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MANLIUS XC CLUB (girls), ARCADIA XC CLUB (boys), RACHEL JOHNSON and LUKAS VERZBICAS WIN at SEVENTH-ANNUAL NIKE CROSS NATIONALS
To U.S. Club Teams and Individuals Compete for National Title

BEAVERTON, ORE (December 4, 2010) – NIKE announced today that Manlius XC Club (girls) and Arcadia XC Club (boys) won the national cross country title at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), a competition crowning the fastest high school-aged cross country club teams and individuals in the United States.

Manlius XC Club from Manlius, New York captured this year’s girl’s club team crown, an honor they’ve earned for the last 5 years. Arcadia XC Club from Arcadia, California took home the boys club team championship honors. Rachel Johnson from Plano, TX won the individual girls title with a time of 18:18.6, and Lukas Verzbicas from Orland Park, IL, won the boys title with a time of 15:59.2.

“Nike Cross Nationals is unlike any other event in the country and truly represents what Nike Running is all about,” said Amy White, Nike’s Vice President of North America Running. “NXN showcases some of the best athletes in the sport and we are here to celebrate their courage, determination and amazing athletic ability.”

Individuals along with club teams competed at regional qualifying events across the country throughout November in the lead up to the Nike Cross Nationals championship to determine the country’s top individual and club teams in the sport.

Fans across the country were able to tune in to the live webcast featuring three different camera angles of the championship held at Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon. The webcast, which is available on www.nikecrossnationals.com, features Dathan Ritzenhein with running broadcasters Toni Reavis and Nike Run Reporter Shamus Eaton in the booth, as well as Nike elite athlete Chris Solinsky on the ground.

Eleven Nike elite athletes also represented teams from each region, providing support and insight throughout the weekend. Captains included Galen Rupp (Northwest), Amy Yoder Begley (Midwest), Chris Solinsky (Heartland), Dathan Ritzenhein (Southwest), Simon Bairu (South), Alan Webb (Southeast), Andrew Wheating (New York), Anna Pierce (Northeast), Evan Jager (California), Matt Tegenkamp (At-large boys), Lisa Koll (At-large girls), Lauren Fleshman (Roaming reporter), and Shalane Flanagan (Sportsdesk). 

About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand.
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