Nike BorderClash XII on Nov. 21, 2010, release, note by Larry Eder

Nike 2010 BorderClash poster, courtesy of Nike & Runnerspace.com

So, it was way back in 1998 that the Nike BorderClash took a foothold in our sport and just has gotten better and better. Unfortunately, this will be the first year that I have missed it, but we will have coverage and a story on the event.

The brainchild of John Truax and Josh Rowe, the BorderClash is one of the singularly wonderfully creative consequences of running with friends, and perhaps some coffee and
adult beverages shared (not in that order). The idea of seeing who is the best in the Pacific
Northwest in high school cross country is the theme here, and the Nike campus has been the perfect place to hold the event, and catch up with friends in the sport.

The Nike BorderClash also gave birth to the NXN, the Nike cross country nationals, which gives the high school scene two championships to judge the best-the FootLocker (held on December 11) and the Nike NXN (held on December 4).

But, this Sunday, 40 boys and 40 girls from Washington and Oregon will duke it out over 4.4 kilometers, to see who gets to take home a Nike, the winged goddess of Victory. Should be fun!

To read about last year’s epic battle, please check out: https://www.runblogrun.com/2009/11/nike-border-clash-xi-washington-over-oregon-by-larry-eder.html

How the Kinney National High School Cross-Country National Championships Began (1979), by Walt Murphy from This Day in Track & Field

2025 Fall Cross Country & Racing Season, December 13, 2025, Week 15, Day 6, Saturday is the final race of the 2025 season!

2025 Fall Cross Country & Racing Season, December 12, 2025, Week 15, Day 5, Friday is an easy day!

TWELTH-ANNUAL NIKE BORDERCLASH TO
FEATURE TOP HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS FROM OREGON AND WASHINGTON

Boys and girls cross country runners
from each state will race

Sunday, November 21st at Nike’s World
Headquarters in Beaverton

What: Nike
BorderClash
features the best high school runners from Oregon and Washington in a dual meet
format. Runners from each state–individuals who are fierce competitors during
the race season–have been selected to rally as one team under their respective
state’s flag. The race’s unique format is enhanced by cannons, fireworks and drum
bands that perform as each state’s team starts on separate starting lines. After
the official start, each team runs directly at the other team for the first 100
meters and then merges onto the 4.4K course throughout Nike’s campus. Washington currently leads the series 8-3.

The Nike
Sportsdesk, featuring announcer Tony Revis, will serve as home base for athlete
interviews, as well as race news and updates.

Who: The top 40 boys and top 40 girls
high school cross country runners from Oregon and Washington. Complete athlete
profiles are available at www.borderclash.com

Nike Elite Athletes: Kara Goucher, Lisa Koll, Dathan Ritzenhein and Galen Rupp

When: Sunday,
November 21, 2010

9:30
a.m. Future
Clashers and Media 1.5 mile race (free for kids in 8^th grade or
younger)

10:00
a.m. BorderClash
Girls Race

10:45
a.m. BorderClash
Boys Race

Awards Ceremony immediately
following the boys race.

Where: North
Campus Athletic Fields, Nike World Headquarters, Beaverton, OR

Driving Directions from downtown Portland: Take Hwy 26 West. Exit at Murray Blvd. Turn Left onto Murray Blvd. Drive one mile and turn right onto
Walker Road. Turn left into Nike
World Headquarters. You can also
access campus from Murray Blvd. (entrance is on the right, just past Walker
Road).

The media check-in area will be located on Ronaldo Field
(between the Lance Armstrong Sports and Fitness Center and the Tiger Woods
Center).

For
participating athlete bios and photos, live helicopter video feed / webcast, race
results and further details, visit: www.borderclash.com

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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