We are moving into the part of the season that extends beyond regular season, beyond conferences, and yes, even beyond state. This is the classic, “But, wait… there’s more!” concept for those who need to double knot the spikes one last… or perhaps a few mores lasts… time. Perhaps you have seen the funny bags those super fast people carry their spikes in, or hot pink beanies that so many people have. You now have a chance to grab at the swag yourself at the NXR South meet.
Yes folks, Nike Cross Season is upon us. There are nine Nike Cross Regional meets: Heartland, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, South, Northeast, California, and New York. Runners from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi compete at the Dale Watt’s Cross Country Course at College Station, Texas, for NXR South which takes place on Sunday Nov 22. This meet moved to this course in 2025 after plenty of years at The Woodlands just outside Houston, Texas. The top teams and individuals have a chance to qualify for NXN, or Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.
This year, NXR South will host a boys and girls 5000m championship race, and a 5000m rising stars race for freshmen and sophomores, and an open/combined race. There is also a community race available for others wanting to experience the competition on a beautifully chilly Sunday morning. (And the mech tents! Be ready to stand in line for the trophies-you-can-wear. The lines are long, but well worth the wait!)
There are already over 10 names running in the 14:00s entered in the boys championship field, including runners from Jesuit, Bentonville West, Bentonville XC, and Parkway, and 23 girls with sub-18min times to their names.
Arkansas will be heavily represented: you might see the runners such as Flannery O’Daniel, Madysen, Hantuba, Kaelyn Allen, Cael Underkoffler, and Sean Burns. In the Rising Stars, runners such as Remington Morland, and Brayden Beasley ought to make a splash.
Meet Record Holders include: Caden Leonard from Texas (14:36.4) and Elizabeth Leechman, also from Texas (16:07.6). Venue records are held by Leonard and Dorcas Jepkosgei of Texas with a time of 16:46.0.
We are moving into the part of the season that extends beyond regular season, beyond conferences, and yes, even beyond state. This is the classic, “But, wait… there’s more!” concept for those who need to double knot the spikes one last… or perhaps a few mores lasts… time. Perhaps you have seen the funny bags those super fast people carry their spikes in, or hot pink beanies that so many people have. You now have a chance to grab at the swag yourself at the NXR South meet.
Yes folks, Nike Cross Season is upon us. There are nine Nike Cross Regional meets: Heartland, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, South, Northeast, California, and New York. Runners from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi compete at the Dale Watt’s Cross Country Course at College Station, Texas, for NXR South which takes place on Sunday Nov 22. This meet moved to this course in 2025 after plenty of years at The Woodlands just outside Houston, Texas. The top teams and individuals have a chance to qualify for NXN, or Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.
This year, NXR South will host a boys and girls 5000m championship race, and a 5000m rising stars race for freshmen and sophomores, and an open/combined race. There is also a community race available for others wanting to experience the competition on a beautifully chilly Sunday morning. (And the mech tents! Be ready to stand in line for the trophies-you-can-wear. The lines are long, but well worth the wait!)
