Ashi Geberkidane, Colorado's top XC performer in 2012, is flanked by two Utah runners, Kramer Morton and Brayden McLelland, late in last fall's NXR-SW championship race. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Are there lessons to be drawn and things to be pondered over from this year's edition of NXR-SW? There certainly are, and perhaps we've captured a few of those in this article.
NXR SW Girls Championship Race Extended Cut - Includes over 45 seconds of extra race footage
NXR SW Boys Championship Race Extended Cut - Includes over 30 seconds of additional race footage
Brayden McLelland led American Fork's charge on Saturday with a 15:03 in sixth. Photo by Alan Versaw.
McKenz Leekya was New Mexico's top finisher in the open races at NXR-SW, with a solid time of 15:53. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Midway through the girls championship race, Elise Cranny, Heather Bates, and Katie Rainsberger were firmly entrenched among the top four. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Led by a 6-7 finish (3-4 in team scoring) from Shea Martinez and Ellie Child, Davis took away top honors in the Nike-Southwest regional. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Late in the race, Bernie Montoya begins his counter-surge that would reel in the premature surge of Ben Saarel. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Bernie Montoya, Elise Cranny take NXNSW wins! Domanic, Jochen take NXNS wins! Southlake Carroll dominated team titles at NXNS! (Photo of Montoya winning by Margot Kelly)
Did I hear you say you live for great individual match-ups? Your ship has come in!
Teams and names from the pre-race press conference to watch for at the NXR SW Championship race.
Click here for the race assignments for all NXR-SW teams and individuals.
Claire Green and Kaitlyn Benner bring a Colorado state title with them to Arizona, along with hopes of tackling a course more suited to their natural speed. Photo by Jeff McCoy.
Luis Martinez had a stellar senior cross country season for the Cleveland (NM) Storm and heads into Saturday's NXR-SW championship race as one of the favorites for the individual title and as the leader of a team in the hunt for a slot to NXN. Photo by Alan Versaw.
The teams for the girls championship race have been announced!
The roster of teams has been released for NXR-SW!
Things are building to fever pitch in New Mexico. Photo by Blake Wood.
Mountain Vista has a roster full of ways to hurt you. Andrew Walton and Eric Steiner are two of those ways. Colorado Track XC file photos.
Kyle Lund leads a Fairview team that is rapidly rising the ladder of NXR-SW boys rankings. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Much to nobody's surprise, Erin Hooker and her Fort Collins teammates occupy the #1 preseason ranking in the NXR-SW region. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Great contests have been the trademark of the NXR-SW races. Expect nothing about that to change this year. Colorado Track XC file photo.
When the Fort Collins girls showed up fired up last November, it was a case of game on, game over. Colorado Track XC file photo.