Then we look at who we as the committee thinks is running the hottest at the right time. We usually like how Cali Teams look since they get to race their State/NXR Race one week before NXN.
I hope you're not the real Rich G, lol.
To your first point, picking teams that only beat regional champs can leave you with nobody. In normal situations these at large teams are not a threat to win NXN anyway.
Although I do believe an 'at large' has finished in top 10 before.
On California teams, they make great last minute additions since travel to Portland is easy along the West Coast.
There have definitely been plenty of cases where At-Large teams finished on the podium at NXN. In particular, those teams tend to come from very strong regions and those teams just had a slightly "off" day at NXR, but had run better relatively recently (e.g. at their state meets).
I don't think location really has anything to do with whether something is a last minute addition: all the teams are flying into the meet and paid for by Nike. It wouldn't matter if they are from California or Washington or Florida or Massachusetts.
Then we look at who we as the committee thinks is running the hottest at the right time. We usually like how Cali Teams look since they get to race their State/NXR Race one week before NXN.
If this is real this is possibly the worst criteria I have ever heard. "We pick a team that just raced their state championship a week before the national championship after having spent the previous month racing league championships and state qualifiers." What could possibly go wrong?
Very high. They travelled to and won the Nike South Invitational, beating NXR South Champion Southlake (who were without their top two, but even if those two finished 1st and 2nd overall Jesuit still would have won). They travelled to Great American and beat NXR SE #2 (Broughton) and lost to SE #1 (Christ School) by only 6 points. They beat Belen at Great American by 44 points at Great American, so if Nike goes with the nepo baby hire and give Belen a free pass, there might be a schism in the Jesuit religious order.
Very high. They travelled to and won the Nike South Invitational, beating NXR South Champion Southlake (who were without their top two, but even if those two finished 1st and 2nd overall Jesuit still would have won). They travelled to Great American and beat NXR SE #2 (Broughton) and lost to SE #1 (Christ School) by only 6 points. They beat Belen at Great American by 44 points at Great American, so if Nike goes with the nepo baby hire and give Belen a free pass, there might be a schism in the Jesuit religious order.
I thought Jesuit was going to autoqualify.
But the way Austin Vandegrift reloaded was insane. Last year they lost 4 seniors, and this year they added 2 freshmen and 2 sophs.
Today Vandegrift was like in 10th the first mile, and ended up almost beating Carroll. They put it together at the right time of the year
There have definitely been plenty of cases where At-Large teams finished on the podium at NXN. In particular, those teams tend to come from very strong regions and those teams just had a slightly "off" day at NXR, but had run better relatively recently (e.g. at their state meets).
I don't think location really has anything to do with whether something is a last minute addition: all the teams are flying into the meet and paid for by Nike. It wouldn't matter if they are from California or Washington or Florida or Massachusetts.
On travel, I was joking. The real Rich G is among many other jobs, the Arcadia Meet Director. He always gets accused of favoring CA teams for at large. The other poster was joking about this.
On at large making the podium, can you name one? I know Southwest has put at large in top 10, but I don't think on podium.
There have definitely been plenty of cases where At-Large teams finished on the podium at NXN. In particular, those teams tend to come from very strong regions and those teams just had a slightly "off" day at NXR, but had run better relatively recently (e.g. at their state meets).
I don't think location really has anything to do with whether something is a last minute addition: all the teams are flying into the meet and paid for by Nike. It wouldn't matter if they are from California or Washington or Florida or Massachusetts.
I know Southwest has put at large in top 10, but I don't think on podium.
Just last year American Fork boys and Lone Peak girls were at-large and on the podium at NXN. Mountain Vista (Denver) girls were on the podium and at-large in 2023.
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.
This bids well for the #3 NXR SW Niwot girls team. They defeated Flower Mound at Desert Twilight. Flower Mound won NXR South this morning.
Then we look at who we as the committee thinks is running the hottest at the right time. We usually like how Cali Teams look since they get to race their State/NXR Race one week before NXN.
Teams are penalized because their Regional races earlier? Interesting. Thanks for the information.
"Rich G" is trolling you. I'd wager this is not the Rich Gonzalez on the at-large committee. UT and CO early state meets have not hurt their chances of an at-large bid.
California boys teams went 11, 15, 17 at NXN last year (and Menlo and Glendora graduated a lot of guys) which makes me wonder if California really deserves an at large on the boys side
Teams are penalized because their Regional races earlier? Interesting. Thanks for the information.
"Rich G" is trolling you. I'd wager this is not the Rich Gonzalez on the at-large committee. UT and CO early state meets have not hurt their chances of an at-large bid.
I assumed. I know I shouldn't feed them, but since this is all speculation, let them have their fun. No real committee member is going to care what is written on this message board or feel they have to justify their selection. The four teams invited will all be awesome and well-deserving! And there will be a few outstanding teams considered who won't get the selection. That's how this works.
Jesuit averaged slower today than they did on the same course 10 weeks ago. If you're looking for trending teams, probably not a great sign.
Austin Vandegrift had an off race last year at NXR and got 3rd. But they got in because of other great races, and they proved that they belong at NXN by placing 7th there