A Lifelong Process
As you look at the trending data for the past decade and a half, two names stick out as significant outliers in terms of progress. The first name is Nick Ryan. Ryan began his XC career in Middle School. Entering 9th grade, he ran only once his entire opening season. At the league meet, in the JV race, Ryan ran a 109 speed rating, finishing in 20:04 for 5000m. By the end of his career, Ryan was averaging a 195 for his junior year, and a 200 for his senior year. Ryan still holds the junior class record for 1600m (4:05.24) as well as the Bowdoin Park Course Record (15:27.0). His jump over his High School career equates to a lifetime improvement of 91 points, the highest for any boy on the team (Alex Hatz and Tommy Gruenewald averaged about 45pts per lifetime, as a comparison).
Christie Rutledge: A Case Study
In 2010, the world got their first glimpse of Christie Rutledge. Coming from obscurity, Rutledge emerged on the scene in the early season as the lead girl of the 4-time defending national champions. The world wondered where a girl in her junior year could have come from, if not from another sport. But for Fayetteville-Manlius, Rutledge had been there the whole time.
Christie Rutledge had come out for the team her freshman year. It was her first real foray into competitive running, and coming into a national level program proved difficult. But Rutledge was a hard worker, doing everything the right way. It just seemed as if the natural ability of running wasn't there. Rutledge raced sparingly, bringing up the rear of the training group in the program. Her freshman year, across dual meets and the league invitational, Rutledge's average finish would be 27:00, which would register as a negative 9 speed rating average for the year. Despite being 3 minutes back from the next to last girl on her team, Rutledge continued working.
Undettered, Rutledge returned her sophomore year, after a full year of training on the track. She had improved, no longer the last place finisher. She continued to work hard, seeing self-improvement, yet still far away from the varsity runners. MIddle of the pack on JV, Rutledge would finish out the season at an 74 speed rating average for the year, or good for a 23:00.0 minute finishing time on your average cross country course. The outside world still had no idea who Christie Rutledge was, with good reason. One year later, and that would all change.
Rutledge once again participated in both Indoor and Outdoor Track. Heading outdoors, the growth curve began to become a little more evident. She spat out PR's of 10:47 in the 3000m, and 5:01 in the 1500m. Neither would be indicative of the coming year, but had shown growth year over year from Rutledge's original starting point.
Flash forward to 2010. Rutledge had undergone a transformation over the summer, continuing her meteoric rise. Her training began getting better and better, much to the notice of her coaches and teammates. Soon, the girl who had been 3minutes behind at the end of the race was leading workouts. At the first invitational of the season, the world got their first glimpse. Christie Rutledge had outrun her teammates to victory by 12 seconds, over a girl who finished 28th overall at NXN the year prior. Rutledge would continue to improve, eventually capturing the New York State Title, and fifth overall at Regionals.
At Nationals, the world saw Rutledge in a new light. She took off from the gun with no fear, running to the front in the first mile. Rutledge led the race through the next mile and a half, stalked by Rachel Johnson of Texas. It was only in the final half mile that Johnson made contact, passing Rutledge for the win. Rutledge would take second, leading her team to a historic victory, besting the rest of the country combined, if scored as one team.
What Happens Next?
For the casual observer, many would ask what happens next to the average Fayetteville-Manlius runner. Rutledge went on to a fantastic career on the track. Over the next summer, she developed a Sacroilian Joint inflammation, and was sat out to rest for the future. She was back on the track for Indoor and Spring, placing 3rd and 7th in the 3000m, respectively. Upon graduation, Rutledge attended Dartmouth for a year, then moved down south.
In the spirit of continuing growth through training, Rutledge still competes today. Training with Darkside Miami, Rutledge is one of the leading triathletes in the country, recently placing 11th in her age group at the National Championships. She has plenty of overall wins under her belt, and continues to flourish.
Rutledge is not the only Manlius alumni to take their growth through the collegiate level. Alex Hatz, running for Wisconsin, became the first team alumnus to break 4mins for the mile. 2012 graduate Heather Martin was a member of the Indoor NCAA Championships in the DMR. 2015 graduate Olivia Ryan, running for Geneseo, placed ninth at her NCAA Regional, moving on to Nationals as a freshman. Over the past ten years, the average runner on a Manlius Nike Cross Nationals team goes on to run at the Division 1 level, unless they choose otherwise. It is a testament to the lifelong pursuit of excellence, regardless of natural talent or ability.
- The average lifetime gain over four years is 29points, or a full minute and a half improvement.
- The average runner will go on to compete at the collegiate level their freshman year.
- Nearly half of Manlius' lifetime contributors start at a non-competitive level in Class A (Sub-100pts).
Average is the total weighted average at the end of the regular season, not including NXN Regionals or NXN
| Name | Debut Average | Peak AVG. | Lifetime Growth |
| Christie Rutledge | -9 | 157 | 166 |
| Kaitlyn Neal | 60 | 147 | 87 |
| Emily McGurrin | 64 | 123 | 69 |
| Samantha Levy | 68 | 135 | 67 |
| Jessica Hauser | 55 | 120 | 65 |
| Olivia Ryan | 70 | 133 | 63 |
| Alexandra Chapman | 72 | 122 | 50 |
| Michelle Duffy | 74 | 123 | 49 |
| Brittany Crawford | 95 | 142 | 47 |
| Alana Pearl | 106 | 141 | 35 |
| Courtney Chapman | 118 | 153 | 35 |
| Sophia Ryan | 109 | 142 | 33 |
| Molly Malone | 114 | 146 | 32 |
| Palmer Madsen | 106 | 135 | 29 |
| Keita Peden | 72 | 100 | 28 |
| Jessica Howe | 103 | 130 | 27 |
| Meaghan Anklin | 110 | 137 | 27 |
| Catie Caputo | 87 | 113 | 26 |
| Mary Barger | 114 | 136 | 22 |
| Megan Menz | 103 | 120 | 17 |
| Colleen Englert | 95 | 106 | 16 |
| Katie Brislin | 121 | 135 | 14 |
| Amanda Eisenson | 94 | 107 | 13 |
| Katie Losecco | 97 | 110 | 13 |
| Mackenzie Carter | 131 | 144 | 13 |
| Katie Sischo | 136 | 148 | 12 |
| Jillian Fanning | 145 | 156 | 11 |
| Mackenzie Pierie | 101 | 112 | 11 |
| Kathryn Buchan | 133 | 143 | 10 |
| Hilary Hooley | 105 | 115 | 10 |
| Annika Avery | 134 | 143 | 9 |