NXN - December 9, 2024
Glendoveer Golf Course - Portland, OR
Watch Live HERE (for free!)
The top 22 girls and boys teams (and top 45 girls and boys individuals) meet at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland Saturday morning to determine the 2024 NXN champions. The preview focuses on the west coast athletes and teams racing Saturday at NXN.
Girls Championship Race 10:05
Mountain Vista of Colorado is the top ranked team going into Saturday's girls race. Top three teams make the podium at Glendoveer and Trabuco Hills and Buchanan have a strong chance of getting on the podium.
Jane Hedengren of Timpview of Utah ran a scorching fast time at NXR SW and is considered the favorite for the individual title. Addy Ritzenhein of Niwot won NXN in 2023 and will be there to defend the title. Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura and Rylee Blade of Santiago (Corona) are listed #2 and #3 in the most recent DyeStat rankings and hope to make the podium. Chloe Huyler of Lakeridge and Sophia Rodriguez of Mercer Island are also ranked high in the recent DyeStat rankings and will be factors. Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills and Abby Errington of South Pasadena ran well at the California State Meet last week and Emily Wisniewski of Crescent Valley finished third last year at NXN.
Boys Championship Race 11:35
Herriman of Utah won NXN last year and are favorites to repeat. Based on the recent DyeStat team rankings, none of the West Coast teams are a threat to make the top three podium. It is possible that Jesuit of Oregon and Jesuit of California could crack the top ten. Glendora and Menlo Schools of California were not far from Jesuit in the team merge at the California State Meet.
Tayvon Kitchen of Crater used his NXR NW victory to propel him to #5 on the recent DyeStat national individual rankings. Owen Powell of Mercer Island burnished his national reputation by winning Woodbridge Invitational in September. Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian ran the fastest time at last week's California State Meet and has boosted his national standing. Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz also ran a fast time on the Woodward Park course at the California State Meet and is the top west coast returner after finishing 19th last year at NXN. Landon Pretre of Menlo Schools and JR Lesher of Hueneme also ran fast times last week at Woodward Park. Evan Noonan of Dana Hills won his third California State title last week and ran last year at NXN
Look for photo galleries from NXN after the meet!
Footlocker West - December 7, 2024
Mt. SAC - Walnut, CA
Watch Live HERE
The top ten finishers at Saturday's championship races will qualify for Footlocker held the next week in San Diego.
Girls Championship 10:20
Chiara Dailey of La Jolla won the west regional in 2023 and hopes to make her third Footlocker final in San Diego. Arcadia's Reena Hsieh qualified for San Diego and is also racing on Saturday. Other west coast athletes of note in the girl's championship include Jaelyn Williams of Eastlake, Carol Dye of San Juan Hills, Kinga Czajkowska of Palo Alto, Amelia Sarkisian of Brentwood, Amber Dazey of Tesoro, Katja Dunayevich of Canyon Crest, Cassidy Armstrong of Ballard, Maddy Carney of Caldera and Hannah Huyler of Lakeridge.
Boys Championship 10:50
Trey Caldwell of De La Salle and Kade Brownwell of Mt Spokane are hoping to return to Balboa Park in San Diego for the second straight year. Broen Holman of Sonora ran at the national meet at Footlocker in 2022 and he is scheduled to race on Saturday. Other notable west coast runners include Josiah Tostenson of Crater, Clayton Wilson of Siuslaw, Brennen McEwen of Franklin, Cooper Boyle of Tahoma, Vincent Recupero of Bishop Blanchet, Conor Lott of Clovis North, Liam Miller of South Torrance, Benjamin Bouie of Crystal Springs Uplands, Max Douglass of Corona Del Mar, Aydon Stefanopoulos of Los Gatos, Arrin Sagiraju of Dougherty Valley, Tyler Daillak of Paso Robles, Andrew Quast of West Torrance and Luke Sanders of Buchanan.
Please watch episode 2 West Coast XC YouTube HERE
The episode recaps the California State Meet and previews west coast athletes running NXN and Footlocker West. The episode can also be listened to on Apple Podcast and Spotify