Boys Preview - NXN Northeast Regional
- Entries
- Race Time: 1:10 P.M.
Team Breakdown
The top four boys teams in the state are set for Bowdoin Park on Saturday. In a deep field of teams, Pennsylvania will need some big team showings to crack the top two and automatically qualify for NXN in Portland.
The AAA state champions from North Allegheny (PA#1) will look to keep its season alive in its first NXR appearance since its last state title run in 2014. The Tigers were 2008 NXN qualifiers. With a very strong top two in Zach Kinne and Dan McGoey, the pressure will fall on those 3-4-5 runners to get it done in Wappinger's Falls. Those runners stepped up at states, and they will have to do it again to contend this weekend. Look for Kinne and McGoey to work together near the front. Like the state meet, their low points will be crucial.
LaSalle College (PA#2) didn't race NXR last season after winning the AAA state title. Now the 2018 AAA runners-up will head to Bowdoin, looking for a strong showing. The junior-heavy squad, led by Vincent Twomey, Ethan Maher, and Bradden Koors will aim to surprise some and possibly get some revenge on NA.
Downingtown West (PA#3) finished third at states for a third straight year. In 2015, the Whippets won the Northeast region and qualified through to nationals. D-West, paced by Payton Sewall, was a point ahead of fourth-place Seneca Valley (PA#4) at states in AAA. The Raiders have a solid top two in Sam Owori and Seth Ketler. Both are in the field, looking for strong performances on Saturday.
Lewisburg Area and New Castle are among the other Pennsylvania teams with full squads entered for NXR.
The Northeast region is very strong up front, with a pair of Rhode Island teams, as well as a pair of New Jersey teams among the favorites. The favorites look to be La Salle Academy (RI), while Christian Brothers Academy (NJ), Bishop Hendricken (RI), and Haddonfield Memorial (NJ) will be shooting for the top two.
There is the possibility of an "at-large" bid for this region, however, so if one of the top PA teams takes third, it could have a shot at qualifying for NXN.
Individuals Breakdown
Two teammates that went 2-3 in AAA and will be toeing the line at NXR. North Allegheny's Zach Kinne and Dan McGoey will look to turn that state success into a berth in nationals. They'll be going for team points, but they will be contenders for a pair of the five non-qualifying team spots in NXN, as well, if the team doesn't make it.
Kinne, the PIAA Class AAA runner-up, is the lone PA boy in this field with nationals experience. As a sophomore, Kinne and his Neuqua Valley team qualified to Portland. Kinne placed 67th at nationals. He transferred this summer from Illinois and will look to cap off his final high school XC season with a trip to Portland. Saturday will be McGoey's first regionals experience. The junior was third at states, and is a talented racer that could find himself with another XC race on his plate by Saturday afternoon.
A number of other contenders could emerge from PA in this field. Wallenpaupack's Tyler Wirth was 22nd a Foot Locker Northeast last year. He looks to be going with NXR this time around, and the sixth place AAA state finisher will look to have his best race of the season and get into NXN. Unionville's Cole Walker ran to the District 1 title this season. The junior was 11th at states and will have a shot at the top 5 individuals.
The teams entered have some individuals that could mix it up for high finishes. Downingtown West's Payton Sewall (9th in PIAA Class AAA) and Isaac Valderrabano (16th in PIAA Class AAA), Seneca Valley's Sam Owori (10th in PIAA Class AAA) and Seth Ketler (14th in PIAA Class AAA), and LaSalle's Vincent Twomey (22nd in PIAA Class AAA) could all be in the mix for high finishes.
Other strong entries include Walker's Unionville teammate Cole Driver (23rd in PIAA Class AAA) and Ethan McIntyre, Holy Cross's Andrew Healey (second in PIAA Class A), Scranton's Josh Christianson (25th in PIAA Class AAA), Loyalsock's Alejandro Quintana, and Bedford's Van May.