NXN 2023 Way too early preview: Dawn of a new Era

CBA pulls the upset over AF and Herriman.

They have the #1 in barret who can run with Simmons, but then they also have the depth like Herriman. AF's 5th runner pushes them to third in a highly competitive field.

California has 1 in the top 5 and 3 in the top 10... maybe 12

My write-up on every state championships this past week.

Indiana State Championships -

Boys- Carmel boys showcased their peak form at the Indiana state championship race, posting an even higher average speed rating of 179.8 on the challenging Lavern Gibson Course. The state of Indiana has emerged as a powerhouse in producing top-tier male runners in the Midwest region, with the following standout finishers: Cameron Todd securing the first position, Will Conway in second place, Sam Quagliaroli taking third, and Anthony Provenazo finishing fourth.
The race appeared to be tactical in nature, as the finishing times, while strong, did not reach the levels of insanity expected from the top runners in the Midwest. Will Conway has notably been on a remarkable streak this cross country season, with his only defeats coming at the hands of Cameron Todd. Todd's remarkable speed rating of 193 cemented his dominance, while Conway's impressive 190 rating showcased his own outstanding performance. Sam and Anthony were not far behind, posting noteworthy ratings of 189 and 188, respectively, further highlighting the exceptional talent in the region and the competitiveness of the field.

Girls- Libbey Dowty showcased an extraordinary performance, winning the girls' race with a remarkable speed rating of 151, a particularly impressive feat considering her unranked status. In a closely contested field, Nicki Southerland secured the second position with a strong 148-speed rating, while watch-list runner Julia Scorn displayed her potential by finishing third with a commendable 145 rating.
Turning to the team aspect of the competition, hearty congratulations are in order for Homestead, who clinched the team victory. Homestead's girls collectively achieved an average speed rating of 120.8, an accomplishment that stands out considering their unranked status by both Dyestat and Milesplit. This places Homestead firmly in the under-the-radar category, making their triumph even more remarkable. Their exceptional performance underscores the depth of talent in the field, as they continue to surprise and challenge more established teams.

Idaho State Championships -

Boys - The Idaho state meet held this Saturday showcased a notable shift in the competitive landscape, with the top three teams establishing themselves as the real deal. Coeur d'Alene (CDA) secured the first position, followed by Rocky Mountain in second place, and Boise Senior in third. These teams have notably elevated their performance compared to earlier in the season. CDA achieved an impressive average speed rating of 175.8, closely trailed by Rocky Mountain with an average rating of 174.8, and Boise with a notable 175.4, underscoring their collective prowess.
In the realm of individual competition, a new and formidable runner has emerged in the Northwest in the form of Nate Stadlander, who clinched the Idaho State Championships title by surpassing Rocky Mountain's Landon Heemeyer. Stadlander exhibited an outstanding performance, recording a remarkable 190 speed rating, slightly edging out Heemeyer, who achieved a commendable 188. Andrew Ringert, a seasoned runner with an extensive race history spanning from Woodbridge to Portland and back to Bob Firman, continues to show steady improvement, securing a strong third place. Luke Athay, despite facing injury challenges, delivered an impressive 185-speed rating to claim victory in his section of the state meet, demonstrating his resilience and potential in the sport.

Girls - Timberline orchestrated a stunning team performance on the girls' side, outshining the Dyestat-ranked #30 Boise Senior to secure a well-deserved 5A victory. Timberline's girls' team exhibited remarkable unity, boasting an average speed rating of 112.8, a testament to their collective strength. Their impressive showing positions them as formidable challengers for the top positions in the Northwest, setting their sights on taking on Oregon's ranked #14 Jesuit and ranked #17 Lincoln at NXR Northwest.
Idaho witnessed a standout performance from Skyline's Nelah Roberts, who left an indelible mark by capturing the 4A state title with a remarkable speed rating of 149. Notably, the second-place finisher trailed by nearly two minutes, underscoring Roberts' dominance in the race. According to discussions on the Idaho thread, this particular course is considered slightly slower than the renowned Eagle Park course, adding an interesting dimension to the race dynamics and performance evaluations.

Iowa State Championships

Boys - Dowling Catholic's remarkable performance earned them the 4A state title with an impressive team average of 172.6, positioning them as strong contenders for the coveted 2nd automatic qualifier spot in the heartland region. Nevertheless, the competition in the region is fierce, as Cedar Falls finished a mere 12 points behind Dowling Catholic, displaying their prowess with an identical average speed rating of 172.6. Iowa is indeed home to two formidable teams this year, promising an exciting season of cross-country racing.
The individual battle unfolded among the talented trio of Ethan Zuber, Jaden Merrick, and Natnael Kifle. These runners have frequently engaged in thrilling head-to-head contests, with Zuber consistently emerging as the victor. Zuber continued his winning streak, securing the state title with an impressive 187 speed rating, narrowly outpacing Jaden, who posted a strong 186 rating. Natnael Kifle, known for his remarkable 15:05 performance at the Heartland Regionals last year, achieved a noteworthy 181 speed rating, further intensifying the competition.
Zuber's reputation for tactical racing adds an intriguing layer to the competition, particularly in comparison to Jackson Heidesch, one of the nation's fastest runners, who ran an astonishing 14:56 on this course last year. Zuber's performance of 15:07 this year underscores the fierce competition and pursuit of excellence in the heartland region.

Girls - Johnson secured the coveted girl's 4A team title, demonstrating their collective strength with an impressive average speed rating of 113.8. In a highly competitive individual race, Addison Dorenkamp emerged victorious, earning the girl's individual title with a notable speed rating of 136, while Olivia Verde displayed a strong performance by finishing in second place with a commendable 133 speed rating. Notably, the 4A girls state race in Iowa witnessed an astonishing 13 runners achieving speed ratings above 124, highlighting the exceptional depth of talent in this division.
In the 3A category, Pella clinched the girl's team championship, showcasing their prowess as a collective force. Additionally, Hillary Trainor secured the 2A state title with a notable 127 speed rating. However, when examining regional rankings, it may appear that the heartland region's girls have fewer standout individual and team runners, suggesting room for potential growth and development in the competitive landscape.

Wisconsin State Championships

Boys- Stevens Point's boys' team delivered a staggering performance, with an exceptionally high speed rating averaging 178.2 at their state championship course. The competition was fierce, with Hudson trailing in second place at 170.2, though Stevens Point's victory was both decisive and widely anticipated, cementing their status as the top team in the heartland.
The individual showdown took center stage, featuring a thrilling battle among three exceptional runners: Aloysius Franzen, Manny Putz, and Grady Lenn. Among them, Grady Lenn has garnered recognition as one of the swiftest sophomores nationwide. In a contest of age and experience, junior Manny Putz emerged triumphant, displaying his prowess with an impressive 191 speed rating, narrowly outpacing senior Aloysius Franzen, who secured a commendable 190 speed rating. Meanwhile, Grady Lenn left a remarkable mark by posting the fastest sophomore speed rating to date, an outstanding 187, underscoring his potential and making his performance one for the record books.
Girls- Slinger emerged as the standout girls' team in Wisconsin, showcasing their exceptional abilities by averaging a commendable 107.8 speed rating to secure the division 1 state title. A riveting competition unfolded between Ella Anschutz and Olivia Chellevold for the division 1 state title, with Ella delivering an impressive performance, achieving a noteworthy 134 speed rating, while Olivia trailed closely behind with a strong performance at 129. The rivalry between these two athletes added a thrilling dimension to the event, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
In the division 2 category, Nora Gremban made a significant mark by capturing the state title with a stellar 138 speed rating, outshining her competition, including Abigail Sadler, who posted a commendable 131 rating. Nora's outstanding achievement highlighted the depth of talent in the division 2 race, making it a memorable competition.

Kansas State Championships

Boys- Wichita Trinity Academy encountered a setback in their quest for victory, as they struggled to secure a dependable 5th runner to complement their formidable core. It's unfortunate, as their first four runners displayed impressive skills and determination. However, the fifth runner's performance fell short, with a speed rating of just 138, highlighting a missed opportunity for the team. Despite this, there were shining moments within the Kansas running community, including the triumphant performance of Shively, who clinched the 3A state title alongside a teammate, both finishing with an outstanding 177-177 speed rating.
The true standout of the day, though, was Blue Valley Southwest, showcasing the most remarkable team performance among Kansas teams. Their collective effort resulted in an impressive average speed rating of 168.4, setting a high standard for excellence. Meanwhile, individual accomplishments added to the excitement, with Micah Blomker securing the 6A title with an impressive 187 speed rating and Jackson Esquibel claiming the 3A title with a remarkable 182 speed rating. These exceptional performances underscore the depth of talent and the competitive spirit in Kansas cross country.

Girls- Olathe West stole the spotlight with an astounding team performance that left spectators in awe. The Kansas team's collective effort led to an impressive average speed rating of 116, signaling their exceptional prowess on the cross country course. However, it was Anjali Hocker Singh from Olathe North who truly set the course ablaze, boasting an extraordinary speed rating of 144. Not to be outdone, Katelyn Rupe showcased her remarkable talent with a commendable 142 speed rating. These standout performances by Anjali Hocker Singh and Katelyn Rupe undeniably establish them as two of the most prominent runners to keep a close eye on in the heartland region.
Kansas has undeniably become a fertile ground for producing swift and exceptional individual runners, with a growing reputation for nurturing remarkable talent in the sport of cross country.

continued -

Colorado

Boys- Colorado, a state renowned for its track record of producing exceptional athletes and teams, has made use of this particular course for its state meet since 2015. Over the course of eight years, a succession of exceptionally swift Colorado runners and teams have undertaken the challenge of etching their names into the annals of this course's history. This year, however, was nothing short of legendary. The efforts of five Colorado runners, namely Brennan Draper, Benjamin Anderson, Matthew Edwards, Will Brunner, and Jacob Sushinsky, have propelled them into the all-time top 10 list for this course, boasting remarkable speed ratings of 190, 189, 188, 188, and 188 respectively.
In an impressive display, Niwot has carved its name into the record books by recording the second-fastest team time on this course, with a substantial lead over their competition. Only Cheyenne Mountain surpasses them in this regard. As the buzz around Niwot grows, many are speculating that they may become one of the top three teams at NXN. Nevertheless, it's essential to approach this with a degree of caution, as the hype surrounding Niwot may be somewhat exaggerated. The ultimate test of their prowess will come at the NXR and NXN competitions.
Intriguingly, the speed ratings place Niwot at an impressive average of 176.6, securing their victory in the 4A state title. Noteworthy fast Colorado teams also include Rock Canyon with a rating of 171.6 (the 5A state title champions), Cheyenne Mountain with 171, Mountain Vista with 170.8, Fairview at 168.2, Valor Christian at 171.2, and The Classical Academy at 171. It's worth noting that an analytics expert has raised the possibility that speed ratings at the Colorado State Championships may be up to two points lower than those observed at the Clovis Invitational, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this exciting competitive landscape.

Girls- Similar to how Herriman and American Fork stand out as the two most formidable boys' teams in Utah, the distinction for the most dominant girls' teams can now be found in Colorado. It used to be that New York was the primary source of lightning-fast girl runners and formidable teams, but today, all eyes are on Niwot and Air Academy. Air Academy, in particular, is a force to be reckoned with, boasting an astonishing average speed rating of 136.2. Notably, the fifth girl from Air Academy is continually improving her performance, demonstrating the team's unwavering consistency since the early season.
Earlier in the season, Air Academy participated in the Woodbridge Invitational, securing a significant victory against a highly competitive field. During this event, the team averaged an even more impressive 136.6 speed rating, solidifying their prowess. On the other hand, Niwot maintains a formidable average speed rating of 135.2. It's worth highlighting that Niwot's leading runner, Addison Ritzenhein, clinched victory in the 4A girls' race with an outstanding 152 speed rating, ranking as the tenth fastest girl speed rating of the year. Notably, Isabel Allori and Rosie Mucharsky achieved remarkable speed ratings of 144 and 145, respectively, to secure their respective state titles in 3A and 5A.
As the upcoming NXR Southwest event approaches, the competition promises to be of a national caliber, with the fastest teams from Utah and Colorado poised to battle it out on the cross country terrain

North Dakota

Bismark is the best team in North Dakota. The boys team averaged a 168.4 speed rating.

Andrew (AJ) Ringert from Idaho has had a super nice speed rating curve this season. 170, 178, 180, 180, 182, 187.

The state XC course is definitely slower than the Eagle Island course, which is the NXR and Firman course. It's at 4300' vs 2600', and it was around 28, cloudy, windy with a light dusting of snow on the ground for the 5A race. Athay raced 3 hours later and it was sunny, much less wind, and around 36.

Stadtlander is the real deal. He just sat on Heemeyer and outkicked him with 200 to go. He has a 49.20 400m open PR, taking 2nd at the state track meet in the 400 and then coming back pretty quickly to get 2nd in the 800m. He also recorded essentially a 48.0 400m split. He ran 1:52.45 as a sophomore last year.

How much harder would you say the course is over woodward park 4.5/10? Pay attention to the backdrops of the video and you can see how much the runners climbed (9:47,13:19,14:54,etc). The Colorado course should be 30 seconds slower for being at altitude of 6000ft. 11 seconds faster for being shorter than woodward park. Is it 0 seconds more difficult, 5 seconds or 10 seconds? 0 seconds being - 19s, 5 seconds behind - 24s, 10 seconds - 28s slowers. The course shouldn't be over 10 seconds more difficult unless Cheyenne Mountain ran slower at Runninglane than their state meet.

Deer Creek OK

Apparently they have an 8th grader scoring?

So based on these speed ratings, Southlake Carroll is lacking a 5th that they need to make the podium, and Niwot is better than them

The Colorado course looks a lot more challenging than this one. The 2nd mile is the hardest. That's reflected in the splits that are listed in the results. A lot of top runners ran 30+ seconds slower than their race pace for the 2nd mile. Those results are here:

chsaanow.com

Final Results: 2023 State Cross Country Championships

Complete results from the 2023 CHSAA Colorado high school state cross country championships, held Saturday, October 28, at Norris Penrose Event Center.

Link:chsaanow.com/news/2023/10/28/live-resu...

In addition to the hills the course is narrower and the surface is not as smooth (bumpier footing).

You can't compare a state championship race with a qualifier race. We will see what speed ratings Southlake Carroll runs at their state meet.

Mountain Vista Girls team in Colorado... What happened at state? Will they even make the championshoip race at NXR? Their top 2- are the injured? Sick? WTH?

182
181
165
163
162

let's see how they stack up against southlake and vandegrift at state. It's possible they are the 3rd or 2nd best south region team

Deer Creek OK is another one to watch in the South region. They beat Bentonville AR this year. If Deer Creek qualifies for NXN, they will be the first Oklahoma team to make it.
Jesuit LA is another one to watch too with everyone healthy

Southwest should receive 3 bids this year.