Cross Country Season on Flotrack 2013

Which is the best state at XC?

Which is the best state at XC?

Dec 10, 2013 by Isaac Wood
Which is the best state at XC?
The Wood Report might be over for cross country, but you can still follow statistics guru Isaac Wood all year on his blog. His analysis track and field is unparalleled and according to the ladies of Florida State, he's quite the singer too. If really like to stay updated, be sure to follow him on Twitter too.


Every year, there seems to be a debate over which state produces the best cross country runners in the country. Of course, most states believe that they put out the best harriers around and they probably have some good logic to back up their argument. This year as I tuned in to the NXN and Foot Locker races, I started thinking the same thing. Which state really is the best at turning out the highest quality of cross country runners per capita?

- Click here to view the boys list (below).
- Click here to view the girls list (below).

So I decided to do some research. I came up with a criteria that I found to be a fair assessment of the top runners in the country. I took the results of the top-50 finishers from each Foot Locker Regional and the top-100 runners at NXN. Foot Locker is usually more oriented towards individuals and NXN more towards the team race (although some athletes are doing both and the trend is leaning towards NXN for individuals than Foot Locker anyway).

Based on the elite teams and individuals at NXN, I believe that the top-100 runners at NXN were most likely the highest quality of athletes in the race. Also, the top-50 from the Foot Locker Regional races makes sense to use because there are four regionals and of the four, only one lands on the same day as NXN (West).

After compiling the nearly 300 names per gender, I sorted the spreadsheet by state and came up with how many athletes from each state met the given criteria. With the number of athletes qualifying for the list, I then took the population of each state (there are other factors to consider when researching the best cross country running state in the country, but population across the board seems reasonable) and found how many runners in the given state met the criteria of the list per every 1,000,000 people.

Editor's Note: We thought about asking Isaac to change his criteria to reflect state gender population, but the results would have been pretty similar anyway. If you're interested, here's the census.

The number associated with the state is the amount of people per 1 million individuals that live in the state who are some of the elite high school runners in the country. The beauty of running is that you can either run that fast or you can’t and at the end of this week, the entire country will know, at least what region, in the U.S. has the best high school cross country runners in the land.

Boys by State Boys per Capita
Place First     Last          State
6     Levi      Thomet        AK
69    Jacob     Shiohira      AR
31    Brendan   Taylor        AR
30    Nick      Dale          AZ
34    Lucky     Schreiner     AZ
2     Blake     Haney         CA
5     Estevan   De La Rosa    CA
9     Alan      Yoho          CA
19    Austin    Tamagno       CA
23    Aidan     Goltra        CA
59    David     Luna          CA
63    Gavin     Diem          CA
64    Phillip   Rocha         CA
74    Eduardo   Herrera       CA
80    Jacob     Ogden         CA
82    Miguel    Villar        CA
91    Mason     Coppi         CA
100   David     Garcia        CA
5     Trevor    Reinhart      CA
8     Blair     Hurlock       CA
9     Garrett   Corcoran      CA
12    Caleb     Webb          CA
14    Casey     Celestin      CA
15    Luis      Ramos         CA
21    Ruben     Dominguez     CA
22    Jack      Van Sooter    CA
23    Tal       Braude        CA
24    Robert    Brandt        CA
25    Andrew    Tellames      CA
26    Christian Ricketts      CA
28    Chris     Foster        CA
32    Michael   Teran         CA
33    Anthony   Ortega        CA
35    Cole      Smith         CA
37    Noberto   Osorio        CA
39    Jeff      Kirwin        CA
42    Ryan      Anderson      CA
43    Aaron     Zambrano      CA
44    Frederick Huxham        CA
45    Bannon    Greer         CA
4     Cerake    Geberkidane   CO
20    Zachary   Alhamra       CO
24    Bailey    Roth          CO
14    Connor    Weaver        CO
27    Liam      Meirow        CO
30    Carson    Carson        CO
32    Andrew    Walton        CO
39    Paul      Miller        CO
41    Dominic   Compoz        CO
46    Ethan     Gonzales      CO
37    Trevor    Hopper        CT
2     Christian Alvarado      CT
3     Alexander Ostberg       CT
8     Tai       Dinger        DC
79    Nicholas  Diaz          FL
7     Tyler     Bennett       FL
19    Sukhi     Khosla        FL
34    Zackery   Summerall     FL
35    Garrett   Camps         FL
40    Tyler     Stahl         FL
41    Alejandro Pedraza       FL
43    Kurt      Convey        FL
44    Manuel    Velazquez     FL
45    Adam      Bradtmueller  FL
32    Austin    Sprague       GA
14    Kaleb     McLeod        GA
21    Daniel    Navarro       GA
33    Paul      Dunlap        GA
39    Kenan     Farmer        GA
29    Chandler  Austin        IA
38    Albert    Meier         IA
7     Thomas    Pollard       IA
16    Josh      Evans         IA
47    Daniel    Soto          IA
3     Elijah    Armstrong     ID
13    Jesse     Reiser        IL
30    Zachary   Smith         IL
35    Nathan    Mroz          IL
90    Stephen   Garrett       IL
92    Blake     Evertsen      IL
3     Jesse     Reiser        IL
6     Patrick   Perrier       IL
11    Zachary   Smith         IL
13    Nick      Hess          IL
20    Jack      Carpenter     IL
24    Dan       Lathrop       IL
25    Zach      Hird          IL
45    Graham    Brown         IL
49    Chris     Korabik       IL
28    Benjamin  Veatch        IN
31    Zachery   Panning       IN
65    Robert    Browning      IN
94    Benjamin  Anderson      IN
97    Michael   George        IN
5     Jackson   Bertoli       IN
9     David     Dalton        IN
22    Kaden     Eaton         IN
26    Mark      Beckman       IN
35    Seth      Williams      IN
43    Anthony   Williams      IN
25    Stuart    McNutt        KS
24    Patrick   Gregory       KY
38    Daniel    Southard      KY
37    Zachary   Albright      LA
41    Christian Stafford      MA
14    Mohamed   Hussein       MA
15    Paul      Hogan         MA
19    Jamison   Koeman        MA
33    Owen      Gonser        MA
36    Joseph    Mullen        MA
47    Viraj     Deokar        MA
49    Daniel    Moverman      MA
52    Ryan      Forsyth       MD
72    Tyler     Spear         MD
81    Rhys      Burgett       MD
11    Chase     Weaverling    MD
27    Evan      Woods         MD
39    Brent     Musselman     MD
40    Danniel   Belay         MD
46    Ty        Franks        MD
5     Josef     Holt-Andrews  ME
6     Daniel    Curts         ME
29    Liam      Simpson       ME
34    Brayden   Beardsley     ME
1     Grant     Fisher        MI
10    Ryan      Robinson      MI
19    Ben       Hill          MI
23    Brian     Kettle        MI
28    Keenan    Rebera        MI
31    Alec      Toreki        MI
33    Calum     Ahmed         MI
34    Jesse     Hersha        MI
40    Zacary    Benham        MI
50    Mickey    Davey         MI
10    Obsa      Ali           MN
34    Connor    Olson         MN
47    Matt      Lumbar        MN
68    Logan     Ramlet        MN
75    David     Ellenberger   MN
95    Aaton     Breyer        MN
37    Chase     Cayo          MN
60    Evan      Schulte       MO
8     Noah      Kauppila      MO
45    Anthony   Schmalz       MT
47    Kade      McCutcheon    MT
2     Ben       Huffman       NC
3     Ian       Milder        NC
10    Patrick   Sheehan       NC
17    Ryan      Brady         NC
18    Tanis     Baldwin       NC
35    Justin    Carbone       NH
48    Josh      Fontaine      NH
14    Michael   McClemens     NJ
33    Thomas    O'Neill       NJ
42    Thomas    Rooney        NJ
56    Francis   Bogan         NJ
70    Blaise    Ferro         NJ
84    Nicholas  Trigani       NJ
87    Nicholas  Termine       NJ
4     Liam      Mullett       NJ
7     Scott     Meehan        NJ
9     Louis     Corgliano     NJ
17    Chris     Luciano       NJ
18    Kyle      Kroon         NJ
25    Dan       Barlev        NJ
26    Robert    Stone         NJ
28    Harrison  Scott         NJ
30    Edwin     Rutto         NJ
32    Luke      Petela        NJ
38    Trent     Brinkofski    NJ
42    Shawn     Hutchison     NJ
43    Matt      Tuohy         NJ
45    David     Mugavero      NJ
19    Kai       Benedict      NV
21    TJ        Hornberger    NY
36    Andrew    Berge         NY
43    Aidan     Tooker        NY
44    Michael   Brannigan     NY
46    Peter     Ryan          NY
50    John      McGowan       NY
53    Benito    Muniz         NY
61    Josh      Dyrland       NY
67    Bryce     Millar        NY
89    Daniel    Muldoon       NY
93    Kyle      Barber        NY
1     Mickey    Burke         NY
23    Ryan      Udavadia      NY
24    Jeriqho   Gadway        NY
37    Thomas    Meehan        NY
15    Michael   Hall          OH
22    Jacob     Pickle        OH
27    Evan      Stifel        OH
58    Connor    Hendrickson   OH
73    Michael   Vitucci       OH
4     Toby      Hardwick      OH
15    Garrett   Crichlow      OH
18    Mark      Hadley        OH
21    Robert    Johnson       OH
6     Ben       Barrett       OK
18    Reilly    Bloomer       OR
40    Kyle      Thompson      OR
45    Ahmed     Ibrahim       OR
78    Samuel    Truax         OR
1     Matthew   Maton         OR
13    Mitchell  Butler        OR
11    Anthony   Russell       PA
55    Kevin     James         PA
76    Griffin   Molino        PA
86    Alexander Knapp         PA
10    Ross      Wilson        PA
12    Colin     Martin        PA
13    Colin     Abert         PA
16    Chris     Cummings      PA
20    Dominic   DeLuca        PA
21    Dominic   Hockenbury    PA
22    Andrew    Marston       PA
41    Christian Kazanjian     PA
44    Scott     Mason         PA
50    Sam       Ritz          PA
8     Brent     Demarest      SC
20    Nikolas   O'Brien       SC
26    Gabe      Haughey       SC
46    Myers     McKinney      SC
2     Addison   Dehaven       SD
8     Taylor    Caldwell      TN
26    Coleman   Churitch      TN
49    Alec      Thomas        TN
54    Aaron     Thomas        TN
1     Aaron     Templeton     TN
12    Adam      Barnard       TN
15    Wesley    Pectol        TN
48    Lachlan   Dickie        TN
49    Zach      Long          TN
39    Frank     Lara          TX
85    Zachariah Hamstra       TX
96    Chase     Van Voorhis   TX
9     Frank     Lara          TX
11    Jacob     Pickle        TX
25    Michael   Guerrero      TX
28    Chris     PietraszkiewicTX
29    Blake     Contreras     TX
30    Alonzo    Pollum        TX
32    Erik      Wingfield     TX
7     Connor    McMillan      UT
48    Zachry    Jacklin       UT
57    Andrew    Brewer        UT
62    Michael   Buckley       UT
77    Casey     Clinger       UT
83    Skylar    Williams      UT
88    Josh      Ward          UT
4     Conner    Mantz         UT
7     Kramer    Morton        UT
11    Rory      Linkletter    UT
17    Clayson   Shumway       UT
36    Garrett   Marsing       UT
38    Austin    Brower        UT
41    Jacob     Stone         UT
49    Owen      Gardner       UT
50    Justin    Sheets        UT
99    Thomas    Mulroy        VA
4     Louis     Colson        VA
5     Mackenzie Haight        VA
16    Andrew    Hunter        VA
22    John      Stoney        VA
23    Nathaniel Hall          VA
27    Alex      Fleckenstein  VA
42    Andrew    Eason         VA
50    Micah     Ellington     VA
31    Sam       Nishi         VT
3     Tanner    Anderson      WA
6     Wolfgang  Beck          WA
12    Logan     Carroll       WA
16    Tristan   Peloquin      WA
51    Mahmoud   Moussa        WA
66    Andrew    Foerder       WA
98    Justin    Janke         WA
2     John      Dressel       WA
10    Joe       Hardy         WA
16    Nicholas  Hauger        WA
17    Devon     Grove         WA
20    Scott     Kopczynski    WA
27    Ian       Andres        WA
29    Jacob     Vandenberg    WA
31    Miler     Haller        WA
40    Peter     Helman        WA
48    Kees      Von MichalofskWA
1     Taylor    Wilmot        WA
12    Olin      Hacker        WI
17    Ryan      Nameth        WI
29    Scott     Seymour       WI
36    Tannor    Wagner        WI
38    Mitchell  Kwapick       WI
42    J.P.      Nelson        WI
44    Taylor    Floydmews     WI
48    Kevin     Ryan          WI
36    Andrew    Milliron      WV
47    Matthew   Brafford      WV
71    Ricky     Faure         WY











State   Per 1,000,000
UT      5.6
ME      3
WA      2.6
NJ      2.4
MT      2
CO      1.9
IN      1.7
WY      1.7
IA      1.6
VT      1.6
DC      1.5
NH      1.5
OR      1.5
AK      1.4
MD      1.4
WI      1.4
TN      1.4
MN      1.3
MA      1.2
SD      1.2
IL      1.1
VA      1.1
PA      1.1
MI      1
WV      1
CA      0.9
CT      0.8
SC      0.8
OH      0.8
AR      0.7
NY      0.7
ID      0.6
FL      0.5
GA      0.5
NC      0.5
KY      0.4
TX      0.4
AZ      0.3
KS      0.3
MO      0.3
NV      0.3
OK      0.3
LA      0.2











































































































































































































































































Girls by State Girls per Capita
Place   First      Last        State
31      Karisa     Nelson      AL
44      Kyandra    Chandler    AR
15      Danielle   Jones       AZ
19      Gillick    Tatiana     AZ
9       Hong       Abby        CA
7       Maxwell    Anna        CA
40      Cahalan    Ashley      CA
3       Sarah      Baxter      CA
15      Starn      Brooke      CA
30      Turati     Camila      CA
11      Pietrzyk   Caroline    CA
44      Sofia      Castiglioni CA
21      Graves     Claire      CA
34      Destiny    Collins     CA
31      Brenner    Courtney    CA
74      Haley      Dorris      CA
28      Abrahamson Emma        CA
16      Holton     Erin        CA
87      Ashley     Helbig      CA
38      Fairchild  Kelly       CA
18      Derry      Kendall     CA
36      Bethan     Knights     CA
22      Jacob      Lauren      CA
35      Rawson     Madison     CA
37      Sodersten  Mikayla     CA
23      Myers      Miranda     CA
59      Leigh      Moffett     CA
4       Fiona      O'keeffe    CA
11      Sarah      Robinson    CA
17      Yamane     Roni        CA
82      Olivia     Rosellini   CA
32      Herrmann   Sabrina     CA
4       Ortega     Sam         CA
42      Flora      Skyler      CA
47      Hill       Talley      CA
24      Marissa    Williams    CA
61      Kaitlyn    Benner      CO
69      Holly      Bent        CO
88      Claire     Green       CO
7       Lauren     Gregory     CO
92      Audrey     Lookner     CO
68      Devynn     Miller      CO
70      Erin       Norton      CO
95      Audrey     Oweimrin    CO
6       Katie      Rainsberger CO
2       Elise      Cranny      CO
3       Hannah     DeBalsi     CT
32      Sarah      Healy       CT
43      Erica      Hefnawy     CT
23      Gabrielle  Richichi    CT
50      Carly      Schuyler    CT
43      Caroline   Barlow      FL
35      Emily      Edwards     FL
40      Mackenzie  Wilson      FL
10      Karen      Xiang       FL
46      Lindsay    Billings    GA
17      Avery      Bussjager   GA
8       Kathryn    Foreman     GA
28      Jenna      Gearing     GA
48      Emma       Grace       GA
29      Morgan     Ilse        GA
2       Stephanie  Jenks       IA
47      Karissa    Schweizer   IA
3       Rebekah    Topham      IA
23      Mckenzie   Yanek       IA
25      Story      Kara        ID
45      Story      Krista      ID
22      Sam        Mckinnon    ID
6       Malaspina  Mikayla     ID
49      Hutchison  Presli      ID
36      Manzer     Sierra      ID
94      Elly       Deturris    IL
42      Maryclare  Leonard     IL
19      Madeline   Perez       IL
47      Olivia     Ryan        IL
30      Kelsey     Schrader    IL
33      Mimi       Smith       IL
7       Mailin     Struck      IL
20      Lauren     Van VlierberIL
40      Malyka     Abramson    IN
10      Alex       Buck        IN
37      Mackenzie  Caldwell    IN
34      Gina       Genco       IN
64      Kelsey     Harris      IN
83      Haley      Harris      IN
41      Lauren     Johnson     IN
32      Isabelle   Kennedy     IN
21      Elena      Lancioni    IN
99      Stacy      Morozov     IN
9       Rachel     Nichwitz    IN
1       Kelcy      Welch       IN
91      Emily      Bean        KY
85      Bailey     Davis       KY
4       Gabriella  Karas       KY
22      Whitney    O'Bryan     KY
66      Madisyn    Peeples     KY
26      Amelia     Reynolds    KY
36      Erin       Dietz       MA
40      catalina   dominick    MA
35      Emily      Kaegi       MA
12      Olivia     Lantz       MA
25      Abbie      Mcnulty     MA
46      Caroline   Sullivan    MA
12      Ellie      Gonzalez    MD
52      Isabel     Griffith    MD
48      Nora       McUmber     MD
33      Jessica    Narr        MD
20      Megan      Wilson      MD
10      Kirstin    Sandreuter  ME
35      Lexa       Barrott     MI
22      Audrey     Belf        MI
6       Lauren     Brasure     MI
13      Meg        Darmofal    MI
48      Bailey     Johnson     MI
40      Sarah      Kettel      MI
24      Ellie      Leonard     MI
8       Kirsten    Olling      MI
18      Morgan     Posthuma    MI
46      Jennifer   Rogers      MI
43      Kerianne   Schoff      MI
16      Karrigan   Smith       MI
11      Amber      Way         MI
12      Valerie    Wierenga    MI
77      Mckenna    Evans       MN
63      Mary       Franke      MN
33      Anna       French      MN
78      Annika     Halvorson   MN
13      Bethany    Hasz        MN
53      Megan      Hasz        MN
65      Michaela   Keller-milleMN
27      Kaytlyn    Larson      MN
54      Annika     Lerdall     MN
37      Bailey     Ness        MN
73      Alayna     Sonnesyn    MN
36      Jenna      Truedson    MN
19      Jamie      Kempfer     MO
31      Nicole     Lee         MO
5       Hannah     Long        MO
44      Sophia     Racette     MO
4       Taylor     Werner      MO
45      Katherine  Mattox      MS
28      Christina  Aragon      MT
35      Caroline   Hardin      MT
1       Morley     Makena      MT
76      Piper      Meuwissen   MT
97      Aja        Starkey     MT
24      Lily       Anderson    NC
18      Bianca     Bishop      NC
32      Sophia     Ebihara     NC
16      Sydney     Foreman     NC
37      Mary       Grace       NC
84      Elly       Henes       NC
41      Ralene     Kwiatkowski NC
11      Kayla      Montgomery  NC
14      Grace      Sullivan    NC
80      Elisabeth  Danis       NH
26      Shannon    Murdock     NH
58      Hannah     Parker      NH
17      Mackenzie  Barry       NJ
22      Sierra     Castaneda   NJ
25      Kylene     Cochrane    NJ
47      Tara       Connelly    NJ
62      Grace      Dwyer       NJ
5       Briana     Gess        NJ
38      Eve        Glasergreen NJ
41      Epiphany   Grisbaum    NJ
34      Julia      Guerra      NJ
16      Dana       Klein       NJ
30      Elizabeth  Lansing     NJ
30      Lauren     Sapone      NJ
18      Brennan    Sharkey     NJ
15      Courtney   Thompson    NJ
19      Marin      Warner      NJ
28      Lauren     Zodl        NJ
14      Hunsberger Kyra        NV
41      Adams      Lindsey     NV
34      Dort       Sara        NV
27      Badger     Sydney      NV
20      Annika     Avery       NY
21      Denise     Branch      NY
31      Alexandra  Cooper      NY
29      Ang        DeMeo       NY
57      Jenna      Farrell     NY
13      Anna       Flynn       NY
56      Stephanie  Gerland     NY
48      Jennifer   Gerland     NY
81      Jessica    Howe        NY
46      Erin       Jaskot      NY
7       Jessica    Lawson      NY
9       Katie      Lembo       NY
86      Megan      Menz        NY
29      Alana      Pearl       NY
6       Megan      Reilly      NY
2       Anoush     Shehadeh    NY
100     Estela     Smith       NY
21      Sophia     Tasselmyer  NY
17      Abbey      Wheeler     NY
14      Annie      Heffernan   OH
45      Rachel     Wentworth   OH
9       Ella       Donaghu     OR
43      Hannah     GindlespergeOR
5       Tsai       Sara        OR
1       Tessa      Barrett     PA
39      Jerrica    Bauer       PA
60      Kacie      Breeding    PA
27      Ella       BreidenstinePA
11      Elizabeth  Chikotas    PA
14      Mady       Clahane     PA
37      Victoria   Dippold     PA
72      Erica      Gray        PA
45      Abigail    Martin      PA
51      Hannah     Molloy      PA
8       Regan      Rome        PA
4       Brianna    Schwartz    PA
10      Courtney   Smith       PA
31      Paige      Stoner      PA
44      Maggie     Toczko      PA
42      Olivia     Young       PA
24      Maddy      Berkson     RI
49      Amy        Laverty     RI
45      Emma       Mcmillan    RI
13      Sarah      Gwinn       SC
34      Logan      Morris      SC
38      Allison    Cheeseman   TN
23      Bailee     Dean        TN
36      Nicole     Gardner     TN
47      Makenzie   Jones       TN
50      Jessica    Rizor       TN
33      Emma       Sloan       TN
50      Antigone   Archer      TX
49      Safiya     Belbina     TX
38      Madie      Boreman     TX
98      Katie      Burnham     TX
27      Devin      Clark       TX
7       Devin      Clark       TX
42      Alexandria Cruz        TX
27      Julia      Heymach     TX
41      Paige      Hofstad     TX
32      Madi       McLellan    TX
3       Natalie    Rathjen     TX
55      Morgan     Szekely     TX
21      Kelsie     Warren      TX
12      Bryson     Aimee       UT
89      Hannah     Albrechtsen UT
67      Aubrey     Argyle      UT
39      Taylor     Cox         UT
79      Sierra     Graham      UT
44      Smith      Jessica     UT
3       Biles      Lucy        UT
9       Criscione  Maddie      UT
43      Kauffman   Madeline    UT
8       Mitchell   MarLee      UT
26      Morgan     Mckayla     UT
24      O'Very     Miranda     UT
2       Feeny      Sarah       UT
26      Alyssa     Snyder      UT
13      Dutson     Tavia       UT
71      Ashley     Tyndall     UT
96      McKenzie   Weir        UT
1       Caroline   Alcorta     VA
90      Bonnie     Angermeier  VA
20      Katharine  Benfer      VA
9       Molly      BreidenbaughVA
5       Hannah     Christen    VA
25      Hailey     Dougherty   VA
12      Allie      Klimkiewicz VA
6       Katy       Kunc        VA
30      Erin       Saunders    VA
15      Katie      Sperry      VA
19      Amanda     Swaak       VA
39      Annie      Taylor      VA
49      Anna       Wasko       VA
42      Quinn      Bornstein   VT
16      Autumn     Eastman     VT
29      Fuller     Alexis      WA
33      Aquino     Brittany    WA
48      Ledwith    Gracie      WA
46      Skay       Mccall      WA
20      RaynJoy    Norton      WA
39      Watson     Ruby        WA
1       Alexa      Efraimson   WA
23      Brenna     Calder      WI
25      Amy        Davis       WI
17      Morgan     Florsheim   WI
50      Katie      Hietpas     WI
26      Jennifer   Parker      WI
29      Jessica    Parker      WI
28      Kristy     Terp        WI
49      Carly      Terp        WI
2       Amelia     Paladino    WV
50      Holiday    Kimberly    WY






State   Per 1,000,000
UT      6
MT      4.9
ID      3.8
VT      3.2
RI      2.9
MN      2.2
NH      2.2
CO      1.9
IN      1.8
NJ      1.8
WY      1.7
VA      1.6
NV      1.5
CT      1.4
KY      1.4
MI      1.4
WI      1.4
IA      1.3
PA      1.3
WA      1
MA      0.9
NC      0.9
NY      0.9
TN      0.9
CA      0.8
MD      0.8
MO      0.8
ME      0.7
OR      0.7
GA      0.6
IL      0.6
TX      0.5
WV      0.5
SC      0.4
AR      0.3
AZ      0.3
MS      0.3
AL      0.2
FL      0.2
OH      0.1