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

One Addition wrote:

Connie Jo Robinson, Reading, Ohio, won the Kinney/Foot Locker in 1981. I think she ran 16:40. I don't know how many state titles she won.

She won one title her senior year running 13:33 As a junior, she was 2nd to Patty Metzler. As a soph, she ran 15:25 for 7th in her race. Wasn't listed as a freshman. Her career was very similar to Claire Durkin who made huge improvements each year.

Patty Metzler should also be considered. She was 3rd as a freshman and then won the next 3 years. Her and Robinson ran different races in 1981. In 1982 the first year of 5k Metzler ran 17:17.

During this same period Laura Craven was running incredible times on the roads but I believe never ran for her school. She ran the 15 mile Charleston distance classic in 1:33 as an 11 yr old. At 14 in 1979 she ran 35:33 at the L'eggs mini 10k in NY.

Pre841-

Ritz ran 13:44.70, almost breaking Lindgren's 13:44 record.

imim wrote:

anacondarunner wrote:

OHIO

1) Bob Kennedy

2) Scott Fry

3) Alan Scharsu (sp?)

4) Zach Wills

5) Andrew Jordan

6) Bob Mau

7) Michael Brajdic

You are leaving out a bunch of really good Ohio runners from this list. Look up what some of these other guys did: Sam Wharton, Wes Smith, Jeff See, Brian Hesson, Joe Barnes, John Sence, J.J. White, Josh Ritchie, Jason Rexing. I'd venture to say that several from this list would/should surpass some on the original list.

If we are talking cross country George Nicholas was 3rd at the World Junior Cross Champs in high school and also held the fastest time at the state meet when it was 2.5 miles. Not that it matter for this but he also won the US Senior Cross Trials after he graduated college, Bob Mau had the fastest 5k time (14:58) on the fast Scarlet and Grey golf course and made the World Junior team in high school and placed 35th at the World Champs,

Wills should be not on this list but hard to find a difference between your suggestions versus Jordan and Bradjic.

Wesley Smith ran very fast cross times and finished 2nd at Footocker and ran faster in track than Sam Wharton but Sam Wharton won NXN and placed third at Footlocker (I think, at least top 5).

Sence finished second to Kennedy at Footlocker but lost the state meet 3200 in a 9:20 race that didn't include Kennedy,

I would add Nicholas and Wharton and bump Bradjic and Wills, Keep Jordan but that is a tough call leaving out John Zishka (4:03/13:55) and Hesson.

Its a toss up and I don't see how any of the runners in your list have a strong enough argument versus the first one,. (other than George Nicholas who along with Kennedy and Scharsu irrefutably one of the very best Ohio high school cross country runners to this day.

Coppess and Moen were not particularly fast in high school. Others already mentioned were faster.

Knife wrote:

Lone Star wrote:

Can’t believe this thread is on its seventh page and I don’t believe the second most populous state has been mentioned. I’m not originally from TX so just throwing out a few well-known names to get the discussion started. Someone help me out.

Reina

Lutz

Hauser(s)

Magness

For TX

From a 4 year career in the big school classes hard to beat Bobby Aguirre in TX for overall career. (4,1,2,1 at the State Meet)

Can't ignore Alan Culpeppers multi state titles as well.

Colby Lowe

Please update Texas for the following:

1) Reuben Reina - 1st footlocker 1985 (course record holder)

2) Craig Lutz - 1st NXN/4th footlocker 2009 (set the course record @ NXN)

3) Daniel Vertiz - 2nd NXN/5th footlocker 2011

4) Brad Hauser - 4th footlocker 1993

5) Reed Connor - 1st NXN 2008 (set the course record @ NXN)

6) Colby Lowe - 2nd NXN/4th footlocker 2007

7) Alan Culpepper - 4th footlocker 1990

This is in no particular order. Based purely off of cross country results on the national level. Texas seems to have a thing for finishing 4th at footlocker haha!

what about Logan Poteet (8:57 3200) ? Miles Yapp ( only 2 seasons of track; 9:01 3200 )? Tyer Anyan (8:52 3200 and 4:09)?

For Georgia*

Wyoming has not been mentioned yet. I will take some time tomorrow to look deeper, but off the top of my head:

Jim McCreery, Gillette

Rob Marney, Torrington

Brody Smith, Cody

Matt Heller, Lander

There are plenty others to think about. Too many good 4A runners for me to remember. I'm partial to 3A dominance. A few Wyoming Indian HS runners could go here, too. Good runners. Better names.

MISSOURI

Joe Falcon 3:49

Matt Tegenkamp 12:58

Jason Pyrah Double OG

Mark Curp World Record HM

Jeff Pigg 3:58

Others I can't remember

YankeeMan wrote:

what about Logan Poteet (8:57 3200) ? Miles Yapp ( only 2 seasons of track; 9:01 3200 )? Tyer Anyan (8:52 3200 and 4:09)?

Are there really three guys in the State of Oregon named these three names? These look like cartoon names.

Chris Borsa and Chris Zinn both in high school would have beat all of these dudes other than Falcon or Tegankamp,

First Nicholas has already been put on the list at #1. In comparing Wharton and Wills it isn't even close. Both ran similar xc times. Wharton had one title and one second place. Wills had THREE titles and one 4th place and ran in the 14s his junior year.

Jordan had one great year with a title and was 3rd as a junior.

Barnes only had one win in 15:33.

See had two wins but fastest was 15:25. (much better on track)

Wes Smith had one win and two 2nds but ran 15:07 (and got beat)

John Sence had one runner up 15:30.

Rexing had two runner ups but never won.

Josh Ritchie was behind Rexing.

Hesson won 3 titles but small school and fastest at state was 15:20

J.J. White probably has the best chance to make the list with 2 wins and a 15:05 at Scioto Downs.

The current list is

Nicholas

Scharsu

Fry

Kennedy

Wills

Zishka

Mau

If I made a change, I would take Zishka out. He won twice but that was when the races were split and he never had the fastest time. (He would be right at the top on the track though) I would replace him with either White or Jordan. White had two wins to Jordan's one but is 15:05 at Scioto better than 14:54 at national trails?

Run Away wrote:

MISSOURI

Joe Falcon 3:49

Matt Tegenkamp 12:58

Jason Pyrah Double OG

Mark Curp World Record HM

Jeff Pigg 3:58

Others I can't remember

Again. Does not follow directions.

BEST HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS.

Knowledge of North Dakota is limited, but Ihmels and Leingang were A listers.

I'll take a shot at the Florida list: (Boys and Girls taken from the Nason and Lady Nason Line list compiled by Michael Warre - who probably should be on the list except for some bad luck)

1. Keith Brantley - 9:03 2 mile xc postal, Olympian

2. Brett Hoffman - 8:53 2 mile (8:56 2 mile as sophomore)

3. Herb Wills – 9:00 2 mile/National Jr. XC Champion

4. Andres Arroyo – 8:51 3200

5. Brian Jaeger – 8:57 2 mile/ 8th FL

6. Steven Hassen – 8:52 3200 (Indoor 8:57 2 mile)

7. Basil Magee – 9:02 2 mile xc postal beating Keith (4:08 mile in Spring with a 1:59 finishing split)

1. Ashley Brasovan 10:13.45 3200

2. Betty Jo Springs 10:17.20 2 mile/15 state titles is the most of any runner boys or girls in Florida history.

3. Kathryn Fluehr 10:18.29 3200

4. Jennifer Barringer 10:18.84 3200/World Champion

5. Kelly Parrish 10:22.74 2 mile

6. Kara Scanlin 10:23.65 3200

7. Shelby Hayes 10:23.79 3200

Needs some more editorials and insights into these athletes - I think we take down California with this list.

Let me take a stab at New Mexico males

Tony Sandoval (1980 Oly)

George Young (1968 Oly bronze 3K steeple)

Chuck Aragon (4th - Oly trials)

Shadrack Kiptoo ~4:02 HS mile

Matt Tebo 8:47 HS 2 mi

David Krumanacker

Brandon Leslie

Considerations for Peter Graham, Chip Smith, Benjamin Johnson, Rob Hipwood, ... chime in if I've missed a biggie

I updated the Ohio team in the most recent roster to include the following:

OHIO

1 Nicholas

2. Alan Scharsu (8:44.03 for 2mi)

3 Scott Fry (8:47.02 c for 2 mi; 14:19 for 5k)

4 Bob Kennedy

5 Zach Wills

6 John Zishka (8:53.0 for 2mi; 13:55.65 for 5k)

7 Bob Mau

If this doesn't work, please be very explicit and tell me who to delete and who to replace them with.

YankeeMan wrote:

what about Logan Poteet (8:57 3200) ? Miles Yapp ( only 2 seasons of track; 9:01 3200 )? Tyer Anyan (8:52 3200 and 4:09)?

This is what I have for Georgia:

1. Ben Hubers

2. Kirubel Erassa

3. Girma Mecheso

4. Josh Brickell

5. Ralph King

6. Travis Grindstaff

7. Willie Nelson

Who should be deleted and replaced by whom? Any times you can provide are welcomed.

Try your hardest ... wrote:

Pre841-

Ritz ran 13:44.70, almost breaking Lindgren's 13:44 record.

Thanks for the update. Fixed.