with Hart and Lansing Catholic following in second and third. Lansing Catholic leads the Division 3 girls race, placing above Traverse City St Francis and Jackson Lumen Christi. The Division 4 boys standings are led by Holland Calvary, followed by Breckenridge and Hillsdale Academy.
Hillsdale Academy holds the first position in the Division 4 girls poll. Whitmore Lake ranks second, and Onekama is third in that division. The rankings are updated weekly throughout the high school season. The next poll is scheduled to be released for the following week of competition.
