Brayden Cromar is one of the reasons that Davis is aiming for a return trip to NXN this fall. Colorado Track XC file photo.
In a little over four months, teams from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada will once again converage on Toka Sticks Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona, to determine who qualifies for Nike Cross Nationals.
Between now and then lay some significant summer races, like the Deseret News 10K, a season full of invitationals, and five separate state meets, but it's a fact that NXN-SW is already etched in the minds of several teams as a significant landmark for the season to come.
In this article we will attempt to survey the landscape of the boys teams that figure to be in the mix at NXN-SW. An analysis of the girls teams will follow later this month. We'll do this on a state-by-state basis, starting in New Mexico.
New Mexico
There are two things you can count on from the Land of Enchantment: Albuquerque Academy and Los Alamos. Both of those schools figure to be good again this fall, but there could be a new player on the horizon. That new player would be Cleveland High School.
The Cleveland we speak of has nothing to do with Ohio or Lake Erie. The school is located in the rapidly expanding community of Rio Rancho just north of Albuquerque. Cleveland is a relatively new school, but one that is making rapid strides forward in both track and cross country.
Here is what you need to know about Cleveland: at this spring's 5A state track meet in New Mexico, Cleveland claimed places one, six, and seven in the boys 3200 with two sophomores and a freshman. Luiz Martinez (10) ran 9:39.26 for the win. Matthew Smith (10) ran 10:08.75, and Aaron Flores (9) ran 10:12.79. That is probably worth noting and appears to make Cleveland a team to watch this fall.
If you struggle with the finer points of New Mexico geography, let me help you out. The New Mexico state track meet is held in Albuquerque at 5000 feet elevation. That's just slightly lower than Denver, but higher than Reno, Salt Lake City, or Provo.
And, since you can always count on Albuquerque Academy and Los Alamos, what do they have coming back?
On the surface of things, both teams appear to be hurting a little. Adam Kedge, the coach at AA, confesses, "This will be the first year since 2003 that we don’t have at least one sub 10:00 3200 guy returning." AA graduated eight of their top nine from last fall. But, somehow you know they will find a way. Kedge also reported that he expects "to have a team that dreams of cross country granduer."
If you have trouble figuring out what that means, go back and check out a few results from the last decade. I can promise you that nobody in New Mexico has any trouble decoding that last statement. And they all understand it's done through good, old-fashioned hard work.
Los Alamos, too, was hit heavily by graduation this spring (as were two other New Mexico powers--La Cueva and Hobbs). Los Alamos has been dealt a second blow this summer by the fires surrounding the city. Between evacuations and fouled air, this is not making for a great summer to be training at Los Alamos. Whatever gets accomplished this fall is a testament to solid coaching and willing hearts.
Arizona
Although the state of Arizona hosts NXN-SW, the boys teams from Arizona have not enjoyed much success at the meet.
Maybe this is the year that changes. And the school most likely to be spearheading those changes is a school whose name should strike a chord of recognition among fans of high school track and field--Desert Vista. The Thunder had seven guys under 10:00 for the 3200 this spring. Of those seven, one graduated. If the other six show up for cross country in the fall, this is a very dangerous team. The apparent leaders of the pack will both be juniors this fall--Carter Macey and Ryan Dykstra.
Bernie Montoya of Cibola followed up an outstanding cross country season (one that ended in Portland) last fall with state titles at both 1600 and 3200 meters, but Cibola does not, by outward appearances, figure as a strong team contender this fall.
Brophy Prep more or less graduated the franchise. Ditto for Catalina Foothills. Alhambra once again wrote off the track season. Obviously, cross country is a bigger deal at Alhambra than track, but it's tough to get the same development training on your own that you can get working as a team during track season. And, the truth of the matter is that the Lions were hit hard by graduation as well.
And, what to make of Chinle, the team that won Division 3 cross country last fall with essentially the same team time that Alhambra posted in winning Division 1? Four of the seven state runners are back for Chinle. But, this spring's state track results suggest Chinle didn't enjoy the same kind of track season that they did in cross country. Nevertheless, we'll be keeping an eye on this crew.
Nevada
What Nevada's boys have lacked in terms of a team presence at NXN-SW they have made up for with individuals. First Wade Meddles and then, last year, Nick Hartle. The same Nick Hartle who ran a 1:49.91 800 at the Nevada state track and field championships will be back this fall for his senior season.
Jordan Cardenas, a junior-to-be out of Reno, ran a 9:29.99 3200 at the Nevada state meet, indicating that he, too, might be positioning to challenge for an individual slot should he or is team opt to make the trip to Arizona.
Once again, however, none of the Nevada teams is indicating the depth necessary to make a realistic run at an NXN berth. Surprises happen, however, so we will continue to watch things as they develop.
Utah
In the four-year history of NXN-SW, no state has enjoyed as much success on the boys' side as Utah. Early indications are that not much will be changing this year.
American Fork wasted the regional competition last fall before struggling a little at NXN. The Cavemen took some serious hits to graduation, but this team brings several key pieces back. And the program is deep. Clayton Young and MacKenzie Morrison figure to be leading the pack this fall. We should get some early indications of just how competitive this team will be due to the early start of the Utah season, but don't be expecting any big drop-offs from Timo Mostert's crew.
Davis loses their number one guy from last fall but, like American Fork, Davis is deep. Brad Nye and Brayden Cromar figure to be the big guns this fall on a team that returns three of its top five. Davis also boasts at least six guys who broke 10:00 for the 3200 at altitudes of 4500 feet or higher. Coach Corbin Talley reports matter-of-factly, "Our goals are to win state and make it back to NXN and finish in the top ten." Those goals seem appropriate given the stirring of the horses in the stable.
The important thing for other Utah programs may be to not get disappointed too soon. It can be a little intimidating going up against the likes of American Fork and Davis.
Pine View took some substantial hits to graduation. Mountain View, on the other hand, appears to be bringing back a strong contingent from last year, led by junior-to-be Jaydn Asay. For now, pencil them in as Utah's number three team and wait and see what happens when the racing starts in August.
It would be surprising if another strong team or two doesn't develop in Utah this fall, but it's also difficult to project now who that might be.
Colorado
Fort Collins returns the number four team from last year's NXN meet. And they lost exactly one person from that team to graduation. Tait Rutherford, John Patterson, Griffin Hay, and Jeff Abbey make this a formidable team heading into this fall. The Lambkins will need to fill in some depth at positions five through seven, but they appear to have--at least on paper--the best lead group of any program in the SW region.
Right now, it looks like a big gap between Fort Collins and whomever might be Colorado's next-best team. Candidates for that role include Heritage, Mountain Vista, and Dakota Ridge. Mountain Vista and Dakota Ridge have previous NXN-SW experience, but Heritage does not.
Both Mountain Vista and Dakota Ridge are loaded with the potential of young talent. An old adage, however, states that potential is just talent that hasn't yet done anything yet. Should either of these schools turn the pool of talent into a torrent of results, either one is capable of challenging for an NXN berth.
Slightly longer shots from Colorado include Fairview and Thompson Valley.
Brayden Cromar is one of the reasons that Davis is aiming for a return trip to NXN this fall. Colorado Track XC file photo.