Nike Cross Regionals Heartland: By The Numbers

MEET HEADQUARTERS

States in the Heartland Region:  Seven

Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin  

BOYS

States represented at NXN/NTN:

Minnesota 19 times

North Dakota 2 times 

South Dakota 2 times

Kansas 2 times

Wisconsin 2 times

Iowa 1 time

*Missouri one time - Missouri was moved to the Nike Midwest in 2007

* Nebraska has never qualified a team for Nike.

 

States with the longest streak, current:  

Minnesota 4 years.  Minnesota has sent a team to Portland every year since the inception of NTN in 2004 except for 2012.     

 

Longest consecutive state streak all time: 

8 - Minnesota 2004-11  

 

Number of at-large bids by the region:  Two

2014 Lincoln High, Sioux Falls SD 

2015 Wayzata MN    

 

Current number of nationally ranked teams in the Heartland (as of 11/9/17):  One

Wayzata No. 6

 

Number of different teams to qualify for NTN/NXN from the Heartland:

15

 

Teams with the most NTN/NXN appearances: 

Wayzata MN 8 times

Edina MN 5 times

Bismarck, MN 2 times

Shawnee Mission KS 2 times 

Willmar MN 2 times

Lincoln High, Sioux Falls SD, Hopkins MN, Dowling Catholic IA, Stillwater MN, Arrowhead WI, Eden Prairie MN, Potosi MO*,  Yankton SD, Madison West WI and Marshall MN have qualified once.  

 

Longest team streak appearances: 

Wayzata MN 4, 2007-10 and 2013-16. 

Edina MN 4, 2013-16 

 

Longest current team streak of appearances: 

4 - Wayzata MN and Edina MN 2013-16. 

 

NXN/NTN Championships or highest finish: 

Wayzata MN 2nd 2014 

 

DyeStat preseason picks to qualify for NXN: 

Wayzata MN

Middleton WI

 

Current Prediction: 

Wayzata MN

Middleton WI

 

Notes: Wayzata has been the wire-to-wire pick in 2017. In recent years the Trojans have relied on killer pack running to overwhelm teams at the finish line. This season the formula was two low sticks up front in Khalid Hussein and Grant Price, and then a pack behind them. An injury to Price has put more pressure on the back of the lineup but the depth of Wayzata has come through and the Minnesota state champions are the regional favorite. Behind Wayzata it gets tougher to predict. Middleton started the season as the Heartland No. 2 even with an injury to its low stick, Jack Radar. He is back running and has worked his way back to the top five. Middleton can't afford an off day by anyone in the top five or it runs the risk of being overtaken by Pleasant Valley IA, Stillwater MN or Edina MN.  

 

GIRLS

States represented at NXN/NTN:

Minnesota 15 times

South Dakota 7 times

Iowa 5 times

Wisconsin 1 time

Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota have never qualified a team for nationals. 

 

States with the longest streak, current:

Minnesota 9 years. 2008-16

 

Longest consecutive state streak all time:

Minnesota 9 years. 2008-16

 

Number of at-large bids by the region: Zero

The Heartland Region received three bids to NTN in 2004 and 2006.

  

Current number of nationally ranked teams in the Heartland (as of 11/9/17): three

Wayzata MN No. 9

Sun Prairie WI No. 17

Edina MN No. 30

  

Number of different teams to qualify for NTN/NXN from the Heartland: 14

  

Teams with the most NTN/NXN appearances:

Yankton SD 4 times

Sioux Falls Roosevelt SD 3 times

Dowling Catholic IA 3 times

Wayzata MN 3 times

Willmar MN 3 times

Iowa City West IA 2 times

Eden Prairie MN 2 times

Edina MN 2 times 

Lakeview North MN, Elk River MN, Neenah WI, Monticello MN, Eagan MN and East Ridge MN have qualified once.

 

Longest team streak appearances: 

Yankton SD 4, 2004-07.

 

Longest current team streak of appearances:

3 - Willmar MN 2014-16.

  

NXN/NTN Championships or highest finish:

Wayzata MN 1st 2013

Yankton SD 3rd 2004

 

DyeStat preseason picks to qualify for NXN:

Edina MN

Johnston IA

 

Current Prediction:

Wayzata MN

Sun Prairie WI

 

Notes: Minnesota teams have had a stranglehold on the NXN berths since 2012, taking every available slot. While Wayzata MN is favored to win the region, Sun Prairie WI has a good chance of breaking through and finishing second. However, Edina MN might have something to say about that. Edina has struggled with injuries this season after entering the season as strong favorites to win the region. Additionally, one of Edina's top runners does not run the regional meet because it is on a Sunday. It will be difficult for Edina to book tickets to Portland without having its best race of the season. Wayzata has been aided by the emergence of sophomore Caroline Sassan as a strong No. 2 runner behind sophomore leader Emma Atkinson.