Last year, the Lawrence High boys’ cross country team was ranked No. 1 in Class 6A most of the season. The Lions will start this season the same way.

The Kansas Cross Country Coaches Assn. voted LHS, which finished second at state last year, No. 1 in their preseason poll, released Friday. Free State High, which was third at state, was tied with OP Aquinas at No. 5.

Defending state champion Shawnee Mission Northwest was ranked No. 2, followed by Shawnee Mission East and Olathe East.

The Free State girls’ team also comes in at No. 5, followed by LHS at No. 6.

Defending champ Shawnee Mission Northwest in No. 1, followed by Blue Valley Northwest, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission East.

The Baldwin High boys’ team, which has won the last four state titles, comes in at No. 1, followed by Tonganoxie.

The Bulldog girls’ team is ranked second, behind El Dorado. Ottawa comes in at No. 7.