Real Training Girls Beat Academy XC 58-72 For Southwest Title In Meeting Of Top Girls Teams; AFXC, Herriman XC Continue Drive To NXN Showdown

Story and Photos by Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Gianna Rahmer didn't know what to expect, and perhaps that played to her favor. 

The eighth-grader from Albuquerque, who won the New Mexico Class 5A cross country title a week earlier in 16:58, outlasted an elite field of contenders on a muddy track at NXR Southwest at Coyote Run Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. and won the championship girls race 17:00.58. 

INTERVIEWS

In a meet filled with elite teams and runners from Utah and Colorado, it was Rahmer who drew gasps with her stunning victory. The first middle schooler to win an NXR championship race was embraced by her cheering team and coach after the race. 

"It was so fun. I was so excited to have competition and race people," Rahmer said. "I did not expect to win that entire race and even coming up the hill (to the finish), I definitely did not expect to win. I just focused and pushed hard as I could and I leaned into the people who were cheering for me."

Wet conditions caused meet officials to re-route the course away from the vulnerable fairways of the golfing venue. 

The NXR Southwest was already billed as one of the greatest regional meets since Nike Cross Nationals began the format in 2007. Two of the top boys teams in the country, American Fork XC and Herriman XC of Utah went 1-2 as expected in the boys championship. 

Daniel Simmons won his second consecutive NXR Southwest regional for AFXC, dodging the hazards of slick mud and standing water to run 14:41.13. He beat three other Utah runners by 10 seconds, beginning with second-place JoJo Jourdon of Olympus XC, Samuel Ghiz of Riverton XC Club and Austin Westfall of Orem XC. 

"It felt like the true spirit of cross country," Simmons said of the mud. "So I'm really grateful for this race."

Porter Middaugh of Vail Valley was the first Coloradoan, fifth overall in 14:54.43. Kyle Steadman from Mountain View UT was sixth to earn the final automatic individual berth to NXN. Middaugh's teammate, William Brunner, is on the bubble and could advance. 

American Fork XC maintained its state-meet mastery and scored 79 to Herriman XC's 121, despite some late season aches and illnesses. Riverton XC Club got third place with 153 points and beat Colorado's top-ranked team, Real Training. 

"We focused last night so much on belief," Simmons said. "Whether we get fifth, first, second or third, everything has a plan to it and it's going to be great." 

Ben Jaster moved up 12 spots after the 2-mile to take 13th for American Fork. 

Herriman's five scorers got out conservatively and ran as a group to places 28th through 42nd place and were split by 10 seconds on the clock. 

On the girls side, Real Training and Academy XC Club went head to head in a potential preview of the NXN final. Addison Ritzenhein finished third to lead Real Training (Niwot), the Class 4A Colorado champions. 

Academy's leader, Bethany Michalak was fourth. 

The average finish time on Real Training's scorers was 17:45; for Academy, 17:50. 

"I'm so proud," Ritzenhein said. "I can't imagine a better team. Winning together, it's everything."

Isabel Allori finished second to Rahmer in 17:01.69. After Ritzenhein and Michalak, Ella Hagen took fifth to earn a return trip to NXN, in 17:16.02 and Lily Alder from T-BIRDS XC was sixth with 17:26.45. Avalon Mecham of American Fork XC moved up five spots in the final mile to grab seventh in 17:29.23.

One of the biggest surprises of the girls race was a third-place finish for Vista Nation XC Club, which scored 107 points and pushed No. 3-ranked Lone Peak (Utah) to fourth with 122 points.