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Southwest Region Girls Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
Depth of elite Colorado teams could result in strongest regional meet in history, making path to NXN difficult for top Arizona, New Mexico and Utah programs By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Southwest Preview Although the absence of a Nike Cross Nationals meet last year didn’t allow the depth of the Southwest Region to be truly validated, fortunately several teams from Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico didn’t endure significant graduation losses, creating the potential this season for the regional meet Nov. 20 in Arizona to be one of the most challenging in the event’s history. Desert Vista, which triumphed last year in the Nike Cross Virtual Championships, returns one of the strongest tandems in the country in junior Lauren Ping and senior Katie Sigerud. But even they might not be enough to lift the Thunder to the program’s first NXN appearance since 2016, with the amount of contenders in Colorado, in addition to American Fork and Lone Peak in Utah, making the path to one of the region’s two automatic berths and likely at-large selections as difficult as ever. Niwot finished third at NXN in 2019 and Valor Christian was eighth in its debut appearance in Portland, and neither team is the considered overall favorite this year to represent Colorado at the national meet. Cherry Creek and Arapahoe, which have won the past two 5A state championships, present the biggest obstacles for Niwot and Valor Christian to return to NXN. Cherry Creek, led by senior Riley Stewart, finished fourth at the 2019 regional and barely missed an at-large selection. But the Bruins won the 5A state crown and the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by the Garrett Companies, last year in Indiana and bring back their entire lineup seeking a podium finish in Portland. The Southwest has earned one of the country’s four at-large berths every year from 2012-19, with Colorado itself accounting for all three of the region’s representatives at the national meet in 2017 and 2018. But this year, there is real potential for the region, or Colorado itself, to secure not only both automatic qualifying bids, but also multiple at-large selections based on their performances in November in Arizona. Not to be overlooked are the top Utah programs, as Lone Peak finished fourth in its first NXN appearance in 2019, with American Fork looking to return to Oregon following back-to-back trips in 2014-15. Los Alamos High in New Mexico, which finished sixth at the inaugural Nike Team Nationals in 2004, is also motivated to compete against the elite programs in the region, seeking the first NXN berth for the state since Eldorado in 2006. 1. Cherry Creek CO. Following victories last season at the Colorado 5A state final and the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by the Garrett Companies, in Terre Haute, Ind., there was no debate that Cherry Creek was the best lineup in the country that completed a full schedule last year. Despite returning all of their scoring athletes from that group, the Bruins will be tested again by Arapahoe and Valor Christian to repeat as state champions, before facing all of the same teams again at the regional meet, and likely multiple Colorado rivals again if they qualify for nationals. Senior Riley Stewart has the potential to not only make the individual podium at NXN, but also be the top scoring runner in the entire race, taking some of the pressure off her teammates in such a competitive environment. Coach Ethan Dusto benefits greatly from the experience of seniors Shelby Balding, Addison Laughlin, Claire Semerod and Abigail Maclean, in addition to the return of junior Addison Price and sophomore Baylor Wolfe. If Cherry Creek, which has also benefited from the arrival of freshman Paisley Piepgras, can remain healthy, a podium spot at the national meet is well within its potential. 2. Arapahoe CO. The Warriors enjoyed a significant breakthrough in 2019 by knocking off Cherry Creek to win the Colorado 5A state title and have continued to develop and add depth to their roster since, looking to once again challenge the Bruins at the state and regional levels in pursuit of their first trip to NXN in December. Ava Escorcia, Ava Mitchell and Emily Lamontagne are the top junior trio in the country, with sophomores Jordan Stead and Anna Bridges continuing to demonstrate poise and gain confidence with every racing opportunity. Arapahoe didn’t field a full team at the regional meet two years ago and didn’t pursue any postseason opportunities last year after placing runner-up to Cherry Creek at the state championship meet, so a regional appearance in November will be a significant event for the Warriors, who are also scheduled to race Sept. 24 in Arizona at the Desert Twilight Festival. 3. Niwot CO. The group that was still racing at an elite level in July at The Outdoor Nationals, presented by Nike, at Hayward Field in Eugene is hoping to use that momentum to make a return trip to Oregon in December after placing fifth at NXN in 2018 and third in 2019. Sophomore Mia Prok and junior Madison Shults both finished in the top six as individuals at the RunningLane National Championships in Alabama after Niwot repeated as 4A state champions. Although coach Kelly Christensen lost Lucca Fulkerson and Taylor James to graduation, the improvement of junior Lexy Bullen and seniors Eva Klingbeil and Tessa Everett, in addition to the depth provided by sophomores Olivia Alessandrini, Cayden Justice and Sarah Perkins, plus the arrival of promising freshman Bella Nelson, gives the Cougars more than enough components to secure another state title and excel once again at the regional meet, when they will clash with not only the Colorado 5A programs, but other elite teams from Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. 4. Valor Christian CO. Another indication of how unforgiving competing in Colorado can be is that Valor Christian finished eighth at NXN in 2019, took third in the 5A state final last season and finished runner-up to Cherry Creek at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by the Garrett Companies, at the LaVern Gibson Championship course, and isn’t among the early favorites to earn one of the two automatic berths at the regional final in Arizona. Coach Greg Coplen features another impressive group, with Lanie Szuch the lone impact senior for the Eagles, who also return juniors Brooke Wilson, Jocelyn Millican and Taylor Rorick. Sophomores Jordan Blankenship, Suvina Heidt and Gracie Prosceno are all capable of being scoring threats for Valor Christian, with the arrival of exciting freshman Keeghan Edwards being a significant development for the Eagles following the graduation of Isabella Prosceno and Taylor Whitfield. 5. Desert Vista AZ. The presence of junior Lauren Ping and senior Katie Sigerud makes Desert Vista a threat to qualify for the national meet from most any regional. But the Southwest is so deep this season and the programs in Colorado are strong, that the only region the Thunder might be in danger of not earning either an automatic berth or at-large bid to NXN is at the meet in its own home state. The support of juniors Emily Littlefield, Bailee Christofis and Chelsea Condon, along with sophomore Brooklyn Hanania gives Desert Vista the nod again in Arizona Division 1 against Highland and Xavier College Prep. But coach Megan Ping certainly has the roster of a top 22 team in the country that might not earn a berth to the national meet if it can’t finish at least in the top three, possibly top four, at the regional in November. WATCH LIST More news |
