Girls 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 girls runners in this meet and preview the upcoming weekend’s race.

On the team side, it is challenging for Ohio cross-country teams to succeed in national-level meets. Unlike some other states in the region, where large cities often have only one high school, many Ohio cities with large populations divide their student bodies among multiple high schools. This distribution makes it harder to build stronger teams, as a larger student body generally increases a team’s potential depth. Consequently, Ohio high schools with 1,500-2,000 students struggle to compete with schools from other states that sometimes have more than twice as many students. In the last three years, only two Ohio girls' teams have placed in the top five at NXN Midwest: Hilliard Davidson placed third and Mason fifth in 2022.

While Ohio girls' teams have had some success, individual performances have been less notable. No Ohio girls' runner has finished in the top five or qualified for nationals in the last three years, which is surprising given that a stronger team landscape often correlates with stronger individual performances.

Looking at the Midwest region overall, this is shaping up to be one of the strongest years in recent memory. National outlets like DyeStat and Stride Report have ranked as many as six Midwest squads in their top 25. While this speaks to the region’s rising competitiveness, it presents a tough outlook for Ohio’s top teams, Lancaster and Hilliard Davidson. Key competitors they’ll face include the Romeo Bulldogs, Barrington Broncos, and Carmel Greyhounds. Romeo looks like the only clear lock for NXN, as they’ve bested every challenger in their tough Michigan schedule.

After Romeo, the rankings get murky, with several teams capable of taking the region’s #2 spot on any given day. Fortunately, the Midwest will likely receive at least one at-large team bid, if not multiple.

On the individual front, there is a strong chance we could see an Ohio athlete break the national qualifier drought. Uniontown Lake’s Daniela Scheffler has been incredible all season—and if you’re a reader of this site, you already know her name. From our neighboring states, top individual contenders include Victoria Garces (Michigan), who is favored on paper, along with Mia Sirois (Illinois) and Libby Dowty (Indiana), who are both close contenders.

In conclusion, Ohio’s cross-country teams and runners will face one of the toughest NXR Midwest fields in recent memory. While Ohio teams like Lancaster and Hilliard Davidson are up against powerhouse programs from neighboring states, their resilience and talent give them a chance to contend amid fierce competition. Individually, Ohio has a promising opportunity to break its national qualifier drought, with Daniela Scheffler leading a group of standout runners ready to make an impact. As the Midwest region displays its depth and strength this year, Ohio’s athletes will aim to rise above the challenges, showcasing their hard work and determination as they compete for national bids and regional recognition.