Also shows that relatively slower CBA xc times are a reflection of the tougher NE courses they run, not the speed of the runners. Maybe those speed ratings aren't so biased after all?
Kids in the Northeast have a clear advantage when it comes to running fast track times due to factors like access to indoor track, racing at sea level, and abundant high-profile meets. In contrast, athletes from high-altitude states, like Colorado or Utah, face physiological challenges that slow their times, and many states don’t have indoor track, limiting racing opportunities to outdoor meets in tough conditions. However, fast track times don’t always translate to cross country, where uneven terrain, hills, and endurance come into play.
The region that has the big advantage of running fast times on the track is actually California. Tons of big meets with many runners willing to take the pace out hot. Very easy to get into the fast race. Perfect weather. Great meet management. Tons of opportunity.
And yet they are their own region. I hope that gets changed after this year because they should be in the NE.
You have no idea how this is done….lots of things go into determining specific regions.
I thought the state being consistently good enough was the requirement to warrant being its own region. NY does not have that anymore and the closest thing is probably Utah. The NE is a weaker region and the SW is way too good. There were at least 2 teams from the SW that deserved to go that could not because spots are reserved for 2 NY teams to take dead last.
Put some respect on the Northwest boys. Don't forget that they got 4 of the top 5 at Woodbridge, and had SEVEN boys break 15 at NXR NW.
Putting 7 under 15 isn't super impressive in comparison to NXR heartland, midwest, southeast, ect. where the courses are relatively flat, wide, and fast, but this year was the first year I know of where more than TWO boys broke 15, let alone SEVEN.
Throw in the least amount of travel time, and I think it will be the strongest region individually, and even if the NW doesn't produce the winner, the region will have multiple boys (and maybe even girls for that matter) in the top 10.
Put some respect on the Northwest boys. Don't forget that they got 4 of the top 5 at Woodbridge, and had SEVEN boys break 15 at NXR NW.
Putting 7 under 15 isn't super impressive in comparison to NXR heartland, midwest, southeast, ect. where the courses are relatively flat, wide, and fast, but this year was the first year I know of where more than TWO boys broke 15, let alone SEVEN.
Throw in the least amount of travel time, and I think it will be the strongest region individually, and even if the NW doesn't produce the winner, the region will have multiple boys (and maybe even girls for that matter) in the top 10.
The reason for my top 5 picks were for 3 reasons: speed rating, underdog and i feel like they have more talent than they have shown. NW, SW, CA definitely aren't underdogs and had many opportunities to showcase their talents already. NW boys are the strongest region coming to nxn, there is no doubt about that.
1 Keegan Smith - Knoxville TN - Colorado Commit 2 Joe Barrett - Lincroft NJ - UNC Commit 3 Eyan Turk - Riverside CA - Kentucky Commit
'1st Team All American' 4 Ben Crane - Winnetka IL - BYU Commit 5 Juan Gonzalez - Fremont NE - Uncommitted 6 Sam Quagliaroli - Fishers IN - Indiana Commit 7 Kaden Evans - American Fork UT - Oklahoma State Commit
'2nd Team All American; 8 Tayvon Kitchen - Central Point OR - Uncommitted 9 Landon Pretre - Menlo CA - Wake Forest Commit 10 Owen Powell - Mercer Island WA - Uncommitted 11 Ty Steorts - Hurricane WV - Tennessee Commit 12 Kyle Steadman - Orem UT - Uncommitted 13 Landon Kimmel - Tipp City OH - Junior 14 Jase Burton - Afton WY - Uncommitted
'3rd Team All American' 15 Noah Bontrager - Topeka IN - Junior 16 Robert Mechura - Roseville MN - UNC Commit 17 Marshall Vernon - Providence RI - Junior 18 Aiden Le Roux - Colorado Springs CO - Junior 19 Caden Leonard - Southlake TX - Junior 20 Eli Fitchen Young - Santa Cruz CA - Duke Commit 21 Charlie Vause - Rio Rancho NM - Uncommitted
Team Podium 1st Herriman High School - Herriman UT 2nd Christian Brothers Academy - Lincroft NJ 3rd Niwot High School - Niwot CO
1 Keegan Smith - Knoxville TN - Colorado Commit 2 Joe Barrett - Lincroft NJ - UNC Commit 3 Eyan Turk - Riverside CA - Kentucky Commit
'1st Team All American' 4 Ben Crane - Winnetka IL - BYU Commit 5 Juan Gonzalez - Fremont NE - Uncommitted 6 Sam Quagliaroli - Fishers IN - Indiana Commit 7 Kaden Evans - American Fork UT - Oklahoma State Commit
'2nd Team All American; 8 Tayvon Kitchen - Central Point OR - Uncommitted 9 Landon Pretre - Menlo CA - Wake Forest Commit 10 Owen Powell - Mercer Island WA - Uncommitted 11 Ty Steorts - Hurricane WV - Tennessee Commit 12 Kyle Steadman - Orem UT - Uncommitted 13 Landon Kimmel - Tipp City OH - Junior 14 Jase Burton - Afton WY - Uncommitted
'3rd Team All American' 15 Noah Bontrager - Topeka IN - Junior 16 Robert Mechura - Roseville MN - UNC Commit 17 Marshall Vernon - Providence RI - Junior 18 Aiden Le Roux - Colorado Springs CO - Junior 19 Caden Leonard - Southlake TX - Junior 20 Eli Fitchen Young - Santa Cruz CA - Duke Commit 21 Charlie Vause - Rio Rancho NM - Uncommitted
Team Podium 1st Herriman High School - Herriman UT 2nd Christian Brothers Academy - Lincroft NJ 3rd Niwot High School - Niwot CO
Why does cross country have so many uncommitted? For all other sports, baseball, football, soccer, swimming, etc. recruits are already commited by now?
Is that how the academic powerhouses recruit? They don't recruit until the spring? Like Harvard, Stanford, etc? Where are the recruits for those schools?
1 Keegan Smith - Knoxville TN - Colorado Commit 2 Joe Barrett - Lincroft NJ - UNC Commit 3 Eyan Turk - Riverside CA - Kentucky Commit
'1st Team All American' 4 Ben Crane - Winnetka IL - BYU Commit 5 Juan Gonzalez - Fremont NE - Uncommitted 6 Sam Quagliaroli - Fishers IN - Indiana Commit 7 Kaden Evans - American Fork UT - Oklahoma State Commit
'2nd Team All American; 8 Tayvon Kitchen - Central Point OR - Uncommitted 9 Landon Pretre - Menlo CA - Wake Forest Commit 10 Owen Powell - Mercer Island WA - Uncommitted 11 Ty Steorts - Hurricane WV - Tennessee Commit 12 Kyle Steadman - Orem UT - Uncommitted 13 Landon Kimmel - Tipp City OH - Junior 14 Jase Burton - Afton WY - Uncommitted
'3rd Team All American' 15 Noah Bontrager - Topeka IN - Junior 16 Robert Mechura - Roseville MN - UNC Commit 17 Marshall Vernon - Providence RI - Junior 18 Aiden Le Roux - Colorado Springs CO - Junior 19 Caden Leonard - Southlake TX - Junior 20 Eli Fitchen Young - Santa Cruz CA - Duke Commit 21 Charlie Vause - Rio Rancho NM - Uncommitted
Team Podium 1st Herriman High School - Herriman UT 2nd Christian Brothers Academy - Lincroft NJ 3rd Niwot High School - Niwot CO
Why does cross country have so many uncommitted? For all other sports, baseball, football, soccer, swimming, etc. recruits are already commited by now?
Is that how the academic powerhouses recruit? They don't recruit until the spring? Like Harvard, Stanford, etc? Where are the recruits for those schools?
Because NCAA is getting sued and the result is that XC and Track roster spots are getting capped.
Basically to be eligible to compete or train using school facilities for XC and Track going forward, the school has to pay you as an employee. Schools agreed to limit the rosters to 17 for XC (with some imposing stricter limits like 10 on themselves).
So most schools have way fewer spots to roster coming into next year. They will either be way more selective with their last spots by waiting until the last minute, or just leave them completely empty to snatch some transfers who are ready to contribute instead of wasting years and roster spots developing freshman.
Unless you are a stud, it's less likely you get D1 offers going forward. You'll probably see runners who would have had D1 offers in previous years go D2/D3 or community college for a year or two and then transfer into the D1 schools once they show they can handle college distances.