Christ School NC puts 7 guys under 16:00 in the 5k

That is very impressive considering their number 1 runner, Jack Dennehy still hasn't had a good race this season. I am very excited to see what he can do. I definitely think we can see a sub 9 here shortly.

jack dennehy isn't their number 1 runner unless you only look at NXN results or are his relative. Brooks Barbee beat him at every big race in XC other than NXN and has much faster 1600 and 3200 times.

It’s becoming a little harder to think that when their top 5 juniors ran 9:01, 9:08, 9:13, 9:17, 9:19 indoors.

Kind of unfortunate that we now live in the world where it takes a lot of transfers for a team to win NXN

Tucsola is about 30 miles from Asheville. Last summer I talked to the coach of the 2 Tucsola kids and he said the XC team can't run from the school because it is too rugged, they have drive to find places to run. I don't think it is a strong program so I can see why these guys would transfer for academics and running. Swain County is also in the NC mountains not too fair Asheville.

Are they in better shape than when 6 teams beat them a couple months back? Yes there are graduations but niwots 1-3 returner are better and you have a half dozen kids who have run 16 min 5ks as 9th and 10th graders. Christ definitely has a chance but I am not sure they will be the favorite. The altitude schools can be rough when we trying guess how good some kid who runs 9:50 at 5000' is.

One school going nuts with transfers isn't a trend

Niwott gets transfers
Herriman gets transfers
AF gets transfers
Newbury got transfers

They all get them, some more than others, some more organically and others with a little "recruiting".

Herriman won NXN in 2023 without a single transfer in their lineup. They got a transfer who had run in the 9:20s in the 3200 before going to Herriman, but he didn’t make the NXN lineup that year.

Wayzata girls won NXN in 2025 without any transfers at all

Niwot didn't have any transfers on their championship team. They do have open enrollment in Colorado, but their varsity team all joined as freshman. It appears that a few of them didn't even train prior to high school.

Name one kid on their NXN 2024 or 2025 team who didn't start there as a freshman.

I would be embarrassed if I was the coach of a private school, had the ability to recruit kids that do not live in the area, give them full ride scholarships, and STILL couldn't finish top five at NXN. Soon, people will realize how pitiful the program is and Cary Academy will reign supreme over the inferior Christ School once again!

Well the teams that beat Christ School at NXN have been to NXN the year before. 2025 was the first year at NXN for The Christ School

After class of 2027 graduates, unless Christ School gets more younger transfers

Also American Fork returns 4 of their top 5, and most of those guys are sophomores. They also have a bunch of sophomores on top JV too. People take big jumps from sophomore to junior year.

Herriman is losing 4 guys, but they always do and they still find a way to podium every year since Soles took over. None of the 2025 preseason national rankings had Herriman close to second.

Soles Came to CO to speak recently and he said he has had 6 boys teams on the podium in a row! That blew my mind for a boys program!

American Fork has to be the best boys program that has never won NXN before. They have at least five 2nd place finishes

why do they have to the have to graduate runners? 2025 outdoor--JR, 2026 indoor-JR, 2027--Junior?

Jack Dennehy - NC Track & Field Bio

To my knowledge, People that get held back a grade aren’t allowed to do high school sports senior year