Boys NXR Preview

After the state postseason concludes, runners have the option to compete in several national-level meets. The most popular of these for Ohio runners is Nike Cross Country Regionals (NXR). There are a total of nine regions in the United States, each hosting its own Nike-sponsored meet to select individual and team qualifiers from the championship race. Ohio competes in the Midwest Region, along with Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri. This grants Ohio’s top teams and runners the opportunity to showcase their strength against those from nearby states. In this article, we’ll review the recent history of Ohio boys runners in this meet and preview the upcoming weekend’s race.

On the team side, it is very challenging for Ohio cross-country teams to succeed in national-level meets. While some states in the same region may only have one high school per large city, many Ohio cities with large populations divide students among multiple high schools. From a numbers perspective, it is easier to build a stronger team with a larger student body. As a result, Ohio high schools with 1,500-2,000 students often struggle to compete with schools from other states that sometimes have more than double their student populations. Over the last three years, no Ohio boys’ team has finished in the top five at NXR Midwest.

However, individual runners have fared better. Typically, the top five finishers in the championship race advance to NXN, and Ohio has had at least one individual qualifier in two of the last three years. In 2021, both Conner Ackley and Tommy Rice qualified, and in 2022, Conner Ackley qualified again. In 2023, Ohio did not have any individual qualifiers; the state champion that year fell ill and couldn’t perform to his usual standard. It looked like Sam Ricchiuti might qualify, but he ultimately fell victim to a blazing kick from Illinois resident Aden Bandukwala.

Looking forward to this year’s NXR meet, the storylines remain largely the same. Despite the impressive performance by the Mason Comets at the state championships, it’s unlikely that they will finish in the top five on Sunday. For those who haven’t followed the cross-country scene outside of Ohio, here’s a brief rundown:

The top team in the region is, by far, the Downers Grove North Trojans. They have gone undefeated this year, and barring any unforeseen catastrophes, they should advance to NXN with minimal difficulty. For the second spot, it should be a close battle between the Plainfield North Tigers and the Bloomington North Cougars. While a win from either team wouldn’t be surprising, I’m giving a slight edge to Plainfield North.

Individually, the Buckeye State will certainly have multiple contenders for NXN bids, namely Tippacanoe’s Landon Kimmel and St. Xavier’s Alex Bruns. Other notable contenders from the rest of the region include Sam Quagliaroli (Indiana), TJ Hansen (Michigan), and Noah Bontrager (Indiana).

In conclusion, Ohio’s runners and teams face tough competition at this year’s Nike Cross Country Regionals, but they have strong contenders ready to compete on the national stage. While it’s challenging for Ohio teams to break into the top ranks against larger schools from other states, standout individuals like Landon Kimmel and Alex Bruns have a solid chance of securing NXN bids. As the Midwest’s top talent converges, Ohio’s representatives will aim to leave their mark and continue their tradition of resilience. Whatever the outcome, this NXR meet promises to showcase Ohio’s best against the region’s elite.