By Bryan Deibel for MileSplit

After placing seventh as a sophomore and third as a junior at Nike Cross Nationals, Tennessee's Brodey Hasty is the obvious heir-apparent to two-time NXN champion Casey Clinger. One interesting thing about the nation's most sought-after distance recruit in the Class of 2018 is that he did not compete for his high school this season. Here's our list of the top guys who could challenge Hasty if he falters.

Brodey Hasty, Brentwood XC Club (TN), Senior

Brodey Hasty has been the season favorite to win the NXN crown since the beginning of the season. As a junior, he finished third at this meet and is the top returner. He's only raced three times this season but he has crushed his competition all three times, two of those being in college races. Just last weekend he ran a new meet record time of 14:36.20 at NXN Southeast.

Danny Kilrea, Lyons Township (IL), Senior

Danny Kilrea has been on fire this postseason; after winning the IHSA cross country state championship he's gone next level. He was the runner-up at the challenging Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional and then went on and won the Foot Locker Midwest Regional just last weekend running one of the top all-time times on the course. Not to mention he has experience at the national meet having run in Portland the last two years placing 13th and 45th. 

Alex Maier, Flower Mound (TX), Junior

Alex Maier is the second fastest returner in the field. He was fifth a year ago on the Glendoveer course running 15:38.8. Although this season may not have gone exactly how he'd hoped, as he had to drop out of the state meet due to being sick, he sill has made it to Portland and this year he has his team as well. Don't count him out for another potential top-five finish as he appears to be recovering from being sick just fine after his runner-up finish at Nike South. 

Clayton Mendez, Whitney Young High School (IL), Senior

Only Danny Kilrea can claim he's had a better postseason than Clayton Mendez. That's because Kilrea has been one of the few athletes to beat Mendez since their state meet. Mendez was runner-up to him there and then went on to finish fifth at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Region and third in the Foot Locker Midwest Region. He's an athlete on the rise and there's no telling what this senior can do getting pushed by a field as deep as the one at NXN. 

James Mwaura, Lincoln Senior High School (WA), Senior

James Mwaura has gone a bit under the radar this season but could surprise many people. The senior has been undefeated all season long winning the Nike Portland Invite, the WIAA State Championships, the NXN Northwest Region, and the Border Clash meet. He could be an upset to even Hasty as the two undefeated athletes clash this weekend. 

Aidan Troutner, Timpview (UT), Senior

Aidan Troutner took the challenging NXN Southwest region by storm. He beat several other strong runners in Cole Sprout, Grant Gardner, Ryan Raff, and Easton Allred to take home the win. If he can run in Portland the way he ran in Casa Grade, there's no doubt in my mind we will be in content for a top-five finish. 

Carter Cheeseman, Fort Worth Christian (TX), Junior

Carter Cheeseman has been the only athlete this season to beat Flower Mound's Alex Maier, who finished fifth at last years NXN Championships. Maire was not completely back to form after being sick before NXN South but a win is a win none the less. We will see how Cheeseman does in his first national meet performance.   

Dustin Horter, Lokata East Lake (OH), Senior

After claiming the Ohio state cross country championships D1 boys title with the fastest time of the day, Horter has gone on to prove he's not only one of the best in Ohio but one of the best in the Midwest. He was the NXN Midwest champion running 14:57.60. 

Conant Smith, Middletown (OH), Junior

Conant Smith was runner-up to Horter in the Ohio state cross country championships D1 boys race. Ever since then he's run well in the national spotlight. At the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional, he was third behind Horter and Kilrea. The Middletown, Ohio, junior should be looking for another big race this weekend. 

Justin Hazell, El Camino Real Senior High (CA), Senior

Justin Hazell has been in the Flo50 rankings all year long as one of the top California guys. Hazell was on a winning streak, taking victories at some of California's biggest meets including The Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, the Clovis Invitational, and last but not least the CIF State Championships. The only blemish on his near-undefeated season is an eighth-place finish at the Mt. SAC Invitational.