2022 Nike Cross Nationals – Girls Race Preview
Photo: Irene Riggs on her way to the win at NXR Southeast Regional on November 26 (DyeStat.com Photo)
By Michael Newman, DyeStat TFX National Editor
NXN Meet Website | Watch the NXN Championships here | Meet Entries
It seems like it was yesterday when Kinetic XC Club stepped to the starting line at Portland’s Glendoveer Golf Course to win the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals by 82 points. Then there was the gap of two years where we did not meet at this golf course on the east side of the “Rose City” due to the COVID pandemic.
This Saturday, here we go again. 12 club teams make their first appearance at the Nike Cross Nationals. At the same time, some things never change. Kinetic XC Club is back to defend their NXN title. They do that with four runners on the 2019 team ready to toe the starting line. They will know what to expect with the course especially if it rains this week to make the footing a little softer.
It is not a certain lock for the Blue Streaks to win their fourth NXN Girls Team Championship. There are up to six club teams that could challenge for one of the top three podium spots. Kinetic XC Club scoring only 19 points to win the NXR New York race on November 27 shows they are up to the challenge.
Following the race can be misleading especially with 45 individual runners in this field. There could be four to five team runners that are projected to be in the top 21 that could get low points for their team. It also displays how many elite runners throughout the United States have qualified for this race from eight regional meets and the California State Meet.
Individuals
There will be a new individual championship in 2022 with 3-time winner Katelyn Touhy (2017-2019) now doing her great things at North Carolina State University. When a runner takes down one of Tuohy’s high school course records, then you need to pay more attention. Such is the case with Irene Riggs of Morgantown WV when she shattered Tuohy’s WakeMed Athletic Complex course record by 20 seconds running an amazing 16:02.1 time for 5-kilometer course. Riggs at her state meet on October 29 ran 16:32 on a tough Midland XC Course to win by more than two minutes. The senior is the hottest runner in the nation and will be the runner to watch on Saturday morning.
Riggs is not a lock to win but will be tough to finish ahead of her. This field is good. Here are some of the other runners to watch for in…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at RunnerSpace News…