Niwot, Herriman And Three Jesuits In The Top Five With Strong September Performances

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Niwot CO is aiming to become the third boys cross country team in recent years to win consecutive Nike Cross Naitonals titles, joining the greats from Loudoun Valley VA and Newbury Park CA as the dominant program in the country.  

Last week's victory at the Desert Twilight in Arizona showed that Niwot has the depth and talent to match or exceed its output from 2024. 

The biggest meet of year so far was at Woodbridge in California and Herriman UT won the fourth straight time with Jackson Spencer taking the individual victory. The 2023 national champion is set to collide with Niwot at the NXR Southwest meet but first must get through the gantlet of the Utah state meet. 

Three of the four Jesuits in this week's Top 30 come next. 

Jesuit of Carmichael, Calif. finished second to Herriman at Woodbridge and are clearly the best team in California. The Marauders have a big test waiting next week at the Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno. 

Sliding up to No. 4 is Jesuit of New Orleans. The Bluejays put together a rock solid team performance at the Nike South Invitational in College Station, Texas, led by Brady Monahan. Next up is this weekend's Great American XC Festival in which Jesuit will face No. 10 Christ School NC, No. 11 IMG Academy FL, No. 17 Trinity (Louisville) KY and No. 19 Belen Jesuit FL. 

Jesuit of Portland won the Mook XC Invite at Alderbrook near the Oregon Coast and had five runners between 14:28 and 15:05 on a fast 5,000-meter course. The Crusaders will return to the Nike Hole In The Wall Invitational in Washington on Oct. 11.

Christian Brothers NJ sits at No. 6 and that's primarily because we haven't seen the full lineup yet, but that's about to change with two big meets on the horizon: The Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park and the Eastern States Championship at the Manhattan Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park.

The Top 30

1. Niwot CO

2. Herriman UT

3. Jesuit CA

4. Jesuit LA

5. Jesuit OR

6. Christian Brothers NJ

7. American Fork UT

8. Coeur d’Alene ID

9. Bridgeland TX

10. Christ School NC

11. IMG Academy FL

12. Columbus North IN

13. McCallie School TN

14. Boulder CO

15. Downers Grove North IL

16. Westlake UT

17. Trinity (Louisville) KY

18. Coronado CO

19. Belen Jesuit FL

20. Rocky Mountain ID

21. Bishop Hendricken RI

22. Sioux Falls Lincoln SD

23. Southlake Carroll TX

24. State College PA

25. Mira Costa CA

26. Summit OR

27. Liberty North MO  

28. Bentonville AR

29. Plainfield North IL

30. Lincoln OR