Many of the questions and prognostications surrounding the 2004 cross country season will be settled in mid November when the Massachusetts’ best harriers gather at the starting line of the All-State championships over Gardner Golf Course’s 2.9-mile route.

Of course, one would need a crystal ball to pick the winning teams and individuals. Still, there’s enough of both to make an educated guest as to who will be reaping the rewards in when the biggest meet of the season arrives.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, Newton North senior Chris Barnicle is the overwhelming favorite to capture the Division 1 state title - and rightly so. Barnicle, who clocked an 8:50 2 mile last spring to defeat Belmont’s superb Victor Gras (now at Michigan), was third in the Div. 1 race on the relentless Northfield Mountain course as a junior and went on to finish a strong 10th in the FootLocker Northeast Regional Championships against a loaded field at Van Cortlandt Park. Look for a top-three finish from the fearless front-runner in New York after running away with the Div. 1 state title.

Look for Lexington’s Paul Morris to challenge Barnicle. Morris, who is easily one of the most consistent distance runners in Massachusetts, had a breakthrough season on the track during the winter and was even better last spring. A tenacious runner, Morris runs smart and is never out of a race. Morris, though, can’t match Barnicle’s kick but he’s the best bet to push the Tiger star.

The Division 2 race is a little more wide open with Bishop Feehan junior Christian Guliano and Dedham senior Rex Radloff leading the way. The twosome finished 3-4 in last year’s race and were consistent throughout the entire season. Alexander Vander Baan of Whitinsville Christian ran well for fourth and should be a big factor this season, along with Blackstone-Millville sophomore Jeff Hill.

The Div. 2 event, though, could come down to who has the best day with a host of other runners who could steal the race with supreme efforts. Mohawk Trail senior Sam Sylvester, Edison Parzanese of Martha’s Vineyard and Bromfield’s Sam Brown could all be in the mix.

Bishop Feehan, which made history last year by becoming the first team to capture both the boys and girls Div. 2 title in the same season expect to be competitive. But according to head coach Bob L’Homme, the major question is just how close to the front the team will be.

"It’s too early to tell," said L’Homme, whose boys squad also captured titles in 1987 and 1992 at Northfield. "What I do have is eight or nine runners who can run within a minute of each other.

Feehan has some experience runners back in Joe Keenan, Andy Lynch and Chris Parry. The team also added former soccer player Chris Rizzo, Eric Fullerton, Colin Rand and Paul Doran. Along with Mohawk Trail and Bromfield, L’Homme considers Martha’s Vineyard, East Bridgewater, Oliver Ames and Mansfield to be among the state’s best. Hanover, which has already defeated East Bridgewater in dual-meet competition, could be a factor as well.

"I haven’t seen too many teams yet," L’Homme said.

Lindsey Donaldson dominated Massachusetts cross country in her first season last fall after switching from soccer. With Donaldson, Fitchburg’s Christine Laakso and Heather Wilson of Danvers all graduated, Amherst-Pelham’s Spring Greeney is the top returnee after a fourth-place finish in the Div. 1 state meet.

Greeney, though, should have plenty of competition from Concord-Carlisle junior Cassi Knight, Chelmsford’s Meghan Curran and Emily Bourdreau of Longmeadow. Amherst-Pelham and Oliver Ames look to have strong teams, along with Newton North and Chelmsford.

The Div. 2 team race should be a dandy with Wellesley, Mohawk Trail, Bromfield and Mansfield battling things out. And don’t forget Bishop Feehan, the defending champs. Feehan, which has a small army of 55 harriers on this season’s squad, returns Julia Gaudet, Emily Thomas and Julie Tarallo from last fall’s superb campaign. Add soccer transplant LeAnn Benson and freshman Alyssa Griffin to the mix and L’Homme likes his team’s chances for another strong season.

"We’re trying to be real competitive in the class meet," he said. "And if we make it [to the All-States] we’ll see where we are.

As for acheiving the double wins of last fall, L’Homme doesn’t count it out. "We were the underdogs last year," he said. "People know you and they’re going to gun for you. I’m always aiming high. We’d have to stay healthy and really acheive."

There should be a strong pack up front vying for the state title with Mohawk Trail’s Ritc Marcotte, Wellesley’s Alexandra Krieg, Brielle Chabot and Ryan Jane Jacoby leading the the tough Bay State League squad. Hania Thomas-Adams of Frontier Regional and Marblehead’s Michelle Cox and Kylynn McKinley are strong favorites to finish in the top five.

Runners to watch: Jesse Regnier, Ludlow; Josh Boone, Gardner; Tim Cunningham, Wachusett Reg; Matthew Tieuli, St. John’s Shrewsbury; Payton Preston, Dennis-Yarmouth; Ian Crotty, Bridgewater-Raynham; Brian Gagnon, Lowell; Jon Kalinoski, Chelmsford; Jefferson Welch, Haverhill; Sam Brown, Bromfield; Steve O’Brien, Groton Dunstable; Matt Meagher, Mansfield; Jack Kilcommons, Archbishop Williams; Bart Walsh, Sutton; Conor Welch, Newburyport; Joe Keenan, Bishop Feehan; Andy Mulvaney, South Hadley; Jesse Regnier, Ludlow; Josh Boone, Gardner; Tim Cunningham Wachusett Reg.; Matthew Tieuli, St. John's Shrewsbury; Payton Preston Dennis-Yarmouth; Ian Crotty, Bridgewater-Raynham; Brian Gagnon, Lowell; Jon Kalinoski, Chelmsford; Jefferson Welch, Haverhill; Dan Chebet, Newton North; Brian Hunt, Amherst Regional; David Polgar, Newton North; Chris McLaughlin, Wachusett; Mike Miranda, Methuen; Taylor Burmeister, Concord-Carlisle; Rich Bertino, Whitman-Hanson; Kyle Galuski, Cam bridge R&L; David Lopes, Brockton; Connor Westfall, Hamilton-Wenham; Jeffrey Hill, Blackstone Mill; Sam Sylvester, Mohawk Trail; Edison Parzanese, Martha's Vineyard; Sam Brown, Bromfield; Steve O'Brien, Groton Dunstable; Matt Meagher, Mansfield; Jack Kilcommons, Archbishop Williams; Bart Walsh, Sutton; Conor Welch, Newburyport; Joe Keenan, Bishop Feehan; Andy Mulvaney, South Hadley; Matt Tuths, Medfield; Kevin Fitzgerald, Canton; Robert Keller,Wayland; Josh Bickford, Sutton; Andrew Lynch, Bishop Feehan; Ross Turner, Mohawk Trail; Linc Halloran, Newburyport; Mark Burnham, Mohawk Trail; Nate Sharpe, Canton; Patrick Foster, Bromfield; Chris Funch, Groton Dunstable; Jesse Randle, Sandwich; Meghan Curran, Chelmsford; Emily Boudreau, Longmeadow; Ibtahij Amatui-Wadud, Springfield Central; Jill McNabb, Lexington; Cailey Condit, Amherst Regional; Emily Gasper Chelmsford; Laura Haapanen Marlborough; Melissa Nash Marshfield; Liz Bacon Newton South; Katie Jinks Salem; Jackie Oates O liver Ames; Amanda Rawson Shepherd Hill; Niina Heikkinen Amherst Regional; Colleen McNaughton Haverhill; Kasey Black Whitman-Hanson; Anna Welch Wahconah; Kate Knowles Chelmsford; Jill Sergi Franklin; Becca MacDonald Weymouth; Kate Rizzolo Franklin; Kristen Wood Tantasqua; Carolyn Clayton Northampton; Melissa Lacey Amherst; Allison Conner North Middlesex; Carolyn Ianello Cathedral; Vicki Weismann Wachusett; Kristina Lacasse Attleboro; Stacie Binney Oliver Ames; Sarah Croteau Oakmont; Daria Pause Amherst Regional; Kimberly Shooshan Wachusett;. Julia Bond Lexington; Noelle Horelik Lowell; Hania Thomas-Adams Frontier Regional; Ryan Jane Jacoby Wellesley; Kailin Collins Mansfield; Eliza Hawkins Mohawk Trail; Rachel Venezia Canton; Lindley Bell Mt. Greylock; Julia Gaudet Bishop Feehan; Sheila Brady Bishop Feehan; Lily Calderwood Bromfield; Lauren Philbrook Hopkinton; Julie Zaia Medfield; Allison Flanders Martha's Vineyard; Kate Brague Mansfield; Jackie Lemme Mt. Greylock; Sadiea W illiams Lunenburg; Liz Powers Wellesley; Gwen Mayhew Martha's Vineyard; Julie Tarallo Bishop Feehan; Liz Lee Bromfield; Melissa Hine South Hadley; Emily Thomas Bishop Feehan; Nicole Svirsky Newburyport; Brooks Maguire Marblehead; Margret Cardenas Bromfield; Becca Fournier Mohawk Trail; Barbara O'Connell Winchester; Amanda Lynch Cardinal Spellman; Karen Lovely Marblehead; Cheryl Martin St. Joseph Central; Louisa Loring Hampshire Regional; Cara Giaimo Dover/Sherborn; Greta Wicklund Sacred Heart; Ali Sardonini Nipmuc Regional.