North Central (WA)
Competing as: North Central XC Club
Credentials: MileSplit US #1. Washington 3A Champion. Nike Northwest Regional Champion
Varsity: Andrew Kimpel, Jeff Howard, Leon Dean, Ben Johnston, Alexander Avila, Casey Adams, Adam Reid
Signature moment: Won state title with a miniscule 24 points, going 2 through 5 in a 15-second compression, 15:36 average and 23-second spread 1-5.
Word on the street: Top-ranked team all season and deservedly so. Finished 6th at 2007 NTN. Kimpel and Howard cover each other like a pair of DEA agents going through a door and the rest of the pack is usually not far behind. Read and repeat: North Central is the team to beat.
Dana Hills (CA)
Competing as: Dana Hills XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #2; CIF California State Division I Champion
Varsity: Tyler Valdes, Ryan Valdes, Zak Phillips, Blake Ahrold, Taylor Hogshead, Anthony Lacambra, Josh Dean
Signature moment(s): Winning the CIF State Championships in the #2 All-Time total team time 77:38
Word on the street: Dana Hills may be the second best team in U.S. history behind the 93' Mead WA program, the CIF state meet performance on the heralded Woodward Park course elevated the Dana Hills program to National Championship status as designated in the rankings. With five runners under 15:50 over 5000 meters the team looks to make history.
York, (IL)
Competing as: Kroy TC
Credentials: MileSplit US #3. Illinois 3A runner-up. Nike Midwest Regional Champion.
Varsity: Adam Cecil, Jordan Herbert, Pat Morgan, Brian Pollastrini, Andrew Smith, Steve Sulkin, Jack Driggs
Signature moment: Lost the Illinois 3A State Championships by a point to Naperville North. Returned the following week with renewed focus and determination to defeat Naperville by XX points to win the Midwest Regional.
Word on the street: If experience counts for anything, then the edge goes to York. One of the most storied programs in the country, and the only team to qualify for the finals in each of the first five years, York won the NTN crown in 2004 and finished as runner-up in 2005. Much could depend on the ability of Herbert and Sulkin, a Foot Locker National qualifier, to run with the leaders. If so, York will certainly be in the hunt.
Albuquerque Academy
Competing as: Albuquerque XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #4. New Mexico State Champion. Nike
Southwest Regional Champion.
Varsity: Patrick Zacharias, Neil Longenbaugh, Anthony Lauriello, Taylor Murray, Harlan Pietz, Emmett Wynn, Ryan Clark
Signature moment: Rode a strong pack to a 31-34 victory to wrestle the 4A state crown away from defending champion Los Alamos and bring it back to the Academy for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Word on the street: They have been the gold standard in the Southwest for years and the Academy’s excellence at altitude always translates to success at the National Championships. Finished third at the NTN a year ago.
The Woodlands (TX)
Competing as: The Woodlands TC
Credentials: MileSplit US #5; Texas 5A State Champion; 4-time NXN National qualifier (2008, 2007, 2006, 2004); NXN South Regional Champion.
Varsity: Connor Reed, Drew Butler, Landon Milhorn, Tom Sanderson, Brad Folks, Ross Moulder, Nathan Carbajal.
Signature moment(s): Green, who is in his final season as The Woodlands head boys cross country coach, saw his unit complete a three-peat at the state meet with a score of 56 points. The Woodlands’ third straight state championship.
Word on the street: This team might be the best team The Woodlands has ever entered in the Nike Championship Meet. They have talent and will be motivated to bring l their legendary coach a national title. Coach Green will retire after 33 seasons at the helm. He led The Woodlands boys to 31 district championships and 26 regional titles and 15 State Titles. Connor Reed has to be the individual favorite. He has been under 15:00 in his last 3 5k's.
Shenendehowa
Competing as: Clifton Park TC
Credentials: MileSplit US #6. NXN NY Regional Champion
Varsity: Alex Leuchanka, Dan Harris, Mike Danaher, Jamie Glover, Brian Trainor, Brent Pavlick, Chris Shartrand
Signature moment: Won NY State and Federation Championships.
Word on the street: Shen is experienced. Since the meet’s inception, the New York girls have owned this championship. But this could be the first New York boys’ team to make its mark since Saratoga won. Will be out to validate its high national ranking.
Jamestown (VA)
Competing as: Jamestown XC Project
Credentials: MileSplit US #7, Virginia AA Champion
Varsity: Andrew Colley, John Holt, Colin Mearns, Russell Hornsby, Jacob Morgan, Graham Schlickenmeyer, Joshua Schlickenmeyer
Signature moment(s): Recorded the fastest team average at the Manhattan College Invitational en route to a fourth place finish in the Eastern States Championship race.
Word on the street: Colley and Mearns will be up front, and Jamestown is very solid through three. How high it can place as a team will ultimately depend on how well the fourth and fifth runners can finish.
West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS (Plainsboro, NJ)
Head Coach: Brian Gould
Competing As: Knight XC Club
Credentials: NXN Northeast Regional Champs, NJ State (All Groups) Champs, MileSplit US #8.
Varsity: Joe Rosa, James Rosa, Tyler Corkdale, Ryan Sleeper, Jon Squeri, Anthony Lee
Signature Moment(s): Joe Rosa runs CR (15:33) at Belmont Plateau and leads Knights to team title at Briarwood Invite. Showed that this team was/is for real. Decisive 18-point win over then MileSplit US #5 Don Bosco Prep.
Word on the Street: As has been true all season, the interchangeable 3,4, 5 scorers for WW-P No. will hold the keys to success in Portland. With the Rosa twins locks for a low scoring number to start, the trio of Sleeper, Corkdale and Squeri will need to continue their heroics for the Knights one more time.
Naperville North (IL)
Competing as: Naperville North
Credentials: MileSplit US #9. Illinois Class 3A State Champion. Nike Midwest Regional runner-up.
Varsity: Kyle Gibson, McWilliams, Jermann, Herbert, Guthrie, McKeown, Jurkiewicz
Signature moment: Defeated York by one point to capture the Illinois State Championship.
Word on the street: Ranked in the top 5 nationally for much of the season before having a slight letdown in the regional, which was understandable following its dramatic state championship win the week before. Will need to ramp up the intensity again to be in the hunt.
Jesuit (OR)
Competing as: Crusader Harriers
Credentials: MileSplit US #10. Oregon 6A Champion. Nike Northwest Champion.
Varsity: Christian Burger, Ben Demaree, Andy Kiyokawa, Patrick Maag, Willie Milam, Winston Neville, Dalton Petursson
Signature moment: Placed six runners between 15:53 and 16:00 to win the adidas CC Classic. Ran to an 11-second spread at Oregon State Championships.
Word on the street: Jesuit's strength is in its pack mentality, a huge advantage in championship caliber meets; even moreso when your pack can jet like Jesuit's top 5. Question is: Can they find each other and work as a group at Portland Meadows? The extra individual competitors in this year’s race are not going to help.
Fayetteville-Manlius
Competing as: Manlius XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #11. NXN NY Regional runner-up
Varsity: Alex Hatz, Paul Merriman, Brendan Farrell, Andrew Roache, John Cico, Mark McGurrin, Joe Hartnett
Signature moment: Ran well enough to finish second at the regional and earn a qualifying spot without its No. 2 runner, who did not finish.
Word on the street: This may be a fact gathering mission for a young squad looking for experience in the big time. Next year, however, watch out.
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)
Head Coach: Kevin Kilduf
Competing As: Bergen XC Club
Credentials: MileSplit US #12, NXN Northeast Regional Runners up, Eastern States Champions, NJ State Non-Public “A” Champs, 2007 NXN National Qualifiers
Varsity: Leighton Spencer, Rob Molke, Howie Rosas, Michael Belgiovine, Rafeal Vargas, Brendan Offer, Michael Carapezza
Signature Moment: Winning the Eastern States Championship at Van Cortlandt Park. Defeated a number of teams that will toe the line in Portland.
Word on the Street: Leighton Spencer, who was the #2 man early in the season has become the point man for Don Bosco as Rob Molke goes through a rough patch late in the year. If the Ironmen get an “A” race from Molke they can be in the mix. Five members of this team ran NXN Finals last year.
Buchanan (CA)
Competing as: Buchanan XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #13; CIF State Championships Division I Runner-up
Varsity: Jonathan Sanchez, Danny Vartanian, Heath Reedy, Adam Delton, Carson Keller, Kevin Barnard, CJ Albertson
Signature moment(s): Placing 2nd at the CIF California State Championships in the Division I race with #3 All-Time total team time 77:48
Word on the street: Buchanan averaged 15:34 over the Woodward Park 5000 meter course and must be considered a threat; if the teams #5 runner CJ Albertson shores up the gap from 4-5 with a breakout performance lookout.
Alta (UT)
Competing as: Hawks XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #15; Utah State Champion; Greatest Utah Team Ever, NXN Southwest Regional Runner-up.
Varsity: Jack Webster, Garrett Jones, Kyle Moffet, Brian Howell, Parker Snydergaard, Blake Bartholomew, Zach Evans, Ryan Fuller
Signature moment(s): Winning the Utah 5A State Championship, in the process bettering the state course record with a team time of 80:20; Placing 2nd at the NXN Southwest Region Championships
Word on the street: Alta is looking to make an impact and prove the skeptics wrong, to put this team in perspective, their state meet record team time of 80:20 is better than three previous National Champion and two NTN top five finalist Mountain View teams. They feel like their 2nd place showing at NXN Southwest was a B+ effort and look to prove they belong among the nations elite. Junior Garrett Jones has been putting in phenomenal workouts leading a top five with a 22 second spread.
Bismarck (ND)
Competing as: Demon XC
Credentials: North Dakota Class A Champion. Nike Heartland Regional runner-up.
Varsity: Brandon Barnes, Christian Brown Otter, Josh Hintz, Devin Huizenga, Josh Nuss, Joash Osoro, Dion Schulz
Signature moment: Defeated Wayzata by 77 points to win the Gold race at the Roy Griak Invitational.
Word on the street: Out to avenge his loss at the regional, Osoro will be a contender for the individual title.
Broughton (NC)
Competing as: Capital Distance
Credentials: Ranked 3rd in Southeast headed into the meet, North Carolina 4A State Champion (’07 & ’08), NXN Southeast Regional Runner-up
Varsity: Burk Staub, Deaton Jones, Brady Lawrence, Blake Askin, Jeff Shirley, Reidy Jones, Pierre Malherbe, Hayden Parker (alt.)
Signature Moment(s): Finished 3rd at the highly competitive McDonalds X-Country Festival at Maymont. This meet put them on the map. Won the 4A state title easily with a low score of 59 points.
Word on the street: The team has high goals for themselves and understand that others may not see them as a top 10 team. However, as captain Deaton Jones said, "Setting high goals is what has got us to where we are in the first place."
Cedar Park (TX)
Competing as: Cedar Park CC
Credentials: Texas 5A State 3rd Place; First time NXN National qualifier; NXN South Region Runner-up
Varsity: Parker Stinson, Jay Mclilece, Chris Galvan, Sean O'Neal, Austin Geerts, Austin Krohn, Bobby Mclilece
Signature moment(s): Averaged 15:44 for their top 5 at the Cedar Park Invitational; Placing 2nd to The Woodlands at Nike South by only 2 pts.
Word on the street: This team is loaded and young with only one senior in top 5. One of their top runners Bobby Mclilece is coming back from an injury and is starting to round in shape in the last couple of races. They are capable of a top 10 finish.
Danbury (CT)
Competing as: Danbury XC Club
Credentials: Connecticut State Open and New England Champion. Second place, Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invite. At-large bid.
Varsity: Tucker Schaefer, Joey Bubniak, Danny Bubniak, Kevin Russell, Levi Wallace, Chris Pristouris
Signature moment(s): Placed second to Don Bosco in the Eastern States Championship at Van Cortlandt Park. Finishing ahead of automatic NXN qualifiers Shenendehowa, Jamestown and West Windsor North gave Danbury the much needed points to earn an at-large bid.
Word on the street: Much has changed since that early October showing at Vanny. Given new life, Danbury must regain its midseason form in order to take advantage of it with a top-10 showing. Danbury has been here before, placing fifth a year ago.
Loyola (CA)
Competing as: Loyola XC
Credentials: MileSplit US #14
Varsity: Elias Gedyon, J.P. Slater, Andres Diaz, Pablo Ruiz, Philip Rostelnik, Noel Mollinedo, John Eggers
Signature moment(s): Winning the CIF California State Division II Championships in a top five all-time team time 78:04
Word on the street: Loyola is a true NXN Cinderella who has not had their best race this season, led by an NXN individual favorite Elias Gedyon the men from Loyola have a front three who can compete head-to-head with any team in the nation.
North Allegheny (PA)
Competing as: Wexford Flats TC
Credentials: 3rd place in Pennsylvania AAA two years in a row. Defeated then US#9 Danbury CT at NXN Northeast.
Varsity: Ryan Gil, Chase Broussard, Patrick Morgan, Will Appman, Eric Balaban, Matt Robertson, Jay Cadwallader, Adam Jacob
Signature moment(s): Beat then US#13 North Penn PA handily at late September Carlisle Invitational. Have had team compressions in the 30's much of the season, including 32-second spread at NXN Northeast.
Word on the street: Sophomore Ryan Gil has dropped his times by over minute this year. Senior tri-captains Chase Broussard keeps the team loose; Will Appman keeps the team informed; and Patrick Morgan is the magnet that keeps the team compression so tight.
Thousand Oaks (CA)
Competing as: Thousand Oaks XC
Credentials: Milesplit US #25; CIF California State Championships Division II Runner-up 78:35
Varsity: Sean Gildea, Asher Lober, Kevin Joerger, Andrew Snyder, Donald Morrow, Hans Weidman, Daniel Smithers
Signature moment(s): Narrowly finished 2nd at the CIF California State Championships Division II with one of the top five team times in meet history 78:35
Word on the street: Thousand Oaks is much better than their state meet performance, if #5 man Donald Morrow has an improved performance at NXN a potential top five overall finish could unveil
Wayzata (MN)
Competing as: Wayzata XC
Credentials: Minnesota 2A Champion. Nike Heartland Regional Champion.
Varsity: Jeremy Drenckhahn, Danny Ducharme, Jon Hackbart, Oliver Haugland, Landon Lozano, Josh Thorson, Andrew Wasz
Signature moment: Three-point victory over nationally ranked Bismarck at the Heartland Regional put Wayzata on the map.
Word on the street: Going to need to match the 22-second spread it produced at the state meet, or better yet, the 12-second compression from the regional. If so, good things will happen.
Heartland Regional and Foot Locker Midwest Champion Jakub Zivec will be out to keep his perfect postseason run going at the NXN Championships. Reed Connor, who has run three straight sub-15 5k's, figures to battle for individual supremacy as well. Joe Rosa (NJ), Andrew Colley (VA), Joash Osoro (ND) and Elias Gedyon (CA) have made a habit out of winning races this fall, a trend that could continue for any one of them this weekend.
MileSplit's Don Rich, Aron Taylor, Alex Aldaco, Pat Montferrat contributed to this article