Can Anyone Stop FM?

Saturday afternoon the team portion of the high school cross country season will finally come to conclusion in Portland, Ore., with the running of the Nike Cross Nationals. Three New York girls' teams, two New York boys' teams, and two New Jersey boys' teams will all be vying for the title.

The Fayetteville-Manlius girls' dynasty appears ready for a sixth consecutive title — a feat so stunning that it is hard to comprehend. Even after losing two of its top girls to injuries, FM has still found a way to be the favorite here. Despite a sub-par performance at regionals, the Stotans' experience at NXN combined with their talent leads me to expect nothing less than a dominating performance for the win.

The Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) girls' are in a tight battle with Tatnall (Del.) for the second spot. Tatnall became an Armory regular last winter and — with a graduating class of fewer than 100 students each year — is the best small-school team in the country. Saugus (Calif.) and North Shore (N.Y.) are the next teams in line for the podium.

As most followers of NXN know, California teams generally do not do all that well on the Portland Meadows course. Could the New York girls find a way to sweep the top three places? You bet they could, if North Shore returns to the form it displayed at the New York State Championships three weeks ago.

Interestingly Tully Runners predicts that the two girls' teams from the Northeast Region — Champlain Valley (Vt.) and Hamilton-Wenham (Mass.) — will finish dead last. With the New York girls so dominant, how could our neighbors be that far behind?

Another Armory regular — Christian Brothers Academy of Lincroft, N.J. — will be after the boys' title. CBA is a pre-race favorite over American Fork (Utah) and Southlake Carroll (Texas). Tully Runners projects all three as capable of victory. The Fayetteville-Manlius boys' squad placed third a year ago, but graduated three of its top four. Watching the Stotans this year, you just get the sense that they have not run their best race yet and that they just might find a way on that podium, if they can put it all together. Nick Ryan must be considered a contender for the title.

The Shaker boys seem to be going in the right direction after winning at both the NYS Federation Championships and the NXN Regionals. The Bison have a chance to be top 10 and — with a little improvement — also might give themselves a chance at a top-three finish.

Local runners will get a chance to see Futsum Zeinasellassie of North Central (Ind.), who is considered the heavy favorite in Portland. Zeinasellassie will also race next weekend against St. Benedict Prep's (N.J.) Edward Cheserek for the Foot Locker National title in San Diego, Calif.

Fayetteville-Manlius junior Jillian Fanning is a slight favorite over Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley (Calif.), but the girls' individual race appears to be more wide open. Even a girl like Bronxville sophomore Mary Cain — who popped a 17:40 at Bowdoin to win the Federation title — could be in contention for the win.