Greer Finds Another Gear Past Mile 2 To Pull Away

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Judson Greer powered away from the field with an aggressive second and third mile and the Newbury Park Athletic Club boys stayed connected on the way to victories on Sunday at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions presented by The Garrett Companies. 

Greer, a senior from Melissa High in Texas who placed fifth at Foot Locker last year, drove from his home near Dallas and took on a strong field that included state champions from a handful of midwestern states. 

"I'm definitely super thankful to be able to come out here and be i a good competitive race like this this year when when a lot of things have been canceled," Greer said.

Newbury Park of California, which won't have an opportunity for a high school cross country season until after Christmas, proved once again to be the best team in the U.S. Christian Simone placed sixth and Lex Young was ninth to lead the team to a low score of 32 points. 

Early on, it was Newbury's Nick Goldstein leading through the mile (4:46) and teammate Colin Sahlman in the front row behind him. 

Goldstein finished 33rd overall and Sahlman was 20th. 

Stumptown Running (Jesuit OR), another team that did not compete in a high school season this fall, finished second with 97 points. Oregon is set to begin in March. The team is also one of the leading contenders for next week's Nike Cross Virtual championship. 

Stumptown's Ryan Schumacher clung to Greer the longest, going with him through the 2-mile split in 9:41. 

But that's where Greer made a successful push to break away. Buffeted by a steady wind, he muscled his way to a big lead and then began to tie up in the last 100 meters. He had enough of a margin to beat the onrushing pursuit of Hobbs Kessler, the Michigan Division 1 runner-up (15:16.4), Luke Schildmeyer of Saints XC Club (St. Charles East) and Nathan Walker of Fremont MI. 

Greer will return home and begin preparing for the Texas UIL state championship on Nov. 24 in Round Rock. He is the two-time defending Class 4A champion.

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