Distance campers due for arrival at Nike Elite Camp

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Twenty of the nation's top high school cross country athletes are due to arrive at Nike Elite Camp on Wednesday in Oregon. 

This year's roster of campers includes a reigning Foot Locker champion and two podium placers from last December's Nike Cross Nationals. Over the course of four days, the 10 boys and 10 girls at the camp will have a rare look inside Nike, meet some of the top coaches in running, and take part in a variety of daily activities. 

Here’s a quick look at this year’s distance campers:

Girls

Kelsey Chmiel, Saratoga Springs NY: The New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2-mile champion will make a return trip to Nike Elite Camp. Her sparkling sophomore year was highlighted by 9:59.62 3,200 meters at the Loucks Games and a new PR in the 3,000 of 9:18.09. The returning New York Class A and Federation champion was fifth at NXN last year.

Jacqueline Gaughan, Exeter NH: She ran 10:05.71 for 3,200 at the Loucks Games to break the all-time New Hampshire record as a junior. The reigning New England cross country champion placed 11th at Foot Locker nationals.

Lexy Halladay, Mountain View ID: During a sensational freshman campaign, she broke all-time Idaho records in the 1,500 meters (4:26.59) and the mile (4:41.80). In cross country last fall she rebounded from a collapse at her district meet to win the Class 5A state title and went on to place 16th at NXN.

Annie Hill, Glacier MT: She is making a repeat appearance at Nike Elite Camp after sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the Montana state track championships this spring. Hill ran a PR 4:19.42 in the 1,500 at the Portland Track Festival in June. Hill has competed at Foot Locker twice and NXN once in her first three seasons.

Claudia Lane, Malibu CA: Who can forget the way that she ran side by side with Brie Oakley in the 3,200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational in April? She won that race in a personal best 9:57.52. Lane took the country by storm in the fall of 2016, cruising to a California Division 4 state title and also winning the Foot Locker national crown. 

Katherine Lee, Shoreham-Wading River NY: She anchored her team to national championships in the 4x800 and 4xMile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in June. She also ran PRs of 4:23.48 (1,500) and 9:26.78 (3,000) on the track. Last fall she was the New York Class B champion and won the NXR New York regional. She was 10th at NXN.

Grace Ping, Cotter MN: After a year living in Utah with her family, the age-group phenomenon returns to high school for her freshman year in Minnesota. She is the world record holder for 13-year olds in the 5,000 meters after running 16:25.63 at the Portland Track Festival on June 11.

Taylor Roe, Lake Stevens WA: She swept the Class 4A titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in Washigton this spring and beat Lexy Halladay in the mile when they ran head to head at the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays, going 4:45.97. She is already a two-time state champion in cross country.

Ember Stratton, Sunset OR: She had one of the best cross country seasons in Oregon history last year as a sophomore and matched Ella Donaghu by placing second at NXN. Hampered just a bit by injury this spring, Stratton is looking forward to a healthy return to the trails this fall.

Rebecca Story, Christian Academy of Knoxville TN: She swept all three distance events at the Tennessee state meet this spring and ran 4:45.63 to win the mile at the Music City Distance Carnival. She finished third at last year's Foot Locker Cross Country Championship.

Boys

Gabe Fendel, Hamilton Southeastern IN: The front-running Fendel sped to a time of 4:04.70 to win the Indiana state title in the 1,600 meters. He also ran 8:50.56 to finish 10th -- behind nine seniors -- at the Arcadia Invitational 3,200 meters. 

Brodey Hasty, Brentwood TN: He enjoyed a sensational track season that began indoors with his victory at the New Balance Nationals 2-mile (8:45.16). He also ran 4:01.75 and 8:45.95 for the mile and 2-mile, respectively, outdoors. Both are Tennesee all-time records. Last fall, Hasty was the NXR Southeast champion and finished third at NXN.

Dalton Hengst, McDonogh School MD: He won the mile at the Penn Relays with a PR 4:09.99. The Maryland and D.C. Private Schools champion in cross country went on to place fifth at Foot Locker Northeast and 21st at Foot Locker nationals. 

Dustin Horter, Lakota East OH: He won the Ohio state title in the 1,600 meters and also ran a best mile of 4:07.82 at the Brooks PR Invitational. Horter won the Ohio Division 1 state title last fall and advanced to NXN after taking fourth at NXR Midwest.

Dylan Jacobs, Sandburg IL: He ran 4:09.09 at the Magis Miles after taking ninth at the Illinois Class 3A state meet. He placed third at the Illinois state meet in cross country last year and won the Foot Locker Midwest regional. He advanced to both national cross country championships, taking 19th at NXN and 11th at Foot Locker.

Danny Kilrea, Lyons Township IL: He placed fourth in the 3,200 meters at the Illinois Class 3A state meet this spring. He ran a mile PR of 4:12.81 at the Magis Miles. In cross country, he was the NXR Midwest champion and placed 13th at NXN. 

James Mwaura, Lincoln WA: The junior from Tacoma won the Washington Class 3A title in the 3,200 meters. Last fall he won the Washington state title, NXR Northwest and BorderClash in three successive weekends before placing 18th at NXN.

Andy Monroe, Crater OR: Monroe suffered a partially torn plantar midway through the Oregon Class 5A 3,000 meters final and fought through the pain to win the race. He is recovering from the injury and gearing up for his senior year of cross country. He is the reigning 5A state champion and a two-time NXN qualifier.

Joshua Schumacher, Jesuit OR: The son of Bowerman Track Club coach Jerry Schumacher capped off his junior season of track by running 8:53.62 in the 2-mile at the Brooks PR Invite. He then ran 14:29.42 in the 5,000 at USATF Juniors. He won his first state track title in the 3,000 meters in May (8:29.91) a few minutes after his sister won the girls race. He was 27th at Foot Locker last December.

Scott Thompson, Brentwood TN: He posted strong times of 4:08.22 for the mile at the Festival of Miles and 8:57.18 for the 3,200 at the Music City Distance Carnival. He helped Brentwood take third as a team at NXN last year.