Alta Defies Skeptics, Locks NXN Berth!!!

Southwest Region
Regional Meet: November 22, 2008 at Tempe AZ

Colorado - Utah - New Mexico - Arizona - Nevada - Wyoming

Two teams and five individuals will qualify for NXN national finals December 6, 2008 at Portland OR

At MilesplitUT, the depth, strength and potential for Alta was never overlooked. In the NXN Southwest Region Championship preview Alta was pushed heavily as one of the top programs to come out of the State of Utah. Alta qualifies for the Nike Cross National Championships with a 2nd place performance at the Southwest Region Championships. Read our Pre-race Preview again.

Following the Utah State Championships, talk stirred throughout the State about just how good Alta truly could be. On the state course they smashed a ten year old record. We pointed out that the top three times over the Utah State course were established by teams who would eventually go on to be crowned national champions. If Alta was overlooked in pre-race prognostication it was the result of a hyper focus on the AZ-NM teams, something that Utah teams are accustomed too.

Saturday on the famed Kiwanis Park course, the NXN Southwest Region Championship took place. Top teams throughout the Region travelled to compete for two automatic team berths and five individual berths to the Nike Cross National Championships. While the skeptics were surprised, few in Utah were surprised by the performance of the Alta Hawks. Alta ran neck and neck with pre-race favorite Albuquerque NM finishing 2nd in team scoring with 172 points behind Albuquerque's 156. By order of finish Albuquerque NM edged Alta 26-29 in duel format scoring, what this means, Alta is a true team and will be a force to be reckoned with at the Nike Cross Nationals. If history is any indication of what is to come Alta has solidified themselves as a true contender with previous SW qualifying teams consistently finishing in the top ten at NXN. Alta Pre-race Preview

The Coach: Rob Murphy

The Team: Jack Webster 15:56.44; Garrett Jones 16:14.82; Kyle Moffet 16:16.91; Brian Howell16:19.60; Parker Snydergaard 16:28.59; Blake Bartholomew 17:07.26; Zach Evans 17:25.58

In our pre-race previews we approached the NXN Southwest Championships with a three pronged preview featuring Alta, Timpview, and the youngest team to compete at NXN Southwest Championships, American Fork. American Fork may have surprised the skeptics with their fourth place finish at the 2008 NXN Southwest Region Championships. The Cavemen never doubted themselves, posting one of the top team times in Utah State history at the State Championships. The Cavemen were less than 3 seconds difference from Cibola. The Cavemen will sit on the fence waiting for a potential NXN at-large berth. Consolation, they return everyone for the 2009 season which should place them as early pre-season favorites for the 2009 NXN event. Utah placed four boys teams in the top 8 with Timpview 7th and Davis 9th. The American Fork Cavemen finished 39 seconds behind #1 Albuquerque NM in team total time. Conclusion: The Southwest Region teams are tight and very close, both Cibola NM and Cavemen UT are early at-large berths teams. American Fork Pre-race Preview

NXN Boys Championship Results

1. Albuquerque NM 156 Team time: 80:58

2. Alta UT 172 (81:16)

3. Cibola NM 190 (81:20)

4. Cavemen UT 195 *39 seconds behind Alb in total team 81:37

Complete Results

On the girls side the Utah top three teams of Davis, Mountain Crest, and Park City finished in the top 6 in team scoring. Davis led the way with a 3rd place showing and will await a possible NXN at-large berth, with Mountain Crest UT 5th and Park City UT 6th. Davis finished the 2007 season ranked #9 Nationally, what is clear, Davis is much improved upon that 2007 team. This will bode well with the NXN selection committee. Utah Girls Pre-race Preview

NXN Girls Championship Results

1. Fort Collins CO 61

2. Titans CO 125

3. Davis UT 146

Complete Results

New to the Nike Cross Nationals system is the implementation of an individual component. The top five indiividual finishers, not competing on a national qualifying team, would qualify to compete at Nike Cross Nationals. Timpview UT sensational senior Jonathan Nelson led most of the race only to be edged by .75 seconds to Wheat Ridge CO standout Dart Schwaderer. Nelson, the Utah 4A individual state champion, was pegged at least by MilesplitUT as a pre-race individual favorite. Nelson ceased to disappoint with a tremendous showing caping off an incredible season with a berth to Nike Cross Nationals. Nelson will compete over the heraled Portland Meadows course for the NXN Individual National Championship. (Photo by Margot Kelly, Arizona Milesplit) Timpview Pre-race Preview

NXN Boys Individual Results

1 SCHWADERER, Dart Wheat Ridge 15:14.98
2 NELSON, Jon Timpview 15:15.73
3 MEDDLES, Wade Falcon Cross 15:20.87
4 PITTMAN, Kyle Los Alamos XC Club 15:24.25
5 JOHNSON, Kevin Falcon RC 15:26.51

Complete Individual Results