This Weekend in Cross Country - December 3
NXN - December 3
Glendoveer Golf Course - Portland, OR
Here is a preview of the West Coast athletes competing at the weekend's NXN meet.
Washington
No Washington schools qualified for NXN this year, but Washington individuals will represent the Apple State. Zack Munson of Sehome comes into NXN with some individual titles including the Twilight XC Invitational, Nike Hole in the Wall and won the 2A Washington State Meet. Zack also won the 3200 meter state title last spring in track. Anna Callahan of Skyline had an amazing fall season with an opening season victory at the Bellarmine Prep Invite, runner up at Nike Portland XC, individual champion at Nike Hole in the Wall, won the Washington State Meet 4A race and then won NXR in Boise. Logan Hofstee of East Valley (Spokane) won the Highlander Invitational, Battle for the 509 and won the 2A Washington State title.
Oregon
Oregon took all four Northwest automatic bids to NXN. In the girls, Summit returned to NXN by winning NXR. Summit won NXN in 2018 and finished second in 2019. Summit won Nike Portland XC, NXR Boise and the 5A state title which is their 14th consecutive state cross country title. Summit is led by seniors Ella Thorsett and Barrett Justema. Justema ran in the last NXN in 2019. Jesuit girls won the 6A Oregon state title and is led by Maura O'Scannlain and Emma Bennett. Emma's sister Maggie will be racing in her second NXN as Jesuit competed in the 2019 edition.
Crater boys are ranked third in the recent DyeStat rankings and is led by Tyrone Gorze, who won at Woodbridge and the 5A Oregon State Meet, and Josiah Tostenson. Crater finished second in the prestigious Woodbridge Invitational and won the Oregon State 5A championship and won NXR in Boise. Jesuit took second at Boise and received an automatic bid. Jesuit also won the Oregon State 6A championship and are led by Jabob Nenow, who won 6A at the Oregon State Meet, Gus Clevenger and Caden Swanson.
Individually Keira Saavedra of Lincoln won her league championship, finished second at the Northwest Classic and fourth at the 6A Oregon State Meet. Emily Wisniewski of Crescent Valley won the Harrier Classic, Rose City Championship and the 5A Oregon State Meet. Samy Anderson of Lincoln joins her teammate Keira at NXN. Samy won Sunfair, Northwest Classic, runner up at Nike Portland XC and runner up at the 6A Oregon State Meet. Alex Garcia-Silver of Marshfield won the Ash Creek Invitational, Nike Portland XC, Prefontaine Memorial Run and the 5A Oregon State title.
California
Buchanan girl's team started the season with a big win at Woodbridge and then capped off the season with the Division 1 state championship at Fresno. Buchanan is deep and any one of their athletes could lead their team at NXN. At the California State Meet, Grace Hutchinson finished second. Elle Lomeli was the number one runner for Buchanan at Woodbridge and Clovis and Kynzlee Buckley finished first for Buchanan at their CIF qualifier. Sydney Sundgren and Grace Hutchinson ran in the 2019 NXN meet. If all goes well for Buchanan, they could get up on the podium on Saturday. Los Altos received the second automatic bid from Saturday and are led by the sister duo of Lauren and Emily Soobrian. Los Altos established themselves by winning the Clovis Invitational in October. JSerra received an at-large bid by winning the Division 4 race last Saturday and dominated the competitive Orange County Championships. Brynn Garcia and Summer Wilson lead the Lions of JSerra. Campolindo received an at-large NXN bid and won the Division 3 for the seventh time on Saturday. Ellie Buckley and Shea Volkmer lead the Cougars of Campolindo.
Newbury Park won the last NXN in 2019 and had there not been an interruption of the meet, they might be competing for their fourth consecutive title. With the 1-2-3 punch of Lex Young, who won the Division 2 State Meet, Leo Young and Aaron Sahlman, the Panthers will be the favorites on Saturday. Leo Young ran in the 2019 NXN Meet. Great Oak returns to NXN after winning their seventh state title on Saturday in the Division 1 level. Twins Mark and Ramses Cortes lead the Wolfpack of Great Oak. San Clemente's second place finish in the division 1 race at the State Meet help earn their spot as an at-large team. Juan Chantaca of San Clemente finished 10th at State and leads the Tritons of San Clemente. Granada also received an at-large bid after their second place finish in the division 2 race. Roland Ruckmann-Barnes finished 10th on Saturday and leads the Matadors of Granada.
Individually Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery of Santa Rosa leads the California contingent. Thomsen won Nike Portland XC, Clovis and California State Meet D3 races. Thomsen also won the California State Track 3200 meter race in the spring. Tessa Buswell of Poway ran a great race at the California State Meet and won the division 1 race. She finished third at her league meet and second at the San Diego CIF section and kicked it in on Saturday to win the California State Meet. Rylee Blade of Santiago (Corona) won Cool Breeze, the Inland Empire and finished third the division 1 race. Anna Chittenden of Mira Costa finished first Laguna Hills Invitational and second at CIF Finals and second at the California State Meet Division 2. Freshman Jaelyn Williams of Eastlake of San Diego won Vaquero Stampede, Mt. Carmel Invitational and finished fourth at California State Meet Division 1.
Matthew Donis of Highland of Palmdale won Cool Breeze, ran the fastest time at CIF Finals and won the division 1 race at the State Meet. Anthony Fasthorse of Ventura finished fourth at the California State Meet. Fasthorse finished fourth in his league meet so a great finish to the season. Chris Caudillo of Clovis used us finish at Woodward Park to place second and get an invitation to NXN. Caudillo also won the Clovis North Twilight, Roughrider Invitational, CIF Central Section Final and last spring won the 1600 meter race at the California State Meet. Sophomore Evan Noonan of Dana Hills has emerged as future star of the state. Noonan won Mt. SAC, CIF Finals and the State Meet Division 3. Manny Perez-Gomez of Cathedral ran as the second man on his team through most of the season and finished first at CIF Prelims, Finals and the California State Meet D4.
Look for a photo gallery of the boy's and girl's NXN races. We will have two cameras on the course.