Going to agree here, also because Mead was closer to Stumptiwn than either of the other teams were to Carmichael. Also if I am Belen as they went to state thinking they'd have a spot if they won and got overlooked their #1 should be there he deserves it and he could have easily skipped state run at NXR and his team probably still would have won the title.
If Marcelo had skipped their state meet then they would have lost to Buchholz
IMO it could have gone either way between these two teams. They ran similarly, Mira Costa maybe slightly better (but you're comparing a #4 team vs. a #3 team, and I think that should matter when it's close). San Clemente ran virtually identical so it's the same deal there: slightly better, but a close call.
The SW getting 2 should have been easy. For the next 2, I think any combination of the #3/4 California teams, #3/4 Midwest teams, Mead (NW#3) and maybe Jesuit LA (SO#3) or maybe State College PA (NE#3) would be reasonable but they probably should not take more than 1 from any of those regions (so not CA#4 or MW#4) given how close the teams are.
My concern here is that the committee looked at the California state results, thought San Clemente and Mira Costa were so close to eachother that they HAD to either take both or take neither and decided to take both. They were slightly better but weren't so clearly ahead of the other teams to the extent that I think multiple deserving #3 teams should be overlooked for the #4 team to get included. If that was the thinking, they should have both been left out, but the better path IMO is to not tie the two California teams together and just leave Mira Costa out. IMO should have been Noblesville instead of Mira Costa, and if not Noblesville than either Mead or Jesuit LA; Noblesville had the better season of the 3 but were more front-heavy with a weaker #5 which made them similar enough at NXR/State meets that I understand it would be more debatable to include them; Jesuit traveled and competed well, but was IMO a little behind at State/NXR than Noblesville/Mead/Mira Costa; and Mead is kind of the middle ground where they didn't really stand out during the season but had a strong enough showing at State/NXR to put themselves in the mix, and with a better #5 might be more palatable even if their whole team performance wasn't better.
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Going to agree here, also because Mead was closer to Stumptiwn than either of the other teams were to Carmichael. Also if I am Belen as they went to state thinking they'd have a spot if they won and got overlooked their #1 should be there he deserves it and he could have easily skipped state run at NXR and his team probably still would have won the title.
Belens number 1 seems like he’s a real team centered guy from what I seen in the interviews. With him not making it I think Nike should re think individual at larges. The state meet for him and NXR was in the same day. An at large would solve this.
From a business perspective it seems like such a big flop to me. The individual at larges don’t even need to be “mandatory” - there could be “7” “up to the discretion of the panel”.
Someone in the thread previously said “it’s a marketing event disguised as a cross country meet” which is 100% spot on. It’s why New York will most likely never lose its region.
The reason I say it’s a marketing flop is I’m old. I remember when Nike released the original zoom victory spikes. They only came in one color and had a hole in the heel to “decrease the weight”. This was before there was running social media and all the kids on my team saw the fastest kids in the section wearing them so we all got them. It eventually got to a point where every single kid in the 800 or mile had the same neon yellow and green spikes. - Did they actually make us faster? Who knows. But the marketing of getting your products into the hands (or feet) of the fastest kids is really persuasive marketing.
In this scenario, their primary goal should be getting the fastest kids in the country completely decked out in Nike gear. Head to toe, and the social team should be highlighting it. If Marcello only wore “x” Nike xc spikes, half the kids in Florida would be asking thier parents for them.
So not allowing at large individuals is a basically terrible decision for everyone. The kids don’t get to run, Nike doesn’t get the marketing. And I’m sure they’ll cite the costs of getting the runners over there which is a dumb, saving Pennie’s to lose dollars idea. /rant
Going to agree here, also because Mead was closer to Stumptiwn than either of the other teams were to Carmichael. Also if I am Belen as they went to state thinking they'd have a spot if they won and got overlooked their #1 should be there he deserves it and he could have easily skipped state run at NXR and his team probably still would have won the title.
If Marcelo had skipped their state meet then they would have lost to Buchholz
But not head to head at state because Buchholz raced in 4A and Belen raced in 3A. Belen still would have beaten Niceville without Mantecon
Belens number 1 seems like he’s a real team centered guy from what I seen in the interviews. With him not making it I think Nike should re think individual at larges. The state meet for him and NXR was in the same day. An at large would solve this.
From a business perspective it seems like such a big flop to me. The individual at larges don’t even need to be “mandatory” - there could be “7” “up to the discretion of the panel”.
Someone in the thread previously said “it’s a marketing event disguised as a cross country meet” which is 100% spot on. It’s why New York will most likely never lose its region.
The reason I say it’s a marketing flop is I’m old. I remember when Nike released the original zoom victory spikes. They only came in one color and had a hole in the heel to “decrease the weight”. This was before there was running social media and all the kids on my team saw the fastest kids in the section wearing them so we all got them. It eventually got to a point where every single kid in the 800 or mile had the same neon yellow and green spikes. - Did they actually make us faster? Who knows. But the marketing of getting your products into the hands (or feet) of the fastest kids is really persuasive marketing.
In this scenario, their primary goal should be getting the fastest kids in the country completely decked out in Nike gear. Head to toe, and the social team should be highlighting it. If Marcello only wore “x” Nike xc spikes, half the kids in Florida would be asking thier parents for them.
So not allowing at large individuals is a basically terrible decision for everyone. The kids don’t get to run, Nike doesn’t get the marketing. And I’m sure they’ll cite the costs of getting the runners over there which is a dumb, saving Pennie’s to lose dollars idea. /rant
Very well said.
Also, if you don't have the fastest people at your meet, the product isn't gonna be as good. If the product isn't as good, it's not gonna be very persuasive, selling wise.
I feel as tho this year was very political and bias in their selections, especially for the girls. Anyone else agree? I mean, taking 2 california schools where the #4 was not that close. Choosing american fork because of past seasons, not this current season. it’s almost as if NXN didn’t want the best teams there, they just wanted good publicity.
I feel as tho this year was very political and bias in their selections, especially for the girls. Anyone else agree? I mean, taking 2 california schools where the #4 was not that close. Choosing american fork because of past seasons, not this current season. it’s almost as if NXN didn’t want the best teams there, they just wanted good publicity.
The real question would be “anyone else DISagree?”
CA absolutley deserved two at-large bids, both of those teams ran under 77 at Woodward which is an incredible time. Woodbridge should be there too. Nike needs to add more at large slots and remove NY's
Or… NY should be combined with NE because you never know when a NY team will emerge
Mira Costa CA pulled out a two-point victory over Summit OR (154-156) to win the team title in the Jim Danner Boys Championship on Friday at Nike Portland XC.
I’ve got no dog in the fight, but if I’m Mead I am furious right now. Losing by 1 point and not getting an at large is crazy to me.
That’s what happened to Webb and Bridgeland last year. But the South region wasn’t strong on the girls side. Southeast girls teams did well at NXN last year. Both Webb and Bridgeland autoqualified this year. Neither of these teams graduated much though. Mead is graduating 3 scorers so qualifying next year will be tough for them.
We look at 3rd/4th place teams that beat a NXR Regional Winner during the season (late September thru November). Beating an NXR 2nd place team doesn’t factor into our decision, we want the best quality so we want teams that beat a regional champ.
One problem is that there are weak regions like NY where a team that gets 3rd at Federations beat an eventual Federations champ earlier in the season
It's tough being a Northeast runner and not having a shot at an at large b/c we run tougher courses so our times don't correspond to the flat/track races they run out West
Any four teams selected were going to be great and well deserving.
I could give our resume for why we were deserving, but each school has one. Each deserving on their own merit. But alas, only four spots for what I hope were 6-8 teams seriously considered.
Our one disadvantage I fear is the inability to face some of these other top notch programs as a small school in Central Iowa. We are only permitted to compete within Iowa and in states contiguous to Iowa. We traveled to Griak for the first time this season (finished second between Wayzata and SFC). We'd love to face similar challenges next season.
Any schools who don't have travel restrictions, you would be welcome to come to Pella, IA and race in the Heartland Classic, Saturday September 19th, 2026. We will be asking permission to travel to Gans Creek on September 25th, 2026 in Columbia, MO. We would love to face the highest possible level of competition at both these races. See everyone in 2026.
Going to agree here, also because Mead was closer to Stumptiwn than either of the other teams were to Carmichael. Also if I am Belen as they went to state thinking they'd have a spot if they won and got overlooked their #1 should be there he deserves it and he could have easily skipped state run at NXR and his team probably still would have won the title.
If Marcelo had skipped their state meet then they would have lost to Buchholz
I know Foot Locker has done it with Marlee Starliper running on a wildcard, as FootLocker Northeast and NXR Northeast were on same day.
I'm not sure Nike has ever done it.
The extra cost of travel for a few wild cards is not why they don't do it. When 500 kids are flying in, 505 does not make a difference.
It's much simpler. Focus is on teams. There are no conflicts with NXR since in 95% of cases, it's the first choice. Lastly, like all USATF meets, you have to qualify and get through the heats with no gifts.
For sure you lose some stars, but it's always fair - earn your spot.
