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Midwest Region Boys Preseason XC Rankings 2018Published by
Wheaton Warrenville South Boys In Pole Position By Paul Schmitz of DyeStat Boys NXR Midwest Preview The Midwest has been dominated by the state of Illinois since its inception and a team from Illinois is once again the pick to take home the NXR title in 2018. Wheaton Warrenville South is coming off of a third-place finish in the Illinois Class 3A state meet and a fifth-place finish at NXR Midwest. The Tigers return their top four runners and six of the top seven from that team and project to score a decisive victory in the region. There is a scrum of six teams behind Wheaton Warrenville South that all could state a case for the No. 2 auto qualifier in the region. Ann Arbor Pioneer MI projects on paper to lead the pack behind low stick Nick Foster and solid second John Florence. The lack of depth of that team could open the door for either of the top teams from Ohio and Indiana, Hudson and Carmel. 1. Wheaton Warrenville South IL. The team is led by a formidable top four of Sean and Scott Maison, William Hauenstein and Jacob Kluck. If these four stay healthy and find a teammate to run within 20 or 30 seconds of them, this team could dominate the region and contend for a single-digit finish in Portland. 2. Ann Arbor Pioneer MI. This is a mystery team at the regional XC level. Ann Arbor Pioneer did not travel to the NXR Midwest meet in 2017. The MHSAA discourages its teams from going. After a stellar year on the track, the defending state large class Michigan champions could compete with the best from the region if they make the trip. Nick Foster is the 3,200-meter state champion at 9:07 and 2017 Michigan LP Division 1 cross country champion at 15:16. Right on Ann Arbor’s heals is Michigan runner-up from 2017, Plymouth, which returns four of its top five. 3. Hudson OH. The Explorers are the defending Ohio Division 1 state champion and return five of their top seven runners from last year. Their returners include their top two, Adam Beucler (9:08 for 3,200) and Evan Manley. 4. Carmel IN. Carmel dominated the Indiana state cross country meet in 2017 and placed second at NXR Midwest to earn its fourth trip to NXN in six years. A fifth trip will be difficult in 2018 after losing its top three runners and four of seven. Carmel can never be counted because of its deep squad and strong running culture, but it appears to be a rebuilding year. 5. Indianapolis Cathedral IN. Cathedral finished a distant fifth behind Carmel at the Indiana state meet in 2017 and was 20th at NXR Midwest. There is reason for optimism for this team, however, as it returns six of the top seven and all of the top four. Cole Hocker is a potential low stick for Cathedral with a 9:06 3,200 meters this spring on the track. Watchlist |
