.png)
TSR's 2023 Boys High School XC Top-10 Team Rankings: Early Season Edition
- Donald Speas
- Sep 20, 2023
- 25 min read
Written by Donald Speas, additional commentary and edits via Garrett Zatlin
NOTE: Current rankings are based on preseason expectations, projected growth, program history (partially) and recent performances. While some cross country teams may have recently beaten other programs ranked ahead of them, TSR factors in seasonal consistency, the athletes who were actually entered in those races and how much room for improvement we suspect a certain team has.
1. Herriman Mustangs (UT)
Doug Soles' coaching prowess and success at the high school level has at least put him in the conversation for the title of the "greatest high school coach of all-time." His recent remarkable achievements at Herriman High School in Utah, paired with his previous success at Great Oak (CA), serve as a testament to his ability to produce top cross country teams year after year.
In his very first year at Herriman, Soles took a team that previously didn't qualify for the "championship" race at the NXR Southwest Championships and transformed them into a podium squad at the national meet.
While Herriman's podium group from last year has seen the departure of many athletes, they still have three key returning runners from last year's NXN Championships: seniors Jack Beckstrom (67th), Maxwell Hofheins (107th) and Hyrum Wood (148th). This experienced trio will provide valuable leadership and will help keep a new lineup focused amongst the glitz and glamor that NXN provides.
Based on the Woodbridge XC Classic, Herriman's current top-seven will also include juniors Jonah Tang, Micah Tang and Tayshaun Ogomo as well as senior William Steadman.
Of those seven men who I just listed, the true difference-maker for Herriman this fall will seemingly be William Steadman. Despite narrowly missing last year's varsity squad despite boasting a 16:07 (5k) PR, Steadman's track season was nothing short of exceptional, running upper-tier times of 1:54 (800), 4:09 (1600) and 9:14 (3200).
Steadman's significant improvement on the track has already translated to the grass after he posted a phenomenal 8th place finish at the Woodbridge XC Classic. A development like that is huge for Herriman's chances of winning the 2023 national title as they already seem to have praise-worthy depth.
The Tang brothers and Ogomo were also solid on the track earlier this year, but their recent efforts from this past weekend -- finishing 27th (Micah), 31st (Jonah) and 34th (Ogomo) -- suggests that this supporting trio have all made improvements of their own.
Herriman has been on fire since their very first race this season. They have gone undefeated against a difficult schedule which was headlined by beating our TSR #2 squad on a tie-breaker at the Timpanogos Invitational and later followed up with a win at the Woodbridge XC Classic over another handful of top-ranked teams.
As of right now, we see the Mustangs as the clear favorites for the national title. Their next challenge will be at the Bob Firman Invitational followed by a rematch with American Fork at the Utah XC State Championships.
Doug Soles' coaching expertise, combined with the talent and potential of Herriman's athletes, creates a formidable and exciting team to watch this coming season. If everything falls into place, and Steadman and the rest of this squad continue to deliver on their promising trajectory, Herriman has a real shot of standing atop the podium this December.
2. American Fork Cavemen (UT)
American Fork is undeniably a formidable team.
However, what sets them apart from other upper-tier programs is that their top runner, Danny Simmons, is the favorite in the individual national title race this year. In fact, I don’t see a scenario where Simmons falls outside of the top-three scoring positions at Nike Cross Nationals -- and that theory alone gives American Fork a massive advantage.
Last year, American Fork finished an impressive 5th place at the national meet. However, maybe more excitingly, they return all but one of their top-seven runners, Seth Smith, who is currently running for upstart JUCO program at Salt Lake Community College.
This season presents Coach Timo Mostert with a golden opportunity to clinch his first NXN title, but he must strike while the iron is hot, especially with the majority of his projected top-seven being seniors.
Last fall, it felt like American Fork lacked a clear second runner with three different athletes taking turns in that role. At Nike Cross Nationals, it was senior Chase Pack who finished as the team's second runner in 72nd place. Last spring, Pack ran solid track times of 4:32 (mile), 9:29 (3200) and 15:46 (5k).
One of the additional contenders for the team’s second lineup spot is Ben Bradshaw who showcased excellent foot-speed, leading the team over 800 meters with a time of 1:57. Although Bradshaw raced sparingly during the track season, he still managed to run impressive times of 9:21 (3200) and 4:21 (1600) in addition to his 1:57 (800) mark.
Another runner who took over the secondary scoring role at times last year was Ben Jaster. He finished 74th at the 2022 national meet. During the spring, Jaster was the team's second-best performer over longer distances, achieving a personal best of 9:14 over 3200 meters and a solid 4:24 mark for 1600 meters.
If it wasn't obvious by having three different secondary scorers last year (Bradshaw, Jaster and the now-graduated Seth Smith), American Fork's strength lies in their pack-running ability. At the 2022 NXN Championships, their 2-3-4-5-6 runners had an incredible 10-second time spread. That was by far the best five-person time spread of any team in the meet, showcasing how high of a floor they have in 2023.
The only potential drawback for American Fork is the significant gap between Danny Simmons and the rest of the pack. If one of the athletes in the American Fork chase pack (no pun intended) can narrow that gap and continue to improve, then it's possible that the rest of the group will follow suit. This improvement and cohesion within the team could elevate American Fork to the status of a serious title contender.
The Cavemen's early-season results have played out just about as expected and they’ve only lost once this fall. Normally, a loss this early wouldn’t fit the expectations that we have for our TSR #2 program...unless of course, it’s a loss on a tie-breaker to the best team in the country.
Things could get interesting with the return of Ben Bradshaw to the team’s lineup. It’s unclear how much of an impact he would have had at the Timpanogos Invitational (where American Fork suffered there only loss), but we’ll be able to find out in about a month’s time at the Utah XC State Championships as they'll get an opportunity for a rematch against the currently-undefeated Herriman squad.
3. Belen Jesuit Wolverines / Miami Havana (FL)
Belen Jesuit's performance at the NXN Championships last year was quietly great as they were led by the remarkable 8th grader, Marcelo Mantecón. Now a high school freshman, Mantecón's talent and potential have been evident from the start, placing an impressive 68th at NXN last fall which helped his team to a 14th place finish.
The still-young ace continued his momentum on the oval, winning the "Middle School Mile" section at the Brooks PR Invitational with a remarkable time of 4:26 while also clocking a mark of 9:14 over 3200 meters. Recently, the rookie ran 14:52 (5k) to finish a tremendous 7th place at the Southern Showcase.
However, Mantecón is not alone in his team's accomplishments. Several of his teammates also had a stellar track season, including Joseph Socarras who holds incredible PRs of 1:51 for 800 meters, 4:13 in the mile and 15:41 for 5000 meters. Socarras may be more suited to the track, but his most recent efforts on the oval showcase potential for substantial improvement over the 5k distance.
The Ruiz brothers -- Joshua, and Justin -- are also critical members of this team.
Joshua boasts a blazing-fast 15:07 (5k) PR and finished 3rd individually at the 2022 NXR Southeast Championships. He recently set a 9:03 PR over 3200 meters, further proving how valuable of a low-stick he can be.
But the craziest part? Joshua may be even better than that now. He just ran 14:38 (5k) at the Southern Showcase to take the overall win. That's a massive development for a team that already had a promising low-stick in Mantecón.
Meanwhile,Joey holds an impressive 15:27 (5k) time, though he had a bit of a setback at NXN where he finished in 135th place. Nevertheless, he rebounded in track, running 9:10 for 3200 meters, making him someone who could be (and maybe will be) a fringe lead scorer.
Even Justin Ruiz (who ran 9:32 for 3200 meters last spring), cracked the top-20 at the Southern Showcase with his brother Joey not too far ahead of him. He offers a great scoring option and still has some upside within him.
Senior Evan Torres is another valuable asset for the team. Although he struggled with consistency last year, his potential is evident with a 15:43 (5k) PR. In track, he found his stride, showing significant improvement. He ended his track campaign with personal bests of 4:24 (1600) and 9:27 (3200).
One challenge that Belen Jesuit may face is the weather. Coming from sunny Miami to a cold (and potentially rainy) Portland in December theoretically poses as a challenge for this team. Even so, their talent and skill level cannot be underestimated. And if the weather conditions are favorable in December, then Belen Jesuit is a group with a shot at the national title rather than just a podium contender.
Belen Jesuit has been on a roll this year, winning all three of their races so far. This was highlighted by a 15:12 (5k) average at the Southern Showcase -- by far the fastest of any team in the country. Oh, and they did that without Joseph Socarras!
If anyone has the ability to upset the schools from Utah, then it is undoubtedly the boys of Belen Jesuit Prep.
4. Wayzata Trojans (MN)
Wayzata's biggest strength lies in their remarkable ability to run as a cohesive pack. At the 2022 NXN Championships, they displayed an impressive top-five time spread of just 33 seconds, a feat that stands out for most teams, especially at such a high-level competition. That pack-running was a key factor in Wayzata's respectable 12th place finish at NXN.
While they will miss the low-stick talent of Hamza Mohamed (who will be representing Iowa Central Community College this fall), Wayzata's prospects in 2023 are far from bleak.
Firstly, they return the rest of their top-seven from last year's squad which provides a great foundation for continued success. Additionally, the team's performance at the national meet, even without Mohamed's top-level finish, suggests that there is untapped potential within a handful of these men.
There are two likely candidates to be the team's top runner(s): senior Daniel McCollor and junior William Weber. McCollor had a solid showing at the national meet last fall, finishing in 75th place. He also followed that up with a promising track season, posting times of 9:20 (3200) and 4:25 (1600).
On the other hand, Weber was close behind McCollor at NXN, finishing just two seconds and eight places back. He had an impressive track season, leading the team over 3200 meters with a time of 9:20 while displaying solid performances over 800 meters (1:59) and 1600 meters (4:23).
Wayzata also showcased their talent with certain seniors thriving in the middle distances. Hayes McMillan and Tyler Kissell both ran impressive times of 1:54 and 1:56 for 800 meters, respectively.
While McMillan is gaining recognition for his foot-speed, he also has a strong cross country resume with a 15:50 (5k) PR. Kissell, meanwhile, has perhaps the most well-rounded skillset of anyone on the team. He was Wayzata's third runner at NXN (119th) and boasts additional PRs of 4:23 (1600) and 9:37 (3200).
So far this season, Wayzata has remained relatively quiet, not putting up many flashy performances like some other teams on this list. Nonetheless, they have won the two meets that they have entered by a healthy margin.
For Wayzata, the key to success hinges on their development of greater firepower. If they can have at least one athlete finishing inside the top-50 at Nike Cross Nationals, then that will help give this group a spark and effectively replace Hamza Mohamed.
5. Southlake Carroll Dragons / Carroll (TX)
Southlake Carroll's boys' team, just like their girls' team, is known for posting incredibly fast times on the grass, especially at their home course. However, they have sometimes faced challenges in converting those impressive marks into strong national meet results.
Last year, the Dragons did qualify for NXN after winning the NXR South Championships, but had an "off" day by earning a 20th place finish in their season finale. And yet, despite losing three seniors from that squad, Southlake Carroll has earned a TSR #5 ranking.
One of the main reasons for their high ranking is their exceptional five-man average time of 15:10 (5k). That is the fastest returning 5k average of any team in the country and it places them 21 seconds ahead of our TSR #2 team, American Fork (UT)!
And sure, while times aren't everything in cross country, this outstanding average time hints at this team's tantalizing potential.
Leading the pack for Southlake Carroll is senior Jude Alvarez, their top returner who finished 49th at NXN last year and ran an impressive 14:58 (5k) mark during the regular season. He will provide strong senior leadership and a great low-stick to rally around.
The next two runners, senior Ryan Van de Bergh and sophomore Caden Leonard, offer great value at different areas in this lineup. Leonard didn't compete in the team's varsity lineup for NXN or NXR last fall, but he showcased his talent at the Champs South regional meet with a 15:07 (5k) effort.
Leonard's performances have already made him one of the top names in the Class of 2026, specifically after posting superb track PRs of 4:15 (1600), 9:06 (3200) and 14:33 (5k track) during his freshman year. Oh, and he just finished 21st at the Woodbridge XC Classic, further validating the idea that he can be a lead scorer for this team.
As for Van de Bergh, he didn't have his best race at Woodbridge this past weekend, but he is clearly more talented than what we saw. This is a guy who was the 43rd place finisher at the 2022 version of Woodbridge as well as the runner-up finisher at the NXR South Championships.
Senior Zach Troutman is considered the team's wildcard. He has shown variability in his performances, ranging from being the team's second runner to everywhere else in this group's top-seven. However, he had a more consistent track season and was the teams' fourth runner on their descending order list across all events.
If the Dragons get the absolute best version of Troutman throughout the entirety of this year, then Southlake Carroll is looking like an even more dangerous squad than we initially thought they could be.
The final likely member of Southlake Carroll's top-five is junior Blake Bullard who holds a 15:17 (5k) PR. Not much is known about Bullard beyond his relatively consistent 2022 cross country season and his absence from track races after March. That said, he was the Dragons' third scoring option at Woodbridge with a 41st place finish.
After a dominant win over a solid field at their home meet, this team traveled to the Woodbridge XC Classic where they placed 2nd overall, beating two top-10 squads and one of our "Just Missed" groups. That's largely why they are listed at TSR #5.
Well, that and their 15:10 (5k) team average returning time.
However, the Dragons' success in the postseason will depend on how well their runners can replicate / get close to their PRs, as the competition both in the South region and in the state of Texas is fierce and guarantees are few. They will need to perform at their best to secure their spot at the national meet.
6. Stevens Point Panthers (WI)
Stevens Point may have been one of the most underrated teams in the country last year, occasionally being overlooked despite their strong performances. This is a group that finished 2nd at the NXR Heartland Championships and earned a respectable 15th place finish at NXN.
But in 2023, they bring back their entire scoring five, leaving them primed for a noticeable leap in their overall team efforts this fall.
At the forefront of their success is senior Aloysius Franzen who proved to be a formidable low-stick last year by finishing 11th among all scoring runners and 33rd overall at NXN. If he can replicate or improve upon that performance, then Stevens Point will start their scoring off in a great position.
Senior Bode Erickson is another key runner, finishing in a respectable 61st place at the 2022 NXN Championships. He was often close to Franzen during the regular season and even led this team at times. Together, they give the Panthers a very solid 1-2 scoring punch.
Behind that top-two, there is a bit of a drop-off, although that's not to say that the other men on this team aren't talented.
Ethan Olds was typically coming in 30 to 45 seconds behind his aforementioned top-two teammates last fall. At NXN, he was the team's fourth scorer, crossing the line in 147th place.
Junior Graham Ballard, on the other hand, had a stronger race on the national stage last fall and was the most consistent among his teammates. He almost always secured the fourth scoring spot in this lineup and he stepped up in his season finale to be the Panthers' third scorer at Nike Cross Nationals (where he placed 122nd).
The final returning member of the Stevens Point varsity squad is sophomore Cooper Erickson who showed great promise by running sub-16 (5k) as a freshman. While he had a tough day at NXN and finished 171st, he has potential for improvement -- and maybe even the ability to be a low-stick as soon as this fall. He did, after all, run a time of 9:17 over 3200 meters.
We have a few more questions about Stevens Point's depth this fall, but they do have a couple of solid options. The sixth and seventh spots of this lineup may be filled by senior Cooper Gunderson and junior Matt Frank.
Gunderson's 16:26 (5k) PR makes him a strong candidate, although his lack of results this past winter and spring was a bit surprising. Matt Frank also looks like a potential seventh runner, putting together a string of personal bests over the last few seasons. It's a similar story for Andrew Dziak.
Ultimately, Stevens Point's performance at Nike Cross Nationals will largely depend on how the latter-half of their scoring group performs. If they can close the gap on the top-two men of their lineup, then this team will have no issue securing a spot in the top-10 come December. However, if they struggle to do so, their final placement at NXN could look pretty much the same as last year.
So far this fall, we’ve learned that Aloysius Franzen is the real deal, winning both meets that he’s been entered in by at least 45 seconds. Dare I say that Franzen may be a contender to be an All-American later this fall?
As for the rest of the team, we really haven’t gained too much insight. They’ve won every meet that they've contested fairly comfortably, but they should get a good test against a loaded Roy Griak field very soon.
7. Great Oak Wolfpack (CA)
Many fans of the sport were curious as to what the fate of Great Oak would be after long-time coach Doug Soles left for Herriman (UT) in 2020.
Well, they didn’t lose their stride, not even for a year. In 2021, the Wolfpack boys finished 7th at the Garmin RunningLane Championships and in 2022, they finished 6th at NXN. And yet, despite that, there were still some concerns about how this group would fare after losing five seniors from last year's lineup.
Of course, those concerns have (so far) been unfounded. Last weekend, Great Oak finished 3rd at this year’s Woodbridge XC Classic, two places higher than where they were in 2022 despite the team’s significant scoring losses.
Leading the team at Woodbridge was the duo of senior Gabriel Rodriguez and junior Westin Brown. Rodriguez, one of the two returners from last year's NXN squad where he finished third on his team and 77th overall.
So far this year, he’s opened up his season with a 14:11 (three-mile) mark, good for a 13th place finish at Woodbridge. Rodriguez’s experience on the national stage combined with his stellar PRs will make him a key leader and mentor for many of the team’s newer varsity contributors.
Junior Westin Brown (not to be confused with the current Princeton freshman who has the same name, but spelled differently) has quickly turned into one of the best runners in California.
Brown had a breakout track season where he ran 9:10 for 3200 meters and 4:10 for 1600 meters earlier this year. But since then, he's become even better, finishing 4th at the ASICS Cool Breeze Invitational and 9th at Woodbridge.
If he keeps up this aggressive rate of improvement and continues to produce top placements at major invitationals, then I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a top-10 scoring runner at the national meet come December.
The middle portion of the Wolfpack’s lineup contains three athletes new to the varsity lineup. Juniors Jacob Brown and Jack Paradise, as well as senior Kai Marotta, have all run under 15 minutes for three miles and were only separated by four seconds at Woodbridge this season.
Great Oak has a history of prepping future varsity lineups by exposing their younger runners to great competition on the track -- and these three are no different. The Brown-Paradise-Marotta trio have all run under 2:00 for 800 meters, under 10:00 for 3200 meters and they have all been close to the 4:30 barrier for 1600 meters.
In our eyes, it's these three athletes who will make the biggest difference in Great Oak’s team scores come the postseason.
The other returner from last year’s NXN Championships is senior Jeffrey (Cameron) Keeney, the team's sixth runner in 2022 who finished 111th overall in Portland. This year, he’s again the team’s sixth runner, running 15:03 for three miles at Woodbridge the other weekend. His experience on the national stage will surely be appreciated, especially from a depth and scoring safety perspective.
The Wolfpack are in a “rebuilding year,” but in a program with such a storied history like Great Oak, even their rebuilding years produce top-10 finishes at the national meet -- and I don’t see a reason for 2023 to be any different.
8. Ventura Cougars (CA)
Ventura is undoubtedly a strong team and deserving of a top-10 ranking.
While the team didn't compete at NXN as a whole last year, they had one runner, senior Anthony Fast Horse, who performed admirably on that stage. He finished 60th overall and 17th among non-seniors.
When looking at the entirety of his 2022 fall campaign, Fast Horse had a standout season, highlighted by a 4th place finish at the 2022 CIF XC State Championships. However, his true dominance was evident during the track season where he ran exceptionally fast times of 4:08 for 1600 meters and 8:51 for 3200 meters. He also finished 3rd at the CIF Track & Field State Championships in the former event.
Micah Grossman, who has an argument to be the team's best or second-best runner later. this fall, is just as impressive as Fast Horse is on the grass. He consistently led the team during the 2022 cross country season with a rare "off" day at the CIF XC State Championships where he still managed a solid 12th place finish.
During the track season, Grossman showcased his prowess with remarkable times of 1:59 (800), 4:09 (1600) and 9:01 (3200). Together, the Fast Horse-Grossman duo forms a formidable 1-2 punch that may be among the best in the country.
Of course, a great team needs a strong supporting cast and Ventura has just that.
Seniors Henry Hammel and Nick DeGeorge are both capable of running well under 15 minutes for three miles. Hammel, who slightly faster over three miles, encountered some unfortunate setbacks last fall, including a DNF at the CIF XC State Championships. Even so, no one is going to deny his talent, especially after placing 65th at Woodbridge last weekend.
DeGeorge, on the other hand, thrived during the cross country season, becoming a runner that any team would love to have as their third scorer. He boasts impressive PRs of 14:49 for three miles and 15:35 for 5000 meters. The veteran also holds commendable placements of 20th at the Champs Sports West regional meet and 16th at the CIF XC State Championships.
The team's fifth scorer, senior Hollis Costa, has had a steady presence in Ventura's scoring five, running solid times of 15:16 for three miles and 16:02 for 5000 meters. He demonstrated improvement in his fitness during the track season, recording respectable times of 4:25 for 1600 meters and 9:27 for 3200 meters.
While his times may not stand out, they do reflect Costa's progress and make him a reliable scorer. He did, after all, crack the top-60 at Woodbridge the other weekend, a signal that he is continuing to get better -- and constantly improving.
This fall, the Cougars debuted their full squad at the Woodbridge XC Classic where Anthony Fast Horse paced the team with a potent silver medal result. However, the rest of the team’s supporting cast wasn’t quite at the same level and they fell to 4th place, one spot behind in-state foe, Great Oak.
It's worth noting that every runner mentioned is a senior this fall, making this a crucial and all-or-nothing year for Ventura. This team is filled with talent and anything less than a top-10 finish at NXN would be surprising given the upside that so many of these young men hold.
9. Christian Brothers Academy Colts (NJ)
Christian Brothers Academy is a very hard team to rank.
They lost three of their varsity seven runners from last year, but lose only one runner from their top-five. They have NXN experience and are historically elite, but they underperformed in Portland last fall, finishing 18th overall in their season finale.
The fastest returner from last year's team is sophomore Joe Barrett who alternated the top spot of this lineup with current Villanova freshman, Nicholas Sullivan.
In 2022, there was a question as to who the team’s best runner was, but not anymore with Barrett holding the only sub-16-minute (5k) PR among the team’s returning athletes. Barrett, unfortunately, did not have the best day at last year's NXN Championships, fading to 164th place.
Luckily, this year's low-stick ace was able to redeem himself in a spectacular fashion during the spring months. He ran his way to a 20th place finish and 9:04 (two-mile) PR at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships.
The team’s top returning runner from last year's NXN Championships was Conor Clifford, a now-senior who split his time between varsity and junior varsity races in 2022 before having what was arguably the best race of his career. He finished his junior year fall campaign as Christian Brothers Academy’s third runner across the line at NXN in 123rd place.
Since then, Clifford has greatly improved upon his fitness this spring, running great times of 9:15 (3200) and 4:13 (1600). Combine that encouraging trend of progression with a clutch gene and NXN experience, and you get a great asset for any team.
There is typically a silver lining when we look at runners who have "off" days. In our eyes, they often have a lot of room for improvement and can make up points with a second try. That's why we're high on Alex Kemp this fall who has the potential to do just that.
Last year, he finished an unfortunate 198th place at NXN. However, with a promising track season where he ran 9:15 over 3200 meters, Kemp has proven that last year's NXN performance was simply just an "off" day. In our eyes, this is someone who can be one of the better middle-lineup scorers in the nation as the 2023 cross country season unfolds.
Another runner who had an unfortunate "off" day at last year's NXN Championships was Jack Falkowski who was consistently Christian Brothers Academy’s third runner during the regular season.
Despite that tough end to his 2022 season, the consistency that Falkowski shoed throughout the regular season cannot be undervalued. He will certainly be appreciated this fall as they look to piece together a cohesive top-five.
Falkowski's 2023 spring track results tell more of the same story. He ran a 3200 meter PR of 9:20 and was a valuable member of his team's relays at the Arcadia Invitational and Penn Relays, all of which indicate that he should be ready to roll for the fall 2023 cross country campaign.
In our eyes, Christian Brothers Academy has no clear favorite for who their fifth scoring runner will be, but we have a solid idea of the remaining three varsity athletes.
The main candidates are junior Alex Mastroly (16:15 PR for 5000 meters), junior Ryan Schmitt (previous varsity experience), freshman Wyatt Falkowski (9:31 PR for 3200 meters) and senior Brady Barber (9:36 PR for 3200 meters).
We may not know what CBA's ceiling is this fall, but this is a great team with excellent depth and a lot of upside throughout their scoring options. They have a lot of potential, great track times and national meet experience, but they'll need to avenge last year's NXN performance and find some more potent firepower in 2023.
10. Carmel Greyhounds (IN)
Carmel's exceptional depth is what allows them to stand out.
In the past year alone, an astounding 12 individuals on their team managed to run under 10 minutes for 3200 meters, and more importantly, nine of them are returning in the fall of 2023!
That depth extends to their performances on the grass from last fall where 12 runners achieved times under 16:15 (5k). And of those dozen athletes, the Greyhounds will welcome back eight of them with an elite top-five average of 15:40 (5k).
Leading this year's team with his outstanding performances is senior Anthony Provenzano, a superb athlete who secured an impressive 10th place finish at the NXR Midwest Championships in 2022. Provenzano's remarkable achievement of running 8:54 over 3200 meters during the outdoor track season almost certainly adds to the confidence of the Greyhounds. as they have a solid chance of having one of the first scoring runners at NXR and perhaps NXN.
Behind Provenzano, Carmel boasts a talented pool of runners vying for the remaining varsity spots. Among them is Jack Capes who demonstrated his potential as a sophomore by running a formidable PR of 15:43 (5k). And now that his underclassmen days are behind him, we like his potential stability and improved consistency that (usually) comes with age.
Completing the top-five returners are the seasoned senior trio of Thomas Bitimlier (91st at NXR), Kyle Grove (15:56 for 5000 meters) and Maxwell Meisner (15:57 for 5000 meters). Their collective experience and consistent performances provide valuable scoring stability to a team which seemingly has a crazy-high floor.
The Greyhounds have wasted zero time this season, racing six different times at this point in the year. However, what is intriguing about this high number of races is that they haven’t raced their full squad at any singular meet.
In fact, this past weekend, they split their squads between two different meets. This makes it very difficult to truly gauge what kind of program we’re dealing with here.
Carmel undeniably possesses all the necessary pieces to achieve greatness, but that all hinges on their ability to synchronize and perform cohesively at their most crucial moments. As they race this season, the Greyhounds will need to capitalize on their depth and unleash their potential when it matters the most.
Just Missed (in no particular order)
McCallie Tornado (TN)
McCallie is a team with tremendous potential, combining the strengths of being a top program from NXR, a southeast powerhouse and a squad with five runners under 16 minutes for 5000 meters.
An interesting aspect of their achievements is the variety of courses represented in their PRs, indicating well-rounded and reliable personnel who make up their top-five. And with their best performances occurring in October and November, we have reason to believe that McCallie is capable of peaking at the right time.
Leading the team is junior Jack Bowen, a talented runner who narrowly missed an individual NXN berth last year. Bowen boasts impressive PRs of 15:18 (5k), 9:10 (3200) and 4:12 (1600). While he hasn't claimed an individual victory in any postseason meets yet, his consistent results place him as a reliable and strong top scorer for this team.
Following Bowen, McCallie has a tight-knit trio of seniors in Evan Simpson (15:42), Harry Carter (15:44) and Garrison Corley (15:49). All of those respective times were run over 5000 meters.
While they may not be individual superstars, their times being within seven seconds of each other add a significant advantage to this team's scoring. During the spring track season, both Simpson and Carter showed their excellence with Simpson running a 4:16 mile PR and Carter demonstrating his foot-speed with a 1:55 (800) time.
However, it's particularly intriguing to see what Corley will bring this fall, having developed rapidly in cross country with a 15:49 (5k) PR and a solid 36th place finish at the NXR Southeast Championships. Although he didn't compete during the outdoor track season, his potential as a valuable fourth runner cannot be underestimated.
McCallie's depth is another trait that sets them apart from their competition. With Henry Edwards, a 15:53 (5k) man, likely stepping up as the team's strong fifth scorer, Grady Outlaw and Taylor Combs also hold promise as the sixth and seventh runners for the Tornado.
Outlaw has demonstrated steady improvement, steadily lowering his 5k PR to 16:01 and occasionally appearing among McCallie's top-seven in previous years. Combs, despite limited cross country experience as a current sophomore, impressed with a 16:18 (5k) PR in his first season. Although Combs focused on varsity soccer during the spring, his potential remains evident for the cross country season.
All signs point to McCallie having a successful 2023 fall campaign. They appear poised to take control of the state of Tennessee from Farragut (9th at NXN last year) and separate themselves comfortably from most squads in the Southeast region. They also possess a top-tier talent in Jack Bowen who is capable of finishing within the top-three of almost any race that he toes the line for.
Additionally, their complete and deep top-seven, a rare find among this year's top-10 teams, can plug any gaps if needed. With Coach Mike Wood leading the team, it seems likely that McCallie's impressive season may culminate in their first appearance at Nike Cross Nationals in 2023.
Canyon Eagles (TX)
Canyon High School, located in the isolated North Texas Panhandle, may not be widely known, but their boys' cross country team has exceptional talent and potential. During the 2022 cross country season, they flew under the radar, primarily competing within the Lone Star state.
The Eagles' standout performance came at the Texas 4A XC State Championships where they dominated the competition, securing victory in the 4A classification with an impressive 67-point margin of victory. Their team's 5k returning average of 15:40 ranks them as the sixth-best in the country, an achievement that cannot be ignored.
The team's top returner is senior Alexander Niemiec who boasts a 15:12 (5k) PR. Niemiec's performances have been nothing short of exceptional, and his breakthrough on the track this season, running 800 meters in 1:51.75 at the RunningLane Track & Field Championships, adds to his intrigue. He holds the potential for an individual national meet qualifier even if the team doesn't secure a spot of their own.
The second and third spots belong to juniors Lathan Lewter and Ryan Fernandez who boast 5k PRs of 15:42 and 15:44, respectively. These two runners gained valuable championship experience at the NXR South Championships, finishing 1-2 in the "Rising Stars" race. Their track seasons were equally commendable, particularly over 3200 meters where Lewter clocked a 9:20 mark while Fernandez posted a respectable 9:30 result.
Senior Anthony Stuart, last year’s fourth runner for Canyon, holds PRs of 15:53 (5k), 9:51 (3200) and 4:37 (1600). While he may have fallen to 135th at the Champs South Regional Championships, his overall performances and championship experience will be valuable for a team that knows that he is better than how he ended last fall.
Junior Aaryan Katwal-Shaver completes Canyon's scoring five. He consistently held the seventh runner position in most races last year. His improvement and improved consistency in the low 16-minute range will be critical to this team's success.
At this point in the season, the Eagles have only competed once (excluding an early-season rust-buster relay). At that meet, the Marcus Coach T. Invitational, they placed a respectable 2nd place to Deer Creek (OK) without last year's fourth runner, Anthony Stuart.
Canyon's biggest challenge this fall lies in their performances in larger meet scenarios. Although they excelled at the Texas XC State Championships last fall, competing as a team in a larger settings is uncharted territory for them. However, this year holds tremendous promise for the boys from a small town outside Amarillo.
Deer Creek (Edmond) Antlers (OK)
Is this the year that we see a school break up the chokehold that Texas teams have at the NXR South Championships? While Bentonville (AR) certainly has a shot, Deer Creek has maybe, just maybe, already cemented themselves into the national qualifying picture this season.
At the Marcus Coach T. invitational earlier this month, the Antlers took down a very underrated Canyon squad to win by a whopping 76 points, sporting a 15:35 (5k) average in the process. They continued this winning hot streak by cruising to a victory in an admittedly-less competitive meet in Oklahoma by putting eight runners in the top-10 -- all while resting a few top athletes!
The fastest of those aforementioned top athletes is senior Graham Mitchell who has already cut-off 35 seconds from his junior year 5k PR which is now a blistering 15:06 mark. And while his track times haven't fully caught up to his cross country prowess, that largely isn't a concern for us as long as he continues to be a star on the grass.
Luckily, he is part of a phenomenal dynamic duo with fellow senior, Brody Woodcock.
Woodcock was the team’s fastest runner up until this season, but has cut down a solid chunk of time on his 5k PR, this season lowering it to a very good mark of 15:15. In addition to his solid 5k PR, Woodcock sports great track times of 4:17 for the mile and 9:17 for 3200 meters.
Deer Creek not only has a strong top duo, but also quite some respectable depth. After all, you don’t get a five-man average of 15:35 (5k) with just two guys! Runners 3-4-5 on the team -- Tyler Schwarz, Daniel Collins and Spencer Carlson -- are all seniors.
On the grass, all three runners hold similar 5k PRs with Schwarz being a tad faster by running 15:42 while Collins and Carlson hold times of 15:54 and 15:59. However, on the track is where the similarities end.
Schwarz is an established stud with middle distance results of 2:00 (800) and 4:23 (1600). Carlson has raced sparingly on the oval, but ran a 4:34 mile PR.
Collins, meanwhile, is the most interesting of the bunch as he only ran 4:42 for 1600 meters and 2:08 for 800 meters, but has cross country fitness which suggests that he's better than that. Needless to say, those early-season 5k performances represent a significant leap in fitness for Collins.
Collins is a great example of what this team seemingly personifies, a collective improvement across all five scoring athletes, all seniors who all have PR'd in their first races of the season and took down a very solid field against another one of our "Just Missed" teams.
Almost every year, the NXR South Championships are dominated by teams from Texas. But it may be possible for this group of seniors from Edmond, Oklahoma to put a stop (or at least a pause) to Texas’s domination of the region.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)
Crater Comets (OR)
Coeur D'Alene Vikings (ID)
Bentonville Tigers (AR)
Plainfield South Cougars (IL)
Mountain Vista Golden Eagles (CO)
Niwot Cougars (CO)
Wichita Trinity Academy Knights (KS)
Trabuco Hills Mustangs (CA)
