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Courtesy of Dragon Cross Country
2022 Cross Country NXN
Dragon Boys and Girls Cross Country at 2022 Nike Nationals.
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Jan Smits
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Jan Smits
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Jan Smits
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Jan Smits
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Jan Smits
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Jan Smits
Finish on empty. That’s the motto Nike delivers to cross-country athletes. And for 17 years, they’ve also delivered the Nike Cross Nationals, a highly-acclaimed invitational meet that serves as the unofficial team national championship. Both Carroll’s boys and girls teams represented Dragon Nation yet again last weekend at the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Oregon.
With more than 27,000 public and private schools eligible to compete, it’s not easy to make it to this meet. Only a few at-large teams and the top two teams from eight regional championships are among the 22 teams invited to compete.
With deep teams led by No. 1 runners Logan Cantu and Ava Busha, both the Dragon boys and girls teams collectively earned their way to the prestigious event after taking home first-place honors at the Nike South Regionals held in The Woodlands. The boys finished with 56 points, and the girls with 57 points.
The accomplishment marked the 14th trip each team has made out of 17 possible trips — an unprecedented mark that has the Dragons atop the list of perennial powerhouse programs. With 28 combined team trips, it’s safe to say that no coach has been to the event more than Dragon head coach Justin Leonard.
“We are extremely proud of all of the runners in our program for their continued dedication,” coach Leonard says. “Having the opportunity to represent our school and community on a national stage is indescribable and the perfect way to cap off a season. We are appreciative to our parents, community and school district for their support.”
Nike Boys Cross Nationals 5K 20th Place
Jude Alvarez - 15:49 (49)
Caden Leonard - 16.33 (135)
Tyler Ortiz - 16:36 (143)
Zach Troutman - 16:38 (143)
Blake Bullard - 16:41 (150)
Jacob Freeman - 16:44 (156)
Logan Cantu - 17:03 (181)
Nike Girls Cross Nationals 5K 11th Place
Ava Bushaw - 18:08 (49)
Sylvia Schwedler - 18.26 (71)
Elizabeth Smits - 19:01 (116)
Audrey Dunn - 19:03 (143)
Charlotte Martin - 19:06 (122)
Sarayu Veluri - 19:44 (162)
Natlie Ng - 19:48 (164)