NXN Athlete of Week Steve Sulkin (IL) and Stefanie Morgan (OH); NXN Team of Week Naperville (IL) and Geneva (IL)

November 21, 2008 by Larry Eder. What a difference a week makes . . . last weekend, York High School Boys, led by the uncompromising Joe Newton, lost by one point at the Illinois State meet, after twenty six victories over the past four decades. Naperville North High school was the culprit. Well, on November 15, 2008, at the Midwest meet of the NXN Championships, the Kroy Team, lead by Steve Sulkin, took on Naperville North TC, and won 66 to 102, with both teams moving onto the NXN Champs. Steve Sulkin, in a pack of four, took the win in a fine 15:22 over the 5,000m course at the Laverne Gibson cross country course. The weather played a factor as well, as 20-30 mile an hour winds played havoc with the already chilly mid-30s air temperature. Steve Sulkin lead Kroy to its fifth straight visit to the NXN championships, and for his win and his teams' win, AT&F names Sulkin our NXN athlete of the week and Kroy gets the NXN Boys team of the Week.

Stefanie Morgan (file photo), a senior from Barnesville, OH showed that NXN's plan to open the race to unaffiliated runners was quite savvy-Stefanie won in 18:01, winning by 22 seconds and lead six free agents across the line. The girl's team race was won by Geneva XC of Geneva HS, 61 points to the 75 points of Blue Streaks, from Magnificat HS, Rocky River, OH and Carmel, IN Carmel XC, from Carmel HS. On the girls' side, Stephanie Morgan gets the nod as the NXN athlete of the week and Geneva XC gets the NXN team of the week!

Three more regionals this week! Have fun, and remember, become one with the mud!