With Southlake Carroll chasing its 14th straight NXN berth and 17th in program history, the 2025 NXR South boys team race opened with more tension and uncertainty than any edition in the last decade. Texas powerhouses arrived believing this was their year. Louisiana travelled in with its most complete and rested trio ever. And both Bentonville (AR) and Deer Creek (OK) entered with legitimate confidence in their ability to steal an auto-spot.

But once the race began, Carroll made it clear that its tradition still runs deep. Through the opening mile, Carroll immediately stamped its presence, leading the field with 67 points behind a controlled yet aggressive 1-2 punch from Caden Leonard (4:34.9 split) and Kai Gutierrez (4:34.9), with Jaxon Glenn, Michael Fuller, and Claudio Auns all sitting inside the top 12 scoring positions.

By two miles, the Dragons extended their advantage with 78 points, still holding the top team position as Leonard, Gutierrez, and the pack executed a perfectly measured surge. At the finish, Carroll's low-stick dominance sealed the day: Leonard's 14:37 win, Gutierrez's sixth (third-place team score finish), and a remarkably tight scoring trio of Glenn, Fuller, and Auns delivered 80 points, a 15:17 team average, and a 1:03 spread, more than enough to secure yet another NXR South title and extend one of the most impressive dynasties in U.S. high school cross country.

Behind them, it was Vandegrift (Venom XC) who produced the day's most dramatic rise. Sitting 10th at the mile (291 points) after a conservative opening, the Vipers unleashed their typical massive move in the second mile, storming all the way up to fourth (179 points) with Kai McCullough (4:36; 9:21) returning to form as an elite low-stick and both Miles Nutt and Collin Goodwin looking fully fit and healthy for the first time all season. Their momentum only accelerated late, as their closing strength produced the meet's second-best final score (99 points) and locked up the second straight NXN berth and first automatic berth.

Their 15:27 team average with a 0:59 spread was their best race of the year, and proof that their late-season return to full power came at the perfect time. Their race strategy isn't new; in fact, they've had several years of dress rehearsal to get it right. What is impressive is their ability to consistently execute during high stakes and against high-level competition. It doesn't appear that there is much anyone can do about holding them off in the late stages of races.

In third, New Orleans Jesuit (Blue Jays) delivered a courageous, nationally relevant performance. They opened in third at the mile (141 pts), improved to second at two miles (142 pts), and finished third with 136 points, proving they were every bit the contender their resume suggested. Led by Brady Monahan (15:18) and a balanced scoring block of Fanberg, Quintana, and Accardo, all between 15:28 and 15:33, the Blue Jays posted a 15:37 average and a brilliant 0:56 spread, finishing as the top non-Texas team and staying within striking distance of an at-large bid.

Bridgeland finished fourth with 177 points, showing character and depth even after losing early contact with Carroll and Vandegrift. Their 15:42 average and 1:01 spread kept them competitive throughout, with Griffen Saacke's 15:04 giving them a low-stick no one else in the 4-7 range could match.

Bentonville, meanwhile, rounded out the top five with 194 points, highlighted by Brian Burns' superb 14:45 fourth-place finish, which briefly had them in podium contention through two miles. Their 15:39 average and 1:27 spread kept them in contention, but the back-end scoring couldn't match Carroll, Vandy, or Jesuit once the race hit the final straight.

In a year when more than half a dozen teams believed they had a realistic path to Portland, Southlake Carroll and Vandegrift prevailed by combining experience, discipline, and perfectly timed racing, with Carroll extending its national dynasty, and Vandy delivering one of the most complete NXR South team performances in program history.

2025 NXR South Boys Championship - Team Race Progression Table

Team Score Progression (Lower = Better Position)

Scoring at 1 Mile → 2 Miles → Finish (5K)

Graph Interpretation

Carroll's start-to-finish dominance

• Led at 1 mile (67 pts)

• Extended advantage through 2 miles (78 pts)

• Closed the door at 5K (80 pts)

Vandegrift's dramatic charge

• Started in 10th at 1 mile (291 pts!)

• Mounted a huge surge by 2 miles (179 pts)

• Finished with the 2nd (99 pts) to earn the NXN auto bid

Jesuit's steadiness

• Stayed extremely consistent: 141 → 142 → 136

• Strong but not enough to overcome Vandegrift's late-race heroics

Bridgeland staying competitive

• Hovered near the front early, faded slightly late

• Remained firmly in the top five

Bentonville's early pressure

• Strong 1-mile and 2-mile presence

• Couldn't match the closing speed of Carroll/Vandy/Jesuit