10 Storylines - Nike Cross Nationals 2018

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ten storylines merely scratches the surface of all that goes on at Nike Cross Nationals, where every active participant is connected to an important storyline. 

All the teams in Portland this weekend are making history of some kind for their home states, their schools, their communities. Those who qualified individually also stand to make history in a season-defining event that marks progress and/or hard-earned lessons along the path of a young running career. 

Here are 10 of the most newsworthy things to follow tomorrow at Glendoveer Golf Course. 

1. The Boys Team Race. At the tip top, it looks like defending champion Loudoun Valley (Purcellville) facing Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius). The coaching match-up alone -- Joan and Marc Hunter versus Bill Aris -- feels like the stuff of legends. The F-M boys stand their best chance to finish higher than their girls team since 2005. If the top five or six can all hit strong performances together, F-M can win. Loudoun Valley's depth is a key factor in its opportunity to repeat. This team is so deep that at NXR South there was a run-off for the seventh and final team spot. Matteo Barreto and Kevin Carlson tied at 15:59.2 and neither runner knew which had crossed the line first. Marc Hunter actually had to review the finish tape to figure out which runner had finished ahead -- by a matter of inches -- and earned the seventh and final spot for the NXN lineup. 

2. Katelyn Tuohy. After her incredible performance to win the 2017 title, including the course record, what would it take to top it? Tuohy said she wants to continue to make progress from one year to the next, so she might have it in mind to go faster than she did a year ago if course conditions allow. Last year's time: 16:44.7.

3. The Girls Team Race. Naperville North was very close last year to winning the team title, losing a nail-biter to Fayetteville-Manlius 89-94. Led by Alex Morris, Naperville North has been a stalwart all season in Illinois and is ready to move up a rung. But this could also turn into another very close competition. Among the chief contenders is Summit of Bend OR (Central Oregon), vying to become the first team from the West to win the girls title. Fiona Max leads a group that is strong through seven and has no seniors. 

4. Cole Sprout vs. Liam Anderson, and others: Eight of the 10 boys invited over the summer to Nike Elite Camp are here for a blockbuster boys race that will largely settle the question of who is No. 1 in 2018. Sprout, the junior from Valor Christian CO, has been recognized at No. 1 all season in the DyeStat rankings after a record-breaking track season. And he has yet to disappoint. Anderson, the senior from Redwood (Larkspur) CA possesses a maturity and skill set that could carry the day. He was third last year and is the top returner. But look for Cole Hocker, Drew Bosley, E.J. Holland, Ryan Oosting and a few others to be in contention in the late stages of the race. 

5. California Power. It's been a big year for cross country in California, especially on the boys side. Great Oak (Temecula), West Ranch (Stevenson Ranch), Newbury Park and La Costa Canyon are all top-flight teams. California could put four boys teams in the top 10. Individually, Anderson, Nico Young, Matt Strangio and Kevin Ramos are all capable of running in the lead pack. On the girls side, Great Oak and Claremont are both factors with podium potential and Vista Murrieta could finish in the top 15. Tori Gaitan, Riley Chamberlain, Sarah Shulze, Corie Smith and Meagen Lowe all bring star power to the girls race.

6. At-large individuals. One of the most significant changes this year was the addition of 10 at-large individuals, who were selected last weekend to join the field. This move eliminates some of the problem caused when Michigan athletes are prevented from attending NXR Midwest by their state association. Nick Foster and Ericka VanderLende were both selected. Alex Maier, who was top five as a sophomore, got an at-large offer after he finished 32nd at the NXR South meet. He had been fighting pneumonia that day. Ember Stratton, seventh at the NXR Northwest meet, was the national runner-up in 2016 and has transferred from Sunset OR to Hellgate High of Missoula, Mont. 

7. Kelsey Chmiel. The senior from Saratoga Springs has been nothing short of spectacular at NXN over the years, finishing in the top five three times. She has a chance to do it a fourth time Saturday in a field full of talented young women who will no doubt be chasing after Tuohy. 

8. Doing the Double. For some of the top individuals in the race, particularly from the Midwest and South, the NXN - Foot Locker double is underway. For runners such at Katelynne Hart of Illinois and Drew Bosley of Wisconsin and London Culbreath from Texas (among others) there are two chances to get to the top of the podium. Last year, Dylan Jacobs of Sandburg IL finished 13th at NXN and seven days later became the Foot Locker champion. 

9. Talented West. Aside from Tuohy, most of the NXN individual champions over the last five years have come from Northwest and Southwest. On the girls side that list includes Alexa Efraimson (Washington), Allie Ostrander (Alaska), Katie Rainsberger (Colorado) and Brie Oakley (Colorado) before Tuohy brought it back to the East last year. On the boys side, the last five are Kai Wilmot (Washington), Tanner Anderson (Washington), Casey Clinger (twice, from Utah) and Aidan Troutner (Utah).

10. The Weather. As of Friday afternoon, post course-run through, it's raining in Northeast Portland. The course is in fair condition thanks to a drier than usual fall. Recent rains have softened things up a bit and it will no doubt get even more wet before Saturday mornings races, but in the Glendoveer Golf Course era, expect the course conditions to be on par with recent editions. Wet, but not terribly muddy.