This year, NXR-SW is adding meaning to what have previously been dubbed as simply "open" races. Photo by Alan Versaw.
For those making the trip to Casa Grande, Arizona, on November 21, the morning of competition won't look quite the same as it has in the past.
The "open" races will have a little more structure and format than they have in the past. Gone is the idea of merging all the open races for a single set of awards.
Welcome the new format of morning races where races will be organized by the size of school and each race will have its own set of awards!
As we've been talking about quite a bit here this fall, the small schools (enrollment of 999 or fewer) will have their own division in the morning races for a Southwest region small-school championship. Awards will be given to the top three teams in these races. Awards will definitely include the top three individuals and will likely extend to the top ten individuals.
Small-school teams invited to the championship race must choose between participating in the Small-School Championship and the regional Championship race. See the most current rankings of Southwest region small-school teams here.
Small-school individuals running in the regional Championship race will be factored into team scoring for the Small-school Championship race.
Paralleling the small school championship races will be races for teams from mid-sized (1000-1599 enrollment) and large-sized (1600 and up) schools. Teams combining members from multiple schools will be placed in the large-school division. Both of these divisions will also award the top three teams and at least the top three individuals (but likely going to 10).
In another change that affects only the Championship races, team awards will now be distributed to the top 10 teams in those races.
But, in order to be part of the fun and the new format, you have to register to attend the meet. You can start your registration process here.
I have been charged with helping to get the teams sorted into small, mid, and large school divisions. It would expedite that process a great deal if, once you've registered, you send me an e-mail giving me the current enrollment count for your school or if you're registering a merged team. My e-mail address is in the banner area at the bottom of this page.