Nola.com: Cross Country Projected as One of Nation’s Best

Posted September 1, 2022 / Last updated September 14, 2022

**Michael Vocke** finishes in first place with teammate **Jack DesRoches** close behind in second place during the 2022 cross country district championship on the City Park course in New Orleans. Photo by Sophia Germer for NOLA.com.

By Christopher Dabe for Nola.com

The first high school cross country races of the season are this week.

Jesuit returns all seven runners that raced at the state championships last season. The Blue Jays will race Sept. 17 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, a meet Jesuit won last season against several top programs from the southeast.

Jesuit will leave the state for another national meet—the Great American Cross Country Festival set for Oct. 1 in Cary, North Carolina, an event that draws the “best teams from all over,” Jesuit coach Cullen Doody [Class of 2009] said.

The LHSAA state championships are Nov. 14 in Natchitoches, and Jesuit will race again in Huntsville at the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships set for Dec. 3, another national level meet where Jesuit placed 16th last season.

One national rating system has Jesuit projected as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, behind only Newbury Park of California.

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