Nico Young is the best high school XC runner of all time

Hi Nico!

Verzbicas, Webb, Jim Ryun or Lindgren would all crush Young.

They would definitely crush him on the track, but I think he has them in cross. Maybe Verzbicas would get him but it would be close.

Ever heard of Lukas ? wrote:

Verzbicas, Webb, Jim Ryun or Lindgren would all crush Young.

Ryun was never anywhere near being a great XC runner and Ritz should replace Webb on your list.

Ritz ran 14:29 as a Junior for a long-standing championship course record, and he finished 3rd in World Junior Cross behind Bekele and ahead of the caliber no American has managed to compete with before or since.

He also defeated Webb and Hall in FL his Senior year to defend his title, guys who have HS accolades better than the ones you mentioned.

Nico's race was crazy and impressive. He does not have the championship accolades Ritz did. And Ritz ran similarly impressive times (JUNIOR year, 14:29 FL Nationals) and took bigger scalps.

He definitely is close. I think since the times are not clearly better and the titles clearly a lot worse, you have to give the nod to Ritz.

[If I am not mistaken German Fernandez was not 100% either in his record. Fernandez was also a year young. He effectively ran 13:25 3:55 Junior records while HS age.]

In 1964, as a high school junior at Wichita East High School, Jim Ryun became the first high school athlete to run a mile in under 4 minutes. His time was 3:59.0. His time of 3:55.3 in 1965 was a high school record that stood for 36 years. Ryun ran a sub-four minute mile five times while in high school. He is the only high school athlete to have run more than three sub-four minute miles. Also look at the type of track that he was running on and the poor quality spikes they had back then. Nico Young as a high school junior has come nowhere near this but he is an excellent XC runner.

Holland didn’t destroy rupp‘s CR, from what I read they changed the course slightly at Oregon’s state meet. Correct me if I’m wrong though

Webb. was more accomplished in HS

Ryun Fan Club wrote:

In 1964, as a high school junior at Wichita East High School, Jim Ryun became the first high school athlete to run a mile in under 4 minutes. His time was 3:59.0. His time of 3:55.3 in 1965 was a high school record that stood for 36 years. Ryun ran a sub-four minute mile five times while in high school. He is the only high school athlete to have run more than three sub-four minute miles. Also look at the type of track that he was running on and the poor quality spikes they had back then. Nico Young as a high school junior has come nowhere near this but he is an excellent XC runner.

Thanks for bringing up track times on a threat stating that Young is the best XC runner of all time!

Btw--Nico does not focus on the mile and still went 4:07....he ran it twice last season.

His main focus is the 3200m/2mi where he went 8:40 and set an arcadia record...as a junior

Idk about the best ever. He "only" won 1 national title. He's definitely up there. I can't believe how much he won NXN by. No one tried to keep up. All the other top guys immediately decided they were racing for 2nd.

Holland didn’t destroy the course record it was a modified course if I heard correctly. That course was very tough from what others said and now it’s been changed up leading to that fast time From another thread

frommecca wrote:

not sure about short, but it was the first year of new course. Easier than the old one. Not a course record since it wasn't the same layout that Rupp and Maton ran on, but still an impressive run.

King ches is the greatest xc runner of all time. No debate.

prisonerothemoment wrote:

King ches is the greatest xc runner of all time. No debate.

In US colleges. Bekele globally.

Ritz beats him in HS xc.

Ritz placed in WJXC over Kemboi, who ran 13:26 the following summer and 26:30 2 years later. Just better HS marks.

CR wrote:

[If I am not mistaken German Fernandez was not 100% either in his record. Fernandez was also a year young. He effectively ran 13:25 3:55 Junior records while HS age.]

German should never be in discussion. Lost Footlocker. Then in college, would pop some fast times when it didn't matter. If colleges had the goal of breaking Junior records, rather than placing as teams, then those Junior records would've been out of his reach.

dkljskdkjf wrote:

CR wrote:

[If I am not mistaken German Fernandez was not 100% either in his record. Fernandez was also a year young. He effectively ran 13:25 3:55 Junior records while HS age.]

German should never be in discussion. Lost Footlocker. Then in college, would pop some fast times when it didn't matter. If colleges had the goal of breaking Junior records, rather than placing as teams, then those Junior records would've been out of his reach.

German was injured a lot in college.

Talent wise, he’s top 5.

Ritz and Ches were both easily better. Verzbicas and Hunter were pretty similar to Nico. That’s what I’d put for the top 5, though there are a few other guys that could contend. I’d make a list something like this:

1. Ritz

2. Ches

3. Verzbicas

4. Young

5. Hunter

Seems like most every year someone says “their/this guy” is the greatest ever or “their/this girl” is the greatest ever.

Based on the last decade of people saying this person is the new greatest high school runner ever, the US professional ranks should be bulging at the seems with world beaters.

Enthusiasm is wonderful. There continues to be great high school runners from the USA.

Keep it fun, and stay healthy. Don’t get to caught up in the hype from others... or burned out by over racing or over training. Keeping those things in mind along with dedication and talent; hopefully, the every year new greatest high school runner ever will have a strong collegiate career and go on to having a great professional running career.

uh no wrote:

Ritz and Ches were both easily better. Verzbicas and Hunter were pretty similar to Nico. That’s what I’d put for the top 5, though there are a few other guys that could contend. I’d make a list something like this:

1. Ritz

2. Ches

3. Verzbicas

4. Young

5. Hunter

I’m assuming this is an XC race.

In a hypothetical XC race..

1. Nico

2. GF

3. LV

4. Ritz

5. Ches

6. Hunter

If we’re doing 2 M on the track:

1. Webb

2. GF

3. LV

4. Nico

5. Hunter

6. Centro

7. Ritz

I've always been a Gerry LINDGREN fan on this question. But I'm leaning toward Nico and am waiting til the end of this school year to decide whether I think he equals or betters LINDGREN. I don't mean just in the numbers, but where, when, how, and whom he raced and details of competition.

Yes, I know the times and races people like Ryun, Webb, Hernandez, and sub-four Tim Danielson, et al.