Led By Overall Winner Nico Young, Newbury Park Boys Cross Country Team Wins National Championship at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN)
/Yesterday, the boys cross country team from Newbury Park High School won the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) title at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Oregon.
Led by NPHS Senior, Nico Young, who handily won the race in the 5K course record time of 14 minutes, 52 seconds, the team edged out two other outstanding teams from Temecula, California (Great Oak High School) and Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon High School) by just 4 points and 14 points, respectively.
NXN is an invitational cross country meet that serves as the “unofficial” (unsanctioned) team national championship for U.S. high school cross country. Nike invites the top 22 teams in the country and the top 50 individuals not included on those teams in this prestigious event. This was the 2nd time the NPHS boys team was invited to the event, following a 6th place showing in their initial 2018 appearance.
The NPHS girls team, which also was invited to NXN after winning the California State Championship last Saturday, finished 17th in the country yesterday.
Course conditions for both races were wet, rainy, muddy and slippery.
Congratulations also go out to the girls team in the first time invitation to this prestigious event, finishing 17th in the country!
Newbury Park Head Coach Sean Brosnan led the teams with the help of assistant coaches Tanya Brosnan and Steve Hawkins.
NP boys team in scoring order: Nico Young (senior), Jace Aschbrenner (senior), Colin Sahlman (sophomore), Nick Goldstein (junior), Daniel Appleford (sophomore), Leo Young (freshman), Thomas McDonnell (junior).
NP girls team in scoring order: Hailey Golmon (senior), Sam McDonnell (sophomore), Fiona Hawkins (junior), Archana Mohandas (senior), Ailish Hawkins (freshman), Hannah Rounds (freshman), Gretchen Slattum (senior).
Additionally, Thousand Oaks High School Senior Michael Mireles was invited to run at the event as an individual and finished 25th overall. Jace Aschbrenner of NP was 18th. Way to go guys!
“The moment” when @NPHSXC learned they were the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals Boys Team Champions! pic.twitter.com/xDjkvDC263
— Rich Gonzalez (@PrepCalTrack) December 7, 2019