The Best Overall Performance Of The XC Season
Boys Winner: Parker Wolfe, Cherry Creek (CO)
Wolfe's national win and US No. 1 time of 14:26.94 at the RunningLane XC National Championships was voted as the nation's best overall performance with 44.53-percent of the votes.
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With a few organizations opting to cancel their national championships cross country events in 2020, a bevy of new suitors stepped to the line with the hopes of showcasing the tantalizing speed and ability of the country's top runners.
But perhaps the best race of the fall season took place on Nov. 21 in Huntsville, Alabama, as Cherry Creek (CO) senior Parker Wolfe held strong over the John Hunt Park course before making a dominant move with just over a half-mile left to earn a new US No. 1 5K time of 14:26.94 at the RunningLane XC National Championships.
A total of 32 runners broke 15 minutes on the day.
At first, though, it was the Kamari Miller show, as the Marietta (GA) senior pushed the pace through a 4:30 mile and continued through a second strong mile.
But with the University of North Carolina recruit closing strong, Miller waned.
Wolfe's training at altitude, and the overall success and confidence of his season, made a difference as he made a push for first, winning the first big national race of his career.
Girls Winner: Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill (TN)
Jenna Hutchins set a new national high school 5K cross country record in 15:58 at the RunningLane National Cross Country Championships in November and the run was voted as the nation's best overall girls performance with 51-percent of the votes.
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Near the end of November, Science Hill (TN) junior Jenna Hutchins made history at the RunningLane XC National Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.
Hutchins started out strong and took a commanding lead, extending the separation between her and the rest of the field before crossing the finish line in a course, state and national record of 15:58. Hutchins' performance made history as she became the first high school girl to break 16 minutes for 5K in cross country.
Hutchins finished the race about a minute ahead of the second-place finisher, who happened to be Niwot freshman Mia Prok.
Hutchins did the little things during the offseason, which ultimately made a difference in her training and that showed on the course. Throughout the cross country season, she ran six sub-17 minute 5Ks.