2014-11-16 - Cross Country Nike Midwest Regionals NXR CHAMPS!
First Place Team Overall Team
Sandburg Eagles Time Place Place Year
Sean Torpy 15:43 25 16 JR
Max Lehnhardt 15:44 27 18 JR
Greg Burzinski 15:46 33 21 SR
Chris Torpy 15:47 37 24 JR
Tom Brennan 15:50 48 32 JR
Brandon Lukas 15:55 60 41 JR
Martin Skucas 15:58 77 52 SO
Team Results
1. Sandburg 111
2. Carmel (IN) 188
3. York 250
4. Lafayette (MO) 250
5. Neuqua Valley 259
Complete Nike Regional results Complete Nike National results
Coach Novak's blog about NXR Bob Hahn's blog about NXN
Sandburg Eagles Time Place Place Year
Sean Torpy 15:43 25 16 JR
Max Lehnhardt 15:44 27 18 JR
Greg Burzinski 15:46 33 21 SR
Chris Torpy 15:47 37 24 JR
Tom Brennan 15:50 48 32 JR
Brandon Lukas 15:55 60 41 JR
Martin Skucas 15:58 77 52 SO
Team Results
1. Sandburg 111
2. Carmel (IN) 188
3. York 250
4. Lafayette (MO) 250
5. Neuqua Valley 259
Complete Nike Regional results Complete Nike National results
Coach Novak's blog about NXR Bob Hahn's blog about NXN
Nike Midwest Regional finish line video
MORE RESOURCES
RACE VIDEOS: NXN Finals Race video POST-RACE INTERVIEWS: NXR post-race team interview Mike Newman NXR post-race interview Articles: RunnerSpace race recap |
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Sean Torpy 15:43 25th place overall
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
To be honest, I didn’t know that Nike Nationals even existed until about mid-way through my sophomore cross country season (Fall, 2013). I wasn’t on social media at the time, so none of this was advertised to me. Coach O’Malley began talking about having us travel out to Terre Haute, IN for the Midwest Regional, the qualifying race for Nike Nationals, the week after the state meet. The goal was to get some experience for next season. I wasn’t entirely sure what that even meant for us yet. He had bigger plans for our team than I did at the time. Regardless, we set up the logistics and drove out there for the meet where I had a pretty lousy performance (80th place, 17:18; 13th place as a team). It felt like I was running in an arcade game. The course was windy, muddy, and there was standing water everywhere, all while trying to jump over hay bales. Even though I didn’t necessarily know what to make of this meet beforehand, I felt frustrated with the way I ran compared to the rest of the season. To make it worse, I watched two of the automatic qualifying teams for Nike Nationals celebrating at the finish line while I stood there feeling defeated. I had realized, in that moment, the potential of this meet and where it could take us. I decided that the next time I came out there that I was going to execute a much better race with my team. That’s when I started to look a little further into the future than just a state championship the next fall. I wanted to be one of those Nike Nationals qualifying teams celebrating at the finish line with my teammates. Throughout the 2014 track season and summer training, we began discussing it with a bit more understanding and purpose. It became normal to talk about. Soon enough, it even became an expectation. We ran our practices and races with the intention of extending our cross country season into early December.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went.
There were a lot of ups and downs for months leading up to this race. As I mentioned before, we started mentally preparing for this meet early in the 2014 track season. We were really trying to turn the corner with Sandburg’s distance program and become a national threat. We were training like a well-oiled machine and were very fit. However, we experienced some tough losses that made that next big goal like qualifying for Nike Nationals feel a little less promising. We had lost the 4x800 state title in the final straightaway the previous spring to take 2nd. We demolished the defending cross country state champions at the 2014 sectional meet. Then, we proceeded to turn around and lose the state title the next week to the same team in the final 800m. At this point, it felt like championships just weren’t our thing. Taking 2nd in the state cross country meet the week before having to come back and race the Nike Midwest Regional seemed impossible. But, I allowed the weekend to grieve that loss and take the rest of the week to exemplify what it truly means to “shake it off.” I went to practice and continued running like I had all year–with the intention of winning, as difficult as it was. We had parents and volunteer coaches graciously help set up our travel and hotel accommodations to go to Terre Haute to take another stab at an important win. We couldn’t have so many people sacrifice their time for us to run feeling sorry for ourselves. So, we lined up together that cold morning at the start line shaking with uncertainty and excitement, and we let it rip. We had done what we had done all year. We got out to the front and tried to make a statement early that we were there to win. I remember being clumped up with Greg, Max, and Chris at the first mile. The adrenaline had worn off and O’Malley met us at the bottom of the course already giving promising feedback about our team’s position. Through about 2,000m, we were already winning. If you don’t know the course at Terre Haute, there is a slight incline going from roughly the 2,000m mark to the 3,000m mark. The field started to separate a bit there and I lost sight of my teammates. For the next 2,000m, I thought I was running alone. I wasn’t getting passed, but I wasn’t passing anyone either. I hadn’t heard feedback from any coaches during this time. At this point, I thought I was leading our team until I had made a turn heading into the 4,000m mark, just 1,000m from the finish when I saw a very familiar jersey and running form in front of me. It was Max. Then, all of a sudden, I heard Coach Tarjan and Coach O’Malley yelling, “Come on Max! Come on, Sean! … Let’s go, Greg! Let’s go, Tom! Keep rolling, Chris! Let’s go B-Lukas!, Atta way Skucas!” Just like that, I had my entire team rolling up beside me. I had an intense surge of energy and will to run harder. We burned up the next 600m together before making the final turn into the last quarter mile straightaway when Greg came up right beside me. He turned and looked as we all realized what was happening and shouted, “We’re doing it, boys!” Together, we stormed down the final straightaway and into the finish chute with a 1-5 split of 7 seconds, and a 1-7 split of 15 seconds. Writing this 9 years later, I can’t tell you the other specifics of how the race played out or strategies, but, to this day, I can still feel the moment of realization that we had finally broken a barrier. Just as I had hoped 1 year prior, we were celebrating together at the finish line (and maybe a little before…) knowing we had qualified as a team for Sandburg’s first Nike Nationals.
What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
If I had to pick one word to describe how it felt winning that meet and qualifying for NXN, it would be nothing shy of “euphoric.” I’m not sure if I will ever get another high like that again. It was a much-needed win. To be able to go through so much heartbreak together as a team and then experience a win so meaningful after made it even better. Standing out in the snow in half tights and a jersey trying to smile with numb faces and high-five with frozen fingers is something I will never forget. We spent the van ride home thawing out with our trophy and stopped for a greasy Texas Road House dinner to celebrate. And, it was only a preview of the fun we were going to get to experience at NXN.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race?
The whole NXN experience was nothing short of amazing. For starters, this was the first flight I got to take since I went to Disneyworld as a young child. Driving 3 hours to a meet was one thing, but flying across the country on Nike’s dime to race the best runners in the nation was something else. I felt like a professional. We landed in Portland 2 days before the meet and were met by Nike representatives. From there, they put us on a coach bus and sent us to the hotel we were staying at. We walked into this beautifully decorated hotel reserved for the event. There were banners of every qualifying team’s name hanging from the railings and runners from all over the country standing there. While we waited to get into our rooms, we were met with a buffet of food followed by team credentialing and check-ins. After we got settled, we hopped on a bus and drove over with event personnel to the Nike Headquarters. This is where we met some of Nike’s most successful runners/Olympians, were brought in to receive all of our team gear, and got to play games with other runners. We did a light run around the headquarters’s woodchip trail and completed strides on Michael Johnson’s Track woven into the forest. That night, we went to a banquet hall on Nike’s campus where a professional Nike runner sat and ate dinner with each team. We had the pleasure of talking with US 5K champion, Ryan Hill. He gave us tips about the meet, talked about his running career, and answered any questions we had. The next day consisted of a lot of similar activities. We were able to sleep in. Then, we headed over to the course to do our pre-meet and check out our designated team area. It was a beautiful golf course and the smell of Evergreen trees was overwhelming. The air felt fresher out there. We took some pictures with photographers and headed back to the hotel to shower before going back over to the Nike Headquarters for a Nike athlete Q&A in the Tiger Woods Auditorium. We spent the night after that relaxing, playing games, and getting our pasta dinner at Nike’s cafeteria. The next day was a bit more serious. We got up in the morning and went downstairs to have breakfast prepared for us before heading over to the course. We went through our usual warm-up routine and got down to business. The event announcer introduced our team in front of the crowd before heading over to the start line. I was more nervous than usual as we were lining up. We took 2 big steps back, the official blew the whistle to have us step up to the start line, and he fired the gun to get us underway as we had done so many times before. We were out hard with the intention to place in the top 5, but I struggled through a rough 15 minutes and we ended up finishing 14th as a team. It had been a long season, and while I was upset with the final outcome, I knew we were coming back next year for more. We headed back to the hotel after the meet, showered, and Nike threw a post-race dance with a DJ and tons of junk food to end the long season. We finished up the trip with an award ceremony that night back at the Tiger Woods Auditorium. The next morning, we ate breakfast and hopped back on a plane back to Chicago with a huge learning experience and great memories. It was something I wish everyone could experience.
More from Sean Torpy
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
To be honest, I didn’t know that Nike Nationals even existed until about mid-way through my sophomore cross country season (Fall, 2013). I wasn’t on social media at the time, so none of this was advertised to me. Coach O’Malley began talking about having us travel out to Terre Haute, IN for the Midwest Regional, the qualifying race for Nike Nationals, the week after the state meet. The goal was to get some experience for next season. I wasn’t entirely sure what that even meant for us yet. He had bigger plans for our team than I did at the time. Regardless, we set up the logistics and drove out there for the meet where I had a pretty lousy performance (80th place, 17:18; 13th place as a team). It felt like I was running in an arcade game. The course was windy, muddy, and there was standing water everywhere, all while trying to jump over hay bales. Even though I didn’t necessarily know what to make of this meet beforehand, I felt frustrated with the way I ran compared to the rest of the season. To make it worse, I watched two of the automatic qualifying teams for Nike Nationals celebrating at the finish line while I stood there feeling defeated. I had realized, in that moment, the potential of this meet and where it could take us. I decided that the next time I came out there that I was going to execute a much better race with my team. That’s when I started to look a little further into the future than just a state championship the next fall. I wanted to be one of those Nike Nationals qualifying teams celebrating at the finish line with my teammates. Throughout the 2014 track season and summer training, we began discussing it with a bit more understanding and purpose. It became normal to talk about. Soon enough, it even became an expectation. We ran our practices and races with the intention of extending our cross country season into early December.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went.
There were a lot of ups and downs for months leading up to this race. As I mentioned before, we started mentally preparing for this meet early in the 2014 track season. We were really trying to turn the corner with Sandburg’s distance program and become a national threat. We were training like a well-oiled machine and were very fit. However, we experienced some tough losses that made that next big goal like qualifying for Nike Nationals feel a little less promising. We had lost the 4x800 state title in the final straightaway the previous spring to take 2nd. We demolished the defending cross country state champions at the 2014 sectional meet. Then, we proceeded to turn around and lose the state title the next week to the same team in the final 800m. At this point, it felt like championships just weren’t our thing. Taking 2nd in the state cross country meet the week before having to come back and race the Nike Midwest Regional seemed impossible. But, I allowed the weekend to grieve that loss and take the rest of the week to exemplify what it truly means to “shake it off.” I went to practice and continued running like I had all year–with the intention of winning, as difficult as it was. We had parents and volunteer coaches graciously help set up our travel and hotel accommodations to go to Terre Haute to take another stab at an important win. We couldn’t have so many people sacrifice their time for us to run feeling sorry for ourselves. So, we lined up together that cold morning at the start line shaking with uncertainty and excitement, and we let it rip. We had done what we had done all year. We got out to the front and tried to make a statement early that we were there to win. I remember being clumped up with Greg, Max, and Chris at the first mile. The adrenaline had worn off and O’Malley met us at the bottom of the course already giving promising feedback about our team’s position. Through about 2,000m, we were already winning. If you don’t know the course at Terre Haute, there is a slight incline going from roughly the 2,000m mark to the 3,000m mark. The field started to separate a bit there and I lost sight of my teammates. For the next 2,000m, I thought I was running alone. I wasn’t getting passed, but I wasn’t passing anyone either. I hadn’t heard feedback from any coaches during this time. At this point, I thought I was leading our team until I had made a turn heading into the 4,000m mark, just 1,000m from the finish when I saw a very familiar jersey and running form in front of me. It was Max. Then, all of a sudden, I heard Coach Tarjan and Coach O’Malley yelling, “Come on Max! Come on, Sean! … Let’s go, Greg! Let’s go, Tom! Keep rolling, Chris! Let’s go B-Lukas!, Atta way Skucas!” Just like that, I had my entire team rolling up beside me. I had an intense surge of energy and will to run harder. We burned up the next 600m together before making the final turn into the last quarter mile straightaway when Greg came up right beside me. He turned and looked as we all realized what was happening and shouted, “We’re doing it, boys!” Together, we stormed down the final straightaway and into the finish chute with a 1-5 split of 7 seconds, and a 1-7 split of 15 seconds. Writing this 9 years later, I can’t tell you the other specifics of how the race played out or strategies, but, to this day, I can still feel the moment of realization that we had finally broken a barrier. Just as I had hoped 1 year prior, we were celebrating together at the finish line (and maybe a little before…) knowing we had qualified as a team for Sandburg’s first Nike Nationals.
What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
If I had to pick one word to describe how it felt winning that meet and qualifying for NXN, it would be nothing shy of “euphoric.” I’m not sure if I will ever get another high like that again. It was a much-needed win. To be able to go through so much heartbreak together as a team and then experience a win so meaningful after made it even better. Standing out in the snow in half tights and a jersey trying to smile with numb faces and high-five with frozen fingers is something I will never forget. We spent the van ride home thawing out with our trophy and stopped for a greasy Texas Road House dinner to celebrate. And, it was only a preview of the fun we were going to get to experience at NXN.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race?
The whole NXN experience was nothing short of amazing. For starters, this was the first flight I got to take since I went to Disneyworld as a young child. Driving 3 hours to a meet was one thing, but flying across the country on Nike’s dime to race the best runners in the nation was something else. I felt like a professional. We landed in Portland 2 days before the meet and were met by Nike representatives. From there, they put us on a coach bus and sent us to the hotel we were staying at. We walked into this beautifully decorated hotel reserved for the event. There were banners of every qualifying team’s name hanging from the railings and runners from all over the country standing there. While we waited to get into our rooms, we were met with a buffet of food followed by team credentialing and check-ins. After we got settled, we hopped on a bus and drove over with event personnel to the Nike Headquarters. This is where we met some of Nike’s most successful runners/Olympians, were brought in to receive all of our team gear, and got to play games with other runners. We did a light run around the headquarters’s woodchip trail and completed strides on Michael Johnson’s Track woven into the forest. That night, we went to a banquet hall on Nike’s campus where a professional Nike runner sat and ate dinner with each team. We had the pleasure of talking with US 5K champion, Ryan Hill. He gave us tips about the meet, talked about his running career, and answered any questions we had. The next day consisted of a lot of similar activities. We were able to sleep in. Then, we headed over to the course to do our pre-meet and check out our designated team area. It was a beautiful golf course and the smell of Evergreen trees was overwhelming. The air felt fresher out there. We took some pictures with photographers and headed back to the hotel to shower before going back over to the Nike Headquarters for a Nike athlete Q&A in the Tiger Woods Auditorium. We spent the night after that relaxing, playing games, and getting our pasta dinner at Nike’s cafeteria. The next day was a bit more serious. We got up in the morning and went downstairs to have breakfast prepared for us before heading over to the course. We went through our usual warm-up routine and got down to business. The event announcer introduced our team in front of the crowd before heading over to the start line. I was more nervous than usual as we were lining up. We took 2 big steps back, the official blew the whistle to have us step up to the start line, and he fired the gun to get us underway as we had done so many times before. We were out hard with the intention to place in the top 5, but I struggled through a rough 15 minutes and we ended up finishing 14th as a team. It had been a long season, and while I was upset with the final outcome, I knew we were coming back next year for more. We headed back to the hotel after the meet, showered, and Nike threw a post-race dance with a DJ and tons of junk food to end the long season. We finished up the trip with an award ceremony that night back at the Tiger Woods Auditorium. The next morning, we ate breakfast and hopped back on a plane back to Chicago with a huge learning experience and great memories. It was something I wish everyone could experience.
More from Sean Torpy
Max Lehnhardt 15:44 27th place overall
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
Nike Nationals wasn’t on my radar until summer going into Sophomore year when Greg Burzinski first brought up the idea of going to regionals and qualifying. At the time I knew we had a strong group and that Illinois is a powerhouse for distance running, but had no idea how we stacked up against the rest of the nation. Candidly, I think we all believed at the time we could be one of the, if not the best by the time we were upperclassmen, so deciding it was something we wanted to do just made sense.
However it’s easier to say you want to do something than just do it. Everybody on the team had to go through the decision process fairly early in high school on what sports / activities we wanted to prioritize – it essentially worked as a domino effect and the leaders on our team stepped up (Tommy quit wrestling, Chris quit football, Dylan quit soccer, Greg tried to be more normal). For me, it was quitting baseball which was tough at the time considering most of my friends growing up played and I hated wearing short shorts. Looking back, I’m happy with the decision I made and am happy to offer guidance (but not sway) to anyone who may be faced with similar decisions.
A good barometer to measure yourselves is if you are among the best teams in IL, you have a solid shot at qualifying and are likely among the best in the country.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went. What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
Preparing for NXR should be easy, but can easily be made difficult. After the state championship series, we felt like we just climbed a mountain and lost. For that year, we had a chip on our shoulders that year and came back with the feeling of needing the redeem ourselves. The experience in 2014 was bitter sweet – it’s incredible to call yourselves the best team in the Midwest and to know you just punched yourself a ticket to the national race + Nike’s HQ but our top goal for the year was to win the state meet.
The key takeaway here is we were hungry to redeem ourselves, so it was “easier” to come back after the grind of the state championship series. NXR always has a few teams that blow up because they let the little things slip leading up to the race.
To keep mental sharpness and hunger to compete you need to keep doing what you’ve been doing all season. It’s easy to dull yourself after state meet, whether that be on sleep, diet, routines, or practice. You should think about NXR and NXN as part of the season, not in addition to the season.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race.
Portland was awesome and extremely unique. It still comes up in conversation today, but that could be because I peaked in HS and have no other good running stories.
Not many 16 year olds give themselves the opportunity to be treated like celebrities and stay at one of the most prestigious racing campuses in the country. You also get free gear…
Thinking back to the highlights – we got to network with pro runners, meet runners from other states, run on the Nike forest track, get limited edition Nike gear, and hang out with friends for a few days away from school.
More from Max Lehnhardt
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
Nike Nationals wasn’t on my radar until summer going into Sophomore year when Greg Burzinski first brought up the idea of going to regionals and qualifying. At the time I knew we had a strong group and that Illinois is a powerhouse for distance running, but had no idea how we stacked up against the rest of the nation. Candidly, I think we all believed at the time we could be one of the, if not the best by the time we were upperclassmen, so deciding it was something we wanted to do just made sense.
However it’s easier to say you want to do something than just do it. Everybody on the team had to go through the decision process fairly early in high school on what sports / activities we wanted to prioritize – it essentially worked as a domino effect and the leaders on our team stepped up (Tommy quit wrestling, Chris quit football, Dylan quit soccer, Greg tried to be more normal). For me, it was quitting baseball which was tough at the time considering most of my friends growing up played and I hated wearing short shorts. Looking back, I’m happy with the decision I made and am happy to offer guidance (but not sway) to anyone who may be faced with similar decisions.
A good barometer to measure yourselves is if you are among the best teams in IL, you have a solid shot at qualifying and are likely among the best in the country.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went. What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
Preparing for NXR should be easy, but can easily be made difficult. After the state championship series, we felt like we just climbed a mountain and lost. For that year, we had a chip on our shoulders that year and came back with the feeling of needing the redeem ourselves. The experience in 2014 was bitter sweet – it’s incredible to call yourselves the best team in the Midwest and to know you just punched yourself a ticket to the national race + Nike’s HQ but our top goal for the year was to win the state meet.
The key takeaway here is we were hungry to redeem ourselves, so it was “easier” to come back after the grind of the state championship series. NXR always has a few teams that blow up because they let the little things slip leading up to the race.
To keep mental sharpness and hunger to compete you need to keep doing what you’ve been doing all season. It’s easy to dull yourself after state meet, whether that be on sleep, diet, routines, or practice. You should think about NXR and NXN as part of the season, not in addition to the season.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race.
Portland was awesome and extremely unique. It still comes up in conversation today, but that could be because I peaked in HS and have no other good running stories.
Not many 16 year olds give themselves the opportunity to be treated like celebrities and stay at one of the most prestigious racing campuses in the country. You also get free gear…
Thinking back to the highlights – we got to network with pro runners, meet runners from other states, run on the Nike forest track, get limited edition Nike gear, and hang out with friends for a few days away from school.
More from Max Lehnhardt
Greg Burzinski 15:46 33rd place overall
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
I distinctly remember my hunger brewing towards the end of my freshman year/beginning of sophomore year. I had pretty much every single NXN and NTN (back when it was called Nike Team Nationals) championship race bookmarked on my browser. From the moment I saw the pedigree surrounding this race, I knew that we HAD to have it - and I also knew that we had the firepower, resources and hustle to make it happen.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went. What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
I feel like most people involved in our program at the time knew that NXNMW14 was our "do or die" moment - I distinctly remember the solemn ride home on the bus from Peoria after placing 2nd to Hinsdale Central at State. I'll be straight up honest - at first it was a hell of a pill to swallow that I'd never be on the Sandburg roster that brought home the first team title - however, I knew that we had unfinished business that could turn into something even greater.
We spent the next few weeks with Coach Hahn and Coach Keane (absolute LEGENDS) pumping workouts through some pretty gnarly weather, motivated purely by revenge for the state meet and hunger for the opportunity to go to Nationals.
The 2014 Midwest Regional meet in Terre Haute is forever a day that is seared into my memory. Our entire program was firing on all cylinders, from the Open meet to the Championship meet. The course and conditions lent themselves VERY well to our tight pack, which I distinctly remember having a devastating mental impact on the other teams. My absolute favorite moment of the race was all of us absolutely BARRELING down the gruesome final straight at Terre Haute, chopping heads with Coach O'Malley right there on the side. I have NEVER seen this man so fired up in my entire life, if there was a recording of the expletives that came out of his mouth I'm pretty sure he'd be banned from the course 🤣
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked all around me and saw nothing except for my family in blue and gold. I didn't even wait for the results - I knew that we had it in the bag. Coach O'Malley hammered this race plan into our heads for YEARS. The 7 second 1-5 split and indomitable pack was exactly the formula we needed.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race.
The trip to Portland was absolutely insane. Everything from meeting Pro athletes, the shoe-shaped waffles, product testing with engineers, roughly $2k worth of Pro Kit 1 gear that I still have to this day, the list goes on.
Something that I think is worth mentioning to your athletes is that there were a handful of incredibly stout programs/teams present at Nationals where this race is pretty much a "lock" for them every year, and it was evident by how comfortable they were all race weekend. This is exactly where I can envision Sandburg's program leveling up to.
More from Greg Burzinski
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals? How did you prioritize that as a goal?
I distinctly remember my hunger brewing towards the end of my freshman year/beginning of sophomore year. I had pretty much every single NXN and NTN (back when it was called Nike Team Nationals) championship race bookmarked on my browser. From the moment I saw the pedigree surrounding this race, I knew that we HAD to have it - and I also knew that we had the firepower, resources and hustle to make it happen.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went. What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
I feel like most people involved in our program at the time knew that NXNMW14 was our "do or die" moment - I distinctly remember the solemn ride home on the bus from Peoria after placing 2nd to Hinsdale Central at State. I'll be straight up honest - at first it was a hell of a pill to swallow that I'd never be on the Sandburg roster that brought home the first team title - however, I knew that we had unfinished business that could turn into something even greater.
We spent the next few weeks with Coach Hahn and Coach Keane (absolute LEGENDS) pumping workouts through some pretty gnarly weather, motivated purely by revenge for the state meet and hunger for the opportunity to go to Nationals.
The 2014 Midwest Regional meet in Terre Haute is forever a day that is seared into my memory. Our entire program was firing on all cylinders, from the Open meet to the Championship meet. The course and conditions lent themselves VERY well to our tight pack, which I distinctly remember having a devastating mental impact on the other teams. My absolute favorite moment of the race was all of us absolutely BARRELING down the gruesome final straight at Terre Haute, chopping heads with Coach O'Malley right there on the side. I have NEVER seen this man so fired up in my entire life, if there was a recording of the expletives that came out of his mouth I'm pretty sure he'd be banned from the course 🤣
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked all around me and saw nothing except for my family in blue and gold. I didn't even wait for the results - I knew that we had it in the bag. Coach O'Malley hammered this race plan into our heads for YEARS. The 7 second 1-5 split and indomitable pack was exactly the formula we needed.
What was the Portland experience like - focusing more on the trip than the final race.
The trip to Portland was absolutely insane. Everything from meeting Pro athletes, the shoe-shaped waffles, product testing with engineers, roughly $2k worth of Pro Kit 1 gear that I still have to this day, the list goes on.
Something that I think is worth mentioning to your athletes is that there were a handful of incredibly stout programs/teams present at Nationals where this race is pretty much a "lock" for them every year, and it was evident by how comfortable they were all race weekend. This is exactly where I can envision Sandburg's program leveling up to.
More from Greg Burzinski
Chris Torpy 15:47 37th place overall
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals?
I joined the cross-country team before my sophomore year (June of 2013), shortly after the track season had ended. It was my first time in a new sport in almost 9 years. Everything was foreign to me, and admittedly, I was only using the sport to become a better track runner. I understood that the season ended in a state meet but had no idea the 1-week extension that was going to be added on at the last minute. It was our introduction to the Nike Midwest Regional, which I couldn’t have cared less about before heading into the race. I was ready to be done with the 3-mile loops, and to get back to the 800m, the holiday celebrations, and a much-needed break from the last 6 months of the sport. Regardless of how I felt, we signed up for it anyway, crammed ourselves into a 12-passenger van, and split a few rooms in a hotel off the highway, roughly 15 minutes from the course. Terre Haute is not a glamorous area. You either farm there, or you race for a bid to a national championship. The day of the race was windy; so windy that a handful of tornados ripped apart a small town not too far away. The course was a slop fest that was covered in hay bales and an odd stench from a nearby farm. We finished in a measly 11th place, but I was happy to be done. That was, until I saw the 2 qualifying teams celebrating their win and advancement to the Nike National meet. During our cooldown, we found out that it was an all-expense paid trip filled with gear, professional runners, and an opportunity to race the best athletes in the country. It’s the only national team championship there is for the sport, and we were competitive enough to want the Sandburg name out there. We watched the qualifiers disappear into a small building off the side of the course to sign their papers for the gear, plane tickets, and trophies they were going to receive. The excitement, and mild jealousy, created a spark in me. My internet browser had turned into reviewing pictures that other athletes shared online of their experience at NXN, race results on what it took to make it, and previous livestreams of the races.
How did you prioritize that as a goal?
I don’t think it was a goal, necessarily. It was more of an outcome we wanted, and the goals were the actions to reach that outcome. Those actions, and the thoughts behind them, were the driving force for our team. We established our pillars and a couple catchphrases that carried a lot of meaning at the time during the summer camp in Wisconsin. Those pillars and phrases were the things we could always go back to on a tough day. They were the reasons we were out there training through all sorts of weather, terrain, wins, losses, and everything else that comes with the sport. We followed the pillars as a foundation for success, and if we lived by them, the outcome of qualifying to Nike Nationals would become a reality. Training could only take us so far, but the type of community we built within the team could take us even further.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went.
In 2013, the race almost seemed like a chore, with excitement to be done with it before it had even started. The trip was an exposure to the weekend and how to navigate all the logistics that went into being there. 2014 was a different story. The vision of winning and moving on to the nation’s biggest stage had started months before, and we were finally walking into the arena to make it happen. In the gloomy December morning, we loaded up the van in front of Sandburg before heading off on the 3.5-hour drive to the course. We were with Sandburg alumni, Mike Keane and Bob Hahn, who had taken their own time to volunteer coach since the regular season coaches couldn’t under IHSA regulations. There was a sense of confidence in their presence because even they shared the vision for what we were trying to accomplish. We looked like a cohesive unit, starting on that Saturday morning, with every one of us wearing the same warmups for the travel and pre-meet. We had stopped at a Denny’s to grab breakfast not too far into the drive, but most of us were struggling to eat from the giddiness of the next day’s race. There was a looming frustration from losing the state meet a week prior, but I would attribute that loss to being the greatest source of fuel we could’ve found. As much as it stung, there was unfinished business and the show had to go on. We did the pre-meet on the course and all the usual activities that followed during the remainder of the day. The next morning rolled around, and the weather was what I considered perfect. Dark clouds, below freezing, and barely a tickle of wind. You could hear the crunch of the gravel under each of our footsteps as we went out on the road next to the course for the warmup. We joked around as usual to calm the nerves, but all recognized what was at stake. Fast forward to the race: the gun pops. As we sprinted off to the put ourselves towards the front of the crowd, a blast of fireworks boomed in the distance behind us. There was a rush of adrenaline that came with it. We sported the same jerseys that we had tragically lost the previous track season’s state 4x800m in. The tops were dark blue with black half tights; easy enough to lose sight of in a field of several hundred runners. As we rounded the 1k mark, we were grouped tightly with a few other team sprinkled in between us here and there. Most of our season was spent like this, all within an arm's-length to start. There wasn’t much movement over the next 2k, apart from us separating as more individuals would mash themselves in between us. The field took the steady climb heading into 3k when I realized that I was alone. Somewhere over the last 6 or so minutes, I had lost sight of everyone. I thought I was leading the team. There was a sense of confusion, and I was wondering if we were going to fall back too early again to face the same fate from a week prior. There was plenty of race left, so the only thing to do was keep plugging along and hope for a rebound. As I jostled through guys on the course, I made a turn with 800 to go. Much to my surprise, and for the first time in 10 minutes, I saw a teammate: Max. I wasn’t leading like I had thought. I took a few hard steps to close the gap when had noticed another dark blue jersey with black half tights. It was Sean. Then there was Greg. I was fourth for our team. Just as I wondered about the 5th man, I hear Coach O’Malley from the side of the course, “Let’s go T Brennan!” He was within an earshot, presumably only a few strides behind me. With only 2 minutes of racing left, we were all finishing together as we had started. Everyone had noticed our collectiveness at the same time, and better than that, we were winning. We barreled down the home straightaway as the snow started to pick up. A minute later, we cross the finish line with a 7 second spread between 1-5 as Greg blurts out, “Woo! Let’s go boys! We did it!” The euphoria was unreal. Not only did we win, but we did it in a dominant fashion. 86 points ahead of the 2nd place team, and only a touch over 100 points in total. The outcome that we had chased for what seemed like an eternity had finally been realized. The environment was crowded with cheers, hugs, and high fives. The rush was so high that we didn't notice we could no longer feel our fingers or noses from the cold.
What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
It was one of the most thrilling moments in my high school career. The team had performed to perfection, and we didn’t even need a low stick point scorer to advance. Coming off one of the worst low points that any team could experience, to standing atop the entire Midwest, was the bounce back only few could dream of. It showed the true colors of our team that would not stand for another beating. We got to change into warm clothes and accept our trophy on the top of the podium, just as the snow started cutting away at the visibility. As the rest of the teams packed up their things to head home, it was the perfect time for us to disappear into the same building we watched the qualifiers from 2013 pile into and sign our papers for the trip that followed.
The NXN experience was incredible. We were treated like professionals and were walking amongst the best the country had to offer. Most of our time was spent at the Nike headquarters in Portland, OR. We had our own personalized gear presentation that were hung up in individualized lockers. We walked out on stage to receive our spikes, uniform tops, half tights, split shorts, running shoes, backpacks, warmup jackets, sweatpants, socks, and arm sleeves. In addition, there were fantastic meals, games, interviews, and access to some of the best training grounds in the world. The hotel was filled with only the athletes competing, draped with banners of each group toeing the line that Saturday. The race was held on a beautiful, green golf course. Had the rain not been so persistent, it would have made for some incredibly fast times. The smell of the air was fresh and something you couldn’t get in the Midwest by that time of the year. The athlete tent seemed like a luxurious building, lined with carpet, more spikes, foam rollers, free snacks and drinks, and the team introduction to line up at the start was world-class. You could never be bored. At any time, you would be exploring the random parts of the headquarters, taking handfuls of free, rainbow-colored spikes, snacking on Gatorade chews, or going for a jog around the woodchip trail or forest-covered track. It was an experience I wish I could experience all over again, and doing it with a team was unmatched.
More from Chris Torpy
When did you first start to think about qualifying for Nike Nationals?
I joined the cross-country team before my sophomore year (June of 2013), shortly after the track season had ended. It was my first time in a new sport in almost 9 years. Everything was foreign to me, and admittedly, I was only using the sport to become a better track runner. I understood that the season ended in a state meet but had no idea the 1-week extension that was going to be added on at the last minute. It was our introduction to the Nike Midwest Regional, which I couldn’t have cared less about before heading into the race. I was ready to be done with the 3-mile loops, and to get back to the 800m, the holiday celebrations, and a much-needed break from the last 6 months of the sport. Regardless of how I felt, we signed up for it anyway, crammed ourselves into a 12-passenger van, and split a few rooms in a hotel off the highway, roughly 15 minutes from the course. Terre Haute is not a glamorous area. You either farm there, or you race for a bid to a national championship. The day of the race was windy; so windy that a handful of tornados ripped apart a small town not too far away. The course was a slop fest that was covered in hay bales and an odd stench from a nearby farm. We finished in a measly 11th place, but I was happy to be done. That was, until I saw the 2 qualifying teams celebrating their win and advancement to the Nike National meet. During our cooldown, we found out that it was an all-expense paid trip filled with gear, professional runners, and an opportunity to race the best athletes in the country. It’s the only national team championship there is for the sport, and we were competitive enough to want the Sandburg name out there. We watched the qualifiers disappear into a small building off the side of the course to sign their papers for the gear, plane tickets, and trophies they were going to receive. The excitement, and mild jealousy, created a spark in me. My internet browser had turned into reviewing pictures that other athletes shared online of their experience at NXN, race results on what it took to make it, and previous livestreams of the races.
How did you prioritize that as a goal?
I don’t think it was a goal, necessarily. It was more of an outcome we wanted, and the goals were the actions to reach that outcome. Those actions, and the thoughts behind them, were the driving force for our team. We established our pillars and a couple catchphrases that carried a lot of meaning at the time during the summer camp in Wisconsin. Those pillars and phrases were the things we could always go back to on a tough day. They were the reasons we were out there training through all sorts of weather, terrain, wins, losses, and everything else that comes with the sport. We followed the pillars as a foundation for success, and if we lived by them, the outcome of qualifying to Nike Nationals would become a reality. Training could only take us so far, but the type of community we built within the team could take us even further.
Describe the NXR Midwest preparation and how your race at Terre Haute went.
In 2013, the race almost seemed like a chore, with excitement to be done with it before it had even started. The trip was an exposure to the weekend and how to navigate all the logistics that went into being there. 2014 was a different story. The vision of winning and moving on to the nation’s biggest stage had started months before, and we were finally walking into the arena to make it happen. In the gloomy December morning, we loaded up the van in front of Sandburg before heading off on the 3.5-hour drive to the course. We were with Sandburg alumni, Mike Keane and Bob Hahn, who had taken their own time to volunteer coach since the regular season coaches couldn’t under IHSA regulations. There was a sense of confidence in their presence because even they shared the vision for what we were trying to accomplish. We looked like a cohesive unit, starting on that Saturday morning, with every one of us wearing the same warmups for the travel and pre-meet. We had stopped at a Denny’s to grab breakfast not too far into the drive, but most of us were struggling to eat from the giddiness of the next day’s race. There was a looming frustration from losing the state meet a week prior, but I would attribute that loss to being the greatest source of fuel we could’ve found. As much as it stung, there was unfinished business and the show had to go on. We did the pre-meet on the course and all the usual activities that followed during the remainder of the day. The next morning rolled around, and the weather was what I considered perfect. Dark clouds, below freezing, and barely a tickle of wind. You could hear the crunch of the gravel under each of our footsteps as we went out on the road next to the course for the warmup. We joked around as usual to calm the nerves, but all recognized what was at stake. Fast forward to the race: the gun pops. As we sprinted off to the put ourselves towards the front of the crowd, a blast of fireworks boomed in the distance behind us. There was a rush of adrenaline that came with it. We sported the same jerseys that we had tragically lost the previous track season’s state 4x800m in. The tops were dark blue with black half tights; easy enough to lose sight of in a field of several hundred runners. As we rounded the 1k mark, we were grouped tightly with a few other team sprinkled in between us here and there. Most of our season was spent like this, all within an arm's-length to start. There wasn’t much movement over the next 2k, apart from us separating as more individuals would mash themselves in between us. The field took the steady climb heading into 3k when I realized that I was alone. Somewhere over the last 6 or so minutes, I had lost sight of everyone. I thought I was leading the team. There was a sense of confusion, and I was wondering if we were going to fall back too early again to face the same fate from a week prior. There was plenty of race left, so the only thing to do was keep plugging along and hope for a rebound. As I jostled through guys on the course, I made a turn with 800 to go. Much to my surprise, and for the first time in 10 minutes, I saw a teammate: Max. I wasn’t leading like I had thought. I took a few hard steps to close the gap when had noticed another dark blue jersey with black half tights. It was Sean. Then there was Greg. I was fourth for our team. Just as I wondered about the 5th man, I hear Coach O’Malley from the side of the course, “Let’s go T Brennan!” He was within an earshot, presumably only a few strides behind me. With only 2 minutes of racing left, we were all finishing together as we had started. Everyone had noticed our collectiveness at the same time, and better than that, we were winning. We barreled down the home straightaway as the snow started to pick up. A minute later, we cross the finish line with a 7 second spread between 1-5 as Greg blurts out, “Woo! Let’s go boys! We did it!” The euphoria was unreal. Not only did we win, but we did it in a dominant fashion. 86 points ahead of the 2nd place team, and only a touch over 100 points in total. The outcome that we had chased for what seemed like an eternity had finally been realized. The environment was crowded with cheers, hugs, and high fives. The rush was so high that we didn't notice we could no longer feel our fingers or noses from the cold.
What was the experience & emotions like to win and qualify for NXN?
It was one of the most thrilling moments in my high school career. The team had performed to perfection, and we didn’t even need a low stick point scorer to advance. Coming off one of the worst low points that any team could experience, to standing atop the entire Midwest, was the bounce back only few could dream of. It showed the true colors of our team that would not stand for another beating. We got to change into warm clothes and accept our trophy on the top of the podium, just as the snow started cutting away at the visibility. As the rest of the teams packed up their things to head home, it was the perfect time for us to disappear into the same building we watched the qualifiers from 2013 pile into and sign our papers for the trip that followed.
The NXN experience was incredible. We were treated like professionals and were walking amongst the best the country had to offer. Most of our time was spent at the Nike headquarters in Portland, OR. We had our own personalized gear presentation that were hung up in individualized lockers. We walked out on stage to receive our spikes, uniform tops, half tights, split shorts, running shoes, backpacks, warmup jackets, sweatpants, socks, and arm sleeves. In addition, there were fantastic meals, games, interviews, and access to some of the best training grounds in the world. The hotel was filled with only the athletes competing, draped with banners of each group toeing the line that Saturday. The race was held on a beautiful, green golf course. Had the rain not been so persistent, it would have made for some incredibly fast times. The smell of the air was fresh and something you couldn’t get in the Midwest by that time of the year. The athlete tent seemed like a luxurious building, lined with carpet, more spikes, foam rollers, free snacks and drinks, and the team introduction to line up at the start was world-class. You could never be bored. At any time, you would be exploring the random parts of the headquarters, taking handfuls of free, rainbow-colored spikes, snacking on Gatorade chews, or going for a jog around the woodchip trail or forest-covered track. It was an experience I wish I could experience all over again, and doing it with a team was unmatched.
More from Chris Torpy
Tom Brennan 15:50 48th place overall
Tom is busy working 100 hour weeks for his doctor's residency. He loved this race!
More from Tom Brennan
Tom is busy working 100 hour weeks for his doctor's residency. He loved this race!
More from Tom Brennan
Brandon Lukas 15:55 60th place overall
Qualifying for Nike Nationals.
The first time I even thought about Nike Nationals was during my sophomore year. As I watched older teammates talk about it, the idea seemed distant yet exciting. It wasn't until junior year that it truly became a goal for me. I saw it as the pinnacle of high school cross country. Prioritizing it was a mix of personal drive and team ambition. Every training session, every race, had that ultimate goal in mind.
NXR Midwest Preparation & Race.
Preparing for NXR Midwest was intense. We knew the competition was fierce, and only the best would move forward. The training sessions were grueling, but the camaraderie among us kept the spirits high. The race day in Terre Haute was overwhelming. The energy, the crowd, and the competition were like nothing I had ever experienced. I remember it snowing, mud, a twisty and hilly course, runners slipping... Crossing the finish line and realizing we had qualified for NXN was an emotion I can't fully describe - a mix of elation, relief, and pure joy!
Portland Experience.
The Portland trip was more than just a race; it was an experience of a lifetime. From seeing Mo Farah, bonding with teammates, to interacting with some of the best high school runners in the country, every moment was special. The race was just a culmination of an unforgettable journey. What stands out the most is the team dinners, the laughter, and the realization that we were living a dream many only hoped for. And I loved all the free Nike gear! I felt like a celebrity.
More from Brandon Lukas
Qualifying for Nike Nationals.
The first time I even thought about Nike Nationals was during my sophomore year. As I watched older teammates talk about it, the idea seemed distant yet exciting. It wasn't until junior year that it truly became a goal for me. I saw it as the pinnacle of high school cross country. Prioritizing it was a mix of personal drive and team ambition. Every training session, every race, had that ultimate goal in mind.
NXR Midwest Preparation & Race.
Preparing for NXR Midwest was intense. We knew the competition was fierce, and only the best would move forward. The training sessions were grueling, but the camaraderie among us kept the spirits high. The race day in Terre Haute was overwhelming. The energy, the crowd, and the competition were like nothing I had ever experienced. I remember it snowing, mud, a twisty and hilly course, runners slipping... Crossing the finish line and realizing we had qualified for NXN was an emotion I can't fully describe - a mix of elation, relief, and pure joy!
Portland Experience.
The Portland trip was more than just a race; it was an experience of a lifetime. From seeing Mo Farah, bonding with teammates, to interacting with some of the best high school runners in the country, every moment was special. The race was just a culmination of an unforgettable journey. What stands out the most is the team dinners, the laughter, and the realization that we were living a dream many only hoped for. And I loved all the free Nike gear! I felt like a celebrity.
More from Brandon Lukas
Martin Skucas 15:58 77th place overall
I've been telling everyone since graduating high school that Nike Cross Regionals and Nationals were my favorite parts of my entire running career. I had run NXR my freshman year, but I never really knew what exactly happens if you qualify. Some of the upperclassmen would show me on social media what the qualifiers were given. All the gear they would get, the trails they got to run on in Portland, and the dinners they would get catered each night, but the photos did not do the experience any justice.
Actually being able to go for the first time my Sophmore year was an incredible experience. Starting off in Terre Haute, I remember crossing the finish line and just hearing Greg Bruzinski yelling "WERE GOING TO PORTLAND BOYS". That just felt unreal, we had beaten out every other team in the midwest by an absolute landslide. They took the qualifying teams into a small office room at the base of the course to fill out information for flights and hotel rooms. I still remember how cold my hands were after the race. I could barely hold the pen straight, and everything I wrote was so shaky - I was scared it wouldn't be legible and they wouldn't let me go on the trip haha.
I barely slept the night before the flight out to Portland. The trip couldn't come soon enough so it was lucky that the flight was very early in the morning. Upon flying in we were taken from the airport straight to the hotel. It's always cool having private transportation from the airport, it's even more awesome when you're with your entire team and Nike is the company sponsoring the whole thing. At the hotel you get an open buffet to make whatever sandwiches you want with as many toppings as you want. Chis Torpy and I still laugh at how many red onions we put on our turkey subs. Once we got to our photos taken for our access badges, we were taken out to Nike headquarters out in Beaverton. I remember first walking in and seeing a set of mannequins that were dressed in the racing jerseys we were going to be wearing for the race. These weren't jerseys that Nike was going to sell to the public, they weren't being advertised for profits, they were custom made and designed - just for those that were good enough to make it to the national level. When it was time to get our gear, Nike brought us into a stage room, where they had a whole announcer speaking through the intercom system as we walked up to our lockers. It almost felt like a UFC walkout announcement. He mentioned our dominating race at NXR, all our names, and wished us luck for the upcoming final race. Walking up to the lockers and seeing the Nike backpack and jacket together, matching with your teammates gear, it really made us feel like pro-level athletes.
Everything about that trip was amazing. It's an experience I'll never forget and one that I still reflect on to this day with all my high school teammates.
More from Martin Skucas
I've been telling everyone since graduating high school that Nike Cross Regionals and Nationals were my favorite parts of my entire running career. I had run NXR my freshman year, but I never really knew what exactly happens if you qualify. Some of the upperclassmen would show me on social media what the qualifiers were given. All the gear they would get, the trails they got to run on in Portland, and the dinners they would get catered each night, but the photos did not do the experience any justice.
Actually being able to go for the first time my Sophmore year was an incredible experience. Starting off in Terre Haute, I remember crossing the finish line and just hearing Greg Bruzinski yelling "WERE GOING TO PORTLAND BOYS". That just felt unreal, we had beaten out every other team in the midwest by an absolute landslide. They took the qualifying teams into a small office room at the base of the course to fill out information for flights and hotel rooms. I still remember how cold my hands were after the race. I could barely hold the pen straight, and everything I wrote was so shaky - I was scared it wouldn't be legible and they wouldn't let me go on the trip haha.
I barely slept the night before the flight out to Portland. The trip couldn't come soon enough so it was lucky that the flight was very early in the morning. Upon flying in we were taken from the airport straight to the hotel. It's always cool having private transportation from the airport, it's even more awesome when you're with your entire team and Nike is the company sponsoring the whole thing. At the hotel you get an open buffet to make whatever sandwiches you want with as many toppings as you want. Chis Torpy and I still laugh at how many red onions we put on our turkey subs. Once we got to our photos taken for our access badges, we were taken out to Nike headquarters out in Beaverton. I remember first walking in and seeing a set of mannequins that were dressed in the racing jerseys we were going to be wearing for the race. These weren't jerseys that Nike was going to sell to the public, they weren't being advertised for profits, they were custom made and designed - just for those that were good enough to make it to the national level. When it was time to get our gear, Nike brought us into a stage room, where they had a whole announcer speaking through the intercom system as we walked up to our lockers. It almost felt like a UFC walkout announcement. He mentioned our dominating race at NXR, all our names, and wished us luck for the upcoming final race. Walking up to the lockers and seeing the Nike backpack and jacket together, matching with your teammates gear, it really made us feel like pro-level athletes.
Everything about that trip was amazing. It's an experience I'll never forget and one that I still reflect on to this day with all my high school teammates.
More from Martin Skucas