2007 showed a distinct disparity between the strength of the Midwest boys and girls at Foot Locker Nationals. While the Midwest boys dominated the team competition at Foot Locker Nationals, the girls finished in fourth. This year the boys look strong, led by the Colorado contingent of Evan Appel, Joseph Manilafasha and Bobby Nicolls, while the girls look to rebound and show they can compete with anyone.

Midwest Individual Rankings

Boys

1. Bobby Nicolls (Sr., Regis, CO) - Distance runners in Colorado tend to get overlooked. Perhaps the main reason this happens is the fact that the majority of their competitions are held at altitude, making their times look much slower than they actually are. While this tends to be the case, Nicolls shows time and again when he comes down to sea-level, he can compete with just about anyone. Last fall Nicolls was the surprise finisher at the Foot Locker Midwest, then taking that momentum to San Diego, where he finished 18th overall, the top junior. As the nation's top returnee, Nicolls (pictured left in black shirt by John Herzog) should be eyeing a national title. This spring Nicolls beat a strong field in the Midwest Distance Gala two-mile, where he ran 9:03.04. While he generally doesn't show his top form until the end of the season, expect Nicolls to make a case for himself time and again this fall to be ranked number one in the region.

2. Evan Appel (Sr., Dakota Ridge, CO) - It was hard to pick whether Nicolls or Appel (pictured far left in picture by John Herzog) should be number one in our first set of Midwest Top 12 Individual Rankings. With Nicolls being the top returnee from Foot Locker Nationals, that is the deciding factor. However, Appel should be ranked 1B, as he has very similar results to his name. The Dakota Ridge senior is the #2 returnee heading into Foot Locker Nationals this fall after placing 21st in 2007, while also making the national meet as a sophomore in 2006 Appel followed up his big fall with an even bigger spring, beating one of the best classes of Colorado distance talent ever, winning the 1600m and 3200m events at his state meet. Nicolls and Appel will battle it out this fall and in the end it could be said that the winner between Nicolls and Appel may very well be the national champion.

3. Drew Shields (Sr., Fishers, IN) - It's been some time since an Indiana athlete has won the state 800m and 1600m events in the same year. That is exactly what Shields accomplished this past spring, showing speed and strength, a combination that could help him to finish in the U.S. top ten this fall. In 2007, Mike Fout of LaPorte, Indiana dominated the national scene at Foot Locker Nationals, besting one of the best fields ever assembled. With Fout graduating, the state of Indiana seems poised for another male distance runner or two to ascend to the top flight of the nation's distance runners. Last fall Shields placed 16th at Foot Locker Midwest, and returns as the number four returnee this fall in the region. His track talents, combined with his up front running style, should bode well for Shields come November.

4. Joseph Manilafasha (Sr., Denver North, CO) - While his track times don't reflect his cross country prowess, Manilafasha is an athlete to certainly keep an eye on this fall. The two time Foot Locker National qualifier comes into the fall as the number three returnee at the national meet, after placing 22nd in the '07 competition. This spring Manilafasha finished third in the state 3200m event, placing only behind MW #1 Nicolls and MW #2 Appel. If this trio sticks together at Foot Locker Midwest, similar to what they did last fall, expect Manilafasha to earn his third trip to sunny San Diego.

5. Steve Sulkin (Sr., York, IL) - The legacy of York H.S. dominance continues this fall with Sulkin becoming the front runner this time around. Last season Sulkin ran in the shadow of York's top gun Tom Achtein. With Achtein graduating, the time is now for Sulkin to lead the Dukes. Last fall Sulkin finished fifth at the state meet, the top placing junior, while coming back this spring to place third in the state 3200m run in 9:12, besting fellow Illinois MW ranked athletes Kyle Gibson and Danny Pawola. Perhaps his best showing during his junior year came at Nike Team Nationals, which saw him place fourth overall, beating Foot Locker Nationals qualifier CJ Brown with a kick to the finish. Sulkin has all the makings of being the next great York distance runner, and as long as he can stay healthy, Sulkin certainly has a shot to be a state champion and a Foot Locker all-American.

6. Wes Rickman (Sr., Falcon, CO) - It will be easy to overlook Rickman this fall. With returning Foot Locker National qualifiers Nicolls, Appel and Manilafasha, Rickman ranks fourth in Colorado heading into the season. However, with continued success in his training and competition, Rickman should know he has the talent to qualify for Nationals. This fall he ranks as the number five returnee at Foot Locker Midwest after placing 17th last fall. His junior track season saw early success indoors, only to fade a bit, but come on strong at the end of the season with a second place effort at the state 1600m run, finishing behind all-American Kevin Williams. If Rickman can stay healthy and fresh towards the end of the season, expect him to be the fourth Colorado qualifier.

7. Danny Pawola (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) - With teammate and all-American Chris Derrick graduating and taking his talents to Stanford, Pawola is now the front runner for Neuqua Valley. A presence on the Illinois scene since his sophomore season, Pawola has the experience and desire to prove he's tops in Illinois, and should have the confidence that he can also be one of the best in the country. As the #2 returnee this fall in Illinois, and after placing sixth in the 3200m in the spring at state, Pawola seems primed and ready to make another leap with his talents, showing once again that Neuqua Valley is quickly becoming a national force.

8. Kyle Gibson (Sr., Naperville North, IL) - Bad luck his Gibson last fall at the Illinois State Cross Country Championships. Coming down with an illness the day before the meet, Gibson missed an opportunity to show just how strong he was. With that hardluck behind him, Gibson showed time and again this spring that he could be the very best in the state this fall. Gibson ran a sub-9:10 3200m effort during the spring, then placed fourth overall in the 3200m at state in 9:12.14, less than a quarter second behind MW #5 Steve Sulkin. This fall Gibson looks to not only win a state individual title, but should also be looking to guide his Naperville North team to a state championship and possible NXN national berth.

9. Donny Roys (Sr., Medina, OH) - The defending Ohio state cross country champion returns this season under a different set of circumstances. So much of Roys' focus last fall fell on the success of his team. The squad won the Ohio state title, while also qualifying for Nike Team Nationals. While many of his teammates graduated, Roys remains and looks to not only help his team place as best they can throughout the season, but he can focus on individual achievements as well along the way. Roys placed tenth last year at Nike Team Nationals and showed he can compete with top national talent. If he carries that experience over this year and can find equal state success throughout the fall, Roys has a great shot to qualify for either of the national championship events.

10. Zach Wills (So., Mason, OH) - For the first time in over two decades, a freshman won the DI state 3200m title. Wills' effort at the state track meet was inspirational and marks him as one of the athletes to watch this fall. After placing fourth at state in cross country last fall, Wills stepped up his training and took his talents to the next level. With fellow Ohioan Roys ranked in the Midwest Top 12 and showing similar talents, these two should battle and push each other straight to San Diego come late-November.

11. James Martin (So., Fort Wayne Carroll, IN) - Last fall Martin showed that he may have been the top freshman in the country. With Foot Locker champion Mike Fout being the only athlete to beat him at the Indiana state cross country meet, Martin showed the potential to become quite the frontrunner. With a nagging injury shortening his spring, Martin now eyes winning a state title and qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals. If he can stay healthy, Martin should be quite the favorite heading into the regional event, as he is the #7 returnee after placing 22nd in 2007.

12. Joash Osoro (Sr., Bismark, ND) - Osoro has dominated North Dakota for some time now, and with another cross country season upon him, he looks to repeat as state champion and try and help his team win a state title. While those are the obvious goals, Osoro should be thinking even bigger, as he ranks as the sixth Foot Locker Midwest returnee this fall after finishing 18th in 2007. The multi-time North Dakota champion looks to put his stamp on the greatest distance runner of all time from his state, and qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals would certainly help with that.

Girls

1. Katie Flood (Jr., Dowling Catholic, IA) - What a year 2007-2008 was for Flood. The talented runner from Iowa made a statement early on in the cross country season by beating Foot Locker top five finisher Emily Sisson at the Roy Griak Invitational, then setting records on course after course, eventually placing second at Nike Team Nationals and finishing eighth overall at Foot Locker Nationals. As the fifth Foot Locker returnee this fall, Flood looks to improve upon her past seasons, use the national experience she picked up last season and push forward, possibly making a run at a Foot Locker National title.

2. Emily Sisson (Jr., Parkway Central, MO) - Running for her third school in as many years, Sisson (pictured left by Scott Bush) takes her talents this season from Nebraska to Missouri. After placing top five at Foot Locker Nationals her freshmen year, Sisson dropped to a disappointing 23rd in 2007. This past spring Sisson bounced back from her Foot Locker disappointment, placing third at the Arcadia Invitational 3200m in 10:21.71, as well as winning a trio of state titles. Sisson's move to Missouri could be one that takes her talents to the next level, as the depth in Missouri distance running is much stronger than Nebraska, while she'll also have another sub-11 3200m runner to train with in Diane Robison.

3. Stephanie Morgan (Sr., Barnesville, OH) - Known more for her track accomplishments than her cross country accomplishments, Morgan looks to change that this fall, building upon her Foot Locker National qualifying accomplishment of '07. Running in the smallest division of Ohio competition, Division III, Morgan (pictured right by Don Rich) rarely finds competition that can challenge her. While a lack of competition may hurt some competitors, it seems to help Morgan, as she can gear her training towards the meets she wants to peak best for. This spring Morgan won double state track gold, winning the 1600m and 800m events, while also winning winning the prestigious Penn Relays mile in 4:41.22 and running a 1500m at the USATF Junior National meet in 4:21.52.

4. Brooklyne Ridder (Sr., Oak Hills, OH) - With all-Americans Claire Durkin and Emily Infeld moving on to college, Ridder now ranks as Ohio's top female distance runner. Last fall Ridder finished second at the state cross country meet behind Durkin, showing she was the only one who could even come close to the then talented senior. At Foot Locker Midwest Ridder placed 12th, just missing a spot on the Midwest Foot Locker squad by eight seconds. This spring the talented Oak Hills senior placed second again behind Durkin, this time in the 3200m with a time of 10:37.80. While she may not be able to compete with Flood and Sisson up top, Ridder has shown the talent and desire to compete with anyone else in the Midwest, as she now looks to earn her first trip to Foot Locker Nationals.

5. Rebecca Addison (Sr., Grand Haven, MI) - Last fall Addison was the first non-qualifier at Foot Locker Midwest. Her eleventh place effort left her five seconds short of a trip to the national meet and gave her extra motivation leading into the spring. That extra motivation worked, as Addison won the state 800m and 1600m titles, while ranking very high up the national rankings in both events. This fall Addison should not only be a favorite to make the Midwest squad, but to also run very well on the national level.

6. Lindsay Flanagan (Sr., Lake Park, IL) - Always a quality runner but never a super star, Flanagan took that next leap this past spring, running under 11 minutes time after time, eventually placing second in her state 3200m competition, running 10:36.34 and only losing to '07 Illinois cross country champ Kristin Sutherland. With Sutherland moving on to the University of Illinois, Flanagan should be looking to earn her first state championship this fall. The Lake Park senior seems to get stronger as the distance lengthens, so expect Flanagan to have a breakout season this fall as well.

7. Shannon Osika (So., Waterford Mott, MI) - As only a freshman last fall, Osika dominated the state competition by winning a state title in cross country. While Osika's accomplishment didn't carryover to earning a Midwest team spot for Foot Locker Nationals, she continued her dominance in the state by winning the 3200m this spring in 10:42.08, and placing second in the 1600m run in 4:52.72, finishing behind Midwest #5 Rebecca Addison. With such a successful freshman year behind her, Osika now looks to take her talents national, which means qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals.

8. Elizabeth Hynes (Sr., St. Charles East, IL) - Last fall Hynes finished so close to qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals, while also placing top five at the Illinois state cross country meet. As one of the top Midwest returnees this fall, and the #2 returnee in Illinois, Hynes looks to take one last stab at qualifying for a trip to San Diego. This past spring Hynes decided to test her talents in the 3200m run, despite winning a state title in the 1600m in a prior season, placing fifth overall in an incredibly deep field. Hynes shows consistency in nearly every race she runs, so if she can push her talents a step further this season, expect her to make a serious run at a Midwest team spot.

9. Meggan Freeland (Sr., Parma Western, MI) - Despite not showing the same kind of times those ranked above her accomplished on the track, Freeland could prove to be a big-time runner this fall. Last fall Freeland surprised many by qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals. After placing 32nd overall, Freeland backed up her harrier campaign with a 1600m state title in track. Building on that success, Freeland should look to win her state cross country meet this fall (Division II) and has the experience few others have at the Foot Locker Regional, which certainly gives her a leg up on the competition.

10. Chelsea Oswald (Sr., Walsh Jesuit, OH) - Perhaps the most surprising qualifier for Foot Locker Nationals last fall was Oswald. After having a successful fall, but not a dominating one, Oswald came up big at regionals and qualified for the race in San Diego. After placing 31st at Foot Locker Nationals, Oswald backed that up this spring with a fifth place effort in the DI state 3200m run, finishing well amongst a strong field of competition. This fall Oswald looks to take another step forward. If she hopes to earn a repeat trip to San Diego, she'll need to stay in close contact with Midwest #4 Brooklyne Ridder.

11. Allie McLaughlin (Sr., Air Academy, CO) - After winning the Colorado 5A state 3200m title in 10:49.46 (at altitude) this spring, McLaughlin has a lot to look forward to this fall. Last fall McLaughlin placed top ten at the state cross country meet, but she's shown signs of national level talent few others have shown. Running with an illness that occassionally breaks her down to where she's can't perform at the level she wants, McLaughlin is a grinder that likes to take races out fast and hold that pace until she can't any longer. If her body holds up this fall and she continues that same tenacious drive, expect to see this senior near the top at Midwest regional competition.

12. Kaitlin Hanenburg (Jr., Classical Academy, CO) - One of the most dominant distance runners in Colorado over the past two seasons, Hanenburg seems poised to take her talents one step further this fall. Running in the 3A small school division, Hanenburg has crushed her competition time and time again. Last fall she won her state cross country race by 55 seconds, while winning the 1600m and 3200m this spring, and taking second in the 800m. Last fall she also ran one of the fastest times of the day at state cross regardless of class. If Hanenburg decides to run the national level post-season meets this fall, expect her to vie for national championship qualifying spots.

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