Following success in soccer, Neil gained valuable experience training and competing with friend and teammate Brown, helping him quickly develop into one of the nation’s top distance runners and one of the best in Montana prep history

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

When Nathan Neil lined up at the prestigious 55th Arcadia Invitational in April, he was uncertain of what might happen.

It was the first 3,200-meter race of his career. But like he’d done all year, he didn’t think twice.

Under the lights of Arcadia High Stadium competing in the boys seeded section, Neil, a junior from Bozeman High in Montana, finished second in a then state-record 8:50.26. His time would have finished among the top 20 athletes in the prestigious invitational section.

“I didn't know what to expect,” Neil said. “I got into the race and just ran the race plan really well; what me and my coach talked about.”

It’s been as simple as that.

Described as “cool and calm” by Bozeman head coach Casey Jermyn, Neil has been seizing every opportunity throughout his running career.

In just his second full season of cross country, the rising senior from Bozeman, who was third at NXR Northwest and 25th at Nike Cross Nationals a year ago, enters the fall as one of the nation’s elite competitors, and is poised to continue his steady trajectory for what could be an historic season.

Bozeman opened the season Friday at the Flathead Invitational, with Neil winning the 5-kilometer race in 14:50.31 at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell. Neil prevailed by a 26-second margin for Bozeman, which also secured a 46-63 victory against Great Falls.

“It’s weird to think that as a young athlete at that caliber, it’s only his second season, it’s definitely strange in some aspects,” Jermyn said. “He’s a great young man and very dedicated and puts in the time and energy and we’re seeing the results pay off.”

While new to the sport of cross country, running was something Neil grew up with.

Although he participated in 5Ks during Christmas with his family – his siblings are also runners – Neil’s main form of running took place on the pitch.

An accomplished soccer player, Neil joined the track team in high school with friend and fellow soccer player turned distance runner Weston Brown.

Primarily a middle-distance runner, Jermyn saw potential in Neil.

During the spring of his sophomore year, Neil placed fifth in the 1,600 and third in the 800 at the Class AA state meet.

At Nike Outdoor Nationals, he ran a PR in the 800 championship (1:53.69), finishing in 16th place.

Jermyn said that high-level success was a nudge and eye-opener for Neil as to what he could possibly accomplish as a full-time runner.

That translated over to the summer, where Neil developed a passion for the sport, running in the picturesque wildlife only the western state of Montana can provide for the soul. He decided to pursue cross country in the fall.

“The summer before my junior year, I did a lot of trail running and that’s what really got me to love the sport for what it is,” Neil said. “When cross country started, that love for running kind of carried over. I was excited for workouts and I was running consistently seven days a week, which I had never done before.”

In his first cross country season, Neil was a natural on the trails. From his first varsity race to the next one, he dropped 30 seconds, clocking 15:28.02 and finishing second at the Mountain West Classic, historically one of the biggest meets in Montana.

Neil went on to finish fifth in the Bob Firman Invitational elite championship race (15:17.6) in late September.

In October, Neil was second at the Montana Class AA state meet, finishing in 15:32.86, as Brown won in 15:25.08, guiding Bozeman to the team title with 60 points.

“I didn't think we would get Nathan from soccer, he’s a pretty darn good soccer player and so I was kind of surprised when we got him to come over,” Jermyn said. “Obviously, I wanted him to do (cross country) because I knew of his potential and what kind of results we could see, but ultimately I wanted it to be his decision, and it turned out to be the right decision.”

Neil said the presence of Brown, a high school All-American who is now a freshman at Princeton, in workouts as well as races was unmatched.

The two finished second and third at NXR Northwest at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho last fall, forming one of the top 1-2 punches in the region and the country.

“That was a fun experience and I think I’m really realizing what I’m going to miss,” Neil said. “We pushed each other at practice, and there was never a bad day at practice between the two of us because someone was always right there in front of you, and every workout was a battle.”

The 2022 cross country season concluded with Brown placing eighth at NXN (14:56.4), while Neil was 25th (15:26.3), ranking as the third fastest junior in the field.

The track season ended at Nike Outdoor Nationals, also with a fitting finish between the teammates and friends, as Brown won the boys 2-mile (8:53.02, state record) and Neil placed runner-up (8:53.77).

“I think it helped both of them reach that next level,” Jermyn said. “Now, (Neil) knows what it takes to be at that upper level in the nation, so I know there’s probably going to be a few workouts where he wishes Weston was there, but I think he’ll handle it well, he knows what it takes.”

What has kept Neil going has been that rare, reliable, steady nature. Jermyn gives credits to Neil’s work ethic and competitive spirit.

“He’s never really had an off day, or a really bad race every time he’s been on that big stage,” Jermyn said. “For Montana kids, especially, we don’t get that many opportunities to race a lot at sea level and number two, with huge amounts of competition. I think when we go to those meets, we are hyper-focused on those meets, it’s a big deal. When you go to Arcadia and NXN XC, NXN Outdoor, we don’t get those types of meets day in and day out. But a real big attribute is his consistency in training. I think when you are consistent in training, you see consistent results.”

For Neil, that mindset comes from knowing he has to continue to make the most of every opportunity.

This fall, Neil and Bozeman will compete at the Mountain West Classic and travel Oct. 7 to Nike Hole in the Wall in Washington, before gearing up for states and a run at NXR Northwest and NXN.

Neil said the goal is a higher placement at NXN and earning All-America honors. He’ll have the challenge of reigning Gatorade National Runner of the Year, Daniel Simmons of American Fork, Utah, who placed runner-up last year, as well as Byron Grevious of Phillips Exeter in New Hampshire, who won the Nike Outdoor 5,000-meter title.

“Honestly, I think it’s going to be how my training is compared to everyone else,” Neil said. “Obviously, I train at elevation here in Montana, the level I can push myself to train is going to separate myself from other people around the region and translate to running really well at the big meets when it really matters.”