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Southwest Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2024Published by
Herriman UT Reloads For Another Run At A National Championship By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Southwest Preview The back and forth between American Fork and Herriman last year made Utah the epicenter of boys cross country in 2023. Their battles at the Utah state meet, at NXR Southwest and at NXN will go down as legendary in the history of the state's cross cross country highlights. Herriman followed coach Doug Soles' game plan and peaked on the right day and won the NXN title. And even with four runners graduating from that team, the Mustangs have gotten ever better. Herriman's success attracted two transfers who placed in the top 20 of the Class 6A final and the return of Micah and Jonah Tang, and Tayshaun Ogomo, makes this group national title contenders once again. "This team on paper is the best team I have ever coached talent wise," Soles said. "We will see how that translates to the course, but so far so good." For a coach who has won national titles at both Great Oak CA and Herriman CA, that's a bold claim. But so far this fall, Herriman has been overpowering. American Fork has come back strong as well, building around Kaden Evans. But if Herriman feels any threat in the Southwest this year it will likely come from the young Niwot CO team that brings back all seven from a fifth-place finish in Portland. Five of those seven were sophomores or freshmen, including Rocco Culpepper. The top three could all make a bid for the podium in Portland. The next tier of teams, such as Coronado, Thompson Valley and Cheyenne Mountain of Colorado, Riverton and Mountain View of Utah and Hamilton of Arizona, are also dangerous. The top individual returners from NXR Southwest are Kyle Steadman of Mountain View UT (sixth), Brogan Collins of Cheyenne Mountain (10th) and Charlie Vause of Rio Rancho NM (14th). New Mexico's Corbin Coombs (Organ Mountain) has also run under 15 minutes in an early season invitational. He's coming out of a track season where he ran 4:04.48 in the mile and 8:53.44 in the 2-mile. There is also a resurgence brewing in Nevada, where Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis and Carter Prater of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe both ran under the state's all-time 5,000 meters cross country record with sub-15 minute performances. 1. Herriman UT. After becoming the first Utah team to win an NXN title, Herriman remains on top heading into the 2024 season. Senior twins Jonah and Micah Tang and Tayshuan Ogomo are the three returning scorers from last year's team and they have been joined this fall by top JV performer Noah Manwaring, and juniors Eli Jarvis and Bryce Runnells. Key transfers Cooper Tripp from Lehi UT, who was 15th in the Utah 6A final last year, and Jackson Spencer from Syracuse UT, who was 19th, make Herriman virtually unbeatable this fall. 2. Niwot CO. Last spring, 13 boys on the Niwot track team ran the 1,600 in 4:35 or faster and none of them were seniors. Niwot finished fifth at NXN last year with two juniors (Keegan Delgean and Cole Mazurana), four sophomores (Rocco Culpepper, Gabe Marshall, Hunter Robbie and Ryder Keeton) and a freshman (Quinn Sullivan). One of the youngest NXN teams in history comes into 2024 looking to challenge Herriman and anybody else for the national championship. "The energy is good and the kids have had a great summer," coach Kelly Christensen said. 3. American Fork UT. The defending Utah Class 6A champion and NXR Southwest champion, and national runner-up, lost six of its top seven, including Gatorade Athlete of the Year Danny Simmons. But the AF pipeline under coach Timo Mostert does not stop. Lone holdover Kaden Evans, a senior, ran 8:46.10 for 3,200 meters last April at Arcadia and has already won his first three meets of the 2024 cross country season. Evans may be the individual favorite for the state title. Behind him, seniors Carter Moore, Alex Williams and Ryker Bement exemplify the next-man-up mentality. Junior transfer Dallin Harrington, who placed 25th in the CIF Division 1 final for San Clemente last year, also has NXN experience. 4. Coronado CO. The Cougars of Colorado Springs, coached by Lisa Rainsberger, bring back their top three and five of the seven who placed fourth in the Colorado Class 4A state meet. Sophomore Oliver Horton was the fastest freshman in the state last year and could be a rising star. Junior Xzavier Campos and seniors Boston Potts, Ryan Slater and Parker Davidson complete a stout top five. Another sophomore, Braxton Oliver, could also make a big move up this fall. 5. Riverton UT, The Silverwolves bring back three members of the team that placed ninth at NXN last year. Senior Corbin Randall is the key returner and is the leader this fall. Senior Christian Ruf has made big improvement since last year and has slid into the No. 2 spot. He was second behind Randall at the Timpanogos Invitational PM section, which Riverton won with 34 points. Senior Landon Nunley and junior Tyson Gubler are back from last year's top seven. At the UIAAA Invitational, freshman Kurt Perry made a nice debut and senior Garrick Bowers provided contributed as the team's sixth. WATCHLIST More news |
