Hopefully you took part in the NXN Predictions Contest a few weeks back, covering all the NXN regional events.  Well, we had a chance to catch up with the winner of the contest this week, Will Appman, asking him about his experience in Portland.  See how Will's trip went.

Scott Bush (SB): NXN just wrapped up over the weekend.  Overall, how did you like your experience in Oregon?

Will Appman (WA): My experience in Oregon was incredible.  I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to compete at NXN last year with my high school teammates, so I already had a pretty good idea of the weekend that my dad and I had in store.  Although I don't think anything will ever beat running at Portland Meadows as an athlete, watching the events this year from the spectator's point of view really gave me a different perspective on how special the weekend was, as well as how much work goes into it.

SB: You won the "pick-em" content.  How were you able to finish ahead of the rest?  What was the method to your madness?

WA: As those close to me could tell you, I am a HUGE statistics guru.  Back in high school, I was known for breaking down all of the teams that we would race throughout the year, and I knew every runner, team, and course.  So when I heard about this contest, I knew that it was right up my alley.  My system was pretty simple; I looked over the top 10 teams and any standout individuals registered for each regional and rated them based off of state and district results, team depth, previous years' experience, and a little bit of insider information.   I ended up correctly guessing 31 of the 48 possible teams and individuals.  For all of the time I put into compiling my predictions, it honestly came as little surprise when I found I had won the contest (though I was certainly ecstatic, nonetheless).

SB: What was your favorite part of the weekend?  Did anything stand out above the rest?

WA: My favorite part would have to be seeing the races from the lead cart.  For all three races of the day, I had the opportunity to ride shotgun next to the camera-guy in the cart, communicating to race officials via radio.  I was able to watch events unfold from the very front of the race, and it was so cool for me to root for my favorite athletes from the cart.

SB: That boys race was something else, wasn't it?

WA: What a finish!  I had a chance to talk to several of the top seeds on Thursday and Friday, and I knew that there were so many guys gunning for the national title.  So when I saw Joe Rosa cresting over that final hill, I was expecting a Reed Connor-like finishing spurt from last year.  But hey, that's why it's they make them run the last .1 miles!  Much credit goes to Craig Lutz for showing some great heart over the final 200.  And then there was Elias Gedyon, who seemed to come out of nowhere to nab runner-up.

Teamwise, WOW!  Four teams within 13 points has to be some sort of record for the national championship.  Those Texas kids just keep proving that they can compete in all types of conditions with the best in the nation.

The girls' finish was not to be outdone, though.  That finish between Flood and Stevens was one of the longest finishing kicks I have ever seen, and it could have gone either way any other day.  On top of everything, the F-M girls were unbelievable.  Their dominance is absolutely unprecedented, and it doesn't seem that the program will be going anywhere anytime soon.

SB: What's your background in running (past and present running)?

WA: I graduated from North Allegheny in Pittsburgh, PA with the Class of 2009.  My senior year, our cross-country squad took third at the NXN NE regional (running as the Wexford Flats Running Club) and was lucky enough to receive one of the at-large bids to Portland, where we placed 12th in the country.  That team (Ryan Gil, Chase Broussard, Pat Morgan, Eric Balaban, Matt Robertson, Jay Cadwallader, and Adam Jacob) was the best group of guys anyone could ask for, and though we have gone to different schools since graduating, they continue to be my closest friends.  

On the track, I've always been a mid-distance guy, generally sticking to the 400-800-1600 range because of my leg speed.  Last summer, I tried the 2000m Steeplechase in the USATF Junior Olympics in Greensboro, NC, placing 6th.  It was definitely an event I would like to try again in the future.

I currently attend Penn State University, although a stress fracture kept me sidelined for the entire fall season.  My plans still include competing as an NCAA-athlete some day.  With the correct training, I feel confident in myself on reaching that goal.

And on one final note, thank you so much to Nike for putting an event like NXN together.  Few people seem to understand how much planning and expenses go into the weekend, and it truly means so much to the hundreds of high school athletes throughout the country to get a chance at competing for the national championship.