By Ricky Quintana

Cary, NC -  Over 4,500 athletes from 17 states and the District of Columbia will compete in the 27th Great American XC Festival presented by Garmin Friday and Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park Course. The meet will be the largest in meet history and will be live streamed for free both days on RunnerSpace thanks to our friends at V.O2. V.O2 will be on site to demonstrate their athlete and coaching app.

Races begin Friday at 4:15pm with the middle school division and will be followed by the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge College races. New this year is the V.O2 Community race which will be the final event of the evening starting at 5:50pm. Registration will be on site, but participants are encouraged to pre register HERE.

Saturday’s races begin at 8:00 am with the high school JV divisions followed by the Open Blue Races, Race of Champions Races and the Open Red Races. The Race of Champions Awards Ceremony will be held at 11:15am. A complete schedule can be found HERE. 

Both Race of Champions will feature several top ranked teams in the DyeStat Regional Rankings and eight individuals ranked in the top 25 in the country. 

The Girls Race of Champions promises to be a competitive race and will start at 10:20am Saturday.

Top girls' teams entered:  

DyeStat SE #1 Webb School (Knoxville, TN) - The Spartans are coming off a resounding win at the Hare and Hounds XC Invitational at Charlotte, NC’s McAlpine Park. They took the top two places and placed their top five runners in the top 27 to win by 126 points. They are undefeated this year. They finished third last year and return four runners from that team.

DyeStat SE #3 James Robinson (Fairfax, VA) -  The Rams are undefeated this year and placed second last year. They return five runners from that team.

DyeStat SE #5 C.G. Woodson(Fairfax, VA) -  The Cavaliers fell 21 points shy of The Rams in the second race of the season.

DyeStat South #5 South Texas Heat Homeschool (San Antonio, TX) - Five sisters of which four are pairs of twins, the Lattas, make up the team and they have been on a roll this season: one win, one second place and a third place. 

Other notable teams that could surprise are: IMG Academy (Bradenton,FL), William Penn Charter (Philadelphia, PA), Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, NC), and Marietta (GA).

The individual race will be a barn burner. Six of the top 25 ranked girls are entered with several dark horses who may upset the apple cart. The course record of  16:02 was set by Irene Riggs (Morgantown, WV) in winning the NXR SE regional in 2022. Eleven girls have broken 17 minutes in meet history and this race could have four sub 17 finishers on Saturday.

Top girls' individuals:

US #1 Averi Lowen (Bowdon, GA) - Last week Lowen earned the US #1 ranking. She is undefeated and has won by one minute and 32 seconds or more in each of her three races. In her first race of the year, the Bob Blastow Invitational on August 23, she came within 13 seconds of Jenna Hutchins (Science Hill, Johnson City, TN) course record of 16:39.06 set in 2022. That year, Hutchins, now at BYU, became the first girl in high school history to break 16 minutes for the 5,000 meter cross country distance. Jane Hedengren (Timpview, Provo, UT) is the only other to have broken 16 minutes. Lowen has toppled course records in her other two races by 34+ seconds. She is the defending NXR SE Champion winning in 16:59.4, the 11th fastest in course history. She fell at the start of NXN last year and finished 78th in 18:45.2. 

US #5 Lily Alder (Timpview, Provo, UT) -  Alder rebounded from an early season loss to Rozlyn Stowe (Price, UT) at the Woodbridge Classic in Irvine, CA September 20. In a come from behind finish, she edged US #6 and Stanford commit Chiara Dailey (La Jolla, CA). Also in her wake were US #8 and Stanford commit Jaelyn Williams (East Lake, Chula Vista, CA), US #13 and Duke commit Summer Wilson (Irvine, CA),  US #16 Paige Sheppard (Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, NJ), US #21 and BYU commit Macy Wingard ( Denton Braswell, Aubrey, TX), and US #24 and Arkansas commit Braelyn Combe (Santiago, Corona, CA). It will be a homecoming for the BYU commit. She was born in Fort Bragg, NC and competed in USATF/AAU events from 2013-2021 in NC. In 2023, she finished 20th at NXN in 18:02.0. In track last year, she won the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in 4:39.20.

US #7 Elin Latta, South Texas Heat Homeschool, San Antonio, TX) - Last year, Latta became the second fastest freshman miler and two miler of all time, 4:36.43 and 9:59.79c(9:56.33). She has two wins this season and one second place. In her last race, the Nike South Invitational, she ran 17:17.3 on a course which was later reported to be 100 meters long. Her time would have placed her sixth in the college race run earlier that day. Last year, she finished 23rd at NXN in 17:46.9 and was the highest placing freshman in the country.

US #11 Jazzlyn Garmer (Webb School, Knoxville, TN) -  Garmer, a Furman commit, recorded the fastest regular season time at the Hare and Hounds XC Invitational September 20 to just beat her sister, Calysta. It was the first time she has beaten her sister this season. She finished 22nd at last year’s Great American 18:05.70 and finished seventh at NXR SE in 17:24.4.

US #12 Calysta Garmer (Webb School, Knoxville, TN) - Garmer, a Furman commit, won the New Balance Outdoor Nationals 5,000 meter in 16:18.14, the fourth fastest time in the country in ‘25 and the fastest by an underclassman. Last year, she was 26th at Great American 18:21.10  and 21st 17:49.38 at NXR SE.

US #25 Madeline Dorsch (Pinecrest, Southern Pines NC) - Dorsch was a few seconds behind the Garmer sisters at the Hare and Hounds XC Invitational. Her 17:03.70 was the third fastest on the course during the regular season. She has finished behind the Garmer sisters twice and her teammate Alessia Potts once this season to go along with her one win. Her best time on this course came last year when she finished  140th at the adidas XC Challenge in 20:46.40.

Mackenzie Skelly (William Penn Charter, Philadelphia, PA) - as an eighth grader, Skelly sped to mile and two mile bests of 4:48.97 and 10:14.39. Her frosh season has started off with two wins including a course record time of 16:53.70 at the 71st Annual George School Invitational. Her best on this course came in finishing 13th in the college/open 5,000 at the ‘24 adidas XC Challenge, 5.7 seconds behind ‘25  World Championship 3,000 meter steeplechase ninth place finisher, and now NC State junior, Angelina Napoleon.

Maysen Fletcher ( Herbert Hoover, Elkview, WV) - The sophomore suffered her first loss of the season finishing fifth at the Hare and Hounds XC Invitational in 17:19.70. Last spring, she recorded one of the fastest freshman mile times in history when she ran 4:42.45 to win the Toad Fest High School mile. She tripled at her state meet, winning the 800 meter (2:14.29), 1,600 meter (4:53.16) and 3,200 meter (10:19.41) races. She also won the cross country title making a clean sweep of the WV high school distance races. She finished 10th at last year’s Great American in 17:51.0.

Abigail Anstett (George Washington Visitation Prep, Washington DC) - Anstett, a junior, is a veteran of this course having run it five times in her high school career. This will be her first time running the Great American XC Festival. On September 20 she won the adidas XC Challenge in a personal course best of 17:21.50 leading from wire to wire. She has two wins and two second places this season. Last track season, she posted personal bests in the mile, 4:44.34 and the two mile, 10:22.39. 

The Boys’ Race of Champions will be a litmus test for the top team in the Nike Southeast Regional. The only team missing from the top five is DyeStat SE is #1 McCallie (Chattanooga, TN).

Top boys' teams entered:  

DyeStat South #1 Jesuit (New Orleans, LA) - The Blue Jays flexed their muscle at the Nike South Invitational on September 19. They placed their top five in  the top 17 and averaged 15:30.2 on a course that was 100 meters long. Their sixth and seventh men were not far behind recording times of 15:57.60 and 16:08.60. Last year, they finished third at Great American, and eighth at the NXR South Regional. They look to be a favorite to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals from the NXR South Regional and be a NXN podium contender. This will be another step in that journey.

DyeStat SE #2 Belen Jesuit (Miami, FL) - Belen Jesuit's two year streak of wins during the regular season came to an end at The Southern Showcase on September 13. They finished third there behind DyeStat MW #1 Columbus North(IN) and DyeStat SE #1 McCallie(TN) by 17 and 16 points. They have won the Great American Race of Champions and the NXR SE team titles the past two years. The team has one senior, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman and have continued to get better each race.

DyeStat SE #3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) - IMG Academy has won twice this season. Their 1-5 spread has averaged 48.7 seconds in both races. Last year they finished 21st at Great American and 16th at NXR SE.

DyeStat SE #4 Christ School (Arden, NC) - The Greenies are undefeated this season. They won the Hare and Hound XC Invitational over Cary Academy by 58 points and the Eye Opener by 148 points. At the Hare and Hounds they averaged 15:38 for their top five and had a 1-5 spread of 36 seconds. Like Jesuit, they have strong number six and seven runners: 15:58.0 and 15:59.3.  They have one senior, and six juniors.

DyeStat SE #5 Trinity (Louisville, KY) -  The Shamrocks’ best outing this season was at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on September 19. Their top five averaged 15:24 with a 19 second spread. Their sixth and seventh runners were close behind in 15:45 and 15:55.  Last year they finished fourth at Great American and 13th at NXR SE.

Calvert Hall College (Towson, MD) - The Cardinal won the adidas XC Challenge over Broughton, 178-227. Their top five average was 16:01 and their 1-5 split was one minute and three seconds. Last year, they finished 20th at NXR SE.

Broughton (Raleigh, NC) -  At the adidas XC Challenge, the Capitals finished second. In that race they averaged 16:06 for their top five and had a one minute and seventeen second spread. At the Southern Showcase, they finished fourth, just 47 points behind Belen Jesuit and 63 points behind DyeStat SE #1 McCallie. Their top five average was 15:50 and their 1-5 split was 57 seconds. Last year, they finished 14th at Great American and third at NXR SE

Top boys’ individuals

US #3 Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit, Miami, FL) - The junior has not been defeated this year. He ran a personal best and Florida state xc record of 14:35.3 to win The Southern Showcase and broke his course record by 11 seconds at his opener, Cecil Field Classic with a 14:50.  He is the national sophomore record holder in the indoor 5,000 meters and two mile and a one time national high school champion in the 5,000 meters. Last year, he won the Great American in the eighth fastest time in course history, 14:40.2.

US #16 Kavi Gibson (Cary Academy, Cary, NC) - The senior set a meet record, 14:50.7 when he won the Hare and Hounds XC Festival on Charlotte's historic McAlpine Park course. Last year at the adidas XC Challenge, he finished second in 14:42.2, the 12th fastest time in course history. He is a veteran of this course having competed on it 12 times in his career.

Matthew Dodds (IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL) - Last year, Dodds finished 27th at Great American and 46th at NXR SE. His best time was 15:26.40. In his first two meets this year, he has run 35 seconds faster than he did last year on the same courses. In his two wins, his closest competitor has been 28.54 seconds behind him.

Aaron Brodrick (Oconee County, Watkinsville, GA) - The senior is undefeated this year. His best this season is 15:01.34. He ran 15:30.51 at the OrthoWest Invitational, site of the GA state meet. That was fifth fastest ever on the course bettering Tommy Latham’s (Marist, Atlanta, GA)
15:33.20 and Graham Blanks’ (Athens Academy, Athens, GA) 15:33.32 bests on that course.

Graham Hummel (Homeschool Athletics Association, Plano, TX) -  The sophomore finished five seconds behind US #19, Ruel Newberry at the Nike South Invitational on September 19.  He also finished fifth, 25 seconds behind Newberry on August 30. He has closed the gap significantly in a few weeks and will look to test himself against some of the nation’s best.

Armando Cruz (Belen Jesuit, Miami, FL) - The junior has had a breakout season. He finished second to Mantecon in his first two races and finished seventh at The Southern Showcase in a personal best of 15:03.07. At that meet last year, he finished 27th in 16:10.0 in muddier conditions. At last year’s NXR SE Regional, he set his WakeMed course best of 15:23.54 in finishing 34th. He finished 116th at the ‘24 NXN in 16:49.20.

Ethan Rich (Western Harnett, Lillington, NC) - The junior finished five seconds Kavi Gibson at the Friday Night Lights XC Festival on September 5. He has won all his other races including the adidas XC Challenge where he ran 15:10.20 to set a 5,000 meter cross country best. 

Brady Monahan (Jesuit, New Orleans, LA)  - In his only recorded competition this year, the senior finished third behind Newberry and Hummel at the Nike South Invitational on September 19.  Last year, he set a 5,000 meter personal best of 15:07.9 in finishing ninth at the Great American. At NXR SE, he finished 11th in 15:36.10. 

Luke Surface (North Raleigh Christian, Raleigh, NC) - Surface recorded the fastest 5,000 meter cross country time ever recorded by an eighth grader in finishing second to Rich at the adidas XC Challenge. His 15:12.0 was 45 seconds better than his previous best.  As a point of reference, Belen Jesuit’s Marcelo Mantecon ran 15:43.60 as an eighth grader on the WakeMed course. After his record run, Surface said the season goal was to break 15. He’ll have a great chance on Saturday.

Ryan Sykes (Horace Greeley, Chappaqua, NY) - The NY Federation Champion bettered his course best this past weekend in finishing third at the Bowdoin XC Classic in Wappinger Falls, NY. His 15:37.80 was 1.3 seconds out of first and was 10.3 seconds better than his NY Federation winning time. Last year, he finished 114th at NXN.

The Great American XC Festival is one the largest interstate cross country competitions in the United States. 19 editions have been held with two canceled because of hurricanes. In those 22 years, 55,392 athletes from 40 states, Canada, DC and Puerto Rico have competed. This is the 19th year the event has been held in Cary, NC.

For more information go to the following links:

Meet website
Day 1 Webcast
Day 2 Webcast
Live Results

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About the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation, Inc.

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1990, with the mission to inspire and empower student athletes on and off the track.  The NSAF supports high school and junior-aged track and field athletes through national high school competitions, including Nike Indoor and Nike Outdoor Nationals; The Great American XC Festival and HBCU Challenge and the American JavFest. The NSAF provides approximately $350,000 in grants annually.  For more information about the NSAF, please visit NationalScholastic.org.