1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1980 National XC Rankings

In 2004 Nike changed the face of prep cross country with the implementation of Nike Team Nationals. After decades the hopes and dreams of avid cross fans were finally realized. NTN allowed the top xc programs in the nation competing in one true national championships race, no less hosted by Nike at Portland Meadows. Many state associations do not allow prep teams to travel so teams register as clubs in order to compete in this post season event.

But the true excitement of national team cross country stardom began with the publication of the Harrier magazine in 1974. The Harrier was the premier national high school cross country report. In 1989 Marc Bloom's Harrier magazine began publishing the Harrier Super 25 National XC Rankings. It was this publication and the excitement it created that would play a part in inspiring the formation of Nike Team Nationals. The Super 25 Rankings allowed teams around the country a national forum and an opportunity to win the coveted Harrier Super 25 National XC Championship released through the Harrier report.

Delving back in time it is clear that the Harrier inspired teams throughout the country before those first national rankings 1989. From 1980 until 1988 teams throughout the country competed at a national championship caliber without the recognition as true national cross country champions. Track & field News used to have the "National Postal Competitions", in these events five runners on a team would compete in a two-mile on the track. For this reason York, IL has claimed that they own the national championship every year from the late 60's until 1989. Quite perplexing considering cross country is not a track event and not all cross country runners participate in track. What is clear is that York is not the only team to have dominant programs before 1988, perhaps a spotlight will rest on those teams whom deserve recognition for superior national performances.

XC Legacy is going back from 1980 until 1988 seeking to fill in those missing years with a national ranking based upon individual team xc season performances. We will begin with the boys national champions from 1980-1988 releasing a new story until we complete this important time period in prep cross country.

In the first installment of rankings we have a superb team from Indiana blasting over 5000 meters ousting Illinois for the top spot. We will read a remarkable story about a team from Utah breaking in as Utah's first nationally ranked program. Also featured is the tough Herm Caviness coached Ferris squad from Spokane, Washington who ran rampant through the evergreen state enroute to a dominant state team performance. Completing the list are two California programs whom tied at the 1980 Mt. Sac Cross Country Team Sweepstakes. While there are many teams nationally whom performed at an exceptional level in 1980, we believe these are your top 8 Nationally ranked teams.

Bloomington North, Indiana: National Champions

The home of U.S. distance legend Rudy Chapa, Indiana hosts the nations longest cross country tradition; hosting a one division state cross country meet. Entering the 1980 season Carmel Indiana had won four (4) straight IHSAA State XC Championships. This would also be the first year Indiana athletes would race over a legitimate 5000 meter course rather than the 2.5 mile course from years past. Regrouping with a crew of five runners all under 16 minutes for 5000m, Coach Chuck Koeppen had Carmel primed for title number five (5). But what a suprise would lay ahead for Carmel as rival Coach Charles Warthan prepared his Bloomington North team for an epic showdown.

What Carmel did not know was that Bloomington North was set on a collision course with the defending state champions. After both teams claimed team victories at their respective Sectional, Regional, and Semi-State Championships Carmel and Bloomington North travelled to South Grove Golf Course for the much anticipated State final.

At the state xc championships Bloomington North annihilated the field with an impressive 34-149 point showing over defending state champion Carmel. Whats more impressive was the varsity time spread. Featuring a slew of nationally notable stars including team leader Marty Bassett and Jeff Grove a new era had begun in Indiana. Bassett and Grove, more commonly associated as 1981 Kinney National finalists with Bassett claiming the 1981 individual state crown. But in 1980, the Bloomington North squad was simply phenominal running as one of the first true pack mentallity teams often running a 20 second spread through the season. The Bloomington North team averaged 15:13 over the state 5000 meter course, truly an impressive feat in any year.

Sporting a 10 second spread from the 1-4 runner and a 32 second spread from 1-5 the Bloomington North team featured 6 sub 16 minute 5000 Meter runners. While York High likes to claim the 1980 title based on track times; what is clear is that the team depth and 1-5 spread of Bloomington North over a legitimate 5000 Meter xc course is superior. As a cross country team, Bloomington North simply was the best. Lets meet the 1980 National Championship team.

2. York, Elmhurst, Illinois

Its hard to argue against the dominance of the Newton era teams however, there is room for debate. Such as the layout of the Illinois State XC Course which features arguably the fastest 3-mile layout in the nation with downhill and flat features. While the times in Illinois are often fast they do not coorelate to 3-mile courses across the nation. Let alone the Bloomington North's team performance over 5000 meters at the Indiana State Championships. Make no mistake about it, Illinois is a competitive and nationally challenging state with their state meet the most anticipated and prestigious state championship event in Illinois.

York High narrowly defeated a tough Palatine team at the Illinois State XC Championships. On the course that Craig Virgin ran his epic 13:50 (3-miles) in 1972 the men from Elmhurst came through once more for Coach Joe Newton as the long green line raced back to Elmhurst with another state trophy.

1980 York Illinois State Results

Athlete Name/place	State Time (3-miles)
Rich Seyferlich - 6th Place	14:35
Rick Shroer - 12th Place	14:39
Dale Madsen - 22nd Place	14:57
Rex Armstrong - 44th Place	15:08
Al Taira - 50th Place	15:12
Doug Shroer - 79th Place	15:23
Mark Jerger - 165th Place	16:08

3. Murray, Utah

In 1980 Murray high burst onto the national scene at the Utah State Championships with a 3A State Championship victory scoring 58 points. In that meet, led by Dave Andreason's runner-up finish in 15:06 the men from Murray stepped onto the national spotlight. Followed by teammates Kevin Deford in 15:22 and Cory Bringhurst in 15:23 the Murray team averaged 15:33 over a difficult state course held at 4500 feet elevation. According to Utah Coaching Legend Jeff Arbogast this Murray team was and is the greatest team he ever witnessed with 5 legitimate sub 16 minute 5000 meter runners. Powerful words from the man who coached who we believe to be the best team in state history.

To put the 1980 performance into perspective, before 1980 the course record was 15:11 set in 1978 by the great U.S. distance runner Ed Eyestone. In that 1978 race Eyestone won by a wide margin as second place was 16:04. For further proof of this extraordinary team performance legendary East runner Jeff Creer, a 9:00 two-miler, only ran 15:22 in 1976 over this course winning by a wide margin of 30 seconds. Also keep in Mind Andreason was a 8:21.43 3000 meter runner. On paper it would seem that Murray was a powerhouse of unequalled parrallel during the early 80's, one would assume that had there been a NXN event Murray would have been top 5 nationally.

Stay Tuned: 1981 National XC Rankings

*If you have a team from 1981-88 that you feel is national top 10 calliber please email me with details ataylor@milesplit.us