Nike BorderClash Concludes Its 20-Year Run

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

After a 20-year run, the Nike BorderClash postseason all-star cross country meet between Oregon and Washington has reached the finish line. 

BorderClash, which annually brought dozens of the top state championship finishers to the Nike Headquarters Campus in Beaverton for an elite athlete-type experience, brought a new level of innovation to a high school cross country meet.

A "Braveheart start" saw opposing teams face one another and then merge together 100 meters after a cannon blast. In the early days of the race, a helicopter flew overhead to bring a new perspective to the live in-house experience for spectators, who watched flat screen TVs near the finish line.

The meet's pancake breakfast allowed for networking for runners, both in-state and across the border.

Over time, athletes in both states viewed qualifying for BorderClash as a preseason goal and were keenly aware of where they stood as they entered the finish chutes at their respective state meets in Pasco and Eugene. 

Although Washington, with the bigger population, came to dominate the team scoring aspect of the event, the meet provided a showcase for the Northwest's top prep stars for two decades, from Olympians Ian Dobson and Galen Rupp (of Oregon) to Alexa Efraimson and Amy-Eloise Neale (of Washington). 

BorderClash Winners

1999 - Ian Dobson (OR), Paris Edwards (OR)

2000 - Michael Kiter (WA), Jodee Adams-Moore (WA)

2001 - Chris Lukezic (WA), Jessie McLaughlin (WA)

2002 - Lauren Jesperson (OR), Amanda Miller (WA)

2003 - Galen Rupp (OR), Katie Leary (OR)

2004 - Kenny Klotz (OR), Brie Felnalgle (WA)

2005 - Kenny Klotz (OR), Megan O'Reilly (WA)

2006 - Max O'Donoghue-McDonald (WA), Stephanie Marcy (WA)

2007 - Miles Unterreiner (WA), Nicole Cochran (WA)

2008 - Andrew Kimpel (WA), Taylor Wallace (OR)

2009 - Shane Moskowitz (WA), Amy-Eloise Neale (WA)

2010 - Kenji Bierig (WA), Maddie Meyers (WA)

2011 - Anthony Armstrong (WA), Katie Knight (WA)

2012 - Patick Gibson (WA), Amy-Eloise Neale (WA)

2013 - Matthew Maton (OR), Alexa Efraimson (WA)

2014 - John Dressel (WA), Ella Donaghu (OR)

2015 - Justin Janke (WA), Ella Donaghu (OR)

2016 - James Mwaura (WA), Jordan Oakes (WA)

2017 - James Mwaura (WA), Katie Thronson (WA)

2018 - EJ Holland (OR), Ella Borsheim (WA)