by Laura Magee, DyeStatNW

St. Mary's photos by Laura Magee, Jesuit photos by Jeanette Seckinger


Part 1 | The City

Portland, Oregon, is home to two of the Northwest’s top prep programs, Jesuit High School and St. Mary’s Academy. Both girls’ cross country teams have found success on the national level. In 2007, the Rose City XC Club (St. Mary’s postseason alias) finished 10th and the Portland XC Club (a.k.a. Jesuit) finished 12th, in their hometown at Nike Team Nationals. For a pair of teams from the same city to claim the two coveted berths from the regional to the national championship (NTN) was a remarkable accomplishment. This feat, and the potential (both teams return the majority of their varsity squads) that this city could again figure prominently in the Northwest regional, beg the question—why Portland?

What is it about this city that fosters such strong high school running? Is it the proximity to Track Town USA, the...