Historic NXN Win Cements Nico Young At No. 1

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Nico Young of Newbury Park saw it all go his way on Dec. 7 at Nike Cross Nationals. He led his team to its first national championship and he ran to a dominating win over a star-studded field in challenging conditions at Glendoveer Golf Course. His time of 14:52.3 smashed the the championship course record that has been in use since 2014. Young ascended to No. 1 early in the season after his 13:39 3-mile run at Woodbridge and nothing that happened after that put him in jeopardy of losing the top spot. He finishes the season as the only undefeated elite boys runner in the country and he may yet prove to be one of the greatest prep distance runners of all-time. 

Note: The final rankings are heavily weighted on the outcomes of the two national championship meets, Foot Locker and NXN. Consideration was also given to state and regional performances and major invitationals.

1. Nico Young, senior, Newbury Park CA: NXN Champion; CIF Division 2 champion

2. Josh Methner, senior, Hersey IL: Foot Locker Champion; NXN second place; Foot Locker Midwest champion; NXR Midwest champion; Illinois Class 3A champion and Detweiller Park course record-breaker

3. Caleb Brown, senior, Shelby Senior OH: NXN third place; NXR Midwest second place; Ohio Division 2 champion

4. Matt Strangio, senior, Jesuit CA: NXN fourth place; CIF Division 1 champion

5. Connor Ohlson, senior, Dakota Ridge CO: NXN fifth place; NXR Southwest fourth place; Colorado Class 5A second place

6. Evan Holland, senior, Ashland OR: NXN sixth place; NXR Northwest champion; Oregon Class 5A champion and meet record-breaker

7. Cole Sprout, senior, Valor Christian CO: NXN seventh place; NXR Southwest first place; Colorado Class 5A champion and course record-breaker

8. Carter Solomon, senior, Plymouth MI: Foot Locker second place; Foot Locker Midwest ninth place; Michigan Division 1 champion

9. Patrick Anderson, senior, Mt Lebanon PA: Foot Locker third place; Foot Locker Northeast champion; Pennsylvania Class 3A champion and course record-breaker

10. Graydon Morris, senior, Aledo TX: Foot Locker fourth place; Foot Locker South third place; Texas UIL Class 5A champion

11. Liam Murphy, senior, Allentown NJ: Foot Locker 25th place; NXN eighth place; Foot Locker Northeast third place; New Jersey MOC champion

12. Judson Greer, junior, Melissa TX: Foot Locker fifth place; NXN 26th place; Foot Locker South champion; NXR South second place

13. Leo Daschbach, senior, Highland AZ: Injury prevented the Arizona Division 1 champion from competing in the postseason, but he won the Nike Desert Twilight Festival and was second to Young by two seconds at the Clovis Invitational. 

14. Carson Belnap, senior, Stansbury UT: NXN ninth place; NXR Southwest second place; Utah Class 4A champion

15. Evan Bishop, senior, East Grand Rapids MI: Foot Locker sixth place; NXN 33rd place; Foot Locker Midwest sixth place; NXR Midwest fourth place; Michigan Division 2 champion 

16. Daniel O'Brien, senior, Virginia Episcopal VA: Foot Locker seventh place; Foot Locker South fifth place

17. Wil Smith, senior, Lewis and Clark WA: NXN 10th place; NXR Northwest fourth place; Washington Class 4A champion

18. Ryan Schoppe, senior, La Porte TX: NXN 15th place; NXR South champion, Texas 6A champion and course record-breaker

19. Nathan Green, junior, Borah ID: NXN 11th place; NXR Northwest second place; Idaho Class 5A champion

20. Anthony Monte, senior, Austin Vandegrift TX: NXN 12th place; NXR South third place; Texas 6A second place

21. Kevin Antczak, senior, Mainlaind Regional NJ: Foot Locker eighth place; NXN 24th place; Foot Locker Northeast fourth place; New Jersey MOC second place

22. Tristian Merchant, junior, Anchorage Christian AK: NXN 13th place; NXR Northwest sixth place; Alaska Division 2 champion

23. Dylan Schubert, senior, Thompson Valley CO: NXN 14th place; NXR Southwest fifth place; Colorado Class 4A second place

24. Sam Lawler, senior, Pittsford Mendon NY: NXN 16th place; NXR New York second place; New York Federation champion

25. Jack Jennings, senior, West Morris Mendham NJ: Foot Locker ninth place; NXN 44th place; Foot Locker Northeast fifth place

26. Colton Sands, junior, Penns Valley PA: Foot Locker 10th place; Foot Locker Northeast ninth place; Pennsylvania AA champion

27. Ahmed Ibrahim, senior, Parkrose OR: Foot Locker 11th place; Foot Locker West eighth place; NXR Northwest seventh place; Oregon 5A second place

28. Jack Spamer, senior, Brighton MI: Foot Locker 19th place; NXN 17th place; Foot Locker Midwest eighth place; NXR Midwest fifth place; Michigan Division 1 third place

29. Jace Aschenbrenner, senior, Newbury Park CA: NXN 18th place; California Division 2 second place

30. Thomas Boyden, senior, Skyline UT: Foot Locker 12th place; Foot Locker West third place; Bob Firman champion

31. Cruz Culpepper, senior, Niwot CO: NXN 20th place; NXR Southwest third place; Colorado 4A champion

32. Matthew Farrell, senior, The Loomis Chaffee School CT:  Foot Locker 13th place; Foot Locker Northeast sixth place

33. Gavin Sherry, sophomore, Conard CT: Foot Locker 14th place; Foot Locker Northeast second place; New England champion, Connecticut Open champion

34. Bob Liking, senior, St. Charles (East) IL: Foot Locker 24th place; NXN 19th place; Foot Locker Midwest fourth place; NXR Midwest 42nd place; Illinois 3A sixth place

35. Parker Wolfe, senior, Cherry Creek CO: Foot Locker 15th place; Foot Locker Midwest 10th place; NXR Southwest seventh place; Colorado 5A third place

36. Anthony Grover, senior, J Serra Catholic CA: NXN 21st place; California Division 4 champion

37. Carlos Shultz, senior, Loudoun Valley VA: NXN 22nd place; NXR Southeast fifth place; Virginia 4A champion

38. Isaiah Galindo, senior, Clovis North CA: NXN 23rd place; California Division 1 second place; Nike Portland XC champion

39. Dalton Mortensen, junior, Bountiful UT: Foot Locker 16th place; Foot Locker West fifth place; NXR Southwest ninth place; Utah 5A champion

40. Michael Mireles, senior, Thousand Oaks CA: NXN 25th place; California Division 2 fourth place

41. John Higinbotham, senior, Home Schooled GA: Foot Locker 17th place; Foot Locker South eighth place

42. Creed Thompson, junior, Skyridge UT: Foot Locker 18th place; Foot Locker West ninth place; NXR Southwest eighth place; Utah 6A champion

43. William Hauenstein, senior, Wheaton Warrenville South IL: NXN 27th place; NXR Midwest 11th place; Illinois 3A eighth place

44. Graham Blanks, senior, Athens Academy GA: NXN 28th place; NXR Southeast champion; Georgia 1A Private champion; Great American Race of Champions champion 

45. Jackson Braddock, junior, Southern Regional NJ: NXN 29th place; NXR Northeast fifth place; New Jersey MOC sixth place

46. Brendan Favazza, senior, Clarkston MI: Foot Locker 20th place; NXN 39th place; Foot Locker Midwest seventh place; NXR Midwest sixth place; Michigan Division 1 second place

47. Aidan Puffer, sophomore, Manchester CT: Foot Locker 21st place; Foot Locker Northeast seventh place

48. Sam Otis, senior, Fayetteville-Manlius NY: NXN 30th place; NXR New York third place; New York Class A third place

49. Nicholas Scheller, senior, Chanhassen MN: NXN 31st place; NXR Heartland champion; Minnesota Class AA second place 

50. Spencer Cardinal, senior, The Woodlands TX: NXN 32nd place; NXR South 13th place; Texas Class 6A third place

51. Lisandro Berry-Gaviria, senior, Mt. Ararat ME: NXN 34th place; NXR Northeast third place; Maine Class A champion

52. Colin Peattie, junior, Bellarmine College Prep CA: Foot Locker 22nd place; Foot Locker West fourth place; California Division Division 1 fourth place

53. Jack McLoughlin, junior, LaSalle Academy RI: NXN 35th place; NXR Northeast second place; New England Championships third place; Rhode Island second place

54. Robbie Cozean, senior, Xavier CT: New England Championships second place; Connnecticut Open second place

55. Abraham Avila-Martinez, senior, San Juan Diego Catholic TX: NXN 36th place; NXR South fourth place; Texas TAPPS 2A champion

56. Colton Kempney, sophomore, Beaver River Central NY: NXN 37th place; NXR New York fourth place; New York Class D second place

57. Easton Allred, senior, Corner Canyon UT: NXN 38th place; NXR Southwest 12th place; Utah Class 6A fifth place

58. Isaac Teeples, sophomore, Kamiakin WA: NXN 40th place; NXR Northwest fifth place; Washington Class 3A champion

59. Davin Thompson, junior, Skyridge UT: Foot Locker 23rd place; Foot Locker West 10th place; Utah Class 6A sixth place

60. Joe Hawkes, senior, Western Albemarle VA: NXN 41st place; NXR Southeast 17th place; Virginia 3A second place

61. Peyton Geehrer, junior, Fayetteville-Manlius NY: NXN 42nd place; NXR New York champion; New York Class A second place

62. Carrick Denker, senior, Dana Hills CA: NXN 43rd place; California Division 1 third place

63. Zachary Stewart, senior, Brighton MI: Foot Locker 26th place; Foot Locker Midwest fifth place; NXR Midwest 16th place; Michigan Division 1 fourth place

64. Mateo Althouse, junior, Lincoln OR: Foot Locker 27th place; Foot Locker West champion; NXR Northwest 15th place; Oregon Class 6A seventh place

65. Jonas Price, senior, Eisenhower WA: NXR Northwest 10th place; Washington Class 4A eighth place; Nike Hole In The Wall champion; Ash Creek XC Festival champion

66. Mark Boyle, senior, Corner Canyon UT: NXN 45th place; NXR Southwest 10th place; Utah Class 6A third place

67. Yasin Sado, senior, Gateway CO: NXN 46th place; NXR Southwest sixth place; Colorado Class 5A 13th place

68. Sully Shelton, junior, Harrison GA: NXN 47th place; NXR Southeast third place; Georgia Class 6A champion

69. Nathan Walker, junior, Fremont MI: Foot Locker 28th place; Foot Locker Midwest third place; Michigan Division 2 fourth place

70. Michael Abeyta, senior, El Paso Hanks TX: Foot Locker South 11th place; Texas Class 5A second place

71. Michael Hancock, senior, Dearborn Divine Child MI: Foot Locker 32nd place; NXN 48th place; Foot Locker Midwest second place; Michigan Divison 2 third place

72. Anthony Hancock, senior, Dearborn Divine Child MI: Foot Locker Midwest 28th place; Michigan Division 2 second place

73. Colin Hill, junior, York IL: NXN 49th place; NXR Midwest 51st place; Illinois Class 3A 51st place

74. Ethan Strand, senior, Vestavia Hills AL: Foot Locker 29th place; Foot Locker South sixth place; Alabama Class 7A champion

75. Evan Reynolds, junior, Bishop Hendricken RI: NXN 50th place; NXR Northeast sixth place; New England Championships fifth place; Rhode Island third place

76. Jack Eliason, senior, Western Albemarle VA: NXN 51st place; NXR Southeast seventh place; Virginia Class 3A champion

77. Aidan Palmer, senior, Franklin OR: NXN 52nd place; NXR Northwest third place; Oregon Class 6A champion

78. Colin Sahlman, sophomore, Newbury Park CA: NXN 53rd place; California Division 1 fifth place

79. Mhalicki Bronson, senior, Defiance OH: NXN 66th place; NXR Midwest third place; Ohio Division 2 second place

80. Gabe Abbes, senior, Great Oak CA: NXN 54th place; California Division 1 eighth place

81. Charlie  Robertson, junior, Franklin OR: Foot Locker 35th place; Foot Locker West second place; NXR Northwest ninth place; Oregon Class 6A second place

82. Jacob White, junior, Dakota Ridge CO: NXN 55th place; NXR Southwest 19th place; Colorado Class 5A sixth place

83. Ryan Allison, sophomore, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake NY: NXN 56th place; NXR New York sixth place; New York Class B third place

84. Peter Visser,  junior, Star Valley WY: Foot Locker West 21st place; NXR Northwest eighth place; Wyoming Class 3A champion; Bob Firman Invitational second place

85. Mike Griffin, senior, King Phillip MA: Foot Locker 36th place; Foot Locker Northeast eighth place; Massachusetts Division 1 champion

86. Coen Roberts, senior, Greer SC: Foot Locker 40th place; Foot Locker South second place; South Carolina Class 4A champion

87. William Chaffin, senior, Concord-Carlisle MA: NXN 65th place; NXR Northeast champion; Massachusetts Division 1 second place

88. Christopher Middleton-Pearson, senior, Dublin CA: NXN 117th place; California Division 1 thid place

89. Nolan Topper, junior, Bellarmine College Prep CA: Foot Locker 30th place; Foot Locker West seventh place; California Division 1 sixth place

90. Erik Le Roux, sophomore, Cheyenne Mountain CO: USATF Junior Olympics champion; NXR Southwest 32nd place; Colorado Class 4A third place

91. Robert DiDonato, junior, Germantown Academy PA: Foot Locker 31st place; Foot Locker Northeast 10th place; Pennsylvania PAISAA champion

92. Silas Winders, senior, Henry County TN: Foot Locker 39th place; Foot Locker South 10th place; Tennessee Division 1 Large Schools champion

93. Oliver Paleen, senior, St. Paul Highland Park: NXN 87th place; NXR Heartland second place; Minnesota Class AA champion; Roy Griak champion

94. Behailu Bekele-Arcuri, senior, Warwick Valley NY: NXR New York 52nd place; New York Class A champion

95. Ryan Kinnane, senior, Andover KS: NXN 86th place; NXR Heartland third place; Kansas Class 5A champion

96. Justin Wachtel, junior, Mary Persons GA: Foot Locker 37th place; Foot Locker South fourth place; Georgia Class 4A champion

97. Canaan Anderson, senior, Siegel TN: Foot Locker 33rd place; Foot Locker South seventh place; Tennessee Division 1 Large Schools sixth place

98. Ignatius Fitzgerald, junior, Missoula Hellgate MT: Foot Locker 34th place; Foot Locker West sixth place; NXR Northwest 30th place; Montana Class AA third place

99. Avery Cannon, senior, Watauga NC: Foot Locker 38th place; Foot Locker South ninth place; North Carolina Class 3A champion

100. Sean Stuck, senior, West Springfield VA: NXN 104th place; NXR Southeast second place; Virginia Class 6A champion