Well its here! A week early!! That’s right! Nike Cross Northeast/NY Regional is now the weekend before Thanksgiving. This is due to the New York State Federation Meet (NY’s MOCs) being held in conjunction with the regional. Ever since its inception, Nike Cross has been a major goal for the region’s best teams. Identical to NCAA Regionals, the top 2 teams in each region get an automatic berth to Nike Cross Nationals held the first weekend of December in Portland, Oregon (all expenses paid by Nike!). Further, the top 5 individuals NOT on a qualifying team also make the meet. Regardless, this regional event itself is annually incredible!
Nike Cross Nationals, NXN, was created to crown a National Team Champion. Although a relatively small state, NH has had its share of qualifiers both automatic and at-large. Hanover girls showed us in 2007 and the Coe-Brown girls in 2013, 4 teams across the country can nab an at-large bid to the meet as well. In 2017, Souhegan girls became the third NH program to qualify for a trip to Oregon. Of note, the 2007 Hanover team placed 4th overall in the nation!!
Individuals can also qualify for NXN from each region by placing in the top 5 individuals who are not on a qualifying team, as Hanover’s Heidi Caldwell did in 2008 along with teammate Aaron Watanabe in 2008/2009, Bishop Guertin’s Caroline Fischer demonstrated in 2016, Coe-Brown’s Liz Danis did in 2015, Oyster River’s Maegan Doody did in 2014, and West’s Julia Robitaille did in 2017. In 2021 Coe-Brown’s Aidan Cox won the Northeast Regional and he, along with Gilford’s Patrick Gandini made it 2 Granite State athletes qualifying for the big dance in Portland in 2022! To follow that up, Oyster River’s Haley Kavanagh qualified as the individual in 2023! What should we watch for this year? Check it out below!
Nike Cross Regionals Home Page
Live Webcast Link – runnerspace subscription required
This year, 8 NH teams and several individuals are making the trip to Nike Cross Northeast Regional in Wappinger’s Falls, NY where the historical Bowdoin Park runs quite similar to Derryfield. The course climbs the first half culminating at 1.5 miles, not 2 miles like Derryfield. Then it is a free fall down to the last 1k. But different from Manch, this is basically a flat loop with one final short hill. For the girls NH #2 Oyster River (Bobcat Track Club) and #4 Hopkinton (Tooky Track Club) will be competing in the Championship Race along with our friends at Phillips Exeter Academy!
Oyster River is making their return trip to Bowdoin where last year they placed 4th, about 30 points from auto-qualifying, but Haley Kavanagh individually qualified making the trip to compete in Oregon. The Bobcats have been ranked this season in the top 5 of the Northeast region and are coming off a great New Englands where they placed 4th as a team. Still a contender, as they continue to be led by 2 of the best runners in the region with Kavanagh and Mackenzie Cook. Cook’s younger sophomore sister, Madelyn, is another returner with valuable experience racing on the hills of Bowdoin. She along with Kavanagh’s younger freshman sister Olivia, the Bobcats have an extremely strong top 4. This will be super important in a race like this. Watch for Jahrie Houle and Sadie Goldberg to continue to improve as well.
New to the scene this year will be the ladies from Hopkinton. NH’s #4 team this year will of course be led by D3 Champ Madeleine Lane who seems to be simply getting faster and faster as the season progresses. Expect her to be in the mix of individual contenders as the type of course Bowdoin offers seems to compliment her strengths. Expect Shaylee Murdough and Maisie Emerson to have strong days as Hopkinton’s 2nd and 3rd scorers. Ever so young, Hopkinton could be making this an annual trip. Both teams will be racing a familiar friendly foe as Champlain Valley Union, VT is one of the favorites to qualify for a trip to Oregon. Additionally, Souhegan girls will be competing in the Open race.
The boys side has 4 NHIAA ranked schools representing the Granite State. NH#1 Bishop Guertin (Cardinals), NH #2 Pinkerton (Derry Astros), NH#9 Oyster River (Bobcat) and NH#10 Souhegan (Sabers), are slated to compete. Also, as with the girls team, our friends from Phillips Exeter will be in the Championship race. Expect BG’s Matthew Giardina to go right with the leaders aiming to qualify for NXN. Last year he came oh-so-close placing 9th, but is this year’s 4th returner. He of course is leading NH’s top team in 2024 so expect to see Carson Fischer, Ethan Fischer and Sam Prescott all battling along side the Northeast’s best.
Pinkerton, NH#2 and the Granite State’s top team at New Englands where they placed an impressive 4th, is also in the Championship race. Quite young, with everyone returning next year, the Long Red Line could be on a recon trip of sorts. With a consistently quality pack time of always less than 1 minute, look for Trainer Mailloux, Sean Hayes and Oscar D’Amelio to lead the way. Mitchell Keesee and Oliver Lehman lead Oyster River as they are also in the Championship Race. Souhegan, led by Dallen Noorda, will be looking to make some noise in the Open race this year.
Look for a handful of individuals competing as well with BG’s Anna Fondakowski, Alvirne’s Anna Simpson, and Concord’s Shelly Smith as well as Monadnock’s Peyton Joslyn.
Good luck to all! Let’s Go 603!!!
