Jesuit In Position To Make Another Run At The NXN Podium; Coeur d'Alene, Crater, Mercer Island Unfazed By Graduation Losses

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys NXR Northwest Preview

For the first time since the Nike Cross Nationals adopted a regional format 18 years ago, there is a change of venue this year at two NXR meets. The Northwest is moving out of Eagle Island State Park west of Boise, Idaho and will be held at the Polo Grounds outside of Spokane, Wash. (In the South, the meet is moving from The Woodlands to College Station in Texas). 

The Polo Grounds is a temporary move and NXR Northwest will be on Gonzaga's new course in Spokane next year. 

Three years after finishing second behind Newbury Park at the 2022 Nike Cross Nationals, Jesuit of Portland has re-emerged as a potential podium team with a strong group of seniors and a couple of talented underclassmen. 

Jesuit returns its top three from last year's 16th place team at NXN, four of the seven who ran in the meet, and have added a key transfer. 

The Crusaders are led by senior Kellen Williams, who had an outstanding track season where he registered new personal bests in the 3,200 meters (8:51.56) and mile (4:07.61). 

Coeur d'Alene ID, last year's Northwest champion and ninth-place team at NXN, is still going strong despite the graduation of twins Max and Zack Cervi-Skinner. The brothers were the team's Nos. 1 and 2 last year, but the other five who ran at Glendoveer Golf Course are returning. 

Crater's effort to return to NXN in 2024 got sideways at regionals when standout Josiah Tostenson became ill and couldn't perform up to his standards. Tayvon Kitchen won the NXR individual title but traveled to Portland alone. 

Tostenson and Kitchen caught fire in the ensuing track season, both running sub-four miles among a long list of achievements. They have both moved on, but the team culture is still crackling in Central Point, Ore. 

Another team that lost an all-time record-breaker, Mercer Island of Washington, is also expected to carry on at a high standard without Owen Powell. None of the other six from last year's Washington Class 3A state title team were seniors. 

Lincoln of Portland may still be a year away from contending for the regional title, but the Cardinals are coming up. Five runners on this fall's cross country team broke nine minutes for 3,000 meters last spring. 

Kian Compton of Eisenhower WA, a junior, is the top returner from last year's NXR Northwest championship race after finishing 13th. Isaac Benjamin of South Kitsap WA was 15th and could make a run at this year's title, along with Malachi Schoenherr of Sheldon OR and Ty Cirino of Central OR. 

1. Jesuit OR. After a somewhat disappointing 16th place finish at NXN last year, Jesuit returns nearly all of its lineup and is truly seven deep. Kellen Williams is the team's No. 1 but there is a lot of quality behind him with senior Matthew Wrobleski, who was a member of the 2022 national runner-up team as a freshman. Senior Brayden Fletcher was third for the team last year at NXN. Seniors Jackson Welsh and Liam Donnelly, sophomore Jaciah Lavier all ran between 8:37 and 8:50 on the track in the 3,000. Sophomore Brady Lukasiewicz, who ran last season for Central Catholic, bolsters the lineup. He was 20th in the Oregon 6A cross country final last year. . 

2. Coeur d'Alene ID. Junior Wyatt Carr is the new leader. He finished 10th in the 5,000 meters at Nike Outdoor Nationals in June (14:38) and is one of the top runners in the region. He's joined by senior Mitchell Rietze, sophomores Rowan Henry and Wyatt Morgenstern and junior Gabe Heule. 

3. Crater OR. The Comets started the season with a great showing at the Wilsonville Night Meet, with six boys covering the 3,000-meter course between 8:44.8 and 9:04.1. Preston Schmidt is the only senior in that group, which also includes juniors Maxwell Miracle, Reece Hvall and Nathan Goode, sophomore Garrett Faught and freshman Ryder White.  

4. Mercer Island WA. The other returners from last year's state title team all have the example of Owen Powell's work ethic and and commitment in their minds. Much like the Crater returners, the Islanders have seen greatness up close. Senior Bodie Thomas was sixth at the state meet last year and senior Matthew Lawrence was 11th. Senior Matthew Greer, junior Finn Bunker, and seniors Silas Rennie and Connor Ward give the team a solid five. Freshman Jake Powell, Owen's little brother, is one to keep an eye on.

5. Lincoln OR. The Cardinals put six in the top 10 of Wednesday's Portland Interscholastic League Preview meet and that followed a strong showing in Wilsonville last week. A strong junior class includes Peter James, Malcolm Dimoff and Jack Denton. Senior Joshua Prince and sophomores Desmond Conser and Seth Kugel give the team versatility and depth.  

WATCHLIST

Bozeman MT

Rocky Mountain ID

Central Catholic OR

Summit OR

Boise ID

Mead WA

Eagle ID

Kamiakin WA

Redmond WA

Mountain View ID