Well its here! For the 2nd consecutive year, 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. As 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. In an incredible 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, Mascenic’s Jacy Christiansen in 2009, Oyster River’s Maegan Doody did in 2014 and Coe-Brown’s Liz Danis did in 2015. Bishop Guertin’s Caroline Fischer and West’s Julia Robitaille qualified together in 2016 while Robitaille became the first NH athlete to win a NXR Northeast Regional 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! Most recently, Oyster River’s Haley Kavanagh became also became a 2-time individual qualifier as she made the trip to Oregon in 2023 and 2024! Hopkinton’s Maddy Lane and BG’s Matthew Giardina joined her last year as another individual qualifier from NH. the 2025 New England Champion Lane is entered once again this year! Will she join the multi-time qualifier club?? What should we watch for this year? Check it out below!
Nike Cross Regionals Home Page
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Nike Cross Northeast Regional is held 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. The regional is a huge day of cross country with championship and open races. To make the championship race as a team or individual is an accomplishment in and of itself. This year, 8 NH teams and several individuals have made it into the championship races. For the girls, NH#1 Hanover, NH #2 Oyster River (Bobcat Track Club), #6 Hopkinton (Tooky Track Club) and NH#7 Bishop Guertin (Cardinal) will be competing in the Championship Race along with our friends at Phillips Exeter Academy!
One of the more successful NH programs at Nike Cross, Hanover is making a return trip to NXR. The NH#1 team led by NH D2 Champ Megan Faris as well as Aria Deeb and Millie Larrick, Hanover has had a season worthy of being considered a contender here represented by being ranked in the top 5 of the Northeast region. With this being another return trip to Bowdoin, NH #2 Oyster River has more experience on this course where they placed 4th in 2023 and 7th in 2024. Led by Olivia Kavanagh, Neely Roy and Maddy Cook, who all have experience at NXR, the Bobcats are coming off a great New Englands and have momentum heading into Saturday.
Returning to the scene for the 2nd year will be the ladies from Hopkinton. NH’s #6 team this year, many were surprised last year when Maddy Lane qualified and made the trip to the big dance in Oregon! This year Lane once again leads the D3 Champs back to Bowdoin. She will certainly be in the mix to qualify once again, but expect Maisie Emerson and Rose Afflerbach to have strong days as their 2nd and 3rd scorers. NH#7 Bishop Guertin made the championship race this year. Led by Zoe Coler, look for this young team to gain valuable experience. Challenging these teams over the first half of the season were the ladies from Phillips Exeter Academy. Look for Ava Bullock and Harper Peters to lead the New England Prep School Champs as they will certainly be in the top 10. All these schools will be racing a familiar friendly foe as New England Champs Champlain Valley Union, VT is one of the favorites to qualify for a trip to Oregon. Additionally, Souhegan (Saber XC) and Winnacunnet (Warrior XC) girls will be competing in the Open race.
Individually, Lane has to be considered among the favorites for the NXR Northeast win. She does have a tall order and for the contenders, this race is all about qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals. Expect her to put herself in great position to do just that, at least. Look for Faris to be in the mix for All-Northeast (top 21 finishers) as well as Kavanagh.
The boys side has 3 schools representing the Granite State in the championship race. NH#1 Pinkerton (Derry Astros), NH#3 Coe-Brown (Black Bear XC) and our friends from Phillips Exeter.
Returning to NXR for the first time since 2015 is NH #1 Pinkerton. The NH State Champions and New England Runners-Up, Pinkerton is certainly motivated. They swung for the fences at New Englands and we expect them to do the same here. Ranked in the top 5 regionally over the second half of this season, the Long Red Line are certainly considered contenders this year! You now know the names like Trainor Mailloux, Sean Hayes, Jason Robie, and Oscar D’Amelio. They along with Austin Cipriano, Joseph Gustavson, and Owen Boucher consistently sport a pack time of less than 1 minute. If they can start their scoring in the top 15, they could be in business. After finishing 4th at New England, NH#3 Coe-Brown certainly has momentum. The young upstarts led by Patrick Youngs, Ben Jobin and Broden Cox (last week anyway – scoring 5 keeps changing), also have boasted insane pack times this year. A top 10 finish would be incredible for the Black Bears.
Individually look for PEA’s Bocelli-Howland Vlahakis to truly contend for a trip to Oregon. As always it seems PEA is hitting on all cylinders at the right time of year. NH’s State Champion, Keene’s Sullivan Sturtz is listed in the entries. He will definitely stick his nose in it! D2 State Champ Ben Groves of Hanover is also listed in the championship race as well as Fall Mountain’s Elijah Bodanza, Concord’s Josiah Conley. Expect these two along with Robie, Hayes, Mailloux and company to join the front pack early.
Additionally Souhegan boys as well as Hopkinton’s Max Goupil and James Laver are among the entries in the open races.
Good luck to all! Let’s Go 603!!!
