A closer look at the NXN at-large teams

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

The NXN selection committee announced the at-large qualifiers Saturday night. Every year teams with a legitimate shot at qualifying are left home. Here is what the selected teams have done this year.

Boys

The Woodlands XC Club - South: The Highlanders were undefeated through the regular season. This included wins at the Nike South Invitational and the Texas Class 6A State Meet. Entering the state meet, The Woodlands was ranked fifth in the country and seemed like a lock to automatically qualify for NXN. However, number one runner, William Hunsdale did not compete at NXR South. The change in lineups led The Woodlands to finish third as a team at the region meet. If Hunsdale runs in Portland, the Highlanders will be a threat for the podium. (Hunsdale placed 56th at Foot Locker South on Saturday).

Dana Point XC - California: The Dolphins entered the California state meet ranked US #8. They started the season slow, more often then not running a reduced squad. Dana Hills picked up big wins at the Orange County Championships and the South Coast League Finals. Their top five ran a team time of 78:58.1, but it was not enough to beat Division 3 Cathedral Catholic of the San Diego Section, which came out guns blazing on Saturday with an unexpected performance and a cumulative time of 78:38.8.

Springville XC - Southwest: The Red Devils mixed it up all season with the best of teams in Utah and have spent time ranked in the top 30. They finished third at the Utah Class 4A State Meet in a close race with Timpanogos and Olympus, but beat both teams at NXR Southwest, where Springville put down its best performance of the season.

Mahomet XC - Midwest: The Bulldogs only lost to one team during the regular season on their way to dominating Class 2A in Illinois. That team was Class 3A Neuqua Valley, ranked US#2 in the latest rankings. Mahomet-Seymour has collected wins against the strong squads from Lake Zurich IL and Lyons Township IL this year.

Girls

Broomfield XC - Southwest: The Eagles scored close, but important, victories over Mountain Vista, the NXR Southwest winner. The biggest of those wins came at the Colorado Class 5A state meet. Broomfield has been ranked all season and as high as US #12 back in October.

Minooka XC - Midwest: Minooka came into the season with high expectations after winning the Illinois Class 3A State Meet in 2015. After a slow start to the season, Minooka made the most of October and November, finishing runner-up at the Naperville Twilight, third at the Illinois Class 3A State Meet and third again at NXR Midwest.

Palos Verdes XC - California: The Sea Kings finished second to Great Oak at the Mt. SAC Invitational, beating automatic qualifier Davis Senior. In the California state meet merge, Palos Verdes finished third, despite running in the last race of the day when the wind became a factor. The Sea Kings have been ranked as high as US #14 and currently sit at US#15.

Sunset (Portland XC) - Northwest: The Apollos were seventh at NXN last year, but suffered heavy losses from graduation. As the season has progressed, Sunset has gotten better and better. While only second at the Oregon Class 6A state meet behind non-qualifying Jesuit, the close team race at NXR Northwest, finishing only seven points behind automatic qualifier Summit. The Apollos' biggest win came at the Portland Meadows Invitational on a similar course to the one run at Portland Meadows for NXN until the national meet moved two years ago.