Green Hope's 2010 team placed highest of all North Carolina squads to advance to Portland.
Unfortunately, this is going to be a brief article. Nike Cross Nationals (or NXN) has only been around for 11 years counting this edition, and North Carolina is just sending its fifth team to participate. As Green Hope's 2014 girls team is enjoying their trip to Portland and preparing to race tomorrow morning, let's briefly recognize the squads that have advanced in past years to represent our state on the national stage.
Chapel Hill boys, 2005:
Led by Jack Bolas, who finished 2nd individually, the Tigers ended up 12th in only the second year of the meet's existence (it was known as Nike Team Nationals then).
Chapel Hill boys, 2006:
Getting back the next year was an accomplishment in and of itself, but the outcome wasn't so good - they finished 20th out of 20, with a young Taylor Gilland bringing home a very respectable 27th-place individual finish.
Broughton boys, 2008:
The Caps' recent run may have made some folks forget that Broughton won 4A state titles in 2007 and 2008 (which means they have won six of the last 8). Chapel Hill was a 4A school back then, and this squad defeated the Tigers at the state meet before going on to finish 22nd out of 22 at the rebranded NXN.
Green Hope Girls, 2010:
The first NC girls team to advance was also the last NC school of ANY gender to make it through to Portland, until the Falcons repeated the feat this year. This is also the highest any team from our state has ever placed: Jessica Rossabi and Erica Amatori powered Green Hope to 10th place, a mark their successors certainly have in mind for tomorrow.