NXN vs. Footlocker

I honestly don't know that much about the girls side of the sport, but just from what I've seen, a lot of the girls actually seem to perform very well in the early high school years - really very different from the boys, where it's really rare to see a freshman on the national scene. I'm pretty sure Jordan Hasay and a bunch of others competed on a national level as freshmen and didn't seem harmed by it. For me, just speaking as a parent, the risk would be 'too much too soon,' and the risk of injury or burnout. I certainly saw a lot of seemingly talented young kids in my son's time running who eventually fell by the wayside. I guess her coach would be the real one to ask, if he or she has coached her to this level already, they must know what they are doing. When my son ran, he did the freshman race at the FL regional qualifier, just for the experience, didn't want to do it sophomore year, and then got serious junior year and entered the seeded qualifier race.

As far as recruiting goes, the coaches are not allowed to contact until July 1 after the junior year. Accidental contacts are sometimes made, but that is how it works.

Do both... Footlocker is best for the individual, I have coached kids who have participated in both.

For the California kids their is no regional for NXN, it's determined from their State meet so its a no brainer. For most of the nation you get to do both. If you HAVE to chose the advice on here is right, NXN as a team...FL as an individual.

If you make it to Nationals: Portland's course is a 2k loop around the inside of a horse track in an ugly industrial part of Portland. They have much better places to run there but its good for fans. The course itself once you are running is good, very flat with some annoying motocross like ups and downs. Its like running on a soggy track.

San Diego is fast...and very challenging. The hills are brutal and deceptive. Good if you are a hill runner. You do two loops and while you do run around a park which has a swimming pool this is California Cross Country.

Both FL and NXN treat their athletes very well.

Both treat their athl

Look distance running is a team sport. We all need to feel good about ourselves. A great runner must realize his only job is to assist his team in the rankings. Look at Ritz, Hall, Kara, Rupp etc etc....as they run today they blaze around all these years with their HS team running along each workout. Rupp's 26:48, his HS team was right there running behind him. Its only a team sport. So go to NXN and be a nice team person. You guys will always be running together for decades to come.

Ok, she doesn't have any team, it is just my daughter. My question would be if it is worth the time and expense running in Footlocker now, or wait until she actually could be recruited? I coach her and trying not to get sucked in doing races that can't help her even if she wins or does well.

No harm to do it now.

If she makes nationals at a young age, she will instantly be on the radar for every coach.

If she doesn't, no one will care.

My athlete made footlocker and went from being offered 15%-50% scholarship to full rides at the college of her choice. The offers were there but was under recruited. She was all-american last year.

If she can make it to nationals it is worth the trip. If she makes it the trip is paid for.

Depends.

Do you want to spend your free time in a bikini or in sweats?

We won't be able to verify that for you without pics.

Footlocker is the Olympics of American High School Cross Country racing and NXN is the World Championships marathon race.

Thanks for all of the input! I think I'm going to go with Footlocker, just because I really don't have a team that would even qualify for NXN. I'm sure it would be an awesome experience though! I honestly would just be thrilled to even make nationals of either meet. In regards to that person who was afraid of their daughter burning out, I wouldn't worry. I'm just a high school senior, but I'd say that from experience, she'd be fine running at national meets. It would at lest get her name out there, even if coaches can't recruit her yet. As long as her training is moderate and is at a level she can handle, she'll be fine doing post-season meets. I've gotten better every single year, from a 19:53 as a freshman, to 18:48 as a sophomore, to 18:08 as a junior, and now 17:23 so far this season. It is definitely possible for girls to improve every year of high school and avoid the burnout, and I am living proof. I hope this helps! Thanks again!

might do it wrote:

Ok, she doesn't have any team, it is just my daughter. My question would be if it is worth the time and expense running in Footlocker now, or wait until she actually could be recruited? I coach her and trying not to get sucked in doing races that can't help her even if she wins or does well.

Sure, if she qualifies.

Definitely.

It would be an awesome experience.

If you go with NXN, make sure you're packing heat. 5/8 spikes if it's as muddy as usual.

thats false

Why don't you run both?

Runnergirl, the problem I worry about is she is already about your level as a freshman. The pressure of qualifying at early age and not living up to the hype. I worry that she will have trouble continuing to get better as you have. If you run 17:30 as a freshman it will be much harder to improve and maybe recruiters won't see as much opportunity for improvement. Now only local coaches and local runners know about her. The other problem is, this is the first real training season for her and I worry about extending her season another 6 weeks. If I consider long term, it seems like it might not be worth it. If she was your age it would easy to decide. What regional are you in?

You are thinking to much. Let her have fun and develop in her own time.

Just slowly up the mileage and run on talent. College coaches don't do much more than look at the result sheet anyways, a 17:30 is a 17:30 and is dang good either way.

Footlocker is the Olympics of American High School Cross Country racing and NXN is the shoe and apparel trade show show for fans.

Fixed wrote:

Footlocker is the Olympics of American High School Cross Country racing and NXN is the shoe and apparel trade show show for fans.

unfortunately not...its fine if you prefer FL, but don't act like NXN is not very competitive and doesn't provide a great experience.

are you planning to run in college? if so... footlocker. it's the Varsity race. it's the meet that college coaches flock to, for recruiting. coaches from across the country will visit regions far and wide to have a look at a kid at footlocker before they look at a kid at nike.

this is NOT even a question.

Most college coaches do not recruit. They look at results, send a letter.

If you want to be recruited you need to call the coach and be proactive.