Best All-Time HS All-Star XC Team by State

Connecticut- Jake Feinstein, Noah Krassin, Robert Cheng, Cameron Swift, Connor Rog, Henry Winn, Mike Morton

CTJogger wrote:

Connecticut- Jake Feinstein, Noah Krassin, Robert Cheng, Cameron Swift, Connor Rog, Henry Winn, Mike Morton

Not a single one of these guys is top 7 .... Wynne and Rog might be top 12

King Vitamin wrote:

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR on Michigan course of 14:10...head and shoulders above anyone else on this list)

2. Grant Fisher (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR 14:52)

3. Jason Hartmann (2 time state champ big school division, PR 14:51)

4. Maverick Darling (3 time state champ smallish school division, but big PR 14:53)

5. Ryan Shay (4 time state champ - granted small school division but still, PR 15:30 but he always blew away the competition and local legend)

6. Jake Flynn (3 time state champ smallish school division, PR 15:12 but also blew most people away)

7. Mark Smith (3 time state champ medium school division, PR 15:25 and sub 9:00 2 miler guy on the track in the 1980s and local legend)

Thank you for your input. I will post both MI lists because after your #s 1&2 your list is markedly different from the earlier one. Again, I don't have knowledge of MI HS XC (except that my top female runner used to run for

Birmingham Seaholm HS before moving to Oregon). More discussion from our Michigan experts could help sort this one out.

Here are the two lists:

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (13:44.70 for 5k)

2. Grant Fisher

3. Greg Meyer

4. Herb Lindsay

5. Todd Williams

6. Brian Grosso

7. Abdul Alzindani

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR on Michigan course of 14:10...head and shoulders above anyone else on this list)

2. Grant Fisher (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR 14:52)

3. Jason Hartmann (2 time state champ big school division, PR 14:51)

4. Maverick Darling (3 time state champ smallish school division, but big PR 14:53)

5. Ryan Shay (4 time state champ - granted small school division but still, PR 15:30 but he always blew away the competition and local legend)

6. Jake Flynn (3 time state champ smallish school division, PR 15:12 but also blew most people away)

7. Mark Smith (3 time state champ medium school division, PR 15:25 and sub 9:00 2 miler guy on the track in the 1980s and local legend)

TexasBest wrote:

No way can Texas leave off Colby Lowe. No way.

Who should he replace?

I remember watching Wills on the internet when he ran the 3,000 at worlds in Italy. In cross their senior year, Wills wasnt close because he went too fast the first mile. I think it was pretty windy and he was in the front from the beginning. I was out at the mile and forget exactly what he went through but probably 10 seconds faster than Bradjic did. Really cost him at the end. That was one of those years you wished they could have run head to head. They always had mile and two mile splits but it would take a little time to hunt them down.

Thanks pre841.

I grew up running against some of these guys in Michigan, and one guy was from my hometown (Mark Smith, Cadillac), so I may be biased towards them. However, there numbers and titles back things up a bit.

Ryan Shay, Jake Flynn and Smith came from small towns in the same region of Michigan, on the western side in the greater Traverse Bay area. Watching races with Shay and Flynn left an impression, because those guys were so good for so long and usually so far ahead of second place.

Smith is a guy whose talent level was off the charts and maybe never fully realized. My coach (who also coached Smith) told me Smith was a party-animal and even showed up hung over for the state champs his senior year (which he won). Coach could laugh about this now, but he had mixed feelings that day back then. Smith went on to make the Olympic team as an alternate for the steeplechase in the late 80s. He showed up for a alumni 5k a few years ago with a huge potbelly, a long pony tail and cranked out a 16:45 5k, maybe 10 seconds behind one of our top guys who went on to be all state that year in the state's second biggest division.

Mr. OAR wrote:

Mike Mahon because I'm not even sure in high school. IGreen could have taken down Powell's Franklin Park course record. Which no one has come within 30 seconds of since the 90's.

Green is overrated. I would not put him ahead of Chris Barnicle and Barnicle isn't even on the list.

After research

Massachusetts

1. Abdirizak Mohammed - 2x footlocker winner

2. Alberto Salazar (8:53.8 for 2mi; 14:04.8 for 5k; 12:22.5 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

3. Art Dulong- 11:04 for 2.5 miles Franklin Park, 4:04 mile

4. Andy Powell- 14:52 5k Franklin Park ~8:49 2 mile indoors

5. Franklyn Sanchez- Just lost to Powell 8:48 2 mile indoors

6. Jonathan Riley- 3:43 1500m

7. Daniel Moynihan

Others: Chris Barnicle 8:52 2-mile, Jonathan Green 15:20 Northfield mountain, Mark Coogan 9:24 2-mile.

Brian Hull (Southwestern HS 1974) should be considered. He was co runner of the yr with Gene McCarthy. Hull was undefeated & I think he broke 10 of 12 course records that yr. I think he beat Dave D at McQuaid along with a stellar field. Hull won the small schools section of the Eastern States by a huge margin - running in the 12:30s. It was the only time he raced at VCP & he didn't get a chance to see the course beforehand.

Graves didn't need to and he always doubled back in the mile. Tough SOB

My GOD what is wrong with you. Graves is #3 at absolute worst. He never lost to SPIVEY or anyone else after XC soph year

[quote]pre841 wrote:

Twenty-three states accounted for. I've made some changes based on various recommendations.

Illinois

1) Lukas Verzbicas

2) Craig Virgin

3) Chris Derrick

4) Donald Sage

5) Matt Withrow

6) Tom Graves

7) Jorge Torres

Massachusetts

The case for Mahon is SO much stronger than that for Moynihan. Debat 1-6 all you want (though why would you), but Mahon should be a lock at #7.

Great Wigins wrote:

My GOD what is wrong with you. Graves is #3 at absolute worst. He never lost to SPIVEY or anyone else after XC soph year

[quote]pre841 wrote:

Twenty-three states accounted for. I've made some changes based on various recommendations.

Illinois

1) Lukas Verzbicas

2) Craig Virgin

3) Chris Derrick

4) Donald Sage

5) Matt Withrow

6) Tom Graves

7) Jorge Torres

Great Wiggins,

Nothing is wrong with me (and he is my GOD too). I've put Graves at #3 as per your request, but like I've said before, I'm just an editor trying to keep track of people's opinions. I've weighed in on CA and OR because I have knowledge of those two states' HS XC history.

pre841 wrote:

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (13:44.70 for 5k)

2. Grant Fisher

3. Greg Meyer

4. Herb Lindsay

5. Todd Williams

6. Brian Grosso

7. Abdul Alzindani

What did Lindsay do in high school? Cross country (or track?)

I would say Jake Brophy has to be on the list for PA, back to back state championships his Junior and Senior year, 8th his sophomore year. and 30th as a Freshman. 3rd at pre-states his Junior year and 1st his senior Year. State Course (Hershey Parkview) record holder as well as the 3rd fastest time on that course (15:39), he ran 15:24 his Junior year at states and the previous record, set By Russell, was 15:45. 8th at Foot Locker Nationals his Senior Year and 25th as a Junior. 2nd at Foot Locker Regionals as a Senior and 5th as a Junior. If you want to talk track credentials he has run faster than Russell in the 3200 and has 1:55 800 meter ability from relays. He hasn't graduated but his XC resume is certainly better than Russel's.

repthekeystone wrote:

not a contending state but since no one else has brought up PA figured I would throw out a quick list, probable top 5 with a few other contenders although I don't know some of the older guys accolades as well off the top of my head

Craig Miller 14:56 xc, 3 time state champ, 15th FL jr (collapsed lung before sr year) 4:06 mile soph year 8:22 3k in

Dan Coval- 7th at FL in 1999, 4 time 3200 state champ

Ian Gottesfeld state champ/21st FL jr year

Tony Russell 2 time state champ 4:09/8:58 14:58

Paul Springer 8:52 2 mile 14:47 xc 14:44 indoor 4:08 1600

Paul Vandegrift

Mike Connelly

Chris Dugan

Chris Spooner

Jason Weller

Jake Brophy

Mark Dennin

Vince Mcnally

Stagger Lee wrote:

I'll give it a try.

1. Matt Tegenkamp

2. Chris Borsa

3. Joe Falcon

4. Chris Zinn

5. Tom Breckenridge

6. Ben Naeger

7. Mugeche?

I'd put Noah Kauppila over Mugeche. Both won state titles, but Kauppila was 10 sec. faster and a FL qualifier.

The girls side is probably more competitive.

1. Taylor Werner

2. Emily Sisson

3. Hannah Long

4. Samantha Nightingale

5. Diane Robison

6. Chelsey Phoebus

7. Colleen Quigley

Texas Update:

I've updated the Texas squad with their best finish & times at FL, NXN and State (cross country results only!)

Also included two others for consideration.

Listed in no particular order.

Ruben Reina

Footlocker: 1st 1985 14:36

State 5A XC: 1st 1985 15:07

Craig Lutz

Footlocker: 4th 2010 15:30

NXN: 1st 2009 15:09 (5th 2008, 3rd 2010)

State 5A XC: 1st 2009 14:45, 1st 2010, 14:41 (3rd 2008)

Colby Lowe

Footlocker: 4th 2007 15:12 (29th 2005, 10th 2006)

NXN: 2nd 2007 15:42 (4th 2006, 30th 2004)

State 5A XC: 1st 2006 15:05, 1st 2007 15:11

Brad Hauser

Footlocker: 4th 1993 15:09 (21st 1992, 29th 1994)

State 5A XC: 1st 1993 15:43, 1st 1994 15:18

Alan Culpepper

Footlocker: 4th 1990 15:25

State 5A XC: 1st 1989 15:54 1st 1990 15:38

Reed Conner

NXN: 1st 2008 15:13 (24th 2007)

State 5A XC: 1st 2008 14:47

Daniel Vertiz

Footlocker: 5th 2011 15:23

NXN: 2nd 2011 15:27

State 5A XC: 2nd 2011 15:21 , (3rd 2010)

Also of note:

Eric Henry

Footlocker: 24th 1984, 11th 1985, 22nd 1986

State 5A XC: 1st 1986 16:36

Leonel Manzano

State 4A XC: 1st 2001 15:41, 1st 2002 15:51, 1st 2003 15:28

Mark Smith was one of the toughest runners I ever knew but he was a little crazy. With his talent and the ability to focus long term and adapt to the low-key, disciplined life of an elite distance runner he surely would have run much faster. Definitely had to talent for the steeple event to get down to at least 8:15.

He was a guy who could drive himself into the pain zone longer in a race where most people would give in,

He just missed the third spot in the 1988 Olympic Trials Steeple by less than a second. Stopped running for two years and worked at a Ford Plant and started smoking. Then tried to make a comeback for the 1992 trials.

He must have gained at least 25 pounds with a big ass but he was the guy that as overweight as he was pushing the pace in all of our training group quality workouts. Even leading an indoor 3 times 2 mile workout in 4:30 pace even if he completely collapsed the last 400. I guess he figured that was the best way to get in shape fast when you are out of shape and have to get in shape fast to make the Trials. Which he did,

He was a gamer on race day and a MAC legend when he was rode for points and often tripled every MAC Track Championship.

The fact that if he ran a 16:45 5k a few years ago with a gut at his age ( I don't know what his running schedule is these days though) makes me realize I didn't have that same talent. I ran national class times back then, I'm 4 years younger and never completely stopped running until recently. 70 miles a week until my late 30's. Then 50 miles a week in my forties at just 5 pounds more than my college weight. The last 5k I ran at age 39 was over 20 minutes.

pre841 wrote:

Great Wigins wrote:

My GOD what is wrong with you. Graves is #3 at absolute worst. He never lost to SPIVEY or anyone else after XC soph year

[quote]pre841 wrote:

Twenty-three states accounted for. I've made some changes based on various recommendations.

Illinois

1) Lukas Verzbicas

2) Craig Virgin

3) Chris Derrick

4) Donald Sage

5) Matt Withrow

6) Tom Graves

7) Jorge Torres

Great Wiggins,

Nothing is wrong with me (and he is my GOD too). I've put Graves at #3 as per your request, but like I've said before, I'm just an editor trying to keep track of people's opinions. I've weighed in on CA and OR because I have knowledge of those two states' HS XC history.

I agree with Wigins:

After Graves sophomore state cross country race-third Graves dominted Illinois....

Trivia: although... Graves did lose once to another prep in 78.

Lmk when you get Oklahoma on here