Boys Race Preview
Top individual times
Flo50 teams: No. 4 Timpanogos (UT), No. 5 Davis (UT), No. 12 American Fork (UT), No. 14 Desert Hills (UT), No. 15 Lehi (UT)
Flo50 individuals: No. 6 Casey Clinger (UT), No. 8 Alek Parsons (UT), No. 9 Paul Roberts (CO), No. 12 Talon Hull (UT), No. 16 Will Handley (UT), No. 18 Garek Bielaczyc (UT)
Top returning individuals: Casey Clinger (UT), Paul Roberts (CO), Alek Parsons (UT), Mckay Johns (UT), Niles Thomas (NM), Ben Butler (CO), Garek Bielaczyc (UT), Logan Mackay (UT), Christian Allen (UT), Jaiden Melendrez (Desert Hills, UT)
Flo50 teams: No. 4 Timpanogos (UT), No. 5 Davis (UT), No. 12 American Fork (UT), No. 14 Desert Hills (UT), No. 15 Lehi (UT)
Flo50 individuals: No. 6 Casey Clinger (UT), No. 8 Alek Parsons (UT), No. 9 Paul Roberts (CO), No. 12 Talon Hull (UT), No. 16 Will Handley (UT), No. 18 Garek Bielaczyc (UT)
Top returning individuals: Casey Clinger (UT), Paul Roberts (CO), Alek Parsons (UT), Mckay Johns (UT), Niles Thomas (NM), Ben Butler (CO), Garek Bielaczyc (UT), Logan Mackay (UT), Christian Allen (UT), Jaiden Melendrez (Desert Hills, UT)
The distance-rich state of Utah looks to lead NXN qualifiers with a total of five nationally ranked teams and five nationally ranked individuals entered here. The top three teams from the Class 6A Championship in Davis, Lehi and American Fork will face off again with NXN berths on the line. At the state meet, 23 points separated first-place Davis from second-place Lehi, while just 15 points separated Lehi from third-place American Fork.
But the best team in Utah is likely Class 4A champions Timpanogos, currently ranked No. 4 in the nation. The Timberwolves defeated No. 2 ranked Great Oak at the Bob Firman Invitational in September by two points and No. 5 Davis by five points, thought the Darts actually had a tighter pack and quicker total team time at the state meet.
The individual bids to NXN will likely extend deep into the top ten, as the fastest boys in this region run for top-ranked teams. Junior Casey Clinger of American Fork is the top returner and top-ranked runner in the field; he's undefeated this year with a new three mile PR of 14:47.5. Smart money is on Clinger, who is also the No. 2 returner to NXN, where he finished eighth as a sophomore last December.
Garek Bielaczyc look unbeatable early on, winning the Murray Invitational in early September over Alek Parsons before going on to a dominating 15:36 Roy Griak win that earned him a 198 Speed Rating - No. 2 in the nation only behind Drew Hunter. But Parsons is on a hot streak lately that saw him top Bielaczyc at the region and state championship meets.
Parsons is the No. 10 returner from NXN and with personal best times of 8:55 for 3200m and 4:14 for 1600m, is the overall quickest in the field.
Paul Roberts is the only non-Utah native with a chance at a top finish. The four-time individual Colorado state cross country champion is undefeated within his home state this year. He placed 18th at the 2014 NXN and has international cross country racing experience as a member of the Team USA contingent to IAAF World Junior XC Championships in China. He has said he is going for both Foot Locker and NXN berths, so may use this race as a warm-up.
PICKS
Teams: 1. Timpanogos 2. Davis
Individuals: 1. Alek Parsons 2. Casey Clinger 3. Paul Roberts 4. Will Handley 5. Garek Bielaczyc