Boys Goucher Wolfe Zane Bergen (young man who broke up the Newbury Park sweep in 2021) Sprout (Nico vs. Sprout was a serious debate in HS) Vaughn Fauble Kincaid Schoolmeester
Both Megan & Katelyn Kaltenbach Rebekah McDowell 4-time XC state champ who just never ran foot locker for some reason Michalak Allori Lauren Gregory Riley Stewart Watch out for Delaney Reuter
I think Colorado’s boys are maybe 4th or 5th but ain’t nobody beating Colorado’s girls for top-end talent or depth. Five NXN or FL champs (Fairchild, Ritz, Oakley, Kaltenbach, Rainsberger), two #2s (Cranny & Michalak) and just tons of other superstars across eras.
CA has 9 inidividual girls FL/NXN champions. The top 3 girls teams are clearly CA, NY and CO.
Here is the list of individual champs from those states.
Hasay, Baxter, Lane, Fairchild and Tuohy were multiple champions. CA would actually have to leave 2 national champions off the team. Jorgensen and Gordon would be my picks.
Based on this, I’d say Colorado #1, NY #2, CA #3. NY and CA are super strong, but nobody is beating a top 5 of Fairchild, Ritz, Oakley, Rainsberger & Cranny.
What state would win an XC race with their all-time top 5 runners?
My guess would be CA vs IL. Who would win between these two states? Any others?
Doing my best to summarize Colorado’s all timers:
Boys Goucher Wolfe Zane Bergen (young man who broke up the Newbury Park sweep in 2021) Sprout (Nico vs. Sprout was a serious debate in HS) Vaughn Fauble Kincaid Schoolmeester
Both Megan & Katelyn Kaltenbach Rebekah McDowell 4-time XC state champ who just never ran foot locker for some reason Michalak Allori Lauren Gregory Riley Stewart Watch out for Delaney Reuter
I think Colorado’s boys are maybe 4th or 5th but ain’t nobody beating Colorado’s girls for top-end talent or depth. Five NXN or FL champs (Fairchild, Ritz, Oakley, Kaltenbach, Rainsberger), two #2s (Cranny & Michalak) and just tons of other superstars across eras.
Allie Mcglaughlin - Air Academy
Sara Schwald -Liberty
Natasha Rogers & Laura Thweatt if you include post secondary success.
Torres and Sage are not top 5 in xc all time in illinois.
Sage was one of goats in track in illinois but not in XC.
Methner was by far better in XC
Sage took 2nd at FL1999 behind Ritz. He would run 4 flat that track season. Put 30 seconds on junior Webb. I can understand snubbing Torres but he does deserve a nod for qualifying to FL 4 times.
Torres and Sage are not top 5 in xc all time in illinois.
Sage was one of goats in track in illinois but not in XC.
Methner was by far better in XC
Sage took 2nd at FL1999 behind Ritz. He would run 4 flat that track season. Put 30 seconds on junior Webb. I can understand snubbing Torres but he does deserve a nod for qualifying to FL 4 times.
All of this + Sage was one of the few to get over a 210 speed rating, if you care for that metric. Torres and Sage would both beat Methner.
Ed Cheserek, James Rosa, Marco Langon, Joe Rosa, Jackson Barna
Girls: Angelina Perez, Lilly Shapiro, Emma Zawatski, Charlotte Bednar, Kate Wiser.
what exactly was your source? Norris isn’t even in the top 30. And Pearson isn’t even in the 40.
I agree with your list. Not that difficult to get the historic records and rankings. All you have to do is go to Milesplit or a local list. Paul Schwartz kept records that he would publish.
1. German Fernandez 2. Thom Hunt 3. Rich Kimball 4. Jeff Nelson 5. Marc Davis 6. Bryan Dameworth 7. Eric Hulst
Top 5 outta this to seal the deal, and final 2 solid backups. Done deal. Good night.
Hunt, Hulst and Kimball were all World Junior XC Champs and they won their races either in Europe or Africa in real cross country conditions (mud, rain, barriers) against Africans and top Euro runners. Those three need to be at the top of any list not just CA.
Ed Cheserek, James Rosa, Marco Langon, Joe Rosa, Jackson Barna
Girls: Angelina Perez, Lilly Shapiro, Emma Zawatski, Charlotte Bednar, Kate Wiser.
what exactly was your source? Norris isn’t even in the top 30. And Pearson isn’t even in the 40.
Incredible job putting all these runners on there over Liquori
The job is done through looking at lists. I take this thread to mean the top in terms of fastest times in state championships and course records. As opposed to great runners of their era. I agree Liquori is one of the better NJ past HS XC runners but known more for middle distance. Not listed in the top in current NJ XC ranking or record lists. Sorry
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