Green Hope senior Erica Amatori will be keeping a daily journal of her activities at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon this weekend. Erica qualified by finishing tenth in the Southeast Regional race last weekend at WakeMed. Nike Cross Nationals (originally named "Nike Team Nationals") began in 2004 and has grown into a major national event. With its focus on team competition, it is the perfect complement to the individual-oriented Foot Locker Nationals (next weekend in San Diego). The competition is also unique in that it takes place entirely within a stadium, using a looped course with artificial hills (similar to what you might see in a motocross event). Erica and Sam Roberson will both be sending me periodic updates, and I hope to pair those up with pictures through the MileSplit Network.
Friday
So yesterday was my first day at NXN as an individual. I went last year as a team and it was a very different experience. When you are at NXN you realize that all the hard work you put in was definitely worth it, but you also find out that there is always someone better than you. It's intimidating at first, but it gives everybody somebody to look up to. The first day we went to the Nike Tiger Woods center to receive gear and go to the opening ceremony. They make you feel like you are famous. Our Southeast team of individuals walked into this room with our name projected onto the wall and a row of personalized lockers presenting our gear. We were like little kids in a candy shop. New shoes, spikes, jacket, warm ups, backpack....Nike knows us too well. After that, we went to the ceremony, which was entertaining, and chilled in the Nike Hospitality Center, which has lots of stuff to do. Overall, it is one of the greatest experiences of a lifetime and I can't wait for what comes next!
Saturday
Today was the race, the big Nike National race, and it was intense as hell. There was of course a fair portion of mud, including the Portland Meadows' infamous "Whoopdie Do's"...which were definitely hard to run on. The experience was great! Personally, I got 6th for the Southeast (including the teams) and got 95th place overall. It wasn't the best race, but hey, if you made it to Nike you know you have to be good to get there. The first girl was a sophomore named Sarah Baxter with Haley Pierce following up in second place. Of course, Manlius wins the team title for like the 6th year. After completing the race, you definitley feel a sense of accomplishment, almost like you survived WW2. Nike provides fun after a long day of hard work with a dance at the end, which was definitely a highlight. Being an individual, you meet a lot of others from different states which is neat as well. Nike Cross Nationals is one of the best experiences that I am sure I won't forget!