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South Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2023Published by
Southlake Carroll Brings Back Nearly Everyone In Quest For 15th NXN Appearance By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR South Preview Even by its own lofty standards, Southlake Carroll's boys cross country team seems especially strong headed into the 2023 high school season. At the school's own invitational last weekend, which included some of the top teams in Texas, the Dragons scored 43 points and put five runners across the line in less that 15 minutes. Even if the supposed 5,000-meter course was flat and fast, or even a tad short, that's still an impressive feat in the August heat. Southlake Carroll has won the last four Texas UIL Class 6A titles and has qualified to compete at Nike Cross Nationals 14 times. Under coach Justin Leonard, this team (as well as the girls) are always in regional contention. The coach's son, sophomore Caden Leonard, is already at the front of the pack. He finished second at last weekend's invitational in 14:32.3 and was followed by teammate Blake Bullard, a junior, in 14:34.5. The next best teams in the region may be two that didn't choose to attend the NXR South regional last year. Jesuit of New Orleans LA and Bentonville AR both return strong groups. Jesuit coach Cullen Doody confirmed that the teams plans to attend NXR this year. Grapevine, which finished one spot ahead of Southlake Carroll at nationals, lost its No. 1 when Adam Burlison, the NXR South individual champion and Texas 5A 1,600 and 3,200 meters champion, transferred to Amarillo. There is a group of Texas teams that could step up and fill the void at second place. Lucas Lovejoy, McKinney Boyd, El Paso Franklin, Austin Vandergrift and Katy Tompkins all have potent lineups back. One usual power that has questions to solve in its top five is The Woodlands, a program that has been to NXN 12 times. Oklahoma's Deer Creek, with most of its team coming back, could get into contention as well. 1. Southlake Carroll TX. The Dragons welcome back not only Leonard and Bullard, but seniors Jude Alvarez, Ryan Van de Berghe, Zach Troutman and Brady Golomb. The depth seems to go on and on will be one of the team's strengths as it starts to be compared with the best teams in the country. Senior Carter Haskell, juniors Alex Severson, Griffin Cords and Hudson Lowry add additional quality to the roster. Not only did Southlake Carroll scored 18 points to win its district meet last year. The JVs scored 15 points and put the first 12 runners across the finish line. This is a premier program and it will be a top-five entry in the first set of national rankings. 2. Jesuit LA. Despite a deep and talented lineup last year, the Bluejays of New Orleans opted to skip the NXR South regional due to the tight schedule after Louisiana's state meet. Jesuit went to the RunningLane Championships instead and finished fourth. Last year's team graduated three of its standouts (Jack DesRoches, Patrick Dowd, Robert Buisson) but returns talented junior Brady Mullen, seniors Michael Vocke and Lucas Sampedro, junior Leland Crawford and sophomore Brady Monahan. This team may not rise quite to the level of the one that won the Nike XC Town Twilight meet in Indiana last year, but it's still formidable. 3. Bentonville AR. Arkansas has not sent a team to Nike Cross Nationals since 2007, but this group may have what it takes to get it done. Seniors James American Horse, Eli Seavey and Payton Brack and juniors Matthew Shelley and Owen Kelly are coming off impressive track seasons and give this group strong building blocks. Juniors Harper Jones and Carter Beasley extend the depth for a team that finished eighth at the RunningLane Championships last year and did not compete at NXR South. The team returns five of its top six from last year's Arkansas state meet, where the Tigers won for the sixth straight year. 4. Lucas Lovejoy TX. Depending on how you count it, Lucas Lovejoy returns its top 18 or 19 distance runners from last year. A big group is growing up together and there is enough talent here to make some noise. Senior Nick Yarad and junior William Carlson were both 9:20 guys in the 3,200 meters in the spring, and junior Caden Gary ran 4:17 in the 1,600 meters. Senior Joe Bluestein and juniors Devin Muaina and Aaron Wimbish are supporting pieces who could help elevate the Leopards to the Texas 5A title at a minimum, and much higher than last year's 10th at NXR South. 5. Deer Creek OK. There are a handful teams that could easily fit into the fourth or fifth spots on the list. Deer Creek of Edmond returns its 10 best milers from the spring and has seniors Graham Mitchell and Brody Woodcock, who finished second and third in the Oklahoma Class 6A 3,200 meters final. Historically, Oklahoma's best haven't always measured up favorably against Texas' best at the regional level, but hope springs eternal. Oklahoma has never sent one of its teams to Nike Cross Nationals. Seniors Tyler Schwartz, Daniel Collins and Spencer Carlson give this team a stout top five and freshman Micah John and junior Ethan Stuart provide support.
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