The Challengers

Continuing the Blue Streak

Success is a tradition inherited from those before you.  Their success inspires you to replicate it.  And for teams in New York, no family tree dates back further than Saratoga Springs.  They've been focused on team glory longer than a majority of the sport has.  While many coaches still saw cross country as an individual game, Saratoga was working as a unit, wrapping up 20 NYS Federation titles in the past 25 years.  Led by Art and Linda Kranick, first starting in 1985, the rise to power was evident.  In 1987, their first showing at Feds was a 4th place finish.  A year later, they moved to second.  Every year since that, it has been a first place finish, interspersed with a rare second.

That tradition is apparent in the modern era of XC, first begun with the birth of the internet in 2000, and bolstered by the advent of NTN in 2004.  Since that time, Saratoga has made every trip out to Portland save one, and have proven they are a forced to be reckoned with.  In 2014, their squad has had strong consistency.  Each race, a different member has stepped up their speed ratings.  However, all athletes have yet to be firing on the same day.  That could change out in Portland, as the new course looks to mirror the terrain they train on.  Coaches and kids alike can be seen running through the Saratoga Performing Arts Center all season long for practice and competition, and it looks to be very similar to how Glendoveer is laid out.  Could they pull the upset, and bring the title back to 'Toga?  Continued consistency will be the key.

 

Midwest Madness

In what some may argue as having been the most competitive regional for the girls (others may argue for NY, despite scoring gaps), the Midwest will be bringing the heat to Nike Cross Nationals.  Carmel (IN) has emerged as a significant title threat, running with a strong compression, bolstered by an even stronger top half.  They also know how to handle the national field.  They have been a top 5 team the past three years, and look almost guaranteed to repeat that in 2014.  How high will they go?  The sky is the limit.  However, they won't be the sole competitors with something to say.  Both Naperville North (IL) and Palatine (IL) were within 20 points of Carmel, and within 3 points of each other.  The teams are so strong, it will be an interesting battle of the regions.  Will the three teams from the Midwest average a better finishing spot than those from NY?  With an ability to put three on the podium, that race could be close.

 

2013 Remix

The pair had two very different stories in 2013.  Unionville (PA), became the talk of the nation after an extremely strong showing at McQuaid and Manhattan.  Both times, they had tackled the then-reigning national champions, Fayetteville-Manlius.  However, as the season progressed, they became victims of their own prolonged schedule, with illness and injury affecting the frontrunners.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wayzata (MN), was relatively unknown on the national scene for most of the season.  They had impressive wins, yes, but not of the caliber out east.  And yet, their injuries from the early season cleared up with time to spare, and a revitalized Anna French led her squad to a National Title.  Both are back in 2014.  Unionville, learning from their own hardships, delayed their season to mid-October.  They improved to second place at the state meet, with three weeks left of training before regionals.  At Bowdoin Park, they struck, running the last mile in their typical fashion, and blowing out the field.  There is no reason to suspect they couldn't win it all.  Wayzata also see's the return of French, among two others who were on that national title team.  Could they come out again, and snatch the win?