Nike Cross Nationals

Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) (formerly known as Nike Team Nationals) is an invitational cross country meet that serves as the unofficial team national championship of United States high school cross country. It was designed to heighten competition between high school cross country teams nationwide. NXN was formerly a part of the Nike Nationals Series, which included Nike Indoor Nationals, Nike Outdoor Nationals and Nike Track Nationals for track and field. Nike Track Nationals announced by Nike, which sponsored all of these national events before they were split up by other shoe brands New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

NTN was started in 2004 along with the other two meets in the Nike Nationals Series in order to promote the national circuit for high school competitive running. The inaugural race in 2004 consisted of 21 boys teams and 20 girls teams and was seen by an estimated 4,000 spectators. Kinetic XC Club of Saratoga High School, which had been ranked in polls as the number one girls team in the country for the past decade, dominated the girls race with a score of 51. Kroy XC Club of York High School won the boys race with 92 points. The race featured a special award called the "Golden Anchor," given to the top four number five runners in each race.

The 2005 race saw the introduction of an eighth man race, which was held before the main event races, and in 2006 combined with the open race.

An Open Race was new to the 2006 event, with 30 top boys and girls from around the country given the chance to compete as a team on the national level; however they did not qualify and therefore Nike did not provide their expenses or clothing. Also new to 2006 was a revision of the course. On December 2, 2006 a Kenyan boys team and a Kenyan girls team were also flown in to partake in the open events; the teams dominated the North American course and showed spectators a whole new view of racing.

On April 25, 2008, Nike announced that it will change their name from NTN to NXN (Nike Cross Nationals). Along with the two teams from each region that make it to NXN, Nike will also take the next five individuals from each region and they will also be able to compete in the same race, just without a team.

This new format has created many conflicts with Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. The FLCC has been one of the most prestigious high school cross country races since the 1970s. With the different regions for FL and NXN (changed to nike cross nationals in 2008 to recognize individual achievement) and both races/qualifying races near the same dates as the other, runners are faced with a tough decision to make.

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