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Southeast Region Boys Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
Hardin Valley Academy TN Edges Ahead In Southeast By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Southeast Preview Early season results are popping up across the Southeast, but it is too soon to get full picture of the landscape across the region. What's clear is that only a handful of teams appear to have the depth necessary to make a serious run at a Nike Cross Nationals qualifying berth. There is talent scattered across the region, but too often it comes in packages of twos, threes and fours. The Tennessee state champions, Hardin Valley Academy of Knoxville, doesn't lack for depth. The team scored 33 points last November to win the state crown and brings back three runners who finished in the top 10. The margins separating the five teams in the first poll of the season aren't large. The ones listed appear to be the most capable of absorbing an injury, a timeout in quarantine, or an off day by someone in the pack. In 2019, Virginia produced both Southeast representatives to NXN and Crozet (West Albemarle) and Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) finished fifth and 10th, respectively, in Portland. But Virginia is noticeably quiet so far in 2021, with some top teams not quite deep enough to make the preseason list. 1. Hardin Valley Academy TN. The Hawks won the Tennessee state title last year by more than 100 points but didn't get the opportunity to see where that put them regionally. Front-runner Kaden Keller, a senior, leads a group that appears to be ready for similar results this fall. Eight of the team's runners ran under 4:39 for the mile in the spring. 2. Belen Jesuit FL. Recent victories at the Florida Horse Park Invitational and the Kowboy XC Invitational have shown this team to be the most complete in Florida. Senior Adam Magoulas is one of the top runners in the entire region and the team has found suitable replacements after losing four of last year's top five. Sophomore Joshua Ruiz has taken big strides forward to become a solid No. 2. 3. Mount Tabor NC. It's crazy to think that 2021 will see two North Carolina state cross country championships in the calendar year, but runners have adapted and ready to go on the typical schedule this fall. Mount Tabor has the luxury of bringing back all seven of the runners who finished third in the 3A state final last January. Senior Will Soule leads a deep group that saw five runners go 4:36 or better in the 1,600 meters in the spring. 4. Severna Park MD. Maryland did not conduct a cross country season last year, so the runners in this proud program are grateful to see the beginning of the season come around again. Tyler Canaday and Edward Sullivan were both sub-4:20 runners in the 1,600 in the spring and are now ready to jumpstart the program. Severna Park finished third, one spot away from NXN, at the 2019 Southeast regional. 5. Mill Creek GA. Led by senior Ethan Nordman's fourth-place finish, Mill Creek picked up an impressive early season victory at the AT&T Starr's Mill Panther XC Invitational. Mill Creek has gotten better since finishing sixth in the Georgia Class 7A state meet last fall and is the early pick as the best team in the state. The team also competed at at Kowboy XC Invitational in Florida and finished second to Belen Jesuit, 25-34. Watchlist |
