Nike Elite Campers?

Andrew Hunter over Austin Tamagno. Just my input. But, Andrew Hunter DEFINITELY should be on this list.

Who's the best? wrote:

The annual Nike Elite Camp is right around the corner, and Nike always invites the "best" distance 10 girls and 10 boys out to Beaverton for a week. I'd like to see if anyone can correctly predict all 10 campers that get invited.

On the boy's side, I think it'll be:

Conner Mantz

Grant Fisher

John Dressel

Alex Ostberg

Matt Maton

Elijah Armstrong

Thomas Pollard

Austin Tamagno

Tanner Anderson

Mikey Branigan

My list is the same. I had Jesse Reiser on my list too, but I heard he had to decline because of a schedule conflict.

Andrew Hunter did not get invited. Weird that a kid who sets a national class record doesn't make the cut but who knows how they decide whom to invite. The camp has already started.

Other than Thomas Pollard you can't really argue with the boys list. The girl's list is weird though. It's Lucy Biles, Hannah Debalsi, Ella Donaghu, Lauren Gregory, Stephanie Jenks, Hannah Long, Fiona O'Keefe, and Allie Ostrander. There are only 8 girls and I've never even heard of Gregory or Long. What's even more strange is Alexa Efraimson, Audrey Belf, Makena Morley, and Anna Rohrer aren't there. Maybe some of them got the invite but decided not to go, it would explain why there are only 8.

These seem like better lists of the top returning hs runners

http://www.tullyrunners.com/XC2014/NationTopXcGirls2014.htm

http://www.tullyrunners.com/XC2014/NationTopXcBoys2014.htm

Explain why Pollard doesn't belong on the list. He was top 15 at footlocker then took it up a notch when he ran 8:50 and 4:06 this spring. Mark this down. He will be top 3 at footlocker this year.

If the powers that decide who to invite heavily weigh last year's cross country season over spring track, or how the kid developed over the year, that would explain why Andrew Hunter didn't get the invite. He ran 15:09 for 5K but didn't make Footlocker Nats. But I think he had a better track season than some of these kids who did get invited, I bet he will earn a little more respect this cross country season.

I had seriously considered Andrew Hunter, (and Sukhi Khosla) but as Nike has said before:

https://www.facebook.com/nikerunning/posts/10150952459482976

"we weigh cross country results...just as heavily as track times"

Andrew Hunter as of yet hasn't competed nationally in XC, whereas Austin Tamagno earned All American status with his 19th place finish at NXN. Also, Tamagno was an Elite Camper last year, and I'm sure that the selection committee places some emphasis on having the "old" elite campers return from year to year

I've heard that for the first elite camp, Lutz and Verzbicas snubbed Nike as well.. Maybe the seriously elite think they don't need to bother with the camp?

Is this the newest piece of evidence that Efraimson has really decided to forgo HS competition and take the professional route?

Fiona O'Keefe is quite possibly the best returning CA runner. She has run faster than Jordan Hasay did at Woodward Park, the CA state meet course.

Who's the best? wrote:

I've heard that for the first elite camp, Lutz and Verzbicas snubbed Nike as well.. Maybe the seriously elite think they don't need to bother with the camp?

Is this the newest piece of evidence that Efraimson has really decided to forgo HS competition and take the professional route?

Efraimson is not participating because she just ended her track season on Sunday. You have to take a break sometime. I can't believe that Jenks is participating. She needs to say no to a couple of these opportunities. She's always on the road.

Good Point Dog Pound. Jenks has had a really busy year. Dyestat is reporting that she travels to China for the Youth Olympic Games after camp. WOW! One has to keep in mind though, she will be a junior this year, and I guessing the coaches will start to reign her in the years to come....

Why? She is ineligible for HS CC. She can take a break in September.