On Saturday, November 22, the highest ranked high school cross country teams from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada gathered in Tempe, Arizona for the 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships. The top two teams, and top five individuals from non-qualifying teams, in the Girls and Boys Championship races, earned the right to compete in the Nike Cross Nationals Championship meet in Portland, Oregon on December 6. In addition, four at large teams nationally will be selected to compete, based on a point scoring system.
*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships ***
In contrast to last year’s runaway record-breaking performances, the individual winners of both championship races this year were decided in the final meters. Dart Schwaderer from Wheat Ridge edged out Jon Nelson from Timpview, 15:14.98 to 15:15.73 in the Boys Championship race. In the final meters of the Girls Championship race, Laura Tremblay from the Eagles XC Club surged past local favorite Jessica Tonn from the Xavier TC by three one hundredths of a second, 17:40.20 to 17:40.23.
Click here for 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships results
