Photo: Tim McDonald/MileSplit
Individuals
Nine of the ten top-rated individuals in the country are entered in the race, including the reigning champions from both Foot Locker and NXN in 2023. It is one of the best races individually, in terms of depth, we've ever seen.
The Big Three
Three girls come into the race with something to prove, alongside a legitimate claim to the title of favorite.
Addison Ritzenhein would love to prove that 2023 was no accident. It was then, as only a sophomore, she slowly moved up through the front pack kilometer by kilometer, to overtake Elizabeth Leachman who had been leading significantly through 4K. Her move was decisive, and she wasn't to be caught. She went on to run 9:52 in the 2-mile indoors and continued on to XC in 2024. As a Junior, she was undefeated on the trails until it came to regionals, where she still put on a ten-second gap over the next finisher.
In front of her was Jane Hedengren, who had something to prove as well, after injury prevented her 2023 season from reaching those same heights. Hedengren ended 2023 with the 7th highest speed rating in the country, albeit it came from her stunning display at Woodbridge in early September. She managed to return briefly to win a State Title, but injury sidelined the rest of her season. 2024 has been anything but similar. Using her 9:48 2-mile speed, she has been near undefeated, winning most of her competitions by huge margins. Ironically, her only loss of the season came at Woodbridge, where she placed fourth, but has proven that was only a fluke. At the regional, she put on a stellar performance, clocking the fastest ever time for 5K, and netting the highest Speed Rating since 2022.
Lastly, there is Sadie Engelhardt, looking to prove NXN can be conquered. For years, Sadie has dominated the track, clocking age-group National Records in the distance events. She likewise has proven to be a force in California, winning the past two State Titles after a silver medal as a sophomore. Despite these credentials, a podium finish in XC has eluded her, as she placed 15th at Foot Locker in 2022, and 24th at NXN last year. She smashed the course record at Clovis set by a prior Foot Locker Champ and again ran to win the CIF XC State Championships last weekend on the same course. The caveat is, Engelhardt has been nursing an injury over the last few weeks. She managed well through PT to advance, but will it be enough to challenge the best in the country?
The Dark Horses
Unlike the three top challengers, two girls will enter the race undefeated. Marissa Ferebee went from placing 69th at Regionals in 2023, into an unstoppable force one year later, winning that same region by nine seconds. She has continued to improve week after week, and will finally play chaser. Likewise, Victoria Garces has yet to see defeat, coming out of Michigan the first time this season for the Qualifier. She'll get to test herself against the best on Saturday. Rounding out the challengers is Rylee Blade, who has records of her own from this season, and is the fastest California qualifier in the field.
The Race
Expect the race to go out fast, as it did in the Southwest. Unlike the boys, many of the contenders have no ties to a team to hold them back and can take necessary risks. Hedengren went from the gun at NXR-SW, and unlike Leachman, who is in the field again, didn't come back to Ritz. The reigning Champ knows this, and it remains to be seen whether she was focusing solely on qualifying, or if Hedengren put together an insurmountable lead. There will be plenty of nerves out front, as many of the top qualifiers from a year before are not seeded to be up towards the front. New faces on the National stage always provide for an unpredictable race. We're in for a treat.