XC Weekend Recap: Nike Regionals Wrap Up as NXN Approaches

The Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional showcased incredible individual and team performances, solidifying the region's reputation as one of the most competitive in the nation. The fast Desert Twilight course set the stage for thrilling races as athletes vied for individual titles and team berths to nationals.

In the boys' race, American Fork's Kaden Evans stole the show, clocking a blazing 14:24.37 to win the regional title. Evans, who remains undefeated on the season, ran the second-fastest 5K time nationally this year and the 25th fastest time all-time for U.S. high school boys. Evans led from the front, holding off Mountain View's Kyle Steadman (14:27.66), Rio Rancho's Charlie Vause (14:30.19)and Coronado's Oliver Horton (14:30.38), who placed second, third and fourth, respectively, in a tightly contested race. Cheyenne Mountain's Aiden Le Roux and Brogan Collins also made a statement, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, to anchor their team's strong showing.

In the team competition, Herriman captured the championship with 74 points, powered by Jackson Spencer's seventh-place finish and a tightly packed scoring group. Herriman not only secured the title but also put together the top 5K average in the nation this season with a 14:50.29. This performance marked the top overall average since Newbury Park in 2022 (14:51.63). Their remarkable 0:35 spread and 14:50 team average made the difference, as they outpaced a very strong Niwot team, which finished second with 90 points. Niwot's exceptional 0:17 spread and consistent scoring runners highlighted their depth. American Fork, behind Evans' stellar win, rounded out the top three with 122 points, showcasing their strength despite a wider spread.

The girls' race featured one of the most dominant performances in high school history from Jane Hedengren of Timpview, who not only claimed the individual title in 15:50.01 but also ran the all time best 5K time by a U.S. high school girl. Hedengren dominated the field by 41 seconds, beating the previous record of 15:58.42 set by Jenna Hutchins in 2020. Her commanding victory set the tone for the race, with Niwot's Addison Ritzenhein finishing second in 16:31.72, capping a standout season. Sophomore Delaney Reuter finished third with a time of 16:42.87 and Ella Hagen of Summit was not far behind in 4th with a time of 16:48.67. 

In the team competition, Mountain Vista emerged victorious with 59 points, led by a strong performances from Keeghan Edwards in 5th, Claire Guiberson in 8th and Juliet Frum in 13th. Their scoring average of 17:17.21 puts Mountain Vista as the fastest team in the nation this season by a 12 second margin. This put Mountain Vista back into the NXN meet after a third place finish last season at the regional. Their scoring pack, bolstered by consistent performances, propelled them to a decisive victory. Air Academy placed second with 129 points, showcasing a solid collective effort, while Fossil Ridge edged out Lone Peak for the third spot with 156 points.

With standout performances from both individuals and teams, the Southwest Regional once again proved why it is one of the premier qualifiers in the nation. Many of these athletes and squads are poised to leave a significant mark on the national stage.