2021 XC Nationals: Men's Team Preview

November 4th, 2021 (Updated: Nov 5th)

Despite a lot of new individuals in 2021’s National field (only 53 runners from the Men’s 2019 Championship race return in 2021), many historical favorites comprise a lot of team contenders.


The Regional Champions


First to note is deservedly Northeastern University, who had the most dominant team score from any Regional, scoring 22 points in the Northeast regional. Northeastern raced to a 3rd place finish in 2019, their first ever podium finish, and will be looking to improve upon that finish as they look to cement themselves as a perennial contender. Northeastern came in somewhat under-the-radar in 2019, but they have certainly raced themselves into podium favorite status this year. Northeastern is led by Cameron Leonard who is a contender for the individual title, and will certainly be a low stick for them. The biggest question for Northeastern is if their depth will be enough through 5 runners to capture the team title.


The fastest team average over 8k at any Regional belongs to Michigan who will be looking to return to the top of the podium as they were in 2018 after finishing 4th in 2019. Michigan’s team average of 26:00 was punctuated by the lowest 1-5 runner gap time of any Regional Champion at 45 seconds. Michigan is led by Brandon Shepherd and Addison Smith who will look to contend in the lead pack this weekend. Michigan also brings back the top 2019 Championship race finisher in Adam Sawicki (10th in 2019).


Cal Poly Distance Club led the Pacific Regional with a score of 31 points, averaging 22:36 over the 4 mile course. Cal Poly (12th in 2019 and 2nd in 2018) will be racing for their first ever team title. They are led by Mikolaj Krajewski, a contender for the individual title, and backed by incredible depth - having placed 10 runners in the top 15 at the Pacific Regional. A win for Cal Poly could come from the strength of their entire top 7 as they might have the depth to displace many runners from other team’s 5 scoring runners.


Pittsburgh had the 2nd fastest team average over 8k at regionals, averaging 26:05 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional to score a team total of 46, led by individual champion Nick Wolk. The top team from the Mid-Atlantic has finished on the podium at 4 of the last 5 NIRCA XC Championships, although each of those 4 was Penn State University (including their 2019 Championship). Pittsburgh established themselves as the new leader of the Mid-Atlantic region two weekends ago, and will be racing for their team’s first podium finish.


The Great Plains region has been shut out of a podium spot since Iowa State’s National Championship in 2017, but Illinois might have the team to change that this year. Illinois returns 1 runner from their 9th place team in 2019, Justin Ostrem (86th at 2019 Nationals), and was led to a 1st place finish at the Great Plains Regional (team score of 34) by Eldon Warner and Bram Osterhout who finished 1st and 2nd, respectively. 


NC State finished 5th in 2019, and if they are able to improve to a podium finish, would be the first team out of the Southeast Regional to reach the podium since North Carolina won the first NIRCA XC National Championship in 2006. They edged out Georgia Tech in a close Southeast Regional race, thanks to some solid depth to put all 5 scoring runners in the top 14. They return 2 runners from their 5th place 2019 team: Jackson Herndon (70th) and Gavin Mouat (91st).


The Top Returners:


Penn State won their first Men’s team title in 2019, and will be hoping to repeat that success. They placed 3rd in the tough Mid-Atlantic Regional with a score of 74 points. They are led by Nicholas Deamer (4th in Mid-Atlantic Regional, 25:35). Matthew Balogh also returns from their 2019 Championship team (27th at 2019 Nationals). Balogh didn’t race at Regionals this year, and could be a difference maker in improving their team finish at Nationals.


Purdue University was 2nd in 2019, but returns just one runner from that team (Brandon Dimitri, 115th in 2019). They were runners-up behind a strong Michigan team at the Great Lakes Regional, and could certainly contend for another podium finish on Saturday.


Georgia Tech finished 2nd in the Southeast regional, tying NC State with a team score of 38, but getting edged out on tiebreakers. They’ll have another chance this weekend to edge out their Regional rivals and reach the top of the national field.



Prediction:

As with the individuals, it’s a hard race to forecast with so many new faces in this year’s Championship race. That said, the edge will probably go to the team that is able to get their 4th and 5th runners across the line first. The close races from the past years went to the teams that were able to score just under 100 points, which will take a lot of depth this weekend. For that reason, Michigan (lowest 1-5 gap at Regionals) and Northeastern (lowest team score at Regionals) look to be the teams to beat this weekend.


1st - Michigan

2nd - Northeastern

3rd - Pittsburgh


2021 Regional Champions 

Region

Champion

Average Time and (1-5 Gap Time)

Great Lakes

Michigan

26:00 (0:45)

Great Plains

Illinois

26:28 (1:20)

Mid-Atlantic

Pittsburgh

26:05 (1:30)

Northeast

Northeastern

26:17 (1:29)

Southeast

NC State

26:27 (1:21)

Pacific

Cal Poly

22:36* (1:05)

 *4 mile race distance


Team Championship History 

Year

National Champ

Runner-Up

3rd Place

2019

Penn State (93)Purdue (127)Northeastern (168)

2018

Michigan (89)

Cal Poly (111)

UC, Davis (144)

2017

Iowa State (39)

Penn State (94)

Oregon (97)

2016

Oregon (52)

UC Davis (69)

Penn State (108)

2015

UC Davis (106)

Penn State (125)

Indiana (149)

2014

Indiana (23)

Michigan (149)

Illinois (162)

2013

Indiana (66)

Iowa State (93)

Penn State (114)

2012

Oregon (42)

Indiana (65)

Iowa State (115)

2011

Illinois (87)

Iowa State (115)

Virginia (128)

2010

Michigan (63)

Wisconsin (100)

Virginia (101)

2009

Wisconsin (62)

Illinois (105)

Michigan (128)

2008

Wisconsin (35)

Oregon (89)

Michigan (99)

2007

Oregon (42)

Michigan (47)

Illinois (102)

2006

North Carolina (54)

Illinois (62)

Michigan (74)

Top 10 All-Time Team Averages at NIRCA Nationals

Rank

Team

Average Time

Year

Nationals Course

1

Illinois

25:04

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

2

Iowa State

25:20

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

3

Delaware

25:22

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

4

Minnesota

25:23

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

5

Virginia

25:24

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

6

Indiana

25:39

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

T7

Penn State

25:44

2019

Pole Green Park

T7

Oregon

25:44

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

9

Iowa State

25:45

2017

Forest Akers Golf Course

10

Penn State

25:49

2017

Forest Akers Golf Course




Patrick Kenney, NIRCA

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