NXN 2024 - The Way Too Early Preview - BOYS

It was also very hot (compared to weather the last few weeks), in addition to it being a qualifying meet, so you really are reading way too much into this.

The NW is chronically underrated, especially the state of Idaho, and especially the team you are talking about.

CDA last year was preseason rated 14th on Tully, and 16th on Dyestat. They finished 11th.

The team you mention has been underrated every single year past covid (at least from an outsiders view, they have plenty of fans who keep the hype level to the expectations on here)
2021: No rank Dyestat, Tully Watchlist -> 24th Dyestat (22nd at Runninglane)
2022: No rank Dyestat, no Tully rank -> 10th Dyestat
2023: No rank Dyestat, Tully Watchlist -> 16th Dyestat

Sure, qualifying meet, but they finished 1st (senior), 4th (junior), 11th (junior), 13th (senior), 14th (sophomore), 16th (junior), 17th (sophomore). 11th, 13th, and 14th were 3 of the bottom 4 in their heat, and 16th and 17th were 12 seconds back of the winner in theirs.

If any of the other "rival" teams in the NW had those results, the team in question would rightfully have their fans point to those results as why that team might not be as strong as their team.

2022 saw no ranking because Hunter Hill wasn't factored into any of the rankings. If anyone knew he was at Rocky, they would have absolutely ended up on at least watchlists, if not inside the top 20. The returning strength of performances was 4:13, 9:26, 4:27 or 9:41 (whichever is superior), and a 4:36 freshman. Their 5th heading into the offseason was a 10:32 boy. Of course no one thought that team was deserving of a ranking. Adding in a 9:32 boy changes the complexion of a team quite a bit.

I'm not a Rocky hater, by the way. I think that people hate on Rocky because they get so many people commenting on them and it has in turn made some people hate the NW. I do think that if you critically stack their performances up this spring against other teams, most people would say that they are an unlikely team to make NXN. But, the summer is long, they have a ton of kids, appear to be well coached, and look like they get high turnout in the offseason. All recipes for continued success.

And that is what I'm trying to point out by saying that they are underrated. CDA, Crater, and Jesuit all make the NW very competitive and have all been between good and great since covid. By pointing out that Rocky gets underrated all I'm trying to say is that it probably won't just be those 3 teams.

Add in Kamiakin, Issaquah, Franklin, and others, and you have a really stacked region.

What you don’t get is every region is getting faster and more competitive. it is not just the northwest

This is so true...

Many are picking Mt. View (Ut) to be a top 20 team and deservedly so because they have top runners and depth. But in southern Utah Pine View and Desert Hills might sneak up on a few people and aren't getting much hype. Are these teams top 20? Probably not this year, but just a few years ago they would have been in the mix... Everyone is just getting better all over the place.

Mountain View returners: 9:04/4:10/1:57 (11), 9:32/4:12/1:51 (11), 9:49/4:38/2:06 (9), 9:59/4:38/2:07 (11), 4:34/2:00 (10), 4:33/1:57 (9), 4:33/2:00 (10), 4:49 (10)

Desert Hills returners: 9:40/4:25/2:02 (11), 9:48/4:26/2:02 (11), 9:49/4:32/2:05 (11), 9:54/4:28/1:58 (11), 9:57/4:35 (11), 4:39 (11), 4:49 (9), 4:49 (9)

Pine View returners: 9:10/4:12/1:54 (11), 9:50/4:28 (10), 9:57/4:37/1:59 (10), 9:58/4:28/2:04 (10), 4:38/1:59 (10), 4:42/2:04 (9), 4:48/1:59 (10), 4:46 (10), 4:46 (9), 4:48 (10)

*all in state times

American Fork only returns 1 person from their top 7, but they still return:

8:46 / 4:09 (11)

9:24 / 4:16 (10)

9:26 / 4:29 (11)

9:31 / 4:19 (11)

9:35 / 4:27 (11)

9:50 / 4:47 (10)

Another team to watch from Ut (outside of the usuals) is Viewmont

3 returners under 4:25 and 9:30

Skyridge returners
9:32
9:37
9:39
9:49
9:56
No depth outside of that

Riverton
9:05
9:33
9:44
9:48
9:54
9:55
10:18
But their head coach will be coaching at Snow College now

• Saratoga Springs Boys Return:
  
• 9:09/4:19(10)
• 9:14/4:15(11)
• 9:16/4:20(11)
• 9:59/4:33(11)
• 10:00/4:41(10)
• 10:13/4:36(9)

imagine running 4:11 in a qualifier round and not make it to the next round because everyone went ham (there are also still 3 another more rounds until the state meet)

North Rockland will school the Saratoga boys- don't expect their pretty little track times to do anything. My son has the blood of his sister, he will lead them and win nxn individually. Hopefully a north east/ new york team can pull the win out this year, tho, as their is lots of talent but the saratago team is not the one to do it.

Ok but first combine New York and Northeast? Why should New York get its own region?

Because on the girls side, the New York and Northeast teams all placed high at NXN last year.

the woodlands Texas is going to be big next year. Another big South team for next year.

4:16, 4:18, 4:24, 4:26, 4:27, 4:28, 4:31, 4:33, 4:33, 4:34

Will they podium at the state meet? It would be cool to see them back on the podium though. They lost to Bridgeland both at sections and state meet. The Woodlands loses 3 seniors. Bridgeland loses no one, and in fact, one of their guys won the 3200 at the state meet.

not from Texas but state results from last xc year show

1.
Southlake Carroll 48
2.
Austin Vandegrift 69
3.
McKinney Boyd 164
4.
Katy Tompkins 172
5.
Conroe Woodlands College Park 176
6.
Bridgeland 183

Woodlands has insane depth next year tons of fast sophomores. I expect them to be competitive with South 3rd-4th.

Some top Colorado teams other than Niwot

Cheyenne Mountain:

9:19 (10)
9:27 (11)
9:54 (11)
9:57 (10)
4:40 (10)
4:46 (11)

Coronado

9:19 (9)
9:28 (11)
4:17 (10)
4:20 mile (11)
10:00 (11)
4:47 (9)

Valor Christian
9:23 (11)
9:23 (11)
9:36 (10)
9:52 (11)
10:09 (11)
4:38 (11)
4:38 (11)
4:42 indoor (11)

Thompson Valley
9:36 (9)
9:43 (11)
9:47 (11)
9:54 (9)
10:07 (9)
4:26 (10)
4:35 / 10:22 (11)

Rock Canyon
9:21 (11)
9:48 (11)
9:53 (10)
9:55 (10)
10:16 (9)
10:18 (11)
4:36 (10)

Mountain Vista
9:24 (11)
9:24 (9)
9:52 (11)
10:16 (9)
10:16 (11)
10:27 (11)
10:38 (11)

CDA had a good weekend at their district meet. They now have the following returners:

4:11/9:01* (11)
4:12/9:17 (11)
4:15/9:18 (9)
4:22/9:31 (10)
4:34/9:54 (9)
4:45 (9)

They also have a junior that has focused on the 300mh that ran 16:02 last year. Their last two freshmen haven't had the opportunity to race outside of northern Idaho this spring, or they very well might be a good amount faster.

*converted from indoor 2 mile