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XC Zone - National Top 35 Lists - Boys - October 11, 2018Published by
By Michael Newman TFX National Director
Notes – There was a flip-flop at the top of the Boys list with Great Oak CA taking over the top spot but just barely ahead of defending national champion Loudoun Valley VA. Great Oak did it by running the third fastest team time ever at Woodward Park in Fresno winning the Clovis Invitational. The Wolfpack placed five runners in the top 18 in this loaded field led by top ten finishes from Tyler Tickner (2nd), Cameron Hylton (7th), and Gabriel Abbes (8th). Their split on the top five runners was only 23 seconds. Loudoun Valley VA was impressive in winning the Great American XC Festival Race of Champions in Cary, North Carolina. The Vikings won over a tough field including Bolles FL and Bishop Hendricken RI without their top runner Sam Affolder. Loudoun Valley had top ten finishers led by Carlos Shultz (7th) and Jacob Hunter (10th). Their split on five was 43 seconds, but only 30 seconds on their top four runners. Affolder did not race citing sourness in his back. In his only race with his teammates at the Loudoun County Championships on September 22, Affolder finished 14 seconds ahead of teammate Jacob Hunter. Even with Affolder in the lineup, Great Oak has the slight edge. The one thing from the past weekend is that Great Oak and Loudoun Valley have separated themselves from the rest of the national Boys teams We will find out a little more this weekend at the Manhattan Invitational where #3 Fayetteville-Manlius NY and #4 Christian Brothers NJ. American Fork UT jumped into the top ten at #6 tuning up for next week’s Utah State Meet with a convincing win in the Utah Region 4 Championships as Luke Grundvig, Carson Clinger, and Dalton Brems took the top three spots. Illinois schools will sort themselves out a little more as conference meets will take place across the state. #11 Wheaton-Warrenville South will face #14 St. Charles East at the DuKane Conference Meet. Illinois has six schools that are in the top 35. California leads all states with seven schools in the top 35 list. More news |
