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NXN Southwest Preview 2015 - Erik Boal - DyeStat

Published by
DyeStat.com   Nov 20th 2015, 9:57pm
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Elite fields assemble in AZ for NXN SW 

 

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor


 

Air Academy senior Katie Rainsberger experienced blizzard conditions in Colorado Springs in the days leading up to her departure for the NXN Southwest Regional in Arizona this week.

 

The Colorado 4A state champion will look to storm the 5-kilometer course one more time in Casa Grande to secure a return trip Dec. 5 to Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon.

 

Rainsberger, a University of Oregon signee, is the defending regional champion and set the Grande Sports Academy course record Oct. 2 when she ran 16:23.40 at the Desert Twilight Festival.

 

"I'm not sure how the race will go and if the times will be faster than Desert Twilight, but I just want to go out and race hard. It'll be a good test going into nationals. There's some really good competition down in our region," Rainsberger said. "I've had some really solid training going into NXN Southwest, so it'll be awesome to race there again."

 

ENTRIES

 

Although the boys and girls team races will showcase several nationally ranked teams from Utah, the girls individual showdown features the top three returning athletes from last year's regional in Rainsberger, Fort Collins junior Lauren Gregory -- the Colorado 5A state champion -- and Rio Rico junior Allie Schadler, who set the Cave Creek course record Nov. 7 by running 17:04.48 at the Arizona Division 3 state final and finished runner-up at Desert Twilight in 16:54.10.

 

Rainsberger, who has the potential to lead a young Air Academy lineup to its first NXN berth, won last season in 17:11, with Gregory clocking 17:15 and Schadler 17:24. Courtney Wayment, a senior from Davis UT, returns after finishing sixth last year in 17:37 and will be instrumental in her team's pursuit of a fourth consecutive trip to NXN.

 

The top two teams and five individuals on non-qualifying teams earn automatic berths to race at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, the second-year venue used for NXN after Portland Meadows hosted the meet from 2004-13.

 

Utah's American Fork edged Arizona's Desert Vista 118-122 last year, with both teams securing their first NXN berths. Fort Collins, which had qualified for NXN from 2007-13, had its streak halted last season after placing fifth.

 

Along with American Fork and Davis, Arizona Division 1 powers Chandler, Xavier College Prep and Desert Vista also have the potential to place among the top two girls teams.

 

The boys race has a significant Utah presence with the top three teams from the Division 5A state final in Davis, Lehi and American Fork, along with 4A champion Timpanogos.

 

American Fork held off Davis 72-75 to win last year's regional title, with Timpanogos placing third to secure its first NXN berth. American Fork has qualified for NXN for six consecutive years, with Davis advancing each season from 2010-14.

 

Mountain Vista, the Colorado 5A state champion, and Arizona Division 1 winner Desert Vista are also in contention to advance.

 

Casey Clinger of American Fork is the top returnee in the boys race after placing fourth last year in 14:56. Paul Roberts of Lyons, the Colorado 2A state champ, is back after a fifth-place result last season in 14:57, along with sixth-place finisher Alek Parsons of Ogden, the Utah 4A state winner, who clocked 14:59 last year.

 

Salt Lake City East's Garek Bielaczyc, third at the Utah 4A state meet, will look to rebound after a 19th-place finish at last year's regionals.

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