2009 MileSplit Fab-15 Cross Country Rankings
*Special Edition
Pre-Season (8/29)
1st ed. (9/12)
2nd ed. (9/21)
3rd ed. (9/30)
4th ed. (10/13)
5th ed. (10/25)
| Northwest | Heartland | Midwest | Southwest | South | Southeast | Northeast | New York |
In 2004 Nike changed the face of prep cross country with the implementation of Nike Team Nationals. After decades the hopes and dreams of avid cross fans were finally realized. Hosted by Nike, NTN allowed the top xc programs in the nation to compete in one true national championship race at Portland Meadows. In 2008 the event took another historic step towards unifying the national championship with the implementation of NXN, Nike Cross Nationals, the nations first true team and individual National Championship. In preparation of the season ending Milesplit team rankings we release a special edition of the Fab-15.
NXN Northwest: Representing the mecca for prep cross US#1 Henry Jackson, WA prepares for battle against US#3 Ferris, WA at the WIAA 4A State Championships. Defending NXN National Champion US#6 North Central, WA have battled their way back to the top of the rankings with three weeks of competition against US#3 Ferris. Look for North Central to claim the 3A State Championship. US#8 Shadle Park, WA has been dominant the entire season in record setting fashion and will have their hands full against a battle tested US#15 Glacier Peak, WA squad. Waiting in the wings will be US#4 Jesuit, OR who have been unstoppable thus far throughout the season. A key element of a championship team is a pack with a true front runner, Jesuit has this in Annamarie Maag.
NXN Southwest: US#10 Albuquerque Academy, NM has had a stranglehold on the Southwest Region but that run may be at an end. Possibly the most talented team in Utah history US#9 American Fork, UT has been on a collision course with Albuquerque the entire season. Course records will most likely fall in this years championship race. US#5 Classical Academy, CO has been the class of the Southwest with US#14 Fort Collins, CO nipping at their heels. Possibly the top two programs in the region.
NXN California: Finishing runner-up the past two season at NXN, US#2 Saugus, CA, is preparing for battle against the best competition in California at the CIF State Championships. The season surprise US#6 Mira Costa, CA and US#11 Great Oak, CA have stepped to the forefront as the challengers for berths to the championship. The darkhorse of the CIF state meet and perhaps NXN nationals has been US#15 Torrey Pines, major early and mid season victories caused a stir in the rankings but they have faltered recently at the Mt. Sac Invitational. US#2 Royal, CA has been undefeated against the top competition of any team in the country. A team who has dodged no one, has sound victories over US#3 Ferris, WA, US#5 Arcadia, CA, and US#15 Dana Hills, CA. Of all teams they may be the most prepared for the elite race known simply as NXN.
NXN Heartland: US#15 Bismarck, North Dakota has been on a mission with destiny. Running into state record books they decimated the state championships with 21 team points and a 16:05 5k average. Undefeated on the season the team is tightening the 1-5 gap and looking more and more like a national darkhorse.
NXN Midwest: US#14 Loyola Academy, IL has soundly defeated national powerhouse York, IL on multiple occasions. Don't count the long green line out just yet as state championship losses have not always stopped them from claiming national titles. Loyola looks dominant and the clear cut Midwest #1. US#7 Magnificat, OH is undefeated on the season and producing top national team performances. Recently running a 18:38 team average to qualify for state it is hard to imagine a team stopping Magnificat from punching their ticket to Niketown.
NXN South: US#9 College Park, TX has been undefeated on the season with a sound victory at Rim Rock. The top team in the south will have their hands full as they step up from 2-miles to the full 5k distance. US#7 Cedar Park, TX has run several 15:30-40 5k team averages. A team with a dominant front runner in Parker Stinson should have their hands full against Nike South Champion US#12 Boerne Champion, TX and unranked Woodlands.
NXN Southeast: US#10 Tatnall, DE completed last season as possibly the 3rd best team in US history. Running ill most of the season the team is finally healthy and will challenge US#13 Blacksburg, VA for the team championship. Darkhorse teams include Nike South champion Hidden Valley, VA and a emerging Midlothian, VA squad.
NXN Northeast: US#4 Christian Brothers Academy, NJ has a victory at the Manhattan Invitational over US#11 Haddonfield, NJ and US#13 Germantown Friends, PA. Teams that are so similar they are separated by fractions of points, this race could be a toss-up.
NXN New York: In a moment that would last a life-time the nation is privileged to witness possibly the greatest season and dynasty in prep cross history. US#1 Fayetteville Manlius, NY embarks on a historic attempt at a fourth NXN National Championship. After smashing the Manhattan course record they have emerged as the team to beat in the nation and New York. On their heals are half a dozen teams including US#3 Saratoga Springs, NY, US#12 Queensbury, NY, and Monroe-Woodbury, NY. Like the girls US#8 Fayetteville Manlius boys have been stellar and much the same team the nation witnessed narrowly lose at Manhattan. Looking to bring another national championship home for the boys F-M boys are definitely positioning themselves as a program to be reckoned with on the national scene.
Numbers in parentheses represent prior ranking