NXN-Southeast Pre-Season Regional Outlook

Boys Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 353 Brentwood TN (#17), 385 Belen Jesuit FL (#20)
2010: 461 Midlothian VA (#21), 522 Brookwood GA (#22)
2009: 343 Brookwood GA (#18), 481 Christopher Columbus (Miami) FL (#22)
2008: 381 Jamestown VA (#19), 480 Needham Broughton NC (#22)
2007: 369 Oak Ridge TN (#18), 444 Thomas Jefferson VA (#22)

At-Large Teams:

(None)

2012 Boys Pre-Season Rankings:

1. St. Xavier KY – 2011 NXN-Southeast fifth place squad and Kentucky 3A State Champion returns four of seven

2. Blacksburg VA – 2011 NXN-Southeast 22^nd place squad and Virginia 2A State Champion returns six of seven

3. Belen Jesuit FL – 2011 NXN Nationals 20^th place squad, NXN-Southeast Champion and Florida 3A State Champion returns five of seven

4. Brentwood TN – 2011 NXN Nationals 18^th place squad, NXN-Southeast Runner-up and Tennessee 3A State Champion returns four of seven

5. Needham Broughton NC – 2011 NXN-Southeast ninth place quad and North Carolina 4A State Champion returns five of seven

Honorable Mention: Brentwood Academy TN, Cabell Midland WV, Chapel Hill NC, Colonial FL, George Steinbrenner FL, Hereford MD, Lexington SC, McCallie TN, Miami Columbus FL, Norcross GA, Peachtree Ridge GA, Severna Park MD, Tatnall DE

 

Synopsis:  St. Xavier welcomes back 4:21 miler Thomas Cave to a team that finished fifth at NXN-Southeast and returns their top four in addition to a runner only two seconds behind their fifth finisher at the meet last year. They are a team that has it all: a tradition of excellence within Kentucky and the Southeast, they have qualified for NTN/NXN before (finishing 17^th in 2005), great depth with five returners near/under 16:00 for 5k in cross country and sub-4:20/9:50 in track, a talented frontrunner in Connor Sheryak (fifth returner from NXN-SE last year and a sub-9:15 guy this spring), and they have extensive experience on the regional course, having participated at NXN-SE the last four years and each year at the Great American Festival since it returned to Cary NC in 2009. Beyond the Louisville powerhouse, more traditional powers rise to the top of the rankings with one of Virginia’s strongest programs, Blacksburg, returning almost everyone from another state championship team; Belen Jesuit returning five from last year’s regional championship squad; Brentwood, the top SE team in Portland last fall returning a solid quartet; Broughton, NXN qualifiers in 2008, returning most from their top-10 NXN-SE and state championship squad; Lexington SC, a team that returns three runners that finished in the top 30 at NXN-SE last year and finished just outside the top 10 while missing one of their front runners; The Andres Arroyo-led squad of Colonial FL, and Delaware’s premier distance program Tatnall. The region looks deeper and stronger than ever, and could for the second year in a row send to Portland multiple squads capable of finishing in the top 10/15 in the country.

 

 

 

Girls Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 182 Tatnall DE (#3), 442 Assumption KY (#18)
2010: 244 Tatnall DE (#5), 294 Green Hope NC (#10)
2009: 223 Blacksburg VA (#6), 346 Tatnall DE (#14)
2008: 182 Tatnall DE (#3), 260 Collins Hill GA (#9)
2007: 349 Collins Hill GA (#19), 377 Tatnall DE (#20)

At-Large Teams:

2011: 465 Midlothian VA (#19)
2009: 330 Hidden Valley VA (#13)
2007: 215 Mountain Brook AL (#6)

 2012 Girls Pre-Season Rankings:

1. Tatnall DE – 2011 NXN Nationals third place squad, NXN-Southeast Champion and Delaware Division 2 State Champion returns six of seven

2. Assumption KY – 2011 NXN Nationals 18^th place squad, NXN-Southeast Runner-up and Kentucky 3A State Champion returns five of seven

3. Oakton VA – 2011 Virginia 3A State fourth place squad returns their entire top five

4. Green Hope NC – 2011 NXN-Southeast fourth place squad and North Carolina 4A State Champion returns four of seven

5. Estero FL – 2011 Florida 3A State Champion returns six of seven

Honorable Mention: Blacksburg VA, Bowling Green KY, Cardinal Gibbons NC, Colonial Forge VA, Daviess County KY, HB Plant FL, John A. Ferguson FL, Lake Braddock VA, Midlothian VA, Ocean Lakes VA, Providence FL, Walton GA

 

Synopsis: Business as usual for the girls Southeast scene, as Tatnall looks to be among the potential trophy teams in Portland while Assumption (who qualified for NXN last year) and Green Hope (a constant Southeast top 5 team over the previous three years) are the headliners along with an impressive squad from Virginia (this year, Oakton) and a team from Florida (this year, Estero). Don’t sleep on the other Virginia teams like Blacksburg, Midlothian, Colonial Forge or Lake Braddock: they all seem to have the potential to break into the Southeast top five by the end of the season as well.

NXN-New York Pre-Season Regional Outlook

Boys Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 304 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#12), 344 Shaker NY (#16)
2010: 135 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#2), 325 Shaker NY (#13)
2009: 270 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#9), 349 Burnt Hills NY (#19)
2008: 222 Shenendehowa NY (#7), 314 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#16)
2007: 286 Warwick Valley NY (#11), 334 Shenendehowa NY (#14)

At-Large Teams:

(none)

 

2012 Boys Pre-Season Rankings –

1. Northport NY – 2011 NXN-New York 14^th place squad, New York Federations 17^th place squad returns six of seven

2. Fayetteville-Manlius NY – 2011 NXN Nationals 12^th place squad, NXN-New York Runner-up, New York A State Champion returns four of seven

3. St. Anthony’s NY – 2011 NXN-New York fourth place squad, New York Federations fifth place squad returns four of seven

4. Walt Whitman NY – 2011 NXN-New York ninth place squad, New York A State sixth place squad returns four of seven

5. Arlington NY – 2011 NXN-New York sixth place squad, New York Federations Runner-up returns five of seven

Honorable Mention: Collegiate NY, East Aurora NY, Monsignor Farrell NY, Rush-Henrietta NY , Saratoga NY

 

Synopsis:  Fayetteville-Manlius has been the class of the region and one of the best programs in the entire nation over the past four years. On paper going into this fall, they only look like the second or third best team based on who returns and what they have done in races up to this point, but don’t be surprised if they develop that missing fifth runner and become the class of the region and get in the running for a top-10 finish at NXN Nationals by December. Northport looks like the top team going into the fall, after having a great spring, even though they didn’t do as well as other teams last fall. Another strong team on paper is St. Anthony’s, who look like the deepest team in the state and should give serious challenge for a trip to Portland by the end of the year.

 

 

 

Girls Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 60 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#1), 84 Saratoga Springs NY (#2)
2010: 27 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#1), 104 Saratoga Springs NY (#2)
2009: 74 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#1), 147 Saratoga Springs NY (#2)
2008: 66 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#1), 193 Saratoga Springs NY (#4)
2007: 83 Fayetteville-Manlius NY (#1), 209 Burnt Hills NY (#5)

At-Large Teams:

2011: 225 North Shore NY (#9)
2010: 267 North Shore NY (#9)
2009: 284 Queensbury NY (#7), 285 Shenendehowa NY (#8)
2008: 204 Queensbury NY (#5), 251 Burnt Hills NY (#8)
2007: 194 Saratoga Springs NY (#3), 301 Warwick Valley NY (#11)

 

2012 Girls Pre-Season Rankings –

1. Fayetteville-Manlius NY – 2011 NXN Nationals Champion, NXN-New York Champion, New York A State Champion returns six of seven

2. Academy of the Holy Names NY – 2011 NXN-New York fifth place, New York Federations 14^th place squad returns six of seven plus a key transfer

3. Saratoga Springs NY – 2011 NXN Nationals Runner-up, NXN-New York Runner-up, New York Federations Champion returns two of seven

4. Bronxville NY – 2011 New York Federations Runner-up returns all seven

5. Burnt Hills NY – 2011 NXN-New York seventh place, New York Federations third place squad returns six of seven

Honorable Mention: Garden City NY, Greenwich Central NY, Miller Place NY, North Shore NY, Shenendehowa NY, St. Anthony’s NY, Suffern NY

 

Synopsis:  Fayetteville-Manlius has been the class of the nation, having won every NXN title since 2006, often dominating the rest of the field. This year looks to be much of the same as the Stotans are loaded with plenty of front runners. It also looks like New York will continue its tradition of having multiple teams outside of FM competing with the best in the nation, with Saratoga being the usual suspect but also the Academy of the Holy Names moving into the fray with a very talented Estela Smith transferring to join an already strong group of returners. The big questions this year seem to be whether Holy Names can make the jump up to NXN Trophy caliber and if Bronxville superstar Mary Cain competes for the team in cross country this fall, giving New York four high potential NXN squads. Overall, it looks to be a very strong year for girls cross country in New York once more.

NXN-Northeast Pre-Season Regional Outlook

Boys Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 91 Christian Brothers NJ (#1), 378 Pembroke MA (#18)
2010: 179 Christian Brothers NJ (#5), 399 Pembroke MA (#19)
2009: 284 Bishop Hendricken RI (#10), 422 Germantown Friends PA (#21)
2008: 216 West Windsor-Plainsboro North NJ (#5), 216 Don Bosco NJ (#6)
2007: 203 Danbury CT (#5), 256 Brookline MA (#7)

At-Large Teams:

2008: 301 North Allegheny PA (#12), 466 Danbury CT (#21)
2007: 272 Don Bosco NJ (#10)

 

2012 Boys Pre-Season Rankings –

1. Christian Brothers NJ – 2011 NXN National Champion, NXN-Northeast Champion, New Jersey MOC Champion returns four of seven

2. Bishop Hendricken RI – 2011 NXN-Northeast fourth place squad, New England Champion returns six of seven

3. West Windsor-Plainsboro South NJ – 2011 NXN-Northeast eighth place, New Jersey MOC fourth place squad returns five of seven

4. West Chester Henderson PA – 2011 Pennsylvania 3A State fifth place squad returns five of seven

5. Pope John XXIII NJ – 2011 New Jersey MOC fifth place squad returns four of seven

Honorable Mention: Bishop Feehan MA, Cardinal O’Hara PA, Council Rock North PA, Holmdel NJ, LaSalle College PA, Pembroke MA, Wallkill Valley NJ

 

Synopsis: No boys team has won back-to-back national titles in the history of NTN/NXN, but the Christian Brothers Academy NJ will be in position to change that this fall as they return an incredibly deep squad ready to make history. Bishop Hendricken RI also looks to return to NXN, having qualified in 2009 and could better their finish of tenth there last time. Between those two programs, the Northeast might have the strongest pair of teams in the nation when the best toe the line in Portland in December.

 

 

 

Girls Region History at NXN (2007-2011) –

Auto-Qualifiers:

2011: 519 Champlain Valley VT (#21), 543 Hamilton-Wenham MA (#22)
2010: 449 Voorhees NJ (#20), 455 Champlain Valley VT (#21)
2009: 352 Bishop Feehan MA (#15), 447 LaSalle Academy RI (#21)
2008: 205 Newton South MA (#6), 307 Lincoln-Sudbury MA (#14)
2007: 250 Lincoln-Sudbury MA (#8), 304 Voorhees NJ (#13)

At-Large Teams:

2007: 206 Hanover NH (#4)

 

2012 Girls Pre-Season Rankings –

1. Voorhees NJ – 2011 New Jersey MOC fifth place squad returns all seven

2. Unionville PA – 2011 Pennsylvania 3A State Runner-up returns all seven

3. Barrington RI – 2011 NXN-Northeast 10^th place, New England Championships fifth place squad returns all seven

4. Pennsbury PA – 2011 Pennsylvania 3A State Champion returns six of seven

5. Hamilton-Wenham MA – 2011 NXN Nationals 22^nd place squad, NXN-Northeast Champion and Massachusetts Division 2 Runner-up returns five of seven

Honorable Mention: Champlain Valley VT, Randolph NJ, Rumson-Fair Haven NJ, West Morris Mendham NJ, Whitman-Hanson MA

 

Synopsis: A strong Voorhees squad bounced back from a disappointing finish in cross country to have a great spring, and the storied program looks to get back to its success over hill and dale this fall. At least five other teams look like they have good chances of nabbing a spot to nationals this fall, as the battle for second should be very competitive in what might be the deepest year for the Northeast since 2008.