Editor’s note: SteveU’s individual rankings (originally Foot Locker Favorites) began appearing on DyeStat.com eight years ago and are continuing with DyeTrack.com. The rankings have always been based on distance-running accomplishments to date, with an emphasis on XC and 3200/2M track results, rather than a projection of how the Foot Locker Finals or NXN Finals will turn out (predictions run later in the season). As the season progresses, weight is shifted from overall career credentials to most recent accomplishments. With the transition between the closing of DyeStat.com on ESPN to the launch of DyeTrack.com, no preseason top 25 was published. The initial 2012 ranking, however, included unpublished preseason assessments (in parentheses, after each athlete’s name). Also, the first list was 20-deep, but the new list extends to the normal 25.
Now, let’s look at some of the season’s top storylines to date:
Waiting for Edward … and Nick:
It’s hard to discount from the rankings two guys whose resumes are impressive as those belonging to Edward Cheserek and Nick Ryan – despite the fact that neither has raced this fall.
Cheserek is merely the defending Foot Locker national champion, having had a season for the ages in 2011 with seven course records leading up to his victory in San Diego. He followed in the winter with a USR in the 5,000 meters, US#1s for the mile and 2-mile, and came within a few strides of a New Balance Nationals Indoor quadruple (two winning relay anchors, a 2-mile victory and second in the mile). That his outdoor season included a few disappointments (most significantly a 12th in the adidas Dream Mile) was not nearly enough to keep the St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) senior from the preseason US#1 ranking here and in other polls.
But Cheserek and his coach decided the focus early this fall would be on studies, particularly the SATs, and putting himself in a position to get to the NCAA level for next year. “Edward’s grades are good, but until he takes the SATs, we will not know where he stands,” said St. Benedict’s coach Marty Hannon before the season started. “I am a math teacher and I feel that Edward will do pretty well on the math section, but we have some concern about the English piece, with English not being his native language. He speaks and understands verbal English well now, but the vocabulary can be a challenge on the SAT. So, since this is his #1 priority, to get this behind him.”
Cheserek reportedly took his SAT test last weekend and, according to Jim Lambert at NJ.com, is making his debut Saturday it the Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invitational. The prep XC nation can’t wait to see what kind of shape he’ll be in. Can he challenge his 11:55 record from last year?
As for the stunning Dream Mile defeat, Hannon said Ches “was admittedly a bit tired at the end of the (track) season and was anxious to get home to visit with his family. That, plus an awful start at the Dream Mile, did him in … he did manage to get home this summer, and I think that was huge for him – to see his family and have some down time with them.” Ches had continued to train and by all accounts, though it’s been more relaxed than if he was intensely preparing for championships, it’s gone well.
Because the criteria for the rankings still includes credentials coming into the season and not just 2012 races to date, Cheserek still stands as US#1 – for now.
Ryan, the Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.) senior, didn’t get to race that Dream Mile due to New York’s state meet being on the same weekend. But he made sure track followers remembered that not every distance star was at the adidas GP, with his epic 9:03.81/ US#2 4:05.24 for 3,200 and 1,600. As good as Ryan obviously is, that was a bit of a surprise. Similarly, it opened eyes when he charged into the lead last December in Portland and tried to steal the NXN title. He wound up fifth, still the top non-senior.
There’s less mystery surrounding Ryan’s season debut (than for Cheserek). Coach Bill Aris has slated Eastern States as the icebreaker since before the season started, having decided to clear out the first month of the invitational season for training and to allow Ryan and his other boys and girls seniors to take college visits. Aris said that Ryan’s summer training was “outstanding, a solid training base has been achieved following a well-deserved break after the spring track season.” Later, a few weeks ago, he added, “Nick is looking very strong; in fact, I have been holding him back some in this early stage of the season.”
Ryan came into the season as US#4 and still stands #9 – despite no races – with the rankings weighted between career creds and 2012 XC creds. He is also expected to debut this weekend at Easterns and, with Cheserek debuting as well, the drama factor will be ratcheted up several levels for what is already a thrilling affair.
Sorting out the Southerners:
Coming into this fall, it looked clear that about half of the top 10 or 12 boys’ harriers in the country would hail from the southeastern corner of the U.S. That group was centered on the quartet of Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.) senior Josh Brickell, Chantilly (Va.) senior Sean McGorty, Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.) senior Jacob Thomson, and Skyline (Burke, Va.) senior Thomas Madden. Those four finished 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th at Foot Locker South last fall, then 8-10-19-23 at the Finals. Each ran very well in track, with Thomson perhaps edging to the head of the group with two 8:58 victories at 3,200 meters and a runner-up finish in the NBNO 5,000.
Of course, these four were not the only anticipated standouts from the region coming into XC; Cabell Midland (Ona, W.V.) senior Jacob Burcham skipped the XC post-season last fall, but with his 4:02 mile chops and some outstanding invitational performances last fall before he hung it up, he was a preseason top-ten ranked harrier nationally, as well.
The first month of the season has borne out these Southerners’ status. At the Trinity/Valkyrie Invite, Thomson scored an emphatic 5k victory over defending champion Burcham, 14:52.6 to 15:04.4, propelling him to US#2. Burcham would have been top returnee for last weekend’s Great American (2nd to graduated Floridian Daniel Moore), but went to the Maymont meet in Virginia instead (where he won).
But the four Foot Locker South top returnees all converged upon Cary, N.C. for the big Great American race last weekend and the outcome was as thrilling as anyone could have hoped. McGorty outkicked Thomson with an eye-popping course record 14:43.6 and all four broke 15:00: Thomson ran 14:43.9, Brickell 14:57.5 and Madden 14:59.2. So McGorty supplanted Thomson at US#2, Brickell maintained #11 and Madden reentered at #15.
Now what remains to be seen is which national meet each of the key Southerners will shoot for and how those big November and December clashes will unfold.
Next Wave in Washington:
The quality of runners coming out of the Evergreen State seems to keep getting better and better every year. The outstanding prep careers of Anthony Armstrong (3A state, Border Clash and NXN NW champ), Nathan Weitz (third at Foot Locker Finals), and fast-rising Izaic Yorks (fourth NXN finals, 4:04.38 mile) came to an end this past spring, but the talented youngsters behind them could be even better.
We already knew we’d have Mead (Spokane) senior Andrew Gardner back this fall. After attempting to defend his 4A title, he could become the first Foot Locker boy to finish sixth or better in San Diego three times. His season has had a relatively low-key start, but he did prevail impressively at the Mountain West Invite, running 14:25.9 for 3M to beat Montana’s sub-9 3,200 man Zach Perrin and rising star Adam Peterman.
The battle in 3A could be as good as last year’s Armstrong/Weitz sprint finish. Seattle Prep junior Joe Hardy exploded during his soph track season to PRs of 4:09.89 and 8:55.22 (state champ) in the 1,600 and 3,200, while Kai Wilmot became the latest star from powerful North Central with track bests of 8:57.66 for 3,200 and 14:44 for 5,000.
Fans in the Northwest have already enjoyed two clashes between the young stars. Hardy beat Wilmot by three seconds in a fast Bob Firman Invite race in Idaho on Sept. 22, but Wilmot returned the favor last weekend back in Washington at the Richmond Invite.
Apparently, Mead had been entered as well, which would have made the race a super three-way battle between Gardner and the two juniors, but Mead didn’t come and Gardner was later reported to have been on a recruiting visit. In any case, don’t be surprised if by November someone else has risen up to challenge these three, like Yorks did with his emergence last fall.
Swing States: Texas, California:
Consider these names from the past few years: Reed Connor. Elias Gedyon. Craig Lutz. Ammar Moussa. Darren Fahy. More often than not over recent years, you came into a season in the Lone Star and Golden States knowing who were the guys to beat, guys who’d already built up serious creds.
Not so in 2012.
Let’s consider Texas. Hebron (Lewisville) senior Robert Domanic is the only Texan Foot Locker returnee (20th in 2011) and Friendswood senior Ryan Teel is the top NXN returnee from the state (16th). But each were beaten early, with Domanic taking sixth in the Marcus I meet and Teel losing twice. Meanwhile, Southlake Carroll standout Joe Sansone (the second TX returnee from NXN last year in 22nd) got a big victory in the Marcus I race, but that was his only race by the end of September. Still, perhaps this senior – the Texas Relays 3,200 champ last spring and the leader of the US#2 Dragons, would be the man in Texas.
Last weekend, however, things turned upside down again when everyone gathered at The Woodlands for the Nike South Invite. Sansone would finish just ninth, trailing two of his own teammates in addition to others, while Domanic and Teel would look very solid in taking second and third, respectively. The winner? The Woodlands senior Brigham Hedges, who has shown flashes of brilliance the past few years but may be ready to deliver the consistency that will make him a national class player. Hedges did have an August loss at home, but since has been unbeaten and now rises to the top of the Lone Star heap.
The boys individual scene is even more wide open in California. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) senior Myles Smith is the only returnee from 2011 Foot Locker (38th) and Arcadia senior Estevan De La Rosa is the top Golden Stater coming back from 2011 NXN (35th). But the biggest winner to date has been Bryan Fernandez, the Dos Pueblos senior who took Woodbridge in 14:19 for 3M on Sept. 15, then last weekend claimed the Clovis title in 15:09. Fernandez didn’t even make state last year in cross country or track.
De La Rosa wasn’t even Arcadia’s top runner in a few early meets (5th at Woodbridge, 7th at Firman), let alone a race winner. But at Stanford in late September, he rose up to claim the seeded race in 15:06 and now has to be taken seriously as a D1 contender and someone who can run with the country’s top dogs.
The top returnees from last year’s state meet? Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo) D4 champ John Lawson (fastest non-senior overall last year) was fourth at Stanford; the aforementioned Smith (top D3 returnee) ran neither Stanford or Woodbridge, but won the Rosemead Invite and then the D2 race at Clovis (2nd best overall); and top D2 returnee Leland (San Jose) senior Richard Ho was 12th at Stanford.
The top D1 returnee – that’s another story. Buchanan (Clovis) senior Cody Brazeal was 10th at D1 state last fall, then a just-miss 12th at Foot Locker West. Then a mostly outstanding track season included a US#9 4:07.72 1,600 in his Central Section Masters meet. But unfortunately, according to Rich Gonzalez at prepcaltrack.com, Brazeal has been hampered at times by a heel bruise and did not race in September. He finally debuted at Clovis and was 44th. Similarly, Gonzalez reports that last spring’s super soph on the track from Stockdale, Blake Haney, has been sidelined by IT band issues. Haney ran 8:54.65 for 3,200 at Arcadia in April.
It all adds up to mystery and fascination in California. When the smoke clears at Mt. SAC later in the month, maybe a clearer favorite for national success will emerge.
The Rankings (previous ranking in parentheses)
1. Ed Cheserek (1)
St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Unbeaten, 1st FL NE, 1st FL Finals
Analysis: Cheserek will finally debut, reportedly, at Manhattan this Saturday (see above story).
2012 races to date: None
2. Sean McGorty (9)
Chantilly (Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 6th FO South, 10th FL Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: McGorty established himself as the man to beat in the ultra competitive South (or Southeast if you have an NXN mindset) with his Great American triumph over Thomson (see above story). He put it on the line again last weekend and destroyed a good Virginia field at the Octoberfest.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Octoberfest Invite 15:10 5k
9/29-1st Great American ROC 14:43.6 5k
9/22-1st Oatlands Invite 15:26 5k
9/8-1st Monroe Parker Inv 14:50 3M
3. Jacob Thomson (2)
Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th FL South, 19th FL Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: Thomson may have been beaten by McGorty at Great American (see above story), but it hardly tarnished a fantastic season thus far. He did not race last weekend.
2012 races to date:
9/29-2nd Great American ROC 14:43.9
9/22-1st MW Cath. XC Champs 15:37 5k
9/15-1st Trinity/Valkyrie 14:52 5k
9/1-1st Terre Haute Prev 15:39 5k
8/25-1st Tiger Run 15:27.61 5k
4. Bernie Montoya (4)
Cibola (Yuma, Ariz.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 10th NXN SW, 12th NXN Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: Montoya racked up another major home state win Sept. 28, prevailing by 12 seconds at the Desert Twilight. His time was about 10 ticks slower than in 2011. Then last weekend, he dominated the Central Park CA Invite with a fast 3M time. Mt. SAC, later this month, should be the first true measuring stick for his season.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Central Park Invite 14:39.7 3M
9/28-1st Desert Twilight 15:12.88 5k
9/15-1st Cibola Inv 15:32 5k
9/1-1st Sole Sports Fest 14:53.1 3M
5. Jake Leingang (3)
Bismarck (N.D.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL Finals, 8th NXN Finals (#2 returnee in each)
Analysis: Leingang stayed unbeaten by repeating at Roy Griak and needed to outkick a 4:08 1,600-runner to do so in his first major test. Bismarck coach Dave Zittleman cautioned against reading too much into results of the Griak – a deceptively tough course on an 80-degree afternoon – one way or another. “This is the toughest course we race and it was a war out there,” he said. “You have to be lucky to win at the Griak. Last year, we won here but we were third at the Heartland Regional … (this year) we are going to be ready at the Heartland Regional.” He didn’t race last weekend.
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st Roy Griak Gold 15:42.37 5k
9/22-1st Anderson/Stravn 15:20.41 5k
9/15-1st Mandan Kiwanis 15:35 5k
8/30-1st Rusty Bucket 15:59 5k
6. Andrew Gardner (7)
Mead (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL West, 6th FL Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: It remains to be seen if and when Gardner will meet Hardy and Wilmot, but his Mountain West triumph (see above story) indicates he’s in outstanding fitness and again a national title contender.
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st Mountain West 14:25.9 3M
9/26-1st dual 15:24.63 5k
9/19-1st GSL vs. Ferris 15:49 5k
9/15-1st Mead Invite 16:31 5k
9/12-1st GSL vs. LC, NC 15:34 5k
9/8-1st Highlander Invite 12:16.36 2.5M
7. Kai Wilmot (10)
North Central (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 8th NXN NW, 49th NXN Finals (#17 returnee)
Analysis: Just when it looked like Hardy might be the man in Washington 3A this year (see above story), Wilmot avenged the Firman defeat with the big Richland win. These guys will push each other to national greatness as Weitz, Armstrong, and Yorks did last fall.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Richland Invite 14:44.73 3M
9/26-3rd GSL #3 (3-way) 15:21.64 3M
9/22-2nd Bob Firman Invite 15:06.35 5k
9/19-1st GSL #2 (3-way) 16:09.10 5k
9/12-12th GSL #1 (3-way) 17:27 5k
9/8-1st Tracy Walters Invite 14:44 3M
8. Joe Hardy (5)
Seattle Prep (Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th NXN NW, 43rd NXN Finals (#13 returnee)
Analysis: It will be interesting to see how many times Hardy and Wilmot go back and forth this fall, or if someone takes control of the rivalry (see above story).
2012 races to date:
10/6-2nd Richland Invite 14:47.61 3M
9/26-1st 5-way meet 16:23.45 5k
9/22-1st Bob Firman Inv 15:03.01 5k
9/15-1st Sundodger Inv 14:57.10 3M
9/12-1st Six-way meet 15:52.53 5k
9. Nick Ryan (6)
Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NY, 5th NXN Finals (#1 returnee)
Analysis: Expected to debut Saturday in the Eastern States race at Manhattan (see above).
2012 races to date: None
10. Jacob Burcham (8)
Cabell Midland (Ona, W.V.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Skipped post-season; 1st Trinity Valkyrie, 2nd Great American
Analysis: Many fans would have loved to see Burcham return to Great American to race the other top regional and national foes there, but he and his school took on the field at the Maymont XC Festival in Virginia and came away with a 10-second victory over Lake Braddock VA sr Nick Tuck (see above story).
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st Maymont Festival 15:28.46 5k
9/15-2nd Trinity/Valkyrie Inv 15:04.42 5k
9/1-1st GEICO Classic 16:11.18 5k
11. Josh Brickell (11)
Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL South, 8th FL Finals (#4 returnee)
Analysis: Couldn’t quite run with the leaders, but still had a very good race at Great American (see above story).
2012 races to date:
9/29-3rd Great American ROC 14:57.5 5k
9/22-1st Gwinnett Co. Champs 15:43.5 5k
9/8-1st Covered Bridge Inv 15:48.14 5k
9/1-1st UGA Bulldog Inv 14:53.77 3M
12. Sam Wharton (12)
Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN MW, 21st NXN Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: Wharton followed his big Culver Invite win with an easy win in his county meet, then a victory in a local invite over two miles
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Tippecanoe Inv 9:37 3M
9/29-1st Miami Co. Champ. 16:14 5k
9/22-1st Culver Acad. Invite 15:14.40 5k
9/15-1st Alliance Invite 15:15 5k
13. Ben Saarel (13)
Park City (Utah), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st 3A State, 11th FL West
Analysis: Saarel had the past two weekends free from competition after his strong third at Firman, then dominated his Region 10 race Tuesday (Oct. 9).
2012 races to date:
10/9-1st Region 10 Champs 15:02 3M
9/22-3rd Bob Firman Invite 15:08.26 5k
9/7-1st Murray Invite 15:28.40 5k
9/1-1st Utah County Inv 14:58.91 3M
14. Grant Nykaza (15)
Beecher (Ill.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 9th NXN MW, 7th FL MW, 33rd FL Finals (#11 returnee)
Analysis: Nykaza stayed unbeaten with a 23-second win over Glenbard West’s Joe Singleton, then a course record victory in the Amboy Invite Monday (Oct. 8).
2012 races to date:
10/8-1st Amboy Invite 14:10 2.9M
9/29-1st Loyola Lakefront 15:23 5k
9/22-1st Palatine Inv 14:36.4 3M
9/15-1st New Prairie Inv (1A) 15:31.4 5k
9/8-1st First to the Finish Inv (1A) 14:41 3M
15. Thomas Madden (HM)
Skyline (Front Royal, Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th FL South, 23rd FL Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: After a disappointing 3rd at the Oatlands meet behind McGorty and Edison VA jr Louis Colson, Madden showed strong form with his Great Am 4th – a race that backed up the creds he brought into the fall. Long-touted as a rising star in Virginia, he won state AA last fall, followed by 8th at Foot Locker South and 23rd at FL Finals. His spring was even better as he took the Penn Relays 3k, notched a PR 8:59.62 2M in the Virginia Challenge, then took 11th in the NBNO deuce.
2012 races to date:
9/29-4th Great American ROC 14:59.2 5k
9/22-3rd Oatlands Invite 16:04 5k
9/8-1st Judges Classic 15:55 5k
16. Luis Martinez (17)
Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN SW, 30th NXN Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Martinez made it four for four with a 10-second win in the ABQ.
2012 races to date:
9/28-1st Albuquerque Acad. Inv. 15:40.18 5k
9/21-1st Socorro Stampede 15:45.11 5k
9/8-1st Cleveland Invite 15:23.85 3M
8/31-1st Lobo Invite 16:01.7 5k
17. Bakri Abushouk (NR)
Cary (N.C.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th 4A State, 20th NXN SE
Analysis: After a solid junior year, Abushouck has been moving up the ranks since a pair of sharp debuts in August. He had a narrow loss in the adidas race and ran very solid against the big boys at Great American. Then he followed that up with a big, fast win in the Wendy’s meet at McAlpine. A very good chance to make a national meet this fall. Older brother Mohamed had a fine prep career, finishing with second in NBON 5,000 in 2010 at 14:41.47.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Wendy’s Invite 15:05 5k
9/29-5th Great American ROC 15:03.3 5k
9/15-2nd adidas Challenge 15:13.4 5k
9/8-1st Seahawk Invite 15:27 5k
8/25-1st Providence Inv 15:20 5k
8/18-1st Bay Six Kickoff 9:01.3 3k
18. Bryan Fernandez (NR)
Don Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th Woodbridge, 39th Southern Sect. Finals
Analysis: Fernandez didn’t have a lot of cred coming into the fall, even in a muddled California boys individual championship picture. But he’s made one of the stronger statements during the first several weeks of Golden State action, taking the big Woodbridge and Clovis races. He was a 4:18.70/9:14.55 performer in track for 1,600 and 3,200. With his school a rising D2 XC power, he’ll run a lot of big races in the next several weeks.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Clovis Invite 15:09 5k
9/19-1st Channel League 14:21 3M
9/15-1st Woodbridge Inv. 14:19 3M
9/7-1st Seaside Invite 14:05.77 3M
19. Jack Keelan (18)
St. Ignatius (Chicago), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Did not qualify for state; 15th NXN MW
Analysis: Keelan rolled to an easy win for his fourth triumph in five September invites, then did not race last weekend.
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st Pat Savage Inv. 14:59.21 3M
9/22-2nd Palatine Invite 14:37.0 3M
9/15-1st Connelly Polka Inv 15:11.23 3M
9/8-1st First to the Finish Inv (3A) 14:35.0 3M
9/1-1st ICOPS Invite 15:31.7 3M
20. Adam Peterman (NR)
Hellgate (Missoula, Mont.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 3rd AA State, 33rd NXN NW
Analysis: Peterman was not really expected to be the man to beat and with the best chance for national prominence from Montana this fall; that designation belonged to defending state champ Zach Perrin, who ran sub-9:00 for 3,200 at Arcadia. But after losing twice to Perrin early, Peterman beat him and was a very solid second to 2-time FL Finals top-10 finisher Andrew Gardner at Mountain West Sept. 29. Then he beat Perrin again at the 7-of-7 meet last weekend. He was a 4:26.28 1,600 and 9:26.75 3,200 performer in track last spring.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Capital 7-of-7 Invite 14:26.5 3M
9/29-2nd Mountain West Classic 14:33.0 3M
9/22-2nd Butte Invite 14:59.57 3M
9/15-2nd Ronan Invite 15:15 3M
21. Eric Holt (HM)
Carmel (N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 24th Class A State, 28th NY Fed, 47th NXN NY
Analysis: After winning his section, Holt had a rough finish to XC last fall, placing outside the top 20 in his last three races. But once racing turned to the oval, he rose to state and national class. Indoors, he made it to the Millrose Mile (3rd) and was 6th in the NBNI deuce (9:07.08). Outdoors, he was 6th in the NBNO mile at 4:11.90 and ran 9:08.71 for 3,200. With two strong late September victories to kickstart his season, 2012 should be much better.
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st 6 Flags Wild Safari 14:51.32 5k
9/22-1st Warwick Wave 15:26.6 3M
9/10-1st Section 1 Mega Dual 17:49.61 5k
22. Jonathan Green (HM)
St. John’s (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th FL NE, 22nd FL Finals
Analysis: Making San Diego at all was a bit of a surprise to pundits, but Green really impressed by nearly finishing in the first half of the Finals field despite little big meet experience. He then won the state indoor 2M and took 24th in the NBNO 5,000. Outdoors was less impressive, but his first race this fall was a sharp and decisive win in Rhode Island that suggests he’ll be a threat to qualify from the region again.
2012 races to date:
9/29-1st Ocean State Invite 15:29 5k
23. Brigham Hedges (HM)
The Woodlands (Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 16th NXN South, 81st NXN Finals
Analysis: Hedges had shown talent earlier in his prep career, but seems to be getting the consistency to go with it this fall. After an August loss, he rolled through September with a few very strong wins, leading up to the Nike South showdown with all the Texas stars there. There, last weekend, he defeated Teel, Dohner, Robert Domanic, the Southlake Carroll guys and everyone else. He’s the man in the Lone Star State for now.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Nike South Invite 15:18.2 5k
9/29-1st Cypress Woods Inv 16:01.88 5k
9/22-1st Kingwood/Andy Wells Inv 14:28.45 3M
9/15-1st Humble Reg. III Prev. 15:10.36 5k
8/31-3rd Friday Night Lights 12:38.08 4k
24. Carl Hirsch (HM)
Central (Brookfield, Wis.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th D1 State, 30th FL MW
Analysis: Hirsch was not really known outside of Wisconsin during a pretty solid junior year … that is, until he ripped an eye-popping 4:08.21 1,600 / 9:12.76 3,200 double to sweep D1 state in June. That definitely made him one to watch this fall, though several others in the Badger State are seen as contenders and Hirsch is best known at this point as a miler. He won four early races to start the fall, was third in another, but then hit the national radar again with his narrow loss to then-US#3 Jake Leingang at Griak.
2012 races to date:
9/29-2nd Roy Griak Inv. 15:43.32 5k
9/21-1st Mustang Inv. 15:42.28 5k
9/15-1st Angel Invite 15:22.10 5k
9/8-3rd Rocket Invite 15:56.80 5k
8/31-1st Highlander Inv 15:45.29 5k
8/23-1st Menomonee Inv 15:22.84 5k
25. Sumner Goodwin (NR)
Lewis and Clark (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th 4A state, 18th NXN NW, 33rd FL West
Analysis: Goodwin has not made his mark this fall with major wins, but strong finishes in big races won by other ranked runners. In his first GSL meet, he was a solid second to Gardner, then at the Richland meet, he was beaten only by Wilmot and Hardy. The Stanford race was a good battle with him and rising Arcadia runner Estevan De La Rosa. Goodwin ran 4:18.36 for 1,600 and 9:18.86 for 3,200 last spring. Amazingly, the 4:18 was just 7th in his crazy-tough region.
2012 races to date:
10/6-3rd Richland Invite 15:11.81 5k
9/29-2nd Stanford Invite 15:09 5k
9/26-1st GSL #3 17:11 5k
9/19-1st GSL #2 15:59 5k
9/12-2nd GSL #1 15:43 5k
9/8-1st Toaster Splash 12:52 4k
