We've compiled the top speed ratings from TullyRunners.com to give you insight into what to expect heading into the boys championship race at Nike Cross Nationals on December 1.
If you're unfamiliar with speed ratings, here's a quick primer:
So what does this all mean?
In short, a speed rating is a number attributed to an XC performance, roughly one point per three seconds, adjusted for overall race quality and depth. Using these numbers, we can compare performances on an apples to apples basis -- in terms of XC times and teams. It provides an answer to the hypothetical question, "What would happen if the best teams in the nation all raced at once?" However, these do not predict the outcome of NXN.
The best way to describe speed ratings are that they can be used as seeds heading into a big race. The actual speed ratings will vary from race to race, but these numbers give an indication of the potential ceiling of an athlete.
What about last year's numbers?
For comparison, the top two boys at NXN a year ago, Aidan Troutner and Brodey Hasty, both posted speed ratings over 200. Troutner was rated at a 201 and Hasty was at a 200. Hasty's top rating before NXN was a 199 -- from Great American and NXR Southeast -- while Troutner's was a 195 from the Utah State Championships.
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Speed Ratings Of The Nation's Top 25 Runners
| rank | name | school | best speed rating | note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Sprout | Valor Christian (CO) | 197 | |
| 2 | Drew Bosley | Homestead (WI) | 193 | |
| 3 | Easton Allred | Rock Canyon (CO) | 193 | |
| 4 | Cole Hocker | Indianapolis Cathedral (IN) | 195 | |
| 5 | Ryan Oosting | Arlington (MA) | 197 | |
| 6 | Nick Foster | Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) | 193 | |
| 7 | Liam Anderson | Redwoods (CA) | 194 | |
| 8 | Conant Smith | Middletown (OH) | 191 | DNRQ |
| 9 | Shea Weilbaker | Saratoga Springs (NY) | 192 | |
| 10 | Tyler Berg | Burnt Hills (NY) | 192 | |
| 11 | Graydon Morris | Aledo (TX) | 189 | DNRQ - FL |
| 12 | Grant Gardner | Springville (UT) | 191 | DNRQ - Sick |
| 13 | Camren Fischer | Fayetteville (AR) | 191 | |
| 14 | Carter Cheeseman | Fort Worth Christian (TX) | 191 | |
| 15 | Charles Hicks | Bolles (FL) | 192 | |
| 16 | Colin Baker | Academic Magnet (SC) | 196 | |
| 17 | Evan Holland | Ashland (OR) | 193 | |
| 18 | Devin Hart | Pt. Pleasant Boro (NJ) | 194 | DNRQ - FL |
| 19 | Kevin Ramos | Rubidoux (CA) | 194 | |
| 20 | Sam Affolder | Loudoun Valley (CA) | 192 | |
| 21 | Alex Comerford | Otsego (MI) | 192 | DNRQ |
| 22 | Josh Methner | Hersey (IL) | 193 | |
| 23 | Jake Renfree | Knoxville Catholic (TN) | 190 | DNRQ - FL |
| 24 | Nathan Green | Borah (ID) | 191 | |
| 25 | Jarrett Kirk | Flower Mound (TX) | 191 |
Athletes On The MileSplit50 Bubble
| rank | name | school | best speed rating | note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Carter Solomon | Plymouth (MI) | 191 | DNRQ - FL |
| 27 | Tim Sindt | Ankeny (IA) | 188 | DNRQ |
| 28 | Joe Waskom | Mount Si (WA) | 190 | |
| 29 | Nico Young | Newbury Park (CA) | 192 | |
| 30 | Austin Vancil | Dakota Ridge (CO) | 191 | |
| 31 | Jack Stanley | Mendham (NJ) | 194 | |
| 32 | Stetson Moss | Thunder Ridge (ID) | 191 | |
| 33 | Corey Gorgas | Saugatuck (MI) | 190 | |
| 34 | Vincent Mauri | Howland (OH) | 190 | |
| 35 | Matt Strangio | Jesuit (CA) | 191 | |
| 36 | Kashon Harrison | Kirtland Central (NM) | 192 | |
| 37 | Ethan Kern | York (IL) | 190 | |
| 38 | Connor Ohlson | Dakota Ridge (CO) | 190 |