It's Very Close At The Top Heading Into NXN

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

With five NXR Regional meets complete, the national picture has become more clear. Summit OR continues to lead the way, but the gap to Naperville (North) IL and Great Oak CA remains as narrow as ever.

Outside the top few teams, early season favorites Mountain Vista CO and Wayzata MN are lining up to make a possible run at the podium at NXN, having already successfully navigated NXR meets with victories.

New York teams Saratoga Springs, Fayetteville-Manlius and Liverpool could provide an interesting race this weekend at NXR New York. F-M tied Liverpool and won on the sixth-runner tiebreaker to advance to the New York state meet. But it was Saratoga Springs that came away with the one-point win at state. Any of the three teams could win this weekend.

In the final week of in-season rankings, the Northwest leads all other regions with six ranked teams, including four in the top 14. The Midwest and California each have five, with each putting two teams into the top six. The Southwest and Heartland regions each add four ranked teams to the mix. For the second time this season, all nine NXR regions are represented in the Top 30.

Girls Top 30

1. Summit OR

2. Naperville (North) IL

3. Great Oak CA

4. Yorkville IL

5. Mountain Vista CO

6. Claremont CA

7. Wayzata MN

8. Jesuit OR

9. Downers Grove (South) IL

10. Boise ID

11. Saratoga Springs NY

12. Fayetteville-Manlius NY

13. Liverpool NY

14. Hellgate MT

15. Edina MN

16. Granada CA

17. St. Michael-Albertville MN

18. Battle Mountain CO

19. North Central WA

20. Niwot CO

21. Muskego WI

22. Lone Peak UT

23. Vista Murrieta CA

24. Lewisville Flower Mound TX

25. Beavercreek OH

26. Mission Viejo CA

27. North Hunterdon NJ

28. Bozeman MT

29. Clarkston MI

30. Marietta GA