Double-Booked For Nike Cross Nationals 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Here's a closer look at the six schools that will be represented by full teams of boys and girls at Saturday's NXN at Glendoveer Golf Course. That number matches the all-time most double-booked programs in meet history, joining 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

Fayetteville-Manlius (New York)

Coach: Bill Aris

Double-booked years: 12

High Water Marks: Boys won the 2014 title; Girls won the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 titles

Fewest Points: Boys 111 points (2014), Girls 27 points (2010) 

Of all the superlatives that have been earned by Fayetteville-Manlius and coach Bill Aris over the years at NXN, this one demonstrates a staying power and consistency that is unmatched: The school has qualified both teams to Portland for nationals 12 years in a row and is the only one in meet history to win both champoinships on the same day. Last year was the first time since Aris started his double-booked streak that the boys scored fewer points than the girls. This is an equal opportunity program, as are the rest on this list.

Southlake Carroll (Texas)

Coach: Justin Leonard

Double-booked years: 11

High Water Marks: Boys placed second in 2011; Girls placed second in 2012

Fewest Points: Boys 95 points (2011), Girls 123 points (2005)

Southlake Carroll brought two teams to the inaugural Nike Team Nationals in 2004 and the Dragons are still at it, with historical dominance of Texas and the South region, and double bookings eight of the past 10 years. 

Greak Oak (California) 

Coach: Doug Soles

Double-booked years: 5

High Water Marks: Boys won the 2015 title; Girls placed second in 2014

Fewest Points: Boys 114 points in 2018; Girls 149 points in 2014

Great Oak's first appearances at NXN were the girls in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Since then, Great Oak's brilliance in California has been accompanied by double-bookings to nationals. Temecula has been a staple in the top 10 of both championships the past four years and should be again Saturday. 

Jesuit (Oregon)

Coach: Tom Rothenberger

Double-booked years: 3

High Water Marks: Boys placed sixth in 2004; Girls placed fourth in 2010

Fewest Points: Boys 216 points in 2004; Girls 227 points in 2010

The girls are making their ninth appearance at nationals, while the boys are in for the first time since 2008 and for the third time overall. Cross country took off at Jesuit when the school began admitting girls in 1993. 

Loudoun Valley (Virginia)

Coaches: Joan and Marc Hunter

Double-booked years: 1

High Water Marks: Boys won the 2017 and 2018 titles; Girls are making their first appearance

Fewest Points: Boys 77 points in 2018

This program, coached by the mother and father of Drew Hunter, the 2015 Foot Locker champion, seemed to catch fire after his graduation. The past two years, Loudoun Valley has been as dominant as any boys team in the NXN/NTN era, and scored a record-low 77 points to win the 2018 championship. The growth of the program is evident in the rise of the girls team this fall, which is making its first national appearance after placing sixth at NXR Southeast last year.

Newbury Park (California)

Coach: Sean Brosnan

Double-booked years: 1

High Water Marks: Boys placed sixth in 2018; Girls are making their first appearance

Fewest Points: Boys 236 points in 2018

Newbury Park is a fast-rising program that had never won a state championship in cross country until the boys did it in 2018. Nico Young has been the No. 1-ranked male runner in the country much of the season and his team has a good chance of winning the national title. But the girls program has come alive, too, and won its first CIF state title last weekend.

Double-Booked Programs Of The Past - 

Saratoga Springs NY (2) - 2005, 2012

Yankon SD (1) - 2005

Dana Hills CA (1) - 2008

The Woodlands TX (2) - 2010, 2012

Carmel IN (3) - 2012, 2013, 2014

Davis UT (3) - 2012, 2013, 2014

Wayzata MN (3) - 2013, 2014, 2017 

American Fork UT (2) - 2014, 2015

La Salle RI (1) - 2014

Bozeman MT (2) - 2015, 2016

Edina MN (2) - 2015, 2016

Summit OR (1) - 2016

Mountain Vista CO (2) - 2017, 2018