High School XC Nationals are Back!

It sounds even bigger. The first word in the name of the title is "National". And to then call it a meet of Champs is a dig at the 2 so called nationals that are cancelled. A meet of Champs sounds like tge champs of what would have been both national championships competing against one another. States that have a meet of champs, it is the next higher thang above the state meet so this must be the next higher thing than the 2 national meets which split the best individuals.

I am fine with the date because I think it will attract more runners than waiting 2 more weeks.

It would be nice if the top runners can arrange to race for an informal national title.

Yawn, let us know when Newbury Park, Great Oak, Bellarmine and Jesuit enter.

oldie and wrote:

Two California teams registered within hours of the announcement. My concern is the opposite. How will they limit and determine the teams in the championship race?

labenthraub wrote:

If you are a coach from nj or ny would you take your team knowing they will have to quarantine once you get back home?

Not sure many schools will let their team get on a plane just yet

You can stay in your blue states with your masks on.

wejo wrote:

I think COVID discussion and an event like this should almost be in a separate thread.

My main question with this race is the date.

It's not a true high school nationals if a bunch of states can't make it. Personally I'm glad to see groups filling the void.

Is it too early in the year and how many state meets does it conflict with? The Texas state meet is November 21. So they are out. Being from Texas that's not ideal.

Traditionally FL regionals were the weekend after Thanksgiving right. I just wrote the NSAF people to to see if they could push back to that week. Everyone could make it then.

So my question is what states have state meets after this date. I don't see the need for a pseudo nationals when you could have a full fledged one 2 weeks later.

What am I missing?

The overwhelming majority of states conduct their state championships before this date. Most states are either last week of Oct or one of the first 2 wees in Nov. Texas would normally be one of these states. I think this is a perfect date for most athletes in the country, even though there are a few states that think they need to carry their season into the end of Nov. for some reason.

What should happen is that Nike should have all regional qualifiers on the same weekend in the middle of November (standardized calendar week 19 or 20) and then the Nationals either the last weekend of November or the first weekend in December (standardized calendar week 21 or 22). Then, any state whose season doesn't line up with that, can either change their schedule or just not participate. The rest of the country should not have to inconvenience themselves just because a couple of states think they have to have their seasons running into winter sports seasons.

Also, no state should have their own region or be allowed to use their state championship as a region. All states should be combined with other states to form the regions. New York should be with the Northeast and California should be with some of the west coast teams in some fashion.

AAU already hosting a meet on Dec 5, that will be well run and would fit the national championship need. In past years the high school age group has been lightly attended but the capacity to handle much larger group has always been there because of the larger number of youth runners.

For a team championships, HS could send teams that could then unofficially calculate out separately from the club and unattached runners.

This NSAF meet is likely to be a flop, NSAF is simply looking for money and relevance after losing exclusivity with ther indoor meet, and hasn't proven an organizational ability to pull this off in November. Plus weather will be much nicer in Florida vs running around in the snow,

wejo wrote:

The top programs have the power. If they all commit to a meet that is where everyone will go.

This meet would be perfect 2 weeks later.

So New Balance Nationals is no more? Is that what some poster is saying?

New Balance is now planning there own National Indoor meet separate from NSAF and the "new" meet is likely to get all the top runners as NB has the name recognition, (and likely to put on the better show as well). For example past Champions say they won the "New Balance Nationals" not a NSAF one..... So yes New Balance Nationals remains but will now be run by New Balance, NSAF will remain but we don't know who the title sponsor will be for now.

NSAF was/is a really tired old organization that has lost interest in making sure they are putting forward the best meet for athletes but rather maximizing entrance fees and profits. The breakaway was overdue. Hopefully it doesn't water down the fields even more. That said, for outdoor reality is Brooks PR and Adidas Dream events have ruled for some years, with the fully paid travel and gear. Adidas most years having the edge being tied to the high quality professional meet. Also U20s, though being more college freshman focused, also outshines NSAF at the top end of HS competition, though the HS masses don't show up .

Nike Cross Virtual info:

https://www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=14127

Week 1 recap and team and individual standings for Nike Cross Virtual:

https://nxv.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=14127&do=news&news_id=608407

happy to have a race wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong....the NSAF is NOT calling this a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. This is an opportunity for some, not all, to have a post season race. If someone else want to step up and put money where their mouth....or better post....is and put on another post season opportunity then do it. You all are complaining about someone that stepped up and is GIVING an opportunity for a BUNCH of kids.

OK so here's my take:

I am middle-aged, so I don't have a dog in this fight. But when I was a HS senior, I wasn't on a school-affiliated team, so I wouldn't have been eligible to run in a State Meet. There wasn't one in my state, though. Just for trivia's sake it was CA, and many of you know that the first State Meet was the one made famous in the Costner movie. Anyway, I am reading this just out of curiosity and this is the first post that really made sense to me.

If I put myself in the position I was 40 years ago, I may have attended this event and welcomed the opportunity to compete. I ran a lot of road races, so I never really lacked such opportunity. That's one part of the discussion that never makes a whole lot of sense to me. If you run anything shorter than 5k, 'opportunity to compete' is a genuine concern, but for distance runners, road races provide plenty in my opinion. That's in a normal year. Virus panic has eliminated all of that as far as I can tell.

This year especially, it's hard to imagine yet another race being held by some organization being a negative. If you're part of a school-sanctioned team maybe there are events that you can run for which the school does the logistical legwork. If you're not, you can't attend those I just mentioned and this is exactly the kind of thing you'd be looking for, isn't it? I don't see this being bad for anybody no matter when it's being held. This year that's all the more true. I haven't competed in around a year and my 17-year-old self wouldn't have fared any differently in the Covid era. Let's celebrate someone's - anyone's - willingness to hold an event such as this.

Coach watching wrote:

NSAF hosting Nationals at Laverne Gibson 11/15/2020. This is the same organization that hosted the New Balance Track Meets. With NXN and Footlocker cancelled, expect this to be the real nationals this year.

https://www.nationalscholastic.org/article/2552

How can you call this the "Real Nationals"? Most of the country will not be participating, including California which is a perennial powerhouse year in and year out.

Sorry....Not gonna count.

"Go Run One"

You're absolutely SPOT ON!!!

Coach Watching's post was inaccurate with regard to labeling this race as "The Real Nationals" of the year. Yes, any opportunity for athletes to compete at a high level is much appreciated and welcome. Unfortunately, the quality of the meet will be without many top runners due to their state's strict COVID restrictions (California). Nonetheless, a great opportunity for those able to compete.

"Go Run One"

1/2 of the team entries so far are from CA.

I don't care what it is called, who organizes it or where it is held. Just that there needs to be an opportunity for the top runners to have some semblance of a national meet against other top competition. This class has been cheated.

older than you wrote:

I hope you won't be there to ruin it for thousands of kids. Local? You can drive there from everywhere except the west.

The drive to Terre Haute

Atlanta - 8 hours

Chicago - 3 hours

Minneapolis - 9 hours

NY - 12 hours

Detroit - 6 hours

Des Moines - 6 hours

DC - 10 hours

Memphis - 5 hours

Pittsburgh - 7 hours

Is Philadelphia a joke to you?

Aouita 84 wrote:

How can you call this the "Real Nationals"?

Because something is better than nothing. I thought everyone would understand that by now.

Besides, a host of other factors already decide what teams do and don't participate in nationals, as well as which win and lose.

COVID is just a new factor this year...one that puts California at a disadvantage.

You don't have to like it. But for the love of this world, let others like it.

stayed at holiday inn wrote:

AAU already hosting a meet on Dec 5, that will be well run and would fit the national championship need. In past years the high school age group has been lightly attended but the capacity to handle much larger group has always been there because of the larger number of youth runners.

For a team championships, HS could send teams that could then unofficially calculate out separately from the club and unattached runners.

This NSAF meet is likely to be a flop, NSAF is simply looking for money and relevance after losing exclusivity with ther indoor meet, and hasn't proven an organizational ability to pull this off in November. Plus weather will be much nicer in Florida vs running around in the snow,

This is correct. NSAF has no way of pulling off a meet like this without New Balance logistics and money. AAU already has the infrastructure and know how to pull off a meet like this. They do it every year and all they need is the attendance. They managed to have the junior Olympics without it becoming a super spreader event, I'm pretty sure they can handle this one too.

Most people know that Philly is between NYC and DC. I used to live there so maybe I am assuming too much?

If some of the top athletes go to NSAF, some go to AAU, and some go to both it will be just like a normal year with NXN and FLN. Three weeks between the meets will it make easier to do both for those willing to travel.

I see one of the top ranked girls is already signed up for NSAF and two are signed up for AAU.

Can someone explain to me how you see the specific runners registered? I found the teams but not individuals. Interested in all the races but especially Middle School.