2025 NXR Midwest Preview

With the end of the cross country season on the horizon, the national qualifying meet is this week and we’re your guide to the Midwest Region! This is one of the hardest regions to qualify out of every single year, so we’re going to get an electric showdown on both sides. Individually, some of the best names in the country will face off at Terre Haute, and we will break down the top ten individuals right here!

Girls Individuals

Natasza Dudek (So., Ann Arbor [Pioneer] [MI])

She holds the fastest 5k PR in the entire country, and Natasza Dudek will look to take yet another win here. She ran an unbelievable 16:09 at the Michigan state meet, taking the win by over 50 seconds. She is one of the two runners who are still undefeated coming into this race, and she doesn’t plan on ending her streak now. As one of the favorites coming into the national meet, it will be hard to deny her a regional win here. 

Sundara Weber (Sr., Sandwich [IL])

The only girl who has a chance at challenging Dudek will be Sunny Weber, who is looking fit ahead of this NXR race. Weber is coming off of an electric state meet, where she ran 15:54 for three miles and nearly set the all-time state record with her win in 1A. She has yet to lose a race this season, but this will be her toughest challenge yet. Weber has had really good competition throughout the season, but Dudek is a higher caliber than anything she has gone against so far. If she wants to win this race, she will need to be on her A game. Whether she gets a win or not, she should punch her ticket to the national meet here at NXR. 

Isabella Keller (Jr., Effingham [St. Anthony] [IL])

Isabella Keller has been chasing the heels of Weber all year long, this race will be her chance to come out on top. Keller had a fantastic race at the Nike Twilight invitational, where she took the win in 16:53. Since Nike Twilight is somewhat of a preview for the midwest region, it gave us a good look at the top contenders for those 5 prestigious qualifying spots. Since Keller won that race, that gives her huge brownie points coming into this race. Her loss to Weber at the state meet is the only scar on her resume, and she should still be a big factor in this race. 

Emma Hoffman (Sr., Otsego [MI])

After making a huge leap from her junior year, Emma Hoffman will look to contend for that second place position. She dropped over a minute this year to run 16:20 in the 5k, and she’s the second fastest girl to come out of Michigan this year. She won the D2 state title in a blistering 16:50, where she won by about 10 seconds over Katie Berkshire, who you will see just a few spots down. She has only lost once this season, and it’s been to Dudek, who we’ve already talked about. She has experience racing the best of the best and her marks make her a threat in this field. Watch out for Emma Hoffman to secure her spot at Nationals. 

Libby Dowty (Sr., Indian Creek [IN])

Libby Dowty might be slept on, but you can’t forget she was all-american as a sophomore. She had a rough race at NXR last fall and missed out on qualifying by about 8 seconds. After a good season to rebound off of that, she will look to get back to nationals. She was second at Nike Twilight in a 16:55, which is her season best so far. She was the state champ again this year, and she’s the best that Indiana has to offer. Dowty will be up with the top group for the majority of this race, it’ll come down to the finish to see where she ends up. 

Katie Berkshire (Sr., Gaylord [MI])

The third and final Michigan runner on this list is Katie Berkshire and she’ll be gunning for a spot in the top 5. She has spent most of the season in her own little corner of Michigan, but when she came down for the state meet, she took second only to Emma Hoffman, who we’ve already talked about. She has a blistering PR of 16:32 from her regional meet, and she’ll be a top girl to watch in this race. 

Karlin Janowski (So., Elmhurst [York] [IL])

An incredible bounce back season from the spring, Karlin Janowski easily has the most momentum coming into this race. She was projected to get fourth at the 3A state meet by most media outlets, but then she came out and won with a huge PR of 16:10 for 3 miles. This massive accomplishment will fuel her full of confidence for this race, she should be able to stick with the top girls for the majority of the race. 

Avery Hacker (Jr., Batavia [IL])

Another runner who shocked us at the state meet is Avery Hacker. Hacker was right behind Janowski at the state meet in a similarly impressive mark of 16:13. She also produced an upset result, since she was projected to be right outside of the top 5. Hacker has had a great season, but her race at state really showed just how aerobically powerful she is. Her final mile proved that she’s got the wheels for a slow starting race too, so she’s one of the more well rounded runners in this field. No matter how the race plays out, she should be a part of this top group if she races like she does at state. 

Macey Thompson (Jr., Lake Central [IN])

The only traditional 800 runner to make this list, Macey Thompson has had a sensational season so far. She took second at the Indiana state meet, only 8 seconds off of Libby Dowty. Her PR stands from the state meet at 17:18. This time is a strong performance at Laverne Gibson, and if she replicates it, she should be top ten at NXR. 

Boys Individuals

Kamari Ronfeldt (Jr., Ann Arbor Pioneer [MI])

With his first state title under his belt, Kamari Ronfeldt of Pioneer looks ready to take the first of the qualifying spots at NXR. Ronfeldt has had a sensational season so far, posting a monster PR of 14:47 in the 5k. He has lost twice all season, and it’s been to his teammate, Beckett Crooks, who you’ll see later on this list. His 14:50 performance at the Michigan state meet cemented him as one of the greatest distance runners in Michigan’s history, he will be looking for another historic performance here. He is one of the top returning runners from last year’s meet, he finished 11th in a wicked 15:12. It’s going to be a very close race for the number 1 spot, but Ronfeldt is the favorite as of now. 

Noah Bontrager (Sr., Westview [IN])

One of two runners on this list who has already made a trip to nationals, Noah Bontrager will be gunning for a regional win. Bontrager finished third last season here, with a then PR of 14:52. Since then, he has put down the hammer with a blistering 14:33 PR in the 5k from this season. He has the fastest mark in the field by a significant margin, and he will be one of the toughest athletes to beat here. His track times beef up his resume considerably, he’s an 8:46 guy in the full 2 miles, and he’s the Nike Outdoor Nationals champion in the 5k. His 5k track PR of 14:20 is absolutely gross, there aren’t many in this field who will be able to challenge that. The only thing scarring his resume is his loss at the IHSAA state championships. He took second place to Calvin Seitz of Springs Valley in a very close race to the finish. Less than a tenth of a second separated Bontrager from a state title, and it’s the only thing holding him back from being the outright favorite in the midwest. If he can leap over the mental barrier and lock away this race early, he will be the regional champion with no questions asked. 

Brice Fuller (So., Fairless [OH])

If we’re talking about young stars, none of them shine as bright as Brice Fuller. Fuller raced one time before the post season, and it was a good 15:14 at the Wooster invitational. He then came out and dropped a 14:52 at the OHSAA state meet for the fastest time of the day by a good 20 seconds. He was the D2 runner up in the 3200 as a freshman, with an incomprehensible mark of 9:16. Fuller looks absolutely incredible when he’s on point and he should be a key force in this race. 

Philip Cupial (Sr., Downers Grove North [IL])

The Illinois runners always surprise at the regional since they spend most of the season running 3 miles instead of 5k, but Philip Cupial should be no surprise. Cupial just crushed the 3A state meet for his first cross country state title, and he did it in dramatic fashion with a scorching mark of 14:03. This mark ties that of Ben Crane of New Trier, who won NXR last year in 14:46. However, where Crane lacked in speed, Cupial has more than enough to win this race in a sit-and-kick scenario. Cupial’s 800 PR of 1:50.08 allows him to walk down just about anyone in the final 400 meters of a race. The only way you can beat this kid is if you create a big gap from the start, and there are several kids who are capable of that in this field. If Cupial can hang on for 3 of the 3.12 miles, he will likely take the win here. But if he’s gapped early, it’ll be much harder for him to claw his way back into this race. Either way, he should be one of the 5 individual qualifiers, only time will tell which of those top 5 spots he fills. 

Carson Driemeier (Sr., Festus [MO])

Another aerobic machine to watch up front is Carson Driemeier of Festus. The Iowa State commit meant business when he won the D4 state meet in an all-time state record of 14:49, he should be gunning for a top 5 spot here. His track times put him in range of the top group, with an 8:59 and a 4:11 from last track season. His 14:49 does most of the talking, since that mark trumps the majority of the field. Expect him to match every move made by the leaders, he will surely put himself in a position to get to nationals.

Jack McGovern (So., Rockhurst [MO])

Another young talent in this field is Jack McGovern, he’ll be looking to secure his trip to nationals. McGovern has some truly prestigious wins under his belt going into NXR, he’ll be a tough guy to beat. His PR of 14:44 comes from the Gans Creek invitational, where he took first by a decent margin. He was the class 5 state champion in Missouri, running 14:52 for the second fastest time of the day. The fact that he’s only a sophomore blows my mind, this kid is already a monster on the grass. Watch out for McGovern this weekend.

Brandon Cloud (Sr., Northville [MI])

An unbelievable performance at the Michigan state meet has catapulted Brandon Cloud into national contending area. Cloud dropped over 30 seconds to run 14:52 and claim second place at the D1 state meet. He led his team to a team state title, and they’ll be one of the teams in the running for a qualifying spot here. If Cloud is able to put up another performance like he did at the state meet, he could be in the running for an individual qualifying spot. 

John Libs (Sr., Noblesville [IN])

Another runner who’s looking to lead his team to nationals is John Libs. Libs is a part of the unbelievably stacked Noblesville squadron, who are the clear favorites in the midwest. Libs led his team to a massive state title, taking third at the Indiana state meet. His PR of 14:58 might not be quite on the level that other runners have in this field, but his 15:07 at Laverne Gibson certainly puts him in the top ten conversation. 

Beckett Crooks (Sr., Ann Arbor Pioneer [MI])

Teammate to the individual favorite, Kamari Ronfeldt, Beckett Crooks should seek to join his teammate at nationals. Crooks and Ronfeldt have gone back and forth this season, and their PRs are nearly identical. Crooks ran 14:48 at the Gabriel Richard invite, where he actually beat his teammate for first. He was fourth at the D1 state meet with a mark of 14:59, but he looks like he’s got more in the tank from that race. If Crooks is able to hang with Ronfeldt like he has for most of the season, he will be in a position to qualify for nationals. 

Kyle O’Rourke (Sr., Highland-Milford [MI])

A steady force in Michigan distance, Kyle O’Rourke will close out the top ten. O’Rourke dominates the east side of Michigan, his only loss was at the state meet. He ran 15:00 for a PR at the state meet, taking 5th in a race that didn’t even look like his usual. O’Rourke has track times that put him right with the top group, with a 9:02 3200. He can absolutely run faster than his performance at the state meet, keep your eyes on him to break into the top 5. 

Girls Team

Ann Arbor (Pioneer) [MI]

It will be very hard seeing this squad lose this contest. They are led by Natasza Dudek who will likely be the individual winner here. Following her is the trio of Sienna Klemmer, Hana Boggess, and Keira Von Blon who will be better than most other teams #1 runner. They could all be top 60 in this race. Their only weakness is their 5th runner, it could either be Nina Moore or Lizzie Wernimont. Wernimont has been the consistent number 5 for most of the season, beating Moore by just a few seconds every race. Her season best of 18:40 beats Moore’s by just 7 seconds, but both of them will need a big performance here. In the Championship race of NXR, an 18:40 5k might not cut it as the fifth person. Then again, the top four on this squad is so fiercely dominant that it might not even matter. The Pioneers will put four in before most teams first runner, so it’s very likely that they just straight up walk away from this field. 

Carmel [IN]

When talking about strength in the top four, you won’t have to look further than Carmel to find another team with such a powerful top group. Carmel is led by Sadie Foley and Annabelle Pollert, both have run in the low 17:20s all season. Larkin Taylor follows just behind them in an incredible 17:32. Their top 3 beats most other team’s top 3 and it will guide them towards a top 2 finish. Supporting them in four will be Margo Halle, who sports a strong 17:58 5k PR. Similar to Ann Arbor, their five is the only thing holding them back. Kaitlyn Oshimura is their likely fifth runner, she runs an 18:52 in the 5k. The same dilemma holds up here as it does for Pioneer, if their fifth runner is far enough behind, there are other teams who will look to jump up in the standings. However, also like Pioneer, you can count on their top three runners pulling them to safety. With such a strong front group, it’s still going to be difficult for any other teams to get their say in. 

Barrington [IL]

The top team from Illinois will be hunting for their spot in the top 2, Barrington will need to be on point if they want to get to nationals. Unlike Pioneer and Carmel, the Fillies are going to center this race around their pack if they want to take the trip to Oregon. Victoria Tarara is their #1 after an electric race at the state meet. She ran 16:50 for three miles and took 8th in 3A. She will be shooting for a top 40 spot here. Anjelica Hil and Ashleigh Forbes will fill the second and third spots, somewhere around the 17:10 mark. Behind them you’ll see Abby Lewis and Madison Miles follow suit in four and five. The key for Barrington will be pulling Hil and up to Tarara and pulling Miles up to Lewis. Hil and Tarara ran every race together for the better part of the season, but Tarara pulled away towards the end. If Hil is able to finish by Tarara, that would help this Fillies squad secure two decent front runners. If Miles is able to get up near Lewis, then their fifth runner would bury the fifth runners from Carmel and Pioneer. If their pack looks strong here, they absolutely have a shot to get to nationals.

Mt. Prospect (Prospect) [IL]

The Knights of Prospect will make their name known as one of the youngest teams to compete for a qualifying spot. Three of their five scoring runners are freshmen, and they only graduate one of those scorers. Meg Peterson is the lone senior on this roster, and she will be the number 1 for Prospect. She took 7th place at the 3A state meet with a PR of 16:49 in the 3 miles. She is a veteran against this field and she will be shooting for a top 40 spot here. After her, you’ll see Adelaide Galla, Brooklyn Stocking, and Caitlin Resac forming the core of their freshman lineup. Galla is just about equidistant between Peterson and Stocking, with a 17:11 PR in the 3 mile. Stocking and Resac sit together at 17:35, they often finish right next to each other. Allison Kalkwarf has made a huge jump this season to become their #5, her PR of 17:45 is over a minute faster from last year. The Knights have rebuilt a winning program in such a short window, and they will continue to get better as years go on. 

Romeo [MI] 

They made the trip last year, and the Romeo Bulldogs retain most of that roster coming into this year. They retain their biggest hitter in Annie Hrabovsky, who sports a dangerous PR of 16:55 in the 5k. She was third at the D1 state meet and she’ll be shooting for a top 20 spot here. Their #2, Ella Goodsell, saw huge improvement this year and she has kept Romeo afloat for the majority of the season. Goodsell dropped her PR from 18:38 to a wicked fast 17:20, which she ran last week at the MITCA Meet of Champions. She will look to join Hrabovsky in the top 20, making this front running squad pretty lethal. Their supporters through 5 are solid, with Natalia Guaresimo coming in at three. Guaresimo ran 17:41 this season and should be somewhere in the mid 40s to 50s. Their fourth and fifth runners are a little further back, with Emmie Clor and Reese Rosbolt at 18:30 and 18:39 respectively. If their four and five pick NXR as the meet to drop a devious PR, then this team could potentially compete for a top 3 spot here. However, like I said, they are going to need a pretty hefty performance from their fourth and fifth to make it happen 

Boys Teams

Columbus North [IN]

The Bulldogs will enter this meet with a massive target on their back as they will enter this meet as the clear favorite. They have some big wins at meets like The Southern Showcase, Nike XC Town Twilight, and the Indiana State Meet. The issue for this squad will be seeing how they attack this race after a week off from racing, which has hampered Indiana teams in the past. They will need Jace Works up and to finish within the top 20 here if they wish to win. They will then need their pack to be under 20 seconds for a 2-5 split. If that pack starts to fall apart then it could spell trouble for this squad. 

Plainfield North [IL]

The Tigers ventured to Terre Haute back in early October to take 3rd place at the Nike XC Town Twilight. This group is way better than the last time that they ventured out to Indiana. Back in 2023 a total of 4 of Plainfield North’s top 7 made the trip to Portland and took 15th place. Those 4 runners were Thomas Czerwinski, Aidan Connors, James Maso, and Gavin Hall. This team is experienced and fueled by their near miss of Nationals last year. They were the Illinois State Champions this past weekend and will need their pack of 3-5 to be under 10 seconds in order to win this race. 

Downers Grove North [IL]

The Trojans weathered a tough postseason to take 2nd at the Illinois State Meet. This squad has made the trip to NXN the last three years and will be looking for their fourth trip in a row here. They are led up front by Philip Cupial who will be fighting for the individual win here. The key for this squad will be keeping Will Surratt near the top 30 in this race. Stephen Cox has been running progressively getting better over the last few weeks. If he can make another big stride here then that bodes well for this squad. Their key will be keeping Isaak Stein and Dylan Wood to under 15 seconds from Cox in order to get an automatic qualifier here. This squad beat Plainfield North at the First To The Finish Invite in September and could do so again here. 

Noblesville [IN]

The Millers had a great start to their year, but over the last few weeks they have started to decline a bit. When their 1, 2, and 3 runners are running to their full capability then this is a dangerous squad. John Libs and Banner Barnes have raced well over the last few weeks as they were 3rd and 9th at the Indiana State Meet, but the issue has been Isaiah Vohs who hasn’t raced well the past few weeks. They will need him on his A game in order to get an automatic qualifying spot. Cooper Click ran his best race of the year to take 28th at the Indiana State Meet, but their 5th runner was 132nd which will really hurt them in a field like this. There is potential for a huge day for the Millers, but it would need to be close to perfect in order to automatically qualify to NXN. 

Northville [MI]

The Mustangs are another team that is seriously propelled by their top 3 runners of Brandon Cloud, Benjamin Hartigan, and Ryan Stojov who could all finish in the top 40 runners here. This squad had a huge day to win the Michigan State Meet and will need to replicate that again for a shot to qualify for Nationals. They will need their 4th and 5th runners to be within 50 seconds of their 3rd runner in order to make the trip to Portland.