The Scoop: A Massive Weekend Of XC Action

Recapping Performance From Around The Nation 

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1. Cole Hocker, Indianpolis Cathedral (IN): Indiana's top returner and our preseason No. 19 ranked runner on the MileSplit50, opened his season on the state course in Terra Haute and authored a solid debut, finishing in 15:35.90.

2. Grace Ping/Lauren Ping, Winona Cotter (MN): Welcome back, Pings. Grace won the Stewartsville Bill Glomski Invitational on Thursday in 18:03.70, while her sister, Lauren, followed in 18:22.80. 

3. Alex Comerford, Otsego (MI): Comerford put together two races in a span of six days and came away with his second win of the year at the Barney Roy Invitational on Tuesday in 15:32.00. Don't forget about this guy. He had a stellar track season, producing a 9:00.00 in the 3200m and a 15:15.90 in the 5K. 

4. Drew Bosley, Homestead (WI): Bosley, who was No. 3 on the preseason MileSplit50, opened his season up Friday at the Homestead Highlander Invitational in 15:37.06. 

5. Braden Peters, West Central (ND): It's worth keeping an eye on Peters, who's the younger brother of University of Wisconsin freshman Derick Peters. A third-place finisher at North Dakota's state cross country championships a year ago, Braden ran 9:49.46 in the 3200m over the track and field season and opened his cross country season with a big win at the Augie Twilight, producing a career best and US No. 33 time of 15:35.71, which is about 26 seconds faster than he was a year ago. It's not Derick-territory just yet--his brother ran 15:08.90 on the same course in 2017. But Braden will definitely make a case for a state title in 2018. 

6. Isabel Sagar, Loyalsock Township (PA): The Pennsylvania harrier is an athlete to pay attention to in 2018, as well. She produced a big win at the Bear Mountain River Run on Saturday, hitting a US No. 7 time and course record of 17:31.20, though it was the same course that proved a little too fast in 2017 when Lauren Trapani--who was second in this race Saturday---went out in 17:41.40 to win. If she continues in this form, Sagar could rise significantly within the Keystone State. 

7. Peyton Pogge, Tri-Center (IA): The come-out-of-nowhere performance of the weekend goes to Pogge, whose best in 2017 was 19:24.00. She opened up her sophomore season by breaking 18 minutes at the Logan-Magnolia Invitational. Pogge won the race by 13 seconds. 

8. Kyla Becker, Portland Lincoln (OR): Don't look now, but Lincoln might have another star on their hands following the graduation of James Mwaura. Becker opened her senior season with a career best 5K and US No. 17 time of 17:53.20 at the Bill Chapman Invitational. Becker was 10th in Oregon's Class 6A state championships in 2017. Her time on Thursday proved to be seven seconds faster than her previous best from her junior season. 

9. Ryan Schoppe, La Porte (TX): A new US No. 1 went down on Saturday, and we're getting closer and closer to our first sub-15 of the season. Schoppe chopped off 24 seconds from his career best 5K, crossing the line at the SFA Lumberjack Invitational in 15:13.20.