2022 Nike Cross Nationals - Girls Race Preview

Photo: Irene Riggs on her way to the win at NXR Southeast Regional on November 26 (NikeCrossNationals.com Photo)

 

By Michael Newman, DyeStat TFX National Editor

NXN Meet Website | Watch the NXN Championships here | Meet Entries

 

It seems like it was yesterday when Kinetic XC Club stepped to the starting line at Portland’s Glendoveer Golf Course to win the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals by 82 points. Then there was the gap of two years where we did not meet at this golf course on the east side of the “Rose City” due to the COVID pandemic.

 

This Saturday, here we go again. 12 club teams make their first appearance at the Nike Cross Nationals. At the same time, some things never change. Kinetic XC Club is back to defend their NXN title. They do that with four runners on the 2019 team ready to toe the starting line. They will know what to expect with the course especially if it rains this week to make the footing a little softer.

 

It is not a certain lock for the Blue Streaks to win their fourth NXN Girls Team Championship. There are up to six club teams that could challenge for one of the top three podium spots. Kinetic XC Club scoring only 19 points to win the NXR New York race on November 27 shows they are up to the challenge.

 

Following the race can be misleading especially with 45 individual runners in this field. There could be four to five team runners that are projected to be in the top 21 that could get low points for their team. It also displays how many elite runners throughout the United States have qualified for this race from eight regional meets and the California State Meet.

 

Individuals

There will be a new individual championship in 2022 with 3-time winner Katelyn Touhy (2017-2019) now doing her great things at North Carolina State University. When a runner takes down one of Tuohy’s high school course records, then you need to pay more attention. Such is the case with Irene Riggs of Morgantown WV when she shattered Tuohy’s WakeMed Athletic Complex course record by 20 seconds running an amazing 16:02.1 time for 5-kilometer course. Riggs at her state meet on October 29 ran 16:32 on a tough Midland XC Course to win by more than two minutes. The senior is the hottest runner in the nation and will be the runner to watch on Saturday morning.

Riggs is not a lock to win but will be tough to finish ahead of her. This field is good. Here are some of the other runners to watch for in this race:

Abbey Nechanicky, Wayzata MN – Nechanicky has been one of the elite runners in the country and in her state picking up wins at the Roy Griak Invitational at the end of September and the MSHSL AAA State Championship on November 5. The senior made it to this race with her team by winning the NXR Heartland Championship on November 13 with a 16:44.7 time winning by 18 seconds. Nechanicky had a good track campaign last spring including running 10:09.50 for 3200-meters in winning at her state meet and then running 10:10.17 for third-place at 2-miles at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

Brooke Wilson, Valor Christian CO – One of the runners that you could see finish in the top five in this race. Wilson qualified for the trip to Portland by finishing third at the NXR Southwest Regional Championship. The senior won the CHSAA 5A State Championship on October 29. Wilson also picked up a win at the Desert Twilight XC Invitational in Arizona at the end of September. She did run in the last NXN race on this course in 2019 as a freshman finishing 91st.

Grace Schager, Glenbard North IL – One of the runners that has jumped up big into the national scene this fall. Schager qualified for NXN by running 16:50 to finish second at the NXR Midwest Championship. The senior went through the Illinois XC season undefeated running under 16:10 for 3-miles four time. She ran the fastest time of the day (16:40.4) at a muddy Detweiller Park in winning the IHSA 3A State Championship. Schager ran 10:17.12 in winning the 3A 3200 Meter Run at the IHSA State Meet last spring.

Tatum David, Richland County IL – David had success in the NXN meet in 2019 as a freshman finishing 17th overall. She missed last fall’s cross country season while attending IMG Academy due to an injury. David came on strong last track season back in Illinois winning the Class 2A State 3200 and 1600 Meter Run (10:04.02/4:47.52) and then running 4:42.15 in winning at HOKA Festival of Miles. David qualified for NXN by finishing third at the NXR Midwest Regional. David also won her second Class 2A State Championship on November 5. David is coming off winning the Champs Midwest Championship last Saturday.

Paityn Noe, Ballard IA – Noe is running strong at the end of this season after winning the Iowa 3A State title. Noe qualified for this meet by finishing second behind Abbey Nechanicky at the NXR Heartland Championships. The finish was the same between the two runners at the Roy Griak Invitational at the end of September. Noe led most of the CHAMPS Midwest Regional last Saturday before finishing third. She had a good track season winning the Drake Relays 3000 Meter Run (9:53.31) before winning the 3A State race at the same distance.

Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa MI – Sachs ran the second fastest time ever at the Lavern Gibson Course (16:47.9) in winning the NXR Midwest Regional. The sophomore won 11 of 14 races she was in this season including winning the MHSAA LP D1 State title on November 5. Sachs also qualified for the CHAMPS Midwest Regional finishing fifth. She was all-state in the 1600 Meter Run and 3200 Meter Run as a freshman this past spring.

Lily Cridge, Bishop Chatard IN – The top runner in Indiana was undefeated during the regular season including winning the Indiana State Championship. Cridge ran 12 seconds faster (17:02.3) in qualifying for the NXN Championships by finishing fourth on the Lavern Gibson XC Course in the NXR Midwest Regional. Cridge also won the Indiana State title in 2021.

Hanne Thomsen, Montgomery CA – Thomsen was undefeated in her sophomore season which included winning the CIF California D3 State Championship by 29 seconds last Saturday. Some of Thomsen’s big wins came this season at the Nike Portland XC on September 24 and the Asics Clovis Invitational on October 8. Thomsen won the CIF State Meet as a freshman last May in the 3200 Meter Run with a personal best time of 10:06.89.

Emma Stutzman, Pomona CO – The senior made it to Portland by finishing fifth at the NXR Southwest Regional. Stutzman finished second in the CHSAA Class 5A State Meet. She also ran a personal best of 16:44 to win the Liberty Bell Invitational on September 10. Stutzman was all-state all four years of high school including a state title in 2021. She also won the NXR Southwest Individual title in 2021.

Runners to Watch – Isabel Allori, Liberty Common OH; Sophia Kennedy, Park Tudor IN; Andie Aagard, Lone Peak UT, Liesel Kehoe, Edmond North OK; Isabel Conde de Frankenberg, Cedar Park TX.

 

Teams

Kinetic XC Club (Saratoga Springs NY)

Runners – Alycia Hart JR, McKinley Wheeler SR, Sheridan Wheeler SR, Natalie Wilding 08, Anya Belisle JR, Emily Bush JR, Heidi Berglund 08

Preview – This team comes in as the favorite in the Girls race. McKinley and Sheridan Wheeler along with Emily Bush and Anya Belisle all ran in the 2019 NXN Meet on this course. The Wheeler sisters led their team last week at the NXR New York Regional finishing second and third. The team’s top four split in that race was only 22 seconds. There was a 57 second gap between Bush and Alycia Hart. The top five split in their state race was 53 seconds. The Blue Streaks will have the most talent among the 22 teams in this race and could place four runners in the top 21. Do not be surprised if this team’s top runner finishes between 30th and 35^th places overall. Kinetic XC should score between 93 to 103 points which will be enough to repeat as the Girls NXN Champions. This is their 15th appearance in the Nike Cross Nationals, the most of all teams in this race.

Mount Prospect XC Club (Prospect IL)

Runners – Hailey Erickson SR, Lily Ginsberg SR, Cameron Kalaway SR, Samantha Patterson SR, Meg Peterson FR, Veronica Znajda SO

Preview – There are six teams that will challenge for a trophy behind Kinetic. The team that is running with the most momentum is Mount Prospect XC Club who appears in this meet for the first time. The Knights had the lowest point total in state history in winning the 3A State Championships. Their pack was just as strong eight days later in winning the NXR Midwest Regional with their top four runners finishing within eight seconds of each other with Hailey Erickson, Lily Ginsberg, Meg Peterson, and Veronica Znajda. Their top five split was 47 seconds in that race. Their top five split in the state race was only 26 seconds with five runners in the top 18. Keeping their top four runners that close and perhaps getting either Samantha Patterson or Cameron Kalaway within 10-15 seconds of that front pack will be something to watch for. The Knights could score between 140-150 points with their pack starting at between 50th to 52nd place.

Clovis XC Club (Buchanan CA)

Runners – Grace Hutchison SR, Sierra Cornett SO, Sydney Sundgren SR, Kynlee Buckley FR, Elle Lomeli SO, Avery Hutchison SO, Tayler Torosian FR

Preview – One of those hot teams that will contend for a trophy. This is the third time that Clovis XC Club will run in this race. The Bears come into this meet after winning their third straight CIF D1 State championship dominating the race winning by over 100 points. Grace Hutchison led three runners in the top 10 in that race along with Sierra Cornett and Tayler Torosian. Their state meet top five split was 63 seconds with a split of 28 seconds on their top four runners. This team is young with five of their top seven runners either freshmen or sophomores. This team though is extremely talented. Clovis XC Club could have three runners in the top 20 team places with their top runner Hutchison possibly finishing in the top 35 overall. The team could score between 150 to 160 points but will need to keep their top five split under 55 seconds to earn a trophy.

Waxhaw XC Club (Cuthbertson NC)

Runners – Lily Nasta SR, Charlotte Bell JR, Ava Walters SO, Justine Preisano JR, Alyssa Preisano SR, Stella Kermes JR, Josie Schihl FR

Preview – Waxhaw XC Club made their presence known on the level finishing third behind Clovis XC Club at the beginning of the year at the Woodbridge XC Classic. They have been on a roll ever since easily winning the NCHSAA 4A State Championship, and then last week winning the NXR Southeast Regional by 73 points. Stella Kermes won the individual state title and finished second last week and will be the top runner on this team possibly finishing in the top 20 overall. Charlotte Bell along with sisters Alyssa and Justine Preisano give the team a solid pack behind Kermes. The team’s top five split was 86 seconds in their state race with their split from Bell to Lillian Nasta was 42 seconds. The top five split closed to 55 seconds last week. They will need a similar type of race on Saturday with a split under 65 seconds. Their team scorers with 5 runners in the top 74 with a point total between 175 to 185 points with an average race is something to watch for.

Elmhurst XC Club (York IL)

Runners – Lily Beerhalter SR, Bria Bennis SR, Brooke Berger SR, Katherine Klimek JR, Maggie Owens SR, Michaela Quinn JR, Maggie Quinn FR

Preview – Elmhurst XC Club only scored 58 points (fourth best ever in an IHSA State Meet) but still finished second behind Mt. Prospect XC Club. The two teams finished 1-2 two the next week at the NXR Midwest Regional. This would have won both meets in any other year. I would not count out the Dukes in finishing in the top five or possibly higher. Bria Bennis, who finished third in her state race, has been the top runner for this team all season. Michaela Quinn was just a place ahead of Bennis in the regional race. Katherine Klimek finished in the top 10 in the state meet but was the team’s fifth runner just with freshman Maggie Quinn. Brooke Berger was among the top three pack during the season. She dropped back in the state race missing all-state by one place. She responded as the team’s third runner in the regional race. A key for this team is to keep their top four (Bennis, Mi Quinn, Berger, and Klimek) need to stay close to each other. Bennis is a possibility to finish in the top 15 team runners. The next three runners need to stay within 20 to 23 seconds of each other. Elmhurst XC Club could score near 185 to 190 points and have their first six runners in the top 61 team places.

Niwot XC Club (Niwot CO)

Meet Runners – Anna Prok FR, Bella Nelson SO, Mia Prok JR, Maddie Shults SR, Lex Bullen SR, Addy Ritzenhein FR, Olivia Alessandrini JR

Preview – Niwot was the dominant team in their state and region throughout this season. They scored 42 points to win the Desert Twilight Invitational at the end of September in a meet that was dominated by Colorado schools. The Cougars easily won the Class 4A State Meet with their top five stacked between second and sixth places. Niwot earned their trip to the NXN Championships by winning the NXR Southwest Regional by just 17 points. Addison Ritzenhein has been the team’s top runner in their past two races. Mia and Anna Prok led the pack 14 seconds behind Ritzenhein. Olivia Alessandrini, Maddie Shults, and Lex Bullen were only separated in the regional race by 10 seconds. Any of those three runners could be in the top five on Saturday. Niwot could finish as high as second in this meet. The team only had a 34 second top five split two weeks ago. They will need that kind of race but have to have their top five closer to the front. Niwot is also projected to score 182 to 190 points similar to Elmhurst Track Club. This is Niwot’s third appearance in this race.

Flower Mound XC Club (Flower Mound TX)

Runners – Abbey Coberly SR, Natalie Spangher JR, Alex Fox SO, Nicole Humphries JR, Samantha Humphries JR, Bailey Hooley JR, Ava Cole SO

Preview – Flower Mound XC Club were one of four teams that received at-large invitations to run Saturday in Portland. This is their second trip to Portland with their first coming in 2018. The Jaguars missed the top two auto-qualifying spots by 10 points as they finished third at the NXR South Regional. They finished third without one of their top five runners Ava Cole in the race. The sophomore was the team’s fifth runner when Flower Mound won the UIL 6A State Championship. Nicole and Samantha Humphries along with Alex Fox led the team with a 1-2-3 finish separated by just 12 seconds. The three runners were separated by 17 seconds in the regional race led by Samantha Humphries finishing fifth. The three runners could finish in the top 30 overall with them finishing in the top 7 in team scoring. Their split from three to four is too big. Their state split between the first three and the pack was 59 seconds. The gap was 70 seconds in their regional race. A closer split could mean the difference of contending for a trophy or finishing just in the top 10. They could be fifth to seventh with an average race scoring between anywhere from 185 points to 195 points.

Lone Peak XC Club (Lone Peak UT)

Runners – Zoey Nilsson FR, Andie Aagard JR, Ashley Favero SO, Boston Bybee SO, Addie Meldrum JR, Brielle Nilsson FR, Anna Bybee FR

Preview – The UHSAA 6A State Champions ran a great race to make it to the Nike Cross Nationals finishing second by 17 points behind a good Niwot team. This team is young with five of their top seven runners either freshmen or sophomores. State Champion and NXR Southwest champion Andie Aagard will lead this team up front. She should be one of the top team runners in this meet and could finish among the top 15 overall. There is a nice tight pack behind their star runner. Their 2-5 pack behind second runner Addie Meldrum was just 19 seconds. It lowered to 12 seconds in the regional race. Aagard will get low points for her team in this race. The split behind her and the pack needs to be under 60 seconds. It was 46 seconds in her state race, 76 seconds in the regional race. Their team score is projected to be between 210 to 225 points. Lone Peak also appeared in this meet in 2019.

Wayzata XC Club (Wayzata MN)

Runners – Teegan Anderson SR, Maddie Gullickson FR, Aly Kleyman SO, Grace Mignone SR, Abbey Nechanicky SR, Aubrey Smith 08, Grace Weber SR

Previews – Wayzata will look for a top 10 finish after a dominating win at the NXR Heartland Regional Championships on November 13 winning by 65 points. This will be the sixth time in this meet for Wayzata XC Club. The Trojans scored 39 points in winning the MSHSL Class 3A Meet. Abbey Nechanicky is the one of the individual favorites in this race and leads this team. The importance of a tight pack behind their star runner will be important. The split off second runner Teegan Anderson in the state race was 46 seconds. The split in regionals again off Anderson was just 22 seconds with their pack 74 seconds behind Nechanicky. Wayzata XC Club is projected to score between 220 to 235 points.

Carroll XC Club (Southlake Carroll TX)

Runners – Audrey Dunn SR, Elizabeth Smits SO, Sylvia Schwedler JR, Charlotte Martin JR, Natalie Ng SR, Ava Bushaw SR, Sarayu Veluri SO

Preview – Carroll XC Club makes their 14th overall team appearance at Nike Cross Nationals after winning the NXR South Regional. Carroll finished second in the UIL 6A State Meet by just nine points behind Flower Mound. Ava Bushaw has been the team’s top runner in their last two races. Sylvia Schwedler and Audrey Dunn give this team a strong duo leading their pack. Charlotte Martin was inserted into the team’s top seven after she won the Regional Open race. Martin was within eight seconds of Carroll’s fourth runner Elizabeth Smits. It will give the team a boost in this race. Carroll is projected to score between 225 to 240 points led by Bushaw possibly finishing in the top 30 overall.

Lucas XC Club (Lucas Lovejoy TX)

Runners – Kailey Littlefield JR, Kate Carlson JR, Camryn Benson FR, Sara Morefield JR, Jocelyn Chapman FR, Amy Morefield SR, Peyton Benson JR

Preview – Lucas XC Club makes their first trip to Portland for the Nike Cross Nationals. They qualified for Saturday’s race by finishing three points behind Carroll XC Club in the NXR South Regional. Sisters Amy and Sara Morefield should be the top runners for their team. The split from their third through fifth runners in their regional race was just six seconds led by Camryn Benson, Kailey Littlefield, and Peyton Benson. Their top five split when they won the UIL 5A State Meet was just 22 seconds with five runners in the top 12. The team will again have a tight split on their scorers in this race but will need to move that pack closer to the front. They are projected to score between 260 to 270 points in this meet.

Academy XC Club (Air Academy CO)

Runners – Lauren Myers FR, Emily Beers SO, Tessa Walter SO, Bethany Michalak JR, Jordan Banta FR, Sofia Kunstle JR, Olivia Chura SO

Preview – Academy XC Club makes it to the NXN Championships for the first time after being one of four at-large teams invited to run in Portland. The Kadets finished third at the NXR Southwest Regional after winning the CHSAA 5A State Championship. Tessa Walter and Bethany Michalak finished 5-6 in their state race to lead their team. Michalak finished fourth overall in the regional race to lead their team. She could earn All-American honors with a good race finishing in the top 20 overall runners. Walter could be in the top 20 team runners. The Kadets could score near 300 points in this meet.

Los Altos XC Club (Los Altos CA)

Runners – Lydia Anderson FR, Emily Soobrian S0, Lauren Soobrian SR, Fiona Bodkin SR, Jasleen Sidhu JR, Emma Beedon FR, Madeline Randall JR

Preview – Los Altos XC Club makes their first trip to the Nike Cross Nationals after winning the CIF D2 State Meet last Saturday. The team ran a 52 second split on their top five in that race led by sisters Emily and Lauren Soobrian. Both sisters could be in the top 50 team runners in this race. The team is projected to score between 315 to 330 points.

Moraga XC Club (Campolindo CA)

Runners – Kate Kabenina JR, Sloan Pullen SO, Caroline McCool SR, Rachel Moen JR, Ellie Buckley SR, Shea Volkmer JR, Makena Weberski JR

Preview – Moraga XC Club was one of four at-large teams to be invited to this year’s Nike Cross Nationals. The Cougars made it NXN by winning the CIF D3 State XC Championship. Ellie Buckley and Shea Volkmer were the team’s top runners in last week’s race. The team had a 64 second split on their top five runners. The two runners could be among the top 30 team runners on Saturday. Moraga XC Club could be in the top 15 teams in this meet that could score between 335 to 350 points.

San Juan Capistrano XC Club (J Serra CA)

Runners – Kaylah Tasser FR, Brynn Garcia SO, Anastasia Snodgrass SR, Summer Wilson FR, Brooke O’Brien JR, Ellie Johnson SR, Georgia Jeanneret JR

Preview – This team is an up and coming team in southern California with five of their top seven runners underclassmen. San Juan Capistrano XC Club is one of four at-large teams invited to run at NXN. This is their first time running in this meet. The Lions won the CIF Division 4 State Championship last Saturday behind top 15 finishes from Brynn Garcia and Summer Wilson. The team had a 58 second split on their top five in that race. In their race before in the South Section Championships, J Serra again ran a 58 second split in their section win. Both Wilson and Garcia could be among the top 45 team runners. They could contend for a top 15 finish scoring between 345 and 355 points.

Wexford XC Club (North Alleghany PA)

Runners – Kendall Lucas SO, Robin Kucler SO, Wren Kucler SO, Camille Swirsding SO, Grace Rowley SR, Eva Kynaston JR, Erin McGoey JR

Preview – Another of the first time teams at NXN. Wexford XC Club makes the trip to Portland by dominating the NXN Northeast Regional last Saturday scoring only 23 points. The Tigers won the PIAA Class AAA State Meet led by the third-place finish from Wren Kucler. Eva Kynaston and Grace Rowley were in the top 10 in the regional as Kucler finished second. The team ran a 54 second split on their top five runners. Kucler could be among the top 25 team runners as Wexford XC Club looks for a top 15 team finish. They could score between 345 and 355 points.

Central Oregon XC Club (Summit OR)

Runners – Taylin Bowen FR, Camille Broadbent SR, Eva Dicharry FR, Barrett Justema SR, Skye Knox FR, Claire McDonald SR, Ella Thorsett SR

Preview – This is the fifth trip to the Nike Cross Nationals for Central Oregon XC Club. They qualified for the short trip to Portland by winning the NXR Northwest Regional. The Storm before their NXR win also won the OSAA 5A State Meet behind top five finishes from Barrett Justema and Ella Thorsett. The team had a top five split of 71 second split in that race. Their split in the regional race led by the fifth-place finish from Justema was 69 seconds. The senior could be among the top 30 team runners in this race. It will be close between places 13 to 17. The Storm is projected to score anywhere from 350 to 362 points.

Portland XC Club (Jesuit OR)

Runners – Amalie Bell JR, Maggie Bennett SR, Emma Bennett SO, Liliana Hudnut JR, Natalie Jack SR, Audrey O’Neill JR, Maura O’Scannlain SO

Preview – Portland XC Club makes their tenth appearance at the Nike Cross Nationals overall and their fourth in a row since 2017 by finishing second at the NXR Northwest Regional. The Crusaders also won the OSAA 6A State Meet with Maura O’Scannlain and Liliana Hudnut finishing in the top five. O’Scannlain and Hudnut along with Emma Bennett finished in the top 30 in their regional race. The team’s top five split in Idaho was 41 seconds compared to 59 seconds in their state race. O’Scannlain is projected to be among the top 40 team runners with Portland XC Club scoring near 370 points.

Knoxville XC Club (Webb School TN)

Runners – Kristina Weaver SO, Carolina Areheart FR, Calysta Garmer FR, Anna Graves JR, Lauren Davis JR, Jazzlyn Garmer FR

Preview – A big surprise team in making it to the Nike Cross Nationals. The Knoxville XC Club finished second in the NXR Southeast Regional to make their first trip to Portland. The Spartans finished second in the TSSAA D2-AA State Meet without two of their top five runners Carolina Areheart and Kristina Weaver. Areheart led the team last weekend finishing 19th overall and could be among the top 50 team runners in this meet. This team could be back in Portland in 2023 with their top six runners all underclassmen.

Union County XC Club (Union Catholic NJ)

Runners – Leilani Gibson JR, Ella Solorzano FR, Courtney Kaiser JR, Kaleigh Gunsiorowski SR, Emmy O’Hearn FR, Victoria Urbaez SR, Caitlin Toy FR

Preview – Top 10 finishes from Kaleigh Gunsiorowski and Courtney Kaiser helped Union County XC Club to their first NXN Championships race after finishing second at the NXR Northeast Regional. It’s the cherry on the top of the season for the Vikings as they won the NJSIAA Meet of Champions and the NJSIAA Non-Public A Group Championship. Gunsiorowski and Kaiser finished within three seconds of each other and could be among the first 60 team runners. The team’s overall top five split in the regional meet was over two minutes.

Olathe XC Club (Olathe West KS)

Runners – Sydney All FR, Paige Baker SR, Liz Browning SO, Kate Miller JR, Bree Newport JR, Charis Robinson SR, Kalyn Willingham JR

Preview – It is the first trip to Portland for the Nike Cross Nationals for Olathe XC Club after earning an auto-qualifying position finishing second at the NXR Heartland Regional. The Owls doubled the score of the closest team in winning the KHSAA 6A State championship. Bree Newport was the team’s top runner in the regional race. Newport was the team’s third runner in the state meet finishing in the top 10 along with Charis Robinson and Paige Baker. The team’s top five split in South Dakota was just 43 seconds.

Delmar XC Club (Bethlehem Central NY)

Region Meet Runners – Kate Bannigan SO, Sarah Guyette SR, Charlotte O’Meara SO, Anna Chrapowitzky 08, Olivia Deer FR, Rylee Davis SR, Annie Bolke SR

Preview – Delmar XC Club ran in the first meet (Nike Team Nationals) when the meet started in 2004. They return 18 years later to run for the second time after finishing second in the NXR New York Regional. The Eagles did not qualify for their state meet as they finished second behind Kinetic XC Club in the Section 2 Meet. They did finish second in the New York Federation Championship two weeks ago. Rylee Davis was the top runner for her team last week finishing 21st overall. The team’s top five split in their regional race was 52 seconds.