by Dave Devine, assistant news editor

Portland, Oregon—In the first three incarnations of the Nike Team Nationals, despite the best efforts of high school cross country squads from the far reaches of the nation, club teams from either Illinois or the Northeastern US—and primarily New York—have kept a stranglehold on the boys’ and girls’ championship titles. That didn’t change Saturday at the 4^th annual team national event, as Naperville IL (Neuqua Valley) followed individual winner Chris Derrick across the line for a narrow two-point victory over Los Alamos NM in the boys’ race, and the Manlius NY girls (Fayetteville-Manlius) successfully defended their 2006 title with a sterling 83-point run which left them well clear of runners-up Newhall CA (Saugus).

The blustery, snow-dusted day began with the impressive sight of a clutch of Kenyan boys picking their way along the driest sections of a muddied course, knifing through the wind en route to a perfect score of 15 in the Boys Open race. Last year’s Open winner, .......