The Top Eight Upsets of the Week

3. Garek Bielaczyc over Casey Clinger (and Ben Saarel)

Since losing to Bielaczyc and Weber's Talon Hull at the American Fork Grass Relays in August, Clinger hadn't lost a race longer than a mile. The American Fork junior shredded the competition in Utah and won Nike Cross Nationals in a close race. In a slightly less close race, Garek Bielaczyc beat Clinger 8:57-8:59 at Simplot to become the first high school boy to break 9:00 at the meet, beating Ben Saarel's meet record by three seconds. Bielaczyc was fourth at Foot Locker behind only Drew Hunter, Phillip Rocha, and Ben Veatch, meaning this isn't exactly a huge upset--more of a recalibration of understanding. Bielaczyc said after the race that he wasn't sure if he was running New Balance. If he does, he might be able to break 8:50 there.