Ashi Geberkidane, Colorado's top XC performer in 2012, is flanked by two Utah runners, Kramer Morton and Brayden McLelland, late in last fall's NXR-SW champtionship race. Photo by Alan Versaw.
The Nike Regional system has made a lot of comparisons between states much easier than those comparisons formerly were. In the case of Utah and Colorado, that's mostly good news for Utah and mostly not-as-good news for Colorado. Mind you, there are many states for which it would be more shameful to take a back seat to than Utah, but it's becoming increasingly clear that we are taking a back seat to Utah.
If you skim recent NXR-SW results, you'll find that Utah took six of the top ten boys team places in 2012 (compared to two of the top ten for Colorado) and five of the top ten team places (compared to three for Colorado) in 2011. It hasn't gone much better for Colorado among the individuals. Of the top 20 boys individuals in 2012, 14 were from Utah and two from Colorado. In 2011, ...