If you have ever been a part of a state championship team you know the feeling of accomplishment accompanied with victory. Each year there come very special programs across the country that step beyond simply winning and into a realm of total domination. It is in these moments of triumph that the questions of team's "greatness" are raised. Extraordinary accomplishments that warrant recognition and validation to set in stone once and for all, their XC Legacy.
(Recap) 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. Many state associations do not allow prep teams to travel so teams register as clubs in order to compete in this post season event.
The pinnacle event for the prep cross country team is earning a berth to Nike Cross Nationals. The goal of every prep team is to hoist the NXN National Championship Trophy, proclaiming the true national
champions. The honor and prestige of traversing the Portland Meadows course as team victor welcomes the winning team into an elite fraternity of champions that stretches back three decades.
Nike Cross Nationals and all that the event represents to the sport of cross country undeniably traces its roots, inception, and excitement to one moment and one man over three decades ago. In 1973 New York Times free-lance reporter Marc Bloom looked across the nation and saw a lack in comprehensive coverage for prep cross country and came up with a revolutionary idea. An idea that would pump new life and energy into high school cross country. The single most profound event prior to the emergence of Nike Cross Nationals three decades later, The Harrier Magazine!
In 1974 Marc Bloom developed and implemented a network for prep cross country on a national scale by releasing detailed summaries of every state. The culminating event for The Harrier magazine was the release of the Harrier Top-50 High School All-Americans.
The winds of change came in 1976 when Harrier released the first national team rankings in US history. A new buzz and excitement spread throughout the nation as top programs sought fervently to be crowned National Champions by The Harrier magazine. Team rankings were again released in 1977, following the 1977 season The Harrier was discontinued until being resurrected by Bloom in 1989. XC Legacy has sought to bridge the gap from that final 1977 season until the 1989 season.
The significance of those four seasons from 74’-77’ in the scope of prep cross country cannot be understated. Without the efforts of Marc Bloom to network and harness the energy that is prep cross country there would have not been a platform for Nike Cross Nationals.
The Harrier 1989 rankings came at the perfect moment and for a decade teams from the four corners of the nation sought the coveted Harrier National Championship. It was this energy, and this excitement that inspired the creation of the Nike Cross Nationals…the nation’s true prep team championship.
Perhaps now a spotlight can rest on those teams who deserve recognition for superior national performances.
XCLegacy BIG-15 National Rankings
by Aron & David Taylor
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Team/State |
Season Accomplishment |
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1. Carmel, Indiana (Coach Chuck Koeppen) |
Undefeated National Champions |
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2. South Eugene, Oregon (Coach John Gillespie) |
Undefeated State AAA Champions |
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3. Cincinnati Colerain, Ohio |
State Class Champion |
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4. Lakewood, Florida (Coach Joseph Soutullo) |
State 4A Champions |
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4. Largo, Florida (Coach Brent Haley) |
State 4A Runner-up |
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6. York, Illinois (Coach Joe Newton) |
State AA Champions |
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7. Tuba City, Arizona (Coach Bud Davis) |
State 4A Champions |
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8. Astronaut, Florida (Coach Nick Gailey) |
State 3A Champions |
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9. Pearl River, New York (Coach Dan Doherty) |
New York Federation Champions |
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10. State College, Pennsylvania (Coach Gales) |
State AAA Champions |
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11. Laguna Acoma, New Mexico (Coach Emmett Hunt) |
State 2A Champions |
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12. Mission San Jose, California (Coach Jack Marden) |
Nor Cal Champions |
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13. Palos Verdes, California (Coach Bob Lathum) |
CIF SS Champions |
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14. Tiffin Columbian, Ohio (Coach Norman Grimes) |
State Class Runner-up |
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15. Memorial, New Jersey (Coach Bob Van Zanten) |
State Champions |
1. Carmel, Indiana: Undefeated National Champions
The home of U.S. distance legend Rudy Chapa, Indiana hosts the nation’s longest cross country tradition; hosting a one division state cross country championship. Across the State of Indiana perhaps no coach’s name reverberate respect and admiration as Chuck Koeppen. The coaching legend has fostered tradition, and honor for more than three decades through the halls of Carmel High.
Chuck Koeppen is methodical and detail oriented, perhaps no coach in the country has as organized and accurate season archives. He knows the names, remembers the stories and the passion of the sport is felt with he speaks about a sport so important to his life. He is Chuck Koeppen, a mentor, a leader, someone who cares about and knows the importance of those moments. In 1981 and 1982 Chuck Koeppen would claim the boys back-to-back National Championship and in 1987 would claim a girls National Championship. But the Carmel legacy and string of National Championships would begin in 1977 when legendary prep cross country Editor Marc Bloom ranked Carmel 11th in the nation in 1977 in the second annual Harrier “Top 25” National Rankings.
It has been said, where there is smoke there is fire, for Carmel high Chuck Koeppen was that smoke and the fire rested with the mighty Greyhounds athlete’s. Too numerous to count they carry the banner of excellence and played a part in something truly special. The 1978 Carmel boys’ squad was led by top runner senior Rod Zochowski who has been described as a wild man with off the chart ability. Junior Bill Shuey was an age group national swimmer but upon entering high school gave up swimming for running. Ran 9:03 two-mile and served as leader of the Carmel team. Shuey went on to become a two-time All-American at Purdue University in cross country as well as holder of several track records for Purdue University. Senior Scott Beasley was the son of Jack and June Beasley. Jack Beasley spent seasons helping organize local road races with Coach Chuck Koeppen. Has been called by Chuck Koeppen as one of the most determined runners he ever had who made the most of everything he was given and called by Coach Koeppen as the “All American Kid.” Senior Steve Hannah was also a standout who served as the most consistent athlete on the team some might call the anchor. Fred Newlin was a junior and a follower of the Bill Shuey way of running. As Koeppen recalls he followed Shuey everywhere he went and through hard work, motivation and determination made himself a great individual athlete. Newlin went and ran for Butler University. Kurt Scott’s father was a local junior high principal. Kurt’s families were familiar with the Carmel cross country tradition. His brother Charlie, Courtney and eventually Charlie Jr. would run for Koeppen. Tim Robertson came out for cross country after impressing Koeppen in gym class. “I said hey how come you’re not running cross country. He could not say no, he was chosen” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87. Duane Brown was a top varsity scorer and was called by Koeppen as talented as any top athlete who was a dependable member of the team.
“Everyone was looking for a niche, for these kids they were a part of something special and meaningful and for them it was their niche. The previous two state championships set the example for them and they really felt that they were a part of a tradition. I think during the summer we did more than anyone else and in the summer we did more than everyone else. These young men never took time off and we trained year around. They loved wearing their Carmel Cross Country shirt…in our school if you were a part of our program you were respect and held in high esteem.” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87
Courses differ from meet to meet and state to state with the lengths varying from 1.5 miles to 5000 meters. With rare occurrences of courses 3.2 up to 3.5 miles in length within the State of Indiana in 1978 the distance would be 2.5 miles or 4000 meters. The true measure of a team is not team average or even low scores. The true measure of a team is unity, the pack, and its ability to tread closely upon the annuals of history within their own state and eventually nationally. In 1978 the Carmel team did just that with superb assault’s on course records while maintaining championship 1-5 and often 1-7 spreads.
Carmel opened the season with a perfect 15 points at Noblesville. A local dual meet the team tied five runners for first place. Unlike the 1976 and 1977 state championship teams it was here that Koeppen began thinking about the programs first undefeated season. “I did not think we had seen a team like that team before, we had a depth that Carmel had not known. I think after the first meet we thought that we had the potential to go undefeated” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87.
The following week the squad would claim victory at the Pike Hokum Karum. The Pike Hokum Karum was a meet in which two athletes would be paired together in a relay over the 3xmile distance with the two times combined. Bill Shuey and Rod Zachowski won the race with a combined team time of 30:35. Carmel would claim the meet victory with 23 points.
A week later in the Carmel 4-way league meet a similar outcome occurred with the Greyhounds again decimating the competition. They won with 20 points as the team covered the 2.5 mile course with a 13:06 average. Individual placers: 2. Rod Zachowski, 12:57; 3. Scott Beasley, 13:04; 4. Bill Shuey, 13:10; 5. Kurt Scott, 13:11; 6. Steve Hannah, 13:11; 7. Fred Newlin, 13:13. Future state champion Kerry Dickson would claim the individual title in 12:54.
The first major invitational of the season opened the Carmel Invitational. Carmel covered the 2.5 mile course to score 16 points and a 67:53 total team time. Individually they placed 1. Rod Zachowski, 13:17; 2. Steve Hannah, 13:25; 3. Bill Shuey, 13:29; 4. Scott Beasley, 13:42; 6. Fred Newlin, 13:50; 7. Kurt Scott, 14:00. Three days later competed in a league dual meet against Brebeuf winning with 18 points.
The largest in-season meet of the year, the Ben Davis Invitational featured state powerhouse Decatur Central. Carmel rose to the occasion to win 40-51 behind and impressive and dominant team performance in which all five competitors were under 12:50 for 2.5 miles. Finishing 2, 3, 7, 8, 19 the times were Zachowski 12:23, Bill Shuey 12:25, Scott Beasley 12:35, Steve Hannah 12:36, Duane Brown 12:49. Varsity runner’s Fred Newlin and Kurt Scott did not compete in this meet.
The Lawrence North course record was 13:17 and served as a dominant measure of excellence for the Hamilton County. Yet the Carmel team would score a perfect 15 points behind all five scorers breaking the previous course record. Scott Beasley came home in a dead heat tie against teammate Bill Shuey, both completing the course in 13:05. Kurt Scott finished 3rd in 13:11, Duane Brown 4th in 13:12, and Fred Newlin 5th in 13:14. A dominant team performance as they averaged 13:09 over the 2.5 mile course, well under the previous record of 13:17 and without their number one runner Rod Zachowski and fellow top five varsity scorer Steve Hannah.
Long before the Washington/Oregon Borderclash was the Ill-Iana Classic, an Indiana verses Illinois borderwar. Each year Koeppen would travel to the bi-state super meet with the hopes of facing the best that Illinois had to offer. Finishing second in 1977 Koeppen wanted to win the coveted travelling trophy. The National Championship and all-time great Deerfield, Illinois teams had won the meet in 1976 and 1977 besting the eventual Indiana State Champions Carmel convincingly. What became clear to Koeppen was that the road to the National Championship travelled through Illinois and the Ill-Iana Classic. The course was settled in North Creek Meadow Forrest Reserve just outside Chicago, Illinois. Called by many the “finest meet” of the year the meet featured play by play scoring. One of the, if not the first meet ever that featured scoring updates following each mile of the meet. Race Director Skip Stolley was called by Koeppen, “a class act who did a great job for cross country.” Stolley would go on to work for a major national shoe company.
“Back in those days they had this travelling trophy. It was a massive and beautiful trophy. After two years of the trophy residing in Illinois we wanted it back. Those Deerfield teams were amazing to watch, in 76’ and 77’ I thought we had pretty good teams but each year Deerfield defeated us easily. We knew that to be great we would have to win this meet and that is what we tried to do, so there were big hopes for that 78 meet” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87.
To the cheers of the Greyhound faithful the team scored 108 points to claim victory over several top five Illinois teams convincingly. Second place would go to Maine East (149) with 3rd going to Fremd (4th at the Illinois State meet). Over a moderate to difficult 3-mile course junior Bill Shuey came in 6th in 14:55; 10. Rod Zachowski 14:59; 29. Fred Newlin 15:23; 31. Scott Beasley 15:27; 33. Steve Hannah 15:29; 41. Kurt Scott 15:38; Duane brown 15:44.
The road to the Indiana State Championships and what hoped to be three in a row would finish through the Conference, County, Sectional, and Regional Championships. The Olympic Conference Championship featured Huntington North, Muncie Northside, Haworth, Madison Heights, and Muncie Southside. Muncie North was the consistent challengers to Carmel and eventually 6th at the State Championship. The race held at Grandview Golf Course in Anderson, Indiana. Carmel would score 26 team points and finish six in the top twelve. Rod Zachowski placed second over the relatively flat golf course in what was said to be a perfect day in 12:40. The individual title went to Bob Gross who would end up 7th in the state meet behind Zachowski claimed victory in 12:32.1. Scott Beasley finished in 4th in 12:52; 5. Bill Shuey 12:58; 6. Steve Hannah 12:59; 9 Fred Newlin 13:02; 12. Kurt Scott 13:08. “We knew Muncie North was tough, anytime you beat them it was a big deal.” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87
The Hamilton County Championships featured six teams with Carmel, Heights, Nobelsville, Sheridan, Southeastern and Westfield. Held at Forrest Park Golf Course it featured a flat cast 2.5 mile championship race. Carmel would claim the team honors with 20 team points and all seven varsity scorers in the top 10. Individual finishers; 2. Rod Zachowski 12:17; 3. Steve Hannah 12:33; 4. Scott Beasley 12:33; 5. Fred Newlin 12:41; 6. Kurt Scott 12:48; 7. Robertson 12:52; 9. Duane Brown 13:06. Carmel covered the relatively flat golf course 2.5 mile course in a meet record 12:34 average.
The Pike Cross Country Sectional Championships featured over 25 teams as the section championships resembled a state championship. Held at the Pike high school grounds the course was flat with a lot of loops surrounding the school. Under a light rain and 48 degree temperatures the Carmel boys made a statement as they placed five in the top ten! Senior Rod Zachowski won in a meet record 12:14 over the 2.5 mile course. Teammate Bill Shuey JR finished 4th in 12:27; 6. Scott Beasley SR 12:31; 7. Fred Newlin JR 12:32; 9. Steve Hannah SR 12:35. The team average of 12:27 may be one of the top team averages in national history over 2.5 miles (4000 meters) of any difficulty. The confirmed fastest Championship 4k of all-time belongs to the National Champion South Eugene, Oregon squad which averaged 12:02 to claim the Oregon State Championships in 1974. South Eugene also ran a 12:20 average in 1973 to claim the National Championship and 12:13 in 1972 to finish #2 nationally behind Lompoc, California.
“We were a very good team and what we faced that day were some tremendous individuals. The only guys in front of us were guys who were top 10 in state. Our guys wanted each meet a domination and the kids wanted to be the top five every meet. They were ready for this tournament and nothing else matters except the IHSA State Tournament to those kids.” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87
Following the Pike Sectional Championships Carmel travelled to the Tipton Invitational three days later scoring 31 team points in order to face some top teams. The meet was held during the State Championship Tournament at the Tipton Golf Course in Tipton, Indiana. A flat and fast 2.5 mile course, the meet record was broken by Lafayette Jefferson’s Kerry Dickson, eventual state champion in 12:17. Carmel senior Rod Lakowski finished in 3rd in 12:37 also under the previous course record mark of 12:40.9. Steve Hannah finishes in 5th in 12:50 with teammate Fred Newlin 6th in 12:52. Duane Scott and Scott Beasley would finish 8th and 9th each recording 13:00 over the 4000 meter course. Following the Tipton Invite they travelled three days later to the IHSA Regional Championships.
The IHSA Regional Championships would be the equivalent of a super state championship. A huge championship race where 16 teams collide in what can be viewed as League conquest, Carmel still competed well winning with 59 points and four in the top twenty. The meet was held at Richland, Indiana on the Glen Miller Golf Course; a hilly and moderately difficult course that was traversed twice during the 2.5 mile race. Rod Zachowski placed 7th in 12:27; 13. Fred Newlin 12:41; 14. Steve Hannah 12:41; 17. Scott Beasley 12:43; 30. Bill Shuey 13:02.
“The competition was dominant, the individual winner David Hilton from Cascade in 12:17 and Brad Sisson, Brad Jones were all eventual state champions. Our runners were running against the best the state had to offer. We ran neck and neck with the top runners in the state. As a reflection of our team score it is clear that the teams we faced here were the teams that eventually gave us trouble at state.” ~Chuck Koeppen, Four-time National Championship Coach 78,81,82,87
Saving the best for last coach Koeppen led the Carmel squad into the state championships primed for a third state championship in as many years, and importantly a National Championship. Held at the South Grove Golf Course in Indianapolis, Indiana the course was a moderately flat and yet challenging 4k. Featuring 10,000 spectators the atmosphere was electric and teams felt as though it could be a world championship 
event. Carmel scored 63 points to dominate the runner up Norwell 126. Rod Zachowski would run 12:20.5 to finish first in team scoring. The rest of the team finished as follows, Bill Shuey JR 12:37.6; Scott Beasley SR 12:38.1; Steve Hannah SR 12:41.9; Fred Newlin JR 12:50.6.
“It was our third win in a row no one had done that in the State of Indiana since the 1950’s when Anderson won 7 in a row. We were so excited to win the meet so convincingly. These guys were not going to be denied. Coaching is my life I was blessed to have a coach in high school I just loved. I found success in leading and guiding cross country runners. A drive and passion was created within me regarding this sport. I believe cross country builds teamwork, a brotherhood, family, and in the end we became best friends. We are a
