U.S. #4 Albuquerque Academy earns their trip to NTN
(Photo by Gary Murray)
Eight more teams qualified for Nike Team Nationals this past Saturday, while a few favorites faltered and didn't qualify. With only two weeks to go until Nike Team Nationals the fight for who's best continues. This week three teams enter the Power Rankings. York (IL) enters as #10 on the boys side, while St. Mary's (OR) and Fort Collins (CO) enter at #9-10 in the girls rankings.
MileSplit National Team Power Rankings (Nov. 20)
Boys
1. Neuqua Valley (IL) - Idle.
2. North Central (WA) - Idle.
3. Danbury (CT) - Idle.
4. Albuquerque Academy (NM) - A week after losing their state meet race to U.S. #5 Los Alamos, Academy jumped back ahead of their rival. The two teams tied at the NTN Southwest Regional with 93 points a piece with Academy winning on the tie-breaker. Academy's win signaled a return trip to Nike Team Nationals.
5. Los Alamos (NM) - Running nearly step for step with U.S. #4 Albuquerque Academy, Los Alamos lost a tie-breaker to Academy, as both teams qualified for Nike Team Nationals in two weeks time.
6. North Penn (PA) - Idle.
7. Brookline (MA) - The team easily won the MIAA State Championships placing four runners in the top ten. Brookline looked incredibly strong while scoring 25 points, 76 points ahead of the second place squad.
8. The Woodlands (TX) - Nearly losing the week before at their state meet, The Woodlands came out on a mission Saturday at the NTN South Regional. The squad ran without front man Reed Conner, but bounced back with a big win. Their win earned them a berth to NTN.
9. Central Catholic (OR) - Idle.
10. York (IL) - Idle. The perennial power from Illinois took second at their state meet behind U.S. #1 Neuqua Valley, again finishing behind them at the NTN Midwest Regional. The squad qualified for NTN for the fourth time.
Girls
1. Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) - A 26-80 score over U.S. ranked Saratoga Springs continued the trend of F-M using a strong pack up front to dominate their competition. The squad placed four in the top seven at their Federation meet.
2. Saugus (CA) - Running the fastest team time ever at the Southern Section Final, Saugus easily beat Esperanza for the team title 37-123. The squad used a 38 second split and five in the top fifteen to crush the competition.
3. Mountain Brook (AL) - Idle.
4. Dowling Catholic (IA) - Idle.
5. Saratoga Springs (NY) - Despite running a fine team race, Saratoga lost to U.S. #1 Fayetteville-Manlius yet again, this time at the N.Y. Federations 26-80. Saratoga beat the rest of the field soundly, while front runner Hannah Davidson led the way in third place.
6. Burnt-Hills (NY) - Idle.
7. Jesuit (OR) - Idle.
8. Westfield (IN) - Idle.
9. St. Mary's (OR) - Idle. Running an impressive team race at the NTN Northwest Regional, St. Mary's beat U.S. #7 Jesuit for the win and earned a berth to Nike Team Nationals.
10. Fort Collins (CO) - After losing big at their state meet to previously ranked Dakota Ridge, Fort Collins bounced back strong to win the NTN Southwest Regional. The team beat Dakota Ridge and Davis (UT) for the team win, earning a berth to Nike Team Nationals.