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

Joe Don Baker thanks for the additional insight on Mark Smith. To clarify that 16:45 was 11 years ago (more than a few-sorry, I was just firing that last line off when I initially wrote it). Your post made me think about just when that alumni 5k was...and made me realize that 11 years has passed really fast and that I'm getting too old too quickly. Still, that puts Smith in his mid 40s, running a 16:45 5k, keeping up with all state level high schoolers, while sporting a big gut. I'd be surprised if he trained for that race. That guy was amazing and belongs on a Michigan all star team. Like you said he was a gamer, and I'm sure would rise to the occasion in this fictional meet.

I've updated TX as per your arguments (even if I don't agree). Someone more familiar with TX might argue for Magness, Brent Hauser, and/or Manzano.

Here is the update from what I've received today. If you don't see your comments reflected in this: 1) I didn't know what state you were talking about because you just gave me names; 2) you didn't tell me who to delete with your addition; or 3) I blew it because I missed it.

There is a big debate about Michigan's roster, so I've listed two relatively different rosters so there can be further debate among people more knowledgeable about MI HS XC history.

There are still few states that need rosters. I've listed a couple of names I came across either from the Running Entertainment website or Athletic.net. Maybe those names will jar some memories and get someone to take on that state's roster. Anyone from WY that could offer a 5th man so that you can have a scoring team?

Illinois

1) Lukas Verzbicas (8:29.46 for 2 mi)

2) Craig Virgin (8:40.9 for 2 mi/13:58 for 5k)

3) Tom Graves (8:51.9 for 2 mi)

4) Chris Derrick (13:55.6 for 5k)

5) Dave Merrick

6) Matt Withrow

7) Jorge Torres

Oregon (all XC times (5000m) except for Pre are from LCC state meet XC course)

1. Steve Prefontaine (14:29 converted from 11:30 for 2.5 mi; 8:41.6 for 2 mi; 13:43 for 3 mi)

2. Galen Rupp (14:55; 13:37.91 for 5k)

3. Billy McChesney (14:51; 28:58 for 6 mi)

4. Matthew Maton (14:45)

5. Jeff Hess (14:33)

6. Ian Dobson (15:38)

7 Kenny Klotz (15:03)

California

1. Jeff Nelson (8:36.3 for 2 mi;14:32 for Mt. SAC @ 2.93 mi; 14:15 for 5k)

2. Eric Hulst (8:44.9 for 2 mi; 9:52.7 for Mt. SAC @ 2.06 mi; 4x state 2mi champ; 3x 1mi state champ)

3. Thom Hunt (8:45.2 for 2 mi; 9:45 for Mt. SAC @ 2.06mi)

4. German Fernandez (8:34.4 for 2 mi)

5. Terry Williams (9:48 for Mt. SAC @ 2.06 mi)

6. Ralph Serna (8:45.9 for 2 mi)

7. Rich Kimball (8:51.0 for 2 mi; 14:26.8 for 5k)

Colorado:

1. Adam Goucher

2. Jon Sinclair

3. Brent Vaughn

4. Evan Appel

5. Jon Hume

6. Kevin Williams

7. Conner Winter

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (13:44.70 for 5k)

2. Grant Fisher

3. Greg Meyer

4. Herb Lindsay

5. Todd Williams

6. Brian Grosso

7. Abdul Alzindani

Michigan

1. Dathan Rtizenhein (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR on Michigan course of 14:10...head and shoulders above anyone else on this list)

2. Grant Fisher (2 time state champ big school division, XC PR 14:52)

3. Jason Hartmann (2 time state champ big school division, PR 14:51)

4. Maverick Darling (3 time state champ smallish school division, but big PR 14:53)

5. Ryan Shay (4 time state champ - granted small school division but still, PR 15:30 but he always blew away the competition and local legend)

6. Jake Flynn (3 time state champ smallish school division, PR 15:12 but also blew most people away)

7. Mark Smith (3 time state champ medium school division, PR 15:25 and sub 9:00 2 miler guy on the track in the 1980s and local legend)

Minnesota:

1. Garry Bjorkland

2. Rob Finnerty

3. Ben Blankenship

4. Hassan Mead

5. Garret Heath

6. Elliot Heath

7. Obsa Ali

Massachusetts

1. Abdirizak Mohammed

2. Alberto Salazar (8:53.8 for 2mi; 14:04.8 for 5k; 12:22.5 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

3. Andy Powell

4. Franklyn Sanchez

5. Jonathan Riley

6. Art Dulong

7. Mike Mahon

Ohio

1 George 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 Bob Mau (14:58 for 5k XC)

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

7 Zach Wills

Indiana .

1. Rudy Chapa (8:51 for 2 mi)

2. Futsum Zeinasellassie

3. Nef Aria

4. Christian Wagner

5. Ben Veatch

6. Mike Fout

7. De'sean Turner

Alaska

1.Trevor Dunbar

2. Levi Thomet

3. Don Clary (9:04.4 for 2 mi)

4. Miguel Gomez

5. Doug Herron

6. Ty Jordan

7. Laird Prosser

New York

1. Dave Pottetti

2. John Gregorek (8:50.7 for 2 mi; 12:31 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

3. Luis Ostolozaga (12:16.4 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

4. John Trautmann (8:44.53c for 2 mi)

5. Matt Centrowitz (8:56.2 for 2 mi)

6. ? Ryan

7. Josh McDougal (8:48.11 for 2 mi)

New Jersey

1. Ches

2. Joe Rosa (8:44.06 for 2 mi)

3. Jim Rosa

4. Marty Liquori (14;23.2 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

5. Forys

6. Di Joseph

7. Brad Hudson (12:15.7 for VCP @ 2.5 mi)

Virginia

1. Alan Webb (14:43 5k; 8:45i 2mi)

2. Drew Hunter (14:26 5k; 8:42 2mi)

3. Bobby Lockhart (14:43 5k; 8:58 2mi)

4. Sean McGorty (14:28 5k; 8:46 3200)

5. Charles Alexander (8:55 2-mi; 14:51 Kinney Nationals)

6. Jim Hill 8:56 2mi

7. George Watts 14:35 3-mile XC

Wisconsin

1. Chris Solinsky (8:46.44c for 2 mi)

2. John Easker

3. Tim Hacker

4. Keith Hanson

5. Steve Lacy

6. Chris Rombough

7. Scott Jenkins

Utah

1. Ed Eyestone

2. Josh Rohatinsky

3. Luke Puskedra

4. Austin West

5. Ben Saarel

6. Connor McMillan

7. Connor Mantz

Mississippi

1. George Kersh

2. Jake Raines

3. Robert Scribner

4. Max Holman

5. Kyle Lewis

6. Brian Pope

North Carolina

1. Bobby Mack

2. Jake Huryz

3. Jack Bolas

4. Ryan Hill

5. Matt Debole

6. Thomas Graham

7. Blake Williams

Connecticut

1. Kevin King

2. JT Burke

3. Ahmed Haji

4. Donn Cabral

5. Alex Ostberg

6. Jay O’Keefe

7. Mike Cotton

Washington

1. Gerry Lindgren (8:40i for 2 mi; 13:44 for 5k)

2. Matt Davis (14:09 3mi; 3x WA Champ; 2x FL Qualifier, 31st, 3rd Place; 9:04 3200 as Jr.)

3. Tanner Anderson (14:31 5k; 2x WA Champ; NXN Champ, 3rd Place; 8:56 3200)

4. John Dressel (14:46 5k; 3x FL Qualifier, 14th, 2nd, 6th Place; 27th World Jr XC; 8:50 2mi)

5. Issac Hawkins (14:39 3mi; 2x WA Champ; 2x FL Qualifier, 26th, 12th Place; 8:56 3200)

6. Andrew Gardner (14:45 5k; WA Champ; 3x FL Qualifier, 4th, 6th, 11th; 8:54 3200)

7. Rick Reilly (8:48.4 for 2mi; 14:00.2 for 5k)

South Dakota

1. Greg Jimmerson - 2nd at Footlocker Nats, 3 x AA XC State Champ, 9:04.10 (3200m)

2. Tony Smoragiewicz - 3rd & 7th at Footlocker Nats, 2 x AA XC State Champ, 4:12.80 (1600), 8:57.10 (3200)

3. Harley Hanson - 3rd at Footlocker Nats, 3 x B XC State Champ, 4:15.86 (1600m), 9:12.44 (3200m)

4. Addison DeHaven - 32nd and 18th at Footlocker Nats, 2 x AA XC State Champ, 4:14.91 (1600m), 9:00.19 (3200m)

5. Erik Grumstrup - 19th at Footlocker Nats, 3 x AA XC State Champ, 4:12.60 (1600m), 8:56.30 (3200m)

6. Jim Reinhart - 3 x AA XC State Champ, 1:50.50 (800m), 4:06.30 (1600m), 9:06.50 (3200m) in the 1970s

7. Rod DeHaven - 1 x AA XC State Champ, 4:09.80 (1600m), 9:08.59 (3200m)

Nebraska

1. Colby Wissel

2. Seth Hirsch

3. Brian Turner

4. Todd Guilizia

5. Nate Nielsen

6. Paul Schultz

7. David Adams

Arkansas

1. Brian Baker

2. Eric Gross

3. Gabe Gonzales

4. Aaron Hamilton

5. Brendan Taylor

6. Will Aenchbacher

7. Cameron Efurd

Kentucky

1. Jimmy Herald

2. Thomas Murley

3. Bobby Curtis

4. Rob Shoaf

5. Mike Wilson

Kansas

1. Jim Ryun

2. Brent Steiner (8:47.0 for 2 mi)

3. Steve Fein

4. Billy Mills

5. Lane Boyer

6. Kevin Newkirk

7. Chris Williams

Iowa

1. Phil Coppess

2. Mark Johnson

3. Matt Gabrielson

4. Josh Moen

5. Kiel Uhl

6. Thomas Pollard

7. Jim Eicken

Maine

1. Bruce Bickford

2. Ben True

3. Dan Curts

4. Matt McClintock

5. Will Geohegan

6. Louie Luchini

7. Matt Lane

Pennsylvania

1. Craig Miller

2. Dan Coval

3. Ian Gottesfeld

4. Tony Russell

5. Paul Springer

6. Paul Vandegrift

7. Mike McWilliams

Georgia

1. Ben Hubers

2. Kirubel Erassa

3. Girma Mecheso

4. Josh Brickell

5. Ralph King

6. Travis Grindstaff

7. Willie Nelson

Texas

1. Reuben Reina (FL1st 1985 14:36; State 5A XC: 1st 1985 15:07)

2. Craig Lutz (FL 4th 2010 15:30; NXN: 1st 2009 15:09 (5th 2008, 3rd 2010)

State 5A XC: 1st 2009 14:45, 1st 2010, 14:41 (3rd 2008)

3. Brad Hauser (FL 4th 1993 15:09 (21st 1992, 29th 1994; State 5A XC: 1st 1993 15:43, 1st 1994 15:18)

4. Colby Lowe (FL 4th 2007 15:12 (29th 2005, 10th 2006); NXN: 2nd 2007 15:42 (4th 2006, 30th 2004); State 5A XC: 1st 2006 15:05, 1st 2007 15:11)

5. Reed Conner (NXN: 1st 2008 15:13 (24th 2007); State 5A XC: 1st 2008 14:47)

6. Alan Culpepper (FL 4th 1990 15:25;State 5A XC: 1st 1989 15:54 1st 1990 15:38)

7. Daniel Vertiz (FL 5th 2011 15:23; NXN: 2nd 2011 15:27; State 5A XC: 2nd 2011 15:21 , (3rd 2010)

Maryland

1. Solmon Haile

2. Matther Centrowitz Jr.

3. Mike Fertig

4. Gordon Oliver

5. Jim Peterson

6. John Scherer

7. Pascal Dobert

Florida

1. Keith Brantley (9:03 2 mi)

2. Brett Hoffman (8:53 2 mi)

3. Herb Wills (9:00 2 mi)

4. Andres Arroyo (8:51 3200)

5. Brian Jaeger (8:57 2 mi)

6. Steven Hassen (8:52 3200m)

7. Basil Magee (9:02 2 mi)

New Mexico

1. Tony Sandoval

2. George Young

3. Chuck Aragon

4. Shadrack Kiptoo (8:45.02 for 2 mi; 4:02 mi)

5. Matt Tebo (8:47 2 mi)

6. David Krumanacker

7. Brandon Leslie

Wyoming

1. Jim McCreery

2. Rob Marney

3. Brody Smith

4. Matt Heller

Missouri

1. Matt Tegenkamp

2. Chris Borsa

3. Joe Falcon

4. Chris Zinn

5. Tom Breckenridge

6. Ben Naeger

7. Noah Kauppila

New Hampshire

1. Matt Downin

2. John Mortimer

3. Russell Brown

4. Guor Majak

5. Eli Moskowitz

6. Cory Thorne

7. Mark Kimball

Alabama: Ben Bryant, Paul Barlow

Arizona: Carlos Villareal, Bernie Montoya

Delaware

Hawaii: Margarito Martinez, Kaeo Kruse

Idaho

Louisiana: Bobby Beck, John Ratcliffe

Montana

Nevada: Wade Mettles, Kai Bennedict, Tom Wysocki

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee Andrew Bumbalough (8:49.87 for 2 mi)

Vermont

West Virginia

WV- Chris Fox

Where's Meb?

Help me here wrote:

Where's Meb?

Out of top 7 in Cali, unless you can provide facts that he should be in top 7.

Quaker.... wrote:

WV- Chris Fox

Jeff Adkins. 1977. As a junior, on Friday night he's starting DB on Woodrow Wilson's State Champion football team, defeating Fairmont 6-0. On Saturday morning he wins the State cross country individual title. Fairmont won the team title. Adkins ran an 8:52 two mile in track during his Senior year, defeating John Ziska in the process.

malmo wrote:

Quaker.... wrote:

WV- Chris Fox

Jeff Adkins. 1977. As a junior, on Friday night he's starting DB on Woodrow Wilson's State Champion football team, defeating Fairmont 6-0. On Saturday morning he wins the State cross country individual title. Fairmont won the team title. Adkins ran an 8:52 two mile in track during his Senior year, defeating John Ziska in the process.

I don't know who the other six guys are, but no one is going to beat that.

malmo wrote:

malmo wrote:

Jeff Adkins. 1977. As a junior, on Friday night he's starting DB on Woodrow Wilson's State Champion football team, defeating Fairmont 6-0. On Saturday morning he wins the State cross country individual title. Fairmont won the team title. Adkins ran an 8:52 two mile in track during his Senior year, defeating John Ziska in the process.

I don't know who the other six guys are, but no one is going to beat that.

I'm sure Steve Taylor should be on the WV list as well as Burcham.

Is there a reason neither Michigan list includes Tim Moore?

Article on IL

http://www.flotrack.org/article/7611-top-10-best-illinois-prep-runners-of-all-time-perspective-for-a-new-wave

Alabama men

Bill Matthews-only Alabamian to ever win Footlocker south (14:4x) and also only freshman male to win the large division state title individually. Formerly 6A, now 7A. Also the great American course record holder on the former course in AL.

Scott Fuqua-Footlocker qualifier in 7th but beat Stanfield at state to win AL title.

Stanfield-5th at FL south. Second at state.

Robert Bedsole-state champ in 15:12. Also led his team to NTN, and he qualified for footlocker nationals placing 7th at footlocker south.

Pat McGregor- hot and cold. Did not win state his senior year, but qualified for NXN in the southeast region in 15:13. Better miler.

This state is dry in talent and only has 4 male footlocker finalists all time. Who knows when the next one will be.

It's a hard call sorting out Ohio - if you are looking for the All-Star Team though, I don't see how you leave off Andrew Jordan (14:44 -fastest xc time in Ohio - Fry went 14:49 and Kennedy was 15:19 on the same course. Ran in the 14's 4 times his senior year including 14:59 in Kenosha).

SomeCoach wrote:

Connecticut only has six names, all very good, and I would add Mike Cotton. He wrecked the state for at least two years in the mid 70's, still has the ACC record in the 10,000m, and made All-American in that event in either 79 or 80 when the only guys who did that were African and ran for UTEP.

Other names from CT to consider, but probably not faster than anyone on the list would be Kelley, Burfoot, Rodgers, the younger O'Keefe ........ Actually, on second thought, I might replace Coombs with O'Keefe.

What about Dan Wilson? He dominated distance running in CT (cross and track) for 3 years and won an impressive cross state meet followed by second at new England's as a junior. Don't remember why but he didn't ever run FL regionals and he was injured senior year of cross so no result.

But he won a whole bunch of track titles and competed very well nationally too.

Spork wrote:

Article on IL

http://www.flotrack.org/article/7611-top-10-best-illinois-prep-runners-of-all-time-perspective-for-a-new-wave

That article only justifies Virgins lock on #1, yet they put him 2nd. Go figure.

does anyone know if the old results from the National Postal tournaments are posted online somewhere? I'm not a search engine expert and can't find them myself.

malmo wrote:

Jeff Adkins. Adkins ran an 8:52 two mile in track during his Senior year, defeating John Ziska in the process.

I was 3rd in that race around 9:20. I was down 100m on the curve watching Adkins make up 20+ meters in the final 100. It was so exciting that I had become a spectator. It was pre electronic timing. Both were given the same time, but it was agreed Adkins was a clear 2-3 inch winner. they were under 8:50 for 3200m. After that very exciting finish, I remember coming in and an official yelling, "Hey, clear the track, we've still got some coming in." My 9:20 was just a straggler in this race.

Adkins was very tough and had some really good races at Penn State as well. I think it would be very tough to leave him off of the all-time WV list.

Michigan CC, the reason Tim Moore isn't on the list is: if you look just at HS XC PRs alone, he's not Top 7; if you look at HS XC championship performance alone he's not Top 7. The people on the list should be so due to some combination of both. It's a subjective exercise, sure, since you're trying to compare guys from different eras and different divisions. But this all star meet is a thought experiment, and you have to theorize how well these guys would all do on the same course, same day. I lean toward athletes who have a strong PR and strong history of big game performances in HS XC.

Massachusetts looks good. Nice job.