2018 State/National High School XC Rankings

RockAndRoll wrote:

Naperville North girls finished 2nd at NXN last year and only graduated their #1 and #3. They also have a new transfer who was only 6 seconds behind last year’s NV’s #3 runner that graduated. If that transfer is eligible to race varsity, Naperville North will be in the top 5.

I mean the new transfer was only 6 seconds behind last year’s NV’s #3 runner at NXR 2017.

Niles wrote:

Input wrote:

American Fork had 7 guys 16:20 and under at the Steel Days 5k today

Ok?? Random summer 5k times don’t mean that much to me, I don’t know the course so I’m struggling to understand why this is supposed to impress me. If they were all 15:40ish on a full 5k I would give them another look, but I still would slot them somewhere in the mid-teens. They get a lot of hype because of their days with Clinger.

Niles wrote:

Input wrote:

American Fork had 7 guys 16:20 and under at the Steel Days 5k today

Ok?? Random summer 5k times don’t mean that much to me, I don’t know the course so I’m struggling to understand why this is supposed to impress me. If they were all 15:40ish on a full 5k I would give them another look, but I still would slot them somewhere in the mid-teens. They get a lot of hype because of their days with Clinger.

Although Casey Clinger did get a lot of hype AM Fork placed I believe top 10 at NXN from 2009 until 2016 and while he was on the team for some of those he wasn't for all. They earned their hype, he just added to it.

I'll bite wrote:

Boyz

1: FM

2: Louden Valley

3: Mountain Vista

4: Great Oaks

5: American Fork

Girlz

1: FM

2: Saratoga

3: Mountain Vista

4: Great Oaks

5: Shen

I agree with the American fork pick and actually think they're a very underestimated team this year. Last year they looked like they would qualify for nationals but had a poor nxr race in which their clear 3rd runner finished first among a number of other things. And this year they return their 1-4, and 6 runners. They had great track times aside from an injury to one of their top runners. I predict they not only podium but possibly win the whole thing. But at the same time I'm not all that informed about every team.

NVruns wrote:

Individuals wrote:

Individuals:

Boys

1. Liam Anderson

2. Drew Bosley

3. Graydon Morris

Girls

1. Katelyn Tuohy

2. Claudia Lane

3. Kelsey Chmiel

Cole Sprout gotta be up there man.

Oh god it’s gonna be so hard to rank this class. We’re really getting lucky again this year, it’s another group of studs like the class of 17’.

Cole Sprout had one of the best track seasons in the country in 2018, logging class records in the 3K and 2 mile. Finishing runner-up to James Mwaura at Brooks PR was a great race for the upcoming junior and he’ll definitely be improving on his 21st place finish last fall at NXN. Barring some sort of disaster, he should be one of the favorites to win a national title this fall.

Drew Bosley’s track season (including USA Juniors) was also immensely impressive. 8:59 @Arcadia was impressive but he went for it too early and hurt a lot on the last lap, which i think says he has pretty big balls but he wasn’t ready for a race that that would’ve produced. Still, props to him- nothing but respect. He also won the 1600 and 3200 as his state meet which, historically, only future superstars have been able to pull off (Chris Solinsky.) His USA Juniors title has to be the most impressive part of the season though. 14:32 on the track was impressive enough, but (and I don’t remember if he “let” this happen or not) him taking the win over Cooper Teare, who qualified for NCAA’s in the 5K speaks even more to his talent. Equally impressive was his pair of All-American finishes in both NXN and FL, one of few runners this year to attempt the DIRTY DOUBLE at both national championships. I’m really looking forward to seeing these too race come championship time.

I’m 99% sure Graydon Morris’ track season was hampered by injury, but he still managed to notch State Titles in the 1600 and 3200 at the Texas state meet, and he was the runner up at FL last season over Danny Kilrea and a host of other talented athletes (yes I’m aware most of the talent was at NXN last season but it’s still an impressive performance over a lot of high quality runners) If Morris can stay healthy he’ll definitely be a threat to win a first national title

Liam Anderson’s 8:52 at Arcadia was pretty impressive, and his 4:09 at the CIF State Meet was good for an excellent state title win. He had a seemingly lackluster race at Brooks PR (9:04, 7th) but his past performances and times say more about him than this race does. Being the top returner at NXN with a 3rd place finish last December (in a loaded championship race) makes him a good bet to win a national title this year (although we seem have a lot of those this season.)

Mountain vista boys graduate 5 out of 7 from last years nxn team. I don't know if they will even win state this year. However, I'm sure they will just have some fast mormon siblings come in a wreck everybody. Seriously though that's part of the reason they are so good, all of the younger siblings (there are a bunch cuz there's a high mormon population) come out for xc and get really fast. Seems like a broken system to me!!

The Mountain Vista girls will be unstoppable and will be going for a national title. All of their top 5 are returning.

Random Fact wrote:

Although Casey Clinger did get a lot of hype AM Fork placed I believe top 10 at NXN from 2009 until 2016 and while he was on the team for some of those he wasn't for all. They earned their hype, he just added to it.

American Fork also placed 2nd at NXN 3 times, and Casey Clinger was part of 2 of those NXN runner up AM Fork teams.

Naperville North, Mountain Vista, Wayzata, Great Oak, and F-M all have a good shot at the NXN team title on the girls side.