2022 Nike Cross Nationals - Boys Race Preview

 Photo: Defending NXN Champion Newbury Park XC Club before their California D2 State Meet on November 26 (Ken Martinez / DyeStat.com photo)

 

By Michael Newman, DyeStat TFX National Editor

 

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It seems like nothing has changed for Newbury Park XC Club since they were standing on the podium in winning the Nike Cross Nationals in 2019.

 

Since that moment of time, Newbury Park has gone on to win three more CIF D2 State Championships. The 2022 edition of this team could be their best. The Bruins only scored 24 points to win the D2 title last Saturday. They will be the overwhelming favorite on Saturday projected to score between 60 to 70 point.

 

Newbury Park XC Club’s last NXN title in 2019 and was just by four points ahead of fellow California team Temecula XC Club. The margin this meet between Newbury Park XC Club, and the rest of the field could be over 100 points. There are at least four teams that could have their eyes on a top three finish and a step up to the podium.

 

There is more experience in this field than the Girls race with eight club teams making their first experience. Carroll XC Club, Brothers XC Club, American Fork XC, and Wayzata XC Club will be making their tenth or more starts at this meet. The individuals in this field that qualified without a team are good with only six runners with club affiliations projected to finish in the top 21.

 

 

Individuals

The race heard around the NXN community, and the nation happened on the first weekend of Nile Regional races.  Hunter Jones of Benzie Central MI pulled away in the final 200-meters to win the NXR Midwest Regional with a 14:21.8 time smashing the course record at Lavern Gibson National XC Course by an astounding 26 seconds. Four other runners in that race went under that course record including the next three runners behind Jones that were within eight seconds.

 

Jones tuned up for this Saturday’s race by running the sixth fastest course time ever at the CHAMPS Midwest Regional in winning with a 14:52.2 time and by 10 seconds ahead of Kole Mathison of Carmel IN who is also qualified for the NXN race on Saturday. Jones made his move in Indiana in the last 400-meters of the race. He moved away in the race last Saturday after the first mile and had as much as a 15 second lead heading into the final kilometer of the race.

 

Jones is the hot runner in the nation and will be one of the runners to watch in the front. The senior is undefeated in 13 races this fall. This is a good field where there are a number of talented runners that could claim the Nike Cross National Boys Individual title. Here is a look of some of the runners to keep an eye on:

 

Tyrone Gorze, Crater OR – If not Hunter Jones in this race, then most of the eyes will be on this Oregon senior. Gorze qualified with his team for NXN by winning the individual race at the NXR Northwest Regional. He is the OSAA 5A State Champion for the past two years. His win at the Woodbridge XC Classic was impressive as he ran 13:42.8 to win the championship race. Gorze also 14:11.38 for 5-kilometers on the track in October. He was noticed last track season in winning the U-20 National Championships 5k as a junior. He ran bests of 2:29.92 for 10k, 14:00.34 for 5k, and 8:11.60 for 3k during last spring’s track season.

 

Connor Burns, Southern Boone MO – It could be Burns that wins this race after falling behind Hunter Jones in the final 200-meters to finish second at the NXR Midwest Regional. The senior, who will be heading to the University of Oregon next fall, has showed his strength on the course after running sub-four minutes for the 1 Mile Run in his junior track season. Burns went undefeated during the regular season including winning his second straight MSHSAA Class 3 State title. He also won big races at the Gans Creek Classic and the Chile Pepper XC Festival this fall. His track season was impressive running 3:58.83 in the Elite race at the HOKA Festival of Miles and 8:45.52 in winning the 2-Mile Run at the Brooks PR Invitational.

 

Lex Young, Newbury Park CA – Could this senior duplicate what his brother Nico did when winning the NXN Championships in 2019? Young is coming off running 14:27.9 to win the CIF D2 State title last Saturday at Fresno’s Woodward Park winning by more than 10 seconds ahead of his brother Leo who was the only runner to finish ahead of him this season. Young is ready for this race. He had a great track season last spring with bests of 13:43.95 for 5k, 8:35.72 for 3200m, and 4:01.52 for the 1-Mile Run. It will not be a surprise if Young wins.

 

Devan Kipyego, St. Raphael Academy RI – Kipyego made it to Glendoveer Park after winning the NXR Northeast Regional last Saturday. He is in championship mode down the stretch winning the RIIL Championship and the New England Championships in his last two races. Kipyego also captured a big win early in his season winning the Manhattan XC Invitational Eastern States race. He is a two-time state champion and also has won at Manhattan twice. Kipyego just missed a sub-4 minute mile finishing third last June at the Brooks PR Invitational with a 4:00.64 time. He did win the 2k Steeplechase at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

 

Connor Ackley, Hillard Davidson OH – Ackley was part of that wild NXR Midwest Regional and made the trip to Portland by finishing fourth. He was undefeated in his senior regular season including the OHSAA D1 State title. Ackley finished fifth in the NXR Midwest Regional in 2021. The senior also finished sixth last Saturday at the CHAMPS Midwest Regional qualifying for their national meet. Ackley produced a good resume in his junior track season running 4:09.46 for 1600-meters and 9:05.67 for 3200-meters.

 

Benne Anderson, Ottawa Hills MI – Anderson is having a breakout senior season qualifying for two national meets after winning the MHSAA D1 State title. The senior made it to NXN by finishing third at the NXR Midwest Regional. He followed that up last Saturday by finishing fifth at the CHAMPS Midwest Regional. Anderson’s junior xc season included finishing third in his state meet. He was D1 State Champion at the MHSAA State Meet last June. He did run an 8:56.38 personal best for 3200-meters on the track.

 

Leo Young, Newbury Park CA – One of the reasons why Newbury Park could repeat as the NXN Boys Team Champions. Young ran 14:38 to finish second at last Saturday’s CIF D2 State Championship. He won the Asics Clovis Invitational ahead of his brother Lex. Young had a great track season last spring running 8:39.57 for 3200-meters last February at the Sundown Track Series and 4:00.77 for 1-mile at the Azusa Distance MOC at the end of last March.

 

Jackson Heidesch, Dowling Catholic IA – A runner that could be a surprise in the top five in this race. Heidesch made it to the Nike Cross Nationals running 14:39.0 to win the NXR Heartland Regional by just two tenths of a second ahead of Simeon Birnbaum. The senior won seven of his eight races that he was in including winning the Iowa 4A State Championship. He did finish second at the Roy Griak Invitational Gold race behind winner Noah Breker of Robbinsdale Armstrong who also made it to NXN by finishing fourth overall in the NXR Heartland Regional. Heidisch was the Iowa 4A State Championship for 1600-meters with a 4:07.30 time. He also won the HOKA Festival Miles High School race with a 4:06.14 time.

 

Daniel Simmons, American Fork UT – Simmons should be the runner to watch in 2023. This junior could make some noise in Saturday’s race. Simmons won the individual race at the NXR Southwest Regional title as well as being the championship team in that race. The junior transferred before the season from Salmon High School in Idaho where he finished second in the Idaho 2A State Meet and then finished third at the NXR Northwest Regional. He won the UHSAA 6A State Championship running 14:49 and winning by almost 20 seconds.

 

Runners to Watch – Kole Mathison, Carmel IN; Bryon Grievous, Phillips Exeter NH; Aaron Sahlman, Newbury Park CA; Simeon Birnbaum, Rapid City Stevens SD; Weston Brown, Bozeman MT; Matthew Donis, Highland CA

 

 

Teams

Newbury Park XC Club (Newbury Park CA)

Runners – Leo Young SR, Lex Young SR, Aaron Sahlman SR, Brayden Seymour SR, Dev Doshi JR, Arnav Shetty JR, Aaron Cantu SR

 

Preview – This is the third time to the Nike Cross Nationals for Newbury Park XC Club. The first time in Portland was 2018 when they finished sixth overall. The following year in 2019, they won by four points ahead of Temecula XC. Now in 2022, the have a great chance to win their second NXN Boys Championship. The Panthers did not run their top runners in many meets this fall. Seniors Leo & Lex Young and Aaron Sahlman only raced six times during the season heading into Saturday’s race. The extra training benefitted them. The trio finished 1-2-3 in last Saturday’s CIF D2 State Meet led by Lex’s win in 14:27.9. His brother Leo was a little more than 10 seconds behind in second. Sahlman was more than two seconds behind in third. The team had just a 62 second split with Dev Doshi 36 seconds behind Sahlman and Brayden Seymour 12 seconds behind Doshi. It amounted to only 24 points and the win. We could see the same type of race for the Panthers on the Glendoveer Golf Course. Their top three finishers could finish in the top 15 with all three runners among the top five team scorers. Seymour and Doshi are projected to be in the top 30 team placers. Newbury Park should have their scorers finishing before all, but one team has their third runner in. An average race by the Panthers could score them between 60 to 70 points and more than a 100 point margin to win their second NXN title.

 

Brothers XC Club (Christian Brothers NJ)

Region Meet Runners – Alex Kemp JR, Conor Clifford JR, Zach Shroba SR, Lucas Ward SR, Joe Barrett SO, Jack Falkowski JR, Nicholas Sullivan SR

 

Preview – Brothers XC Club qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals for the 11th NXN meet in a row dating back to 2010 and 13th overall by winning the NXR Northeast Regional championship with 88 points. Their point total could have been lower with the absence of Jack Falkowski who was the team’s third runner at the NJSIAA Meet of Championships the week prior. Nicholas Sullivan and Joe Barrett were the team’s top runners finishing in the top 11 as they were in MOC finishing in the top seven. Zach Shroba, Conor Clifford, and Lucas Ward finished within 19 seconds of each other as the team’s third through fifth runners. The top five split last week was 52 seconds. Their split with Falkowski in the lineup the week before was just 42 seconds. It is the kind of spread that could get them among the top three Boys teams in this meet. Brothers XC Club should have Sullivan and Barrett among the top 15 team runners in this race and five runners finishing among the first 74 team places. The Colts could score from 190 to 200 points in this meet. That could get them in the first three places and maybe second overall. Keeping a split at 43 seconds or better could help them achieve that kind of placing.

 

Portland XC Club (Jesuit OR)

Region Meet Runners – Jacob Nenow SR, Josh Augustine SR, Gus Clevenger SR, Coen Strub SO, Caden Swanson JR, Kellen Williams FR, Matthew Wroblewski FR

 

Preview – A team with a good race could place them in the top three and perhaps surpass Christian Brothers into second. The Portland XC Club qualified for the short trip crosstown to Glendoveer Golf Club finishing second at the NXR Northwest Regional. The Crusaders the week before won the OSAA 6A State Championships. Jacob Nenow won the state title in that meet and finished fourth overall in the regional race. Their top four is solid with Gus Clevenger, Josh Augustine, and Caden Swanson within 14 seconds of each other and 30 seconds behind Nenow in the regional race. The 2-3-4 pack was within 11 seconds of each other at state railing Nenow by 20 seconds. A key to watch for ins the gap between the pack and their fifth runner who was Coen Strub in the regional race and Matthew Wroblewski in the state race. The split at regionals between 4/5 was 42 seconds and 28 seconds at state. The split at state is the one that the Crusaders will shoot for if they want to head home with a trophy. Nenow is a good bet to be among the top six team runners in this race. Clevenger, Augustine, and Swanson all could finish in the top 35 team runners. Wroblewski or Strub need to be among the top 80 team runners to solidify second and possibly get closer to Newbury Park. They are projected to score between 191 to 201 points with an average race.

 

Southern Oregon XC Club (Crater OR)

Region Meet Runners – Tyrone Gorze SR, Caleb Doddington JR, Shaun Garnica JR, Jeffrey Hellman JR, Ryder Hvall SR, Tayvon Kitchen SO, Josiah Tostenson SO

 

Preview – Southern Oregon XC Club has been one of the top teams in their state and the nation most of the season. They are in good shape to finish in the top five Saturday at NXN. They qualified for this race by winning the NXR Northwest Regional by 26 points. This is the first time that this team has run in the Nike Cross Nationals. The Comets also won the OSAA 5A title by placing five runners in the top 10. Tyrone Gorze is one of the elite individual runners in the country and will be going after the individual national title in his home state. He could be the top team runners in this race. The team had just an eight second split from their second through fifth runners in the state race. Their split on those four runners was 31 seconds in the regional race. They is keeping their second runner Josiah Tostenson within 30 seconds of Gorze. Jeffrey Hellman, Tayvon Kitchen, and Shaun Garnica need to stay within 10 seconds in this race. A split on the pack behind Gorze needs them to stay within 23 seconds of each other. Tostenson is a good bet to finish among the top 25 team runners. The next three runners need to finish before the 75th team place. The Comets are projected to score between 215 and 225 points. Their best race of the season could get them among the top three teams in this race.

 

Hinsdale XC Club (Hinsdale Central IL)

Region Meet Runners – Dan Watcke SR, Aden Bandukwala JR, Jesse Gamboa SR, Michael Skora SR, Max Lowe JR, Grant Miller SR, Nikita Kamenev SO

 

Preview – This is the second time that Hinsdale XC Club has competed at the Nike Cross Nationals. Their previous appearance came in 2013. This Illinois team is coming on strong at the end of this season after finishing eighth at the Nike Twilight Invitational at the beginning of October. The Red Devils make it to NXN by winning the tough NXN Midwest Regional. This came the week before when they finished second in the IHSA 3A State Meet to Plainfield XC Club by just one point. Dan Watcke has been the team’s top runner most of the season. The improvement of Aden Bandukwala has given this team a boost. Bandukwala surprised many by winning the individual state championship while Watcke finished third. The two runners were in the top 12 in the regional race with Watcke finishing eighth and Bandukwala finishing 12th. Both runners should be among the top 12 team runners in this race. Jesse Gamboa has moved closer to the two runners at the end of the year with him being just 15 seconds behind Bandukwala in the regional race. Michael Skora and Gamboa were close together in the duo’s state meet race. That will need to happen in Saturday’s race for Hinsdale XC Club to finish among the top three teams. Max Lowe has moved closer to the front for his team. Another good race from this first year junior runner gives this team a boost. The front running of Watcke / Bandukwala and the pack moving closer puts this team in position to challenge for a trophy. Hinsdale is projected to score between 219 to 234 points. Their best race of the year was in their regional race. One on Saturday that bests regionals puts them in contention for a trophy.

 

Carroll XC Club (Southlake Carroll TX)

Runners – Blake Bullard SO, Zach Troutman JR, Jude Alvarez JR, Tyler Ortiz SR, Logan Cantu SR, Caden Leonard FR, Jacob Freeman SR

 

Preview – Carroll XC was dominant in winning the NXR South Regional by 77 points. The Dragons in the meet before won the UIL 6A State Championship. This will be the 14th time that this team has toed the line for the Nike Cross Regionals, the most of any team entering this race. This is Carroll XC Club’s 11th appearance in a row at NXN dating back to 2010. The strength of this team is from their first four runners. Freshman Caden Leonard was the team’s top runner in the state meet. Leonard and Jude Alvarez finished in the top 10. Logan Cantu and Blake Bullard stepped up as the team’s top runners in the regional race separated by just two seconds. Their split on first four and fifth runners will be something to watch for from this team. Their top four split was just 20 seconds at state, 23 seconds on five with their fifth runner as Robert Freeman. Their top four split in the regional was just 14 seconds and 25 seconds on five again with Freeman in that spot. Carroll XC Club will run a tight split in this race. It may be that their pack needs to move closer to the front in this race. Their first runners is projected to be in the top 35 team runners with three runners close behind. The pack moving up by 10 team spots will be a key for this team. They will contend for a finish in the top five projected to score between 230 to 245 points.

 

Wayzata XC Club (Wayzata MN)

Runners – Parker Dietrick JR, Tyler Kissell JR, Daniel McCollar JR, Hayes McMillan, Hamza Mohamed SR, Dan Salatino SO, Will Weber SO

 

Preview – Wayzata XC Club qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals for the tenth time by winning the NXR Heartland Regional. The Trojans also won the MSHSL AAA State Meet. Hamza Mohamed and Will Weber finished in the top 10 to lead the team in the state meet. Mohamed led the team finishing 20th in the regional meet. The team had some strong pack running in both meets. Mohamed, Weber, Daniel McCollor, and Tyler Kissell were only separated by 18 seconds in the regional race with Parker Dietrick their fifth runner another 17 seconds back. Their state race had a 25 second split on their first four, and another 17 second separation between four and five. Wayzata will be among the top 10 teams in this race. How high they will finish will be determined on Saturday. Mohamed should be among the top 20 team runners in this race with the Trojans projected to score between 250 to 260 points.

 

Plainfield XC Club (Plainfield South IL)

Runners – Gavin Borger JR, Dylan Maloney SO, Owen O’Shea SR, Ethan Reynoso SR, BJ Sorg SR, Camyn Viger JR, Jack Wright SR

 

Preview – There were so many goals that Plainfield XC Club set during the 2022 season. They achieved them all including winning their first IHSA 3A State Championship. That was followed by finishing second in the NXR Midwest Regional to make their first trip to Portland for the NXN Championships. This team showed all season that they lived and died off strong pack running. Camyn Viger was the team’s top runner all season. There is a strong pack that supports Viger with Dylan Maloney, BJ Sorg, Ethan Reynoso, and Owen O’Shea are the runners interchangeable behind him. Viger was nine seconds ahead of the pack in their state race with the group separated by 21 seconds. Maloney, Sorg, and Reynoso were only separated by eight seconds. The team was closer in the regional with Viger seven seconds ahead of the pack and the pack within seven seconds of each other. Viger is projected to be within the first 30 team places with his teammates close behind. The top five needs to move up 10 places each for this team to contend for a top five finish. The Cougars are projected to score between 255 to 2765 points and finish among the top 10 teams in this meet.

 

American Fork XC Club (American Fork UT)

Runners – Daniel Simmons JR, Chase Pack JR, Bridger Karren JR, Ben Jaster JR, Seth Smith SR, Ben Bradshaw JR, Kaden Evans SO

 

Preview – American Fork XC Club is back in Portland for the Nike Cross Nationals for their tenth time. The Caveman missed the last NXN Meet in 2019 but made it back by winning the NXR Southwest Regional. American Fork also won the UHSAA 6A State Championship. This is a team that we should see among the top 10 teams in this meet. The Caveman could be one of the nation’s best teams in 2023 with of this year’s top seven runners all underclassmen. Daniel Simmons transferred in from Salmon ID and is the team’s top runner along with winning state and regional individual titles. The junior should be among the top 10 runners in this race and among the top five team runners. Pack running will be a key for this team. Ben Bradshaw, Ben Jaster, Chase Pack, Kaden Evans, and Seth Smith were 54 seconds behind Simoons, but within 11 seconds of each other in the regional race. It was a similar distance between Simmons and the pack at 47 seconds in the state race. Smith, Bradshaw, Jaster, and Pack were separated by just 16 seconds. Their top five split under 60 seconds will be something that will be needed by this team in Saturday’s race. Simmons will be earning single digit team runners up front. Their pack is projected to start coming in between 55th and 60th team places. American Fork is projected to score between 260 to 270 points in this race.

 

Temecula XC Club (Great Oak CA)

Runners – Nick Gaffney SR, Gabriel Rodriguez JR, Nathan Lennox-Diaz SR, Mark Cortes SR, Cameron Keeney JR, Austin Elkins SR, Ramses Cortes SR

 

Preview – Temecula XC Club entered their California season on a high note winning the CIF D1 State title qualifying them for the Nike Cross Nationals. This is the sixth straight appearance at the NXN Championships for the Wolfpack which started in 2015 for the boys’ team. Mark Cortes finished in the top 10 in the state race to lead his team. Ramses Cortes and Gabriel Rodriguez finished in the top 20. Temecula XC Club ran just a 20 second split on their top five in the state race that also included Nathan Lennox-Diaz and Austin Elkins. Their top five split in their section finals was 54 seconds without Lennox-Diaz in their lineup. The Wolfpack will be among the top half of the teams in this race with M Cortes and Rodriguez among the top 32 team runners. Temecula XC Club is projected entering this meet to score between 270 to 280 points on Saturday.

 

Miami Havana XC Club (Belen Jesuit FL)

Runners – Joey Ruiz JR, Evan Torres JR, Matthew Calero SR, Tiago Socarros SO, Marcelo Mantecon 08, Alec Torricella SR, Josh Ruiz JR

 

Preview – It has been 11 years since Miami Havana XC Club have run in the Nike Cross Championships. The Wolverines will make the over six hour 2700 mile flight to Portland after finishing second in a tight NXR Southeast Regional where they were only six points behind the championship. They were dominating in winning the FHSAA 3A State Championship by over 90 points. Josh Ruiz has stepped up as the team’s top runner finishing second in his state race and third in the regional race. The junior could be among the top 15 team runners in this race. There was a 20 second gap between Ruiz and a pack led by his brother Joey. The pack had a 38 second split between them with Marcelo Mantecon, Joseph Socarras, Matthew Calero, and Ruiz. The top five split was just 35 seconds in the state race. Miami Havana will need that type of race with Josh Ruiz up front for this team to finish in the top 10 teams. They are projected before this meet to score between 280 and 290 points.

 

Mountain View XC Club (Mountain View UT)

Runners – Parker Barnes SR, Liam Heninger SR, Ammon Larson SO, Mack Waite SR, Kyle Steadman SO, Thomas Moore SR, Isaac Sohler SO

 

Preview – Mountain View XC Club did not have their best race of the season at the NXR Southwest Regional finishing third after they won the UHSAA 5A State Championship. The Bruins appeared in the first two NTN (Nike Team Nationals) in 2004 and 2005. They make their third appearance in the NXN Championships after being one of four at-large teams invited to race on Saturday. Liam Heninger has been the team’s top runner this season finning fourth in the regional race and second at state. Heninger should be among the top 10 team runners in this race. The team had a 28 second split at state in their pack behind Heninger which included Parker Barnes, Kyle Steadman, Mack Waite, and Issac Sohler. Their top five split in that race was 43 seconds. The split jumped up in the regional race jumped up to 71 seconds with Heninger 43 seconds ahead of the pack that was within 28 seconds of each other. The Bruins entering this race are projected to score between 300 to 310 points. There could be five teams that are within 10 points of Mountain View in this race.

 

West Knoxville XC Club (Farragut TN)

Runners – Quinn DeGuira SR, Jarek Morton SR, Riley Hanson SR, Trevor Coggin SR, Harrison Cunningham JR, Braden Ebbert JR, Matteo Tonnos JR

 

Preview – This senior oriented team makes the trip to the Nike Cross Nationals for the first time. West Knoxville XC Club won the NXR Southeast Regional last Saturday by just six points. They ended their regular season on a high note by easily winning the TSSAA Class AAA State Championship. Trevor Coggin, Braden Ebbert, and Matteo Tonnos finished in the top five in the state race finishing within 13 seconds of each other. Coggin finished eighth in the regional race 15 seconds ahead of Tonnos and Ebbert. The top five split was 43 seconds in the regional race with it being at 60 seconds at state. Coggin should be the top 20 team runners on Saturday with Coggin and Ebbert among the top 35 team runners. Watch for a 50 to 52 second split in this race with them projected to score between 300 and 310 points.

 

San Clemente XC Club (San Clemente CA)

Runners – Juan Chantaca SR, Rory Catsimanes SR, Dallin Harrington FR, Taj Clark JR, Brett Ephraim JR, Pierce Clark JR, Grant Sestak SR

 

Preview – San Clemente makes their first appearance at the NXN Championships after chosen as one of four at-large teams. The Tritons get to this point by finishing second last Saturday at the CIF D1 State Championship behind Temecula XC Club. The positions were changed the week before when they were ahead in winning the South Section D1 meet. Juan Chantaca and Rory Catsimanes finished in the top 12 at state to lead this team. Both could be among the top 25 team runners in this race. The team had a 37 second split on their top five led by Brett Ephraim as the team’s third runner. The split is good. The top five needs to move up to be among the top 11 teams in the standings. The Tritons are projected to score between 303 and 312 points.

 

Herriman XC Club (Herriman UT)

Runners – Hyrum Wood JR, Max Hofheins JR, Luke Briggs SR, Jack Beckstrom JR, William Horne SR, Noah Jenkins SR, Ryland Garner SR

 

Preview – Herriman XC Club bounced back after an off race at state to finish second at the NXR Southwest Regional. This will be their first trip to the Nike Cross Nationals. Herriman finished a disappointing fourth in the UHSAA 6A State Meet. Noah Jenkins will be among the top 10 team runners in this race. Jenkins finished third in the regional race and second at state. William Horne is a runner that you could see finish among the top 30 runners. The team’s top five split could hurt the Mustangs in this race. It was 66 seconds on Jenkins in the regional race and 73 seconds at state. Cutting that split from regionals down 10 seconds can boost this team up in the team standings. Herriman is projected to score between 300 to 312 points in this race.

 

Livermore XC Club (Granada CA)

Runners – Eshaan Singh JR, Liam Manley SR, Luther Hart SR, Farin Soriano SR, Jake Walton SR, Dheeraj Gurusamy SR, Roland Ruckmann-Barnes SR

 

Preview – Livermore XC Club will be running in their first Nike Cross Nationals after finishing second behind Newbury Park in the CIF D2 State Championships. The Matadors were one of four at-large teams selected to run in this weekend’s meet. Six seniors are in this veteran top seven led by state tenth-place finisher Roland Ruckmann-Barnes. Dheeraj Gurusamy and Farin Soriano lead the pack that was within 13 seconds of each other at state. The top five split last week was at 34 seconds. It was 32 seconds in their North Coast Section win. Ruckman Barnes could be among the top 25 team runners in this race with a team score projected to be between 310 and 320 points.

 

Stevens Point XC Club (Stevens Point WI)

Runners – Graham Ballard SO, Tate Bruckhart SR, Max Bushmaker SR, Cooper Erickson FR, Bode Erickson JR, Aloysius Franzen JR, Ethan Olds SO

 

Preview – This is the second straight trip to NXN for Stevens Point XC Club after qualifying for the first time in 2019. The Panthers made it back to Portland by finishing second at the NXR Heartland Regional by just four points. Stevens Point also won the WIAA D1 State Championship scoring 39 points placing 5 runners in the top 23. Aloysius Franzen and Bode Erickson have run between 1-2 seconds of each other in their past two races. Both could be among the top 18 team runners on Saturday. The Panthers have averaged near 50 seconds with their top five split. It was 52 seconds in their regional race. Stevens Point could score between 325 to 335 points in this meet. They should be back to Portland in 2023 with their top five regional runners all underclassmen.

 

Downers North XC Club (Downers Grove North IL)

Runners – Leo Gartlan SR, Asa Gaspar SR, Caden Weber JR, Grant Schroder SO, Topher Ferris SR, Ryan Eddington JR, Zach Bender JR

 

Previews – The Trojans had a great overall throughout despite being ignored all year in the national rankings. Downers North XC Club edged Hinsdale by three points at their Illinois Sectional race. They then finished third in both the IHSA 3A State Meet and the NXR Midwest Regional. They were one of four at-large teams to be selected to run on Saturday. This team thrives on great pack running. Their split at state was 10 seconds on their top three of all-state runners Caden Weber, Ryan Eddington, and Topher Ferris. It was 40 seconds on their top five. The top five split tightened to 23 seconds in the regional again led by Eddington and Weber. This team is deep where any of their top seven runners can jump into the top five. North could have Eddington and Weber in the top 40 team runners. If the pack can stay close together, the Trojans could be among the top 15 teams. They are projected to score between 335 and 345 points.

 

Newtown Square XC Club (Episcopal Academy PA)

Runners – Connor Hanrahan SR, Dawson French JR, Michael Woolery JR, Dakin Ebmeyer SR, Ethan Zhou SO, Aidan McHugh SR, Eli Engelman SO

 

Preview – It has been a dream season for Newtown Square XC Club that will have them racing into December. The Churchmen were underdogs in last Saturday’s NXR Northeast Regional even after the Paul Short White Division race against some noted regional area teams. This team defied odds finishing second and qualifying for Saturday’s Nike Cross Nationals. Aidan McHugh finished ninth and leads this team that had a 54 second split on their top five. Michael Woolery was 14 seconds behind McHugh with Dakin Ebmeyer another eight seconds back. Ebmeyer was the Pennsylvania Independent Schools State Champion finishing 18 seconds ahead of McHugh. The two runners could be among the top 40 team runners in this race. This is the first appearance in this meet for Newtown Square XC Club. It is also the first time that a PAISSA team has run in the Nike Cross Championships.

 

Corning XC Club (Corning-Painted Post NY)

Runners – Tevin McLaren SR, Marcus Homa SR, Jaxyn Mahoney SO, Gabe Cornfield SR, Ashton Bange SR, Douglas Cornfield JR, Josh Beres SR

 

Preview – Corning XC Club was dominant in their state all season winning the NYSPHSAA Class A State Meet and then last Saturday winning the NXR New York Regional. This is the second timing racing at NXN for the Hawks. Their first time in this meet occurred in 2017. Ashton Bange and Gabe Cornfield were the team’s top two runners in their past two meets. Bange finished seventh at state followed by finishing ninth last Saturday in the regional race. Their top five split lowered from 53 seconds at state down to 36 seconds in the regional race. Bange could challenge for among the top 20 team runners in this race.

 

Grapevine XC Club (Grapevine TX)

Runners – Charles Smith SO, Ryan Kerr SO, Matthew Barborka JR, Alberto Rayon-Cardenas SR, Blayne Bradford JR, Adam Burlison JR, Justin Leathers JR

 

Preview – The Texas UIL 5A State Champions stepped up big in their NXR South Regional. Grapevine XC Club finished second in the race making the trip to Portland and the NXN race for the first time. Adam Burlison and Alberto Rayon-Cardenas were the team’s top runner at state finishing second and third. Burlison stepped up in the regional race claiming the individual championship winning by seven seconds. The junior should be among the top 10 team runners in this race. Grapevine had a 75 second split on their top five in the state race, 80 seconds in their regional race. This will be a good experience race for the Mustangs with six of their top seven runners underclassmen.

 

South Huntington XC Club (St. Anthony’s NY)

Runners – Regan Macpherson SO, Aidan Brancaccio SR, Collin McLaughlin JR, Jeremy Paredes SR, Hunter Wilson SR, Jack Morrelli JR, Sean Dearie SR

 

Preview – South Huntington XC Club surprised some by finishing second at last Saturday’s NXR New York Regional by just five points behind Corning XC. The Friars finished third behind NXR third-place finisher Monroe-Woodbury in the NY Federation XC Champs. This is the team’s second appearance in the Nike Cross National race with their first coming in 2014. Aidan Brancaccio, Jack Morelli, and Hunter Wilson were the team’s top three runners in the regional separated by 14 seconds. Their top five split in this race was 40 seconds. Brancaccio, the team’s top runner, is projected to be among the top 60 team runners in this meet.