5. Section 4 is the Last Section To Never Send A Team To NXN
The Streak
While NXN may only be 12 years old, it's already worked itself in to the collective conscience of the State. For Top Teams in the state, it is the end goal. And while Section's 2 & 3 may have had a disproportionately large representation, it seems almost every power Section has gotten through. That is, except Section 4. Outside of the PSAL, AIS, Section 7 and Section 10, they are the only Section to never send a team out to Portland. They were able to share that distinction with Section 1 up until 2015, when North Rockland made it. Now, they are waiting for their turn.
They haven't been without good attempts. In 2016, the Corning Boys were undefeated through the State Meet. In 2014, the Elmira Girls beat future-NXN Champs Fayetteville-Manlius at the McQuaid Invitational. However, neither were able to pull in At-Large bids, after not finishing Top 2 at Regionals their year. On the other hand, with 8 different individuals qualifying, they are on par with the bulk of the rest of the sections for individual qualification.
The Challengers
The Corning Boys return a strong squad in 2017, and is rated second in the State heading into preseason. It looks like they might get another bite at the apple, if things progress as well as they did last year. After sending their top individual last year, it might be time for the full contingent to make their way west.
The Other Side
Without knowing more than preseason information, it would seem as if Section 4 only has one team viable to make NXN. The Corning boys bring back enough to be in the conversation, but so do many other teams across the state. We'll have to wait deeper into the season to know whether the streak will be in serious contention or not.
6. Regionals Has Always Been Won By A NYSPHSAA Class A School
The Streak
For every year there has been an NXN-NY Regional, a Public Class A School has won the title. In fact, besides Burnt Hills boys in 2009, no non-Class A school has ever qualified without the use of an At-Large bid. St. Anthony's managed to qualify as the second team in 2014, but it's enrollment puts it at a Class A school as well. It stands to reason, the more kids in a given school, the more likely they are to succeed in a team sport against those of lesser enrollments.
The Challengers
For the first time since the start of the qualification process, you have three legitimate teams that are not NYSPHSAA Class A schools, looking to make an attempt at a Regional Title. Chief among them is Class B's Burnt Hills, who has made the trip before. In 2009, they finished 42 points behind a Manlius team that would place ninth at NXN. They enter 2017 as the Top Team in the State, and could be the first Class B team to win the title. Likewise, two from the CHSAA are right in the mix as well. St. Anthony's has made the trip as well, while Xavier was only two points of St. Anthony's for the Fed title in 2015. Both teams know Bowdoin well, and are ready to win one for the Catholic Schools.
The Other Side
That isn't to say there is nobody from NYSPHSAA Class A in the mix. Fairport, Niskayuna, Corning, and Fayetteville-Manlius all have their own good reasons for being on top of the podium. Some have done it before, others fighting for their first reputation for their section. With so much on the line, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out by season's end.
7. Manlius Has Never Not Qualified For NXN
The Streak
A little bit of NXN history here. Originally started in 2004, then Nike Team Nationals brought together the best teams in the country for one last XC Meet. Starting in 2008, the name was changed to Nike Cross Nationals, and the entry process for the meet changed from invitation, to qualification, based on a top two finish at each of the individual regionals. That's where the streak begins.
In the past nine attempts, neither the Manlius Girls nor the Manlius Boys
have never not finished in the Top 2. They have made the meet each
year without ever using an At-Large bid. In the four years before that, the Boys
were invited twice, placing 2nd and 3rd at Nationals, and the Girls
were invited twice, winning both times. So each gender has gone exactly
nine times, while the team has been represented every year of the
meet's existence.
The Challengers
It would seem as if the 2017 Boys teams are set to have one of the most competitive years yet. While the girls lead the state in terms of returners, the boys have some catching up to do. With only one boy that has ever broken 170 for a speed rating, the road will be as tough as ever in a deep year for boys teams.
The Other Side
Manlius'
streak has been in deeper holes than 2017, and have come out safe. In
2014, their boys Top 7 only included one individual who had ever broke
10mins for the 3200m on the track. A year later, they came into the
meet with only 6 guys, after being ranked 6th in the State, losing at
Sectionals to the third place team at States. It's hard to count out consistency.