The 30th running of the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships will crown the individual girls national champion, as the 4 top girls in the country will be in attendance. US#1 Megan Goethals leads the way with fellow repeat finalists in tow. US#2 Chelsey Sveinsson and US#3 Aisling Cuffe have also established themselves as favorites for the title. Newcomer Molly Grabill (US#4) has also established herself as a favorite for the crown. The NXN individual champion, US#7 Katie Flood, is also competing and could boost her ranking with a solid placing here.
The South and West regions have had a stranglehold on the girls crown for the last 4 years with Jordan Hasay (CA) winning in 2005 and 2008, Kathy Kroeger (TN) winning in 2006, and Ashley Brasovan (FL) winning in 2007. The Northeast has come up dry ever since Aislinn Ryan (NY) won it all in 2004 and the Midwest has had to wait even longer with the last win coming from Katelyn Kaltenbach (CO) in 2003. That could all change this year with Megan Goethals leading the Midwest as the top returner. She was third last year. Her closest challenger, in terms of both experience and talent, is Chelsey Sveinsson, leading the South in her third appearance. She was 16th in 2007 and 4th last year. Aisling Cuffe was 12th last year in her first appearance, but has been showing tremendous strength and a fearless attitude when it comes to racing, and could be the Northeasts salvation.
We break down the girls race by region and outline the competitors who are likely to compete for a top-10 placing. Without further adieu…
The West
US#4 Molly Grabill (CA) has been winning races all year, enters the Foot Locker Nationals undefeated on the season (Photo by Victah Sailor, PhotoRun.net). She won at Stanford and Mt. Sac. She then won a state title with a PR of 17:06 and followed that up with a win at the Foot Locker West Regional race with a time of 17:55. She finds herself ranked 4th in the latest MileSplit US National Rankings with an opportunity to challenge for the Foot Locker national title. She is joined at Balboa Park by fellow Californian Megan Morgan (US#12). Megan also won at Mt. Sac and finished 2nd to Grabill in their state championship race, leading Torrey Pines to the Division I state title. Karlie Garcia (US#22), and Theresa Devine (US#24), also from California, round out the top-4. US#25 Jessica Tonn (AZ) was the first out-of-state finisher, and will be trying to regain the form she displayed last year, where she finished 10th at the National Championships. Also notable is that Tonn will be competing in her 4th appearance at the meet. Also competing from the West Region are Liberty Miller (CA), Maddie Meyers (WA), Julie Nacouzi (CA), Alaina Alvarez (CA), and Jacque Taylor (CA).
West Regional Qualifiers

| Pl | Name | Hometown | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | Molly Grabill | Poway, CA | 17:55 |
| 2) | Megan Morgan | Del Mar, CA |
17:59 |
| 3) | Karlie Garcia | Roseville, CA | 18:02 |
| 4) | Theresa Devine | San Rafael, CA | 18:05 |
| 5) | Jessica Tonn | Paradise Valley, AZ | 18:07 |
| 6) | Liberty Miller | West Hills, CA | 18:10 |
| 7) | Maddie Meyers | Seattle, WA | 18:23 |
| 8) | Julie Nacouzi | Santa Rosa, CA | 18:24 |
| 9) | Alaina Alvarez | Dana Point, CA | 18:25 |
| 10) | Jacque Taylor | Petaluma, CA | 18:29 |
The Midwest
US# 1 Megan Goethals (MI) (Photo by Paul Everett) is the queen of the Heartland, racing to a undefeated season entering the Foot Locker National race, where she finished 3rd last year. Megan won the West Bloomfield Invitational, the Nike/Playmaker Invitational, the Michigan Lower Peninsula State Championship, and the Foot Locker Midwest Regional. Megan won her state meet by well over a minute before withstanding a challenge by Missourian Emily Sisson, US# 6, who finished 18 seconds back at the Midwest Regional. Finishing third was US# 7 Katie Flood, the NXN National Champion from Dowling Catholic, IA, who finished just ahead of teammate US# 11 Ashlie Decker, who finished 4th. Ashlie was also 4th at NXN. Katie had an impressive year, winning at Bobcat, Heartland, and Roy Griak before taking the 4A State Title in a 4k PR of 13:50. Ashlie finished 3 seconds back in 2nd as Dowling Catholic won the 4A state team title. Katie and Ashlie then led their team to a 12th place finish at NXN and will help the Midwest in their bid to top the other Foot Locker regions. US# 10 Kelsey Lakowske (CO), rode the momentum of her 5A state title to a 5th place finish at the Midwest regional, finishing just on Ashlie's heels. Rounding out the Midwest qualifiers are Diane Robinson (MO), Sara Kroll (MI), Avery Clifton (KS), Marya Haegler (WI), and Shannon Osika (MI).
Midwest Regional Qualifiers
| Pl | Name | Hometown | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | Megan Goethals | Rochester, MI | 17:24 |
| 2) | Emily Sisson | Chesterfield, MO | 17:42 |
| 3) | Katie Flood | Des Moines, IA | 17:48 |
| 4) | Ashlie Decker | Des Moines, IA | 17:51 |
| 5) | Kelsey Lakowske | Boulder, CO | 17:52 |
| 6) | Diane Robison | Chesterfield, MO | 18:09 |
| 7) | Sara Kroll | Westland, MI | 18:15 |
| 8) | Avery Clifton | Topeka, KS | 18:16 |
| 9) | Marya Haegler | Cascade, WI | 18:17 |
| 10) | Shannon Osika | Waterford, MI | 18:37 |
The South
US# 2 Chelsey Sveinsson (TX) (Photo by John Olson) is undefeated on the season, having won the Marcus Invite, the Ken Garland Invite, the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, and the Chile Pepper Invite, prior to her Foot Locker South win. Chelsey's time at the meet, 16:53, now stands as the fastest 5000 meter time in the country, and positions her as a strong contender for the national title. She was 4th in 2008. Florida phenom Kathryn Fluehr (US# 5) has been running fast times all year, including a 16:59.53 performance at the Florida state meet,which broke the state record of 17:01 set by 2007 Foot Locker Champion Ashley Brasovan. US# 14 Rachel Johnson (TX) won 6 invitationals this year before finishing 2nd to Sarah Andrews at the 5A state championship. Rachel also placed 6th at the NXN championships. US#23 Megan Ferowich (TN) won 6 invitationals this year before winning a state championship. Joining them in San Diego will by Shelby Hayer (FL), Wesley Frazier (NC), Amanda Russell (TX), Erika Fluehr (FL), Paige Kvartunas (VA), and Grace Tinkey (GA).
South Regional Qualifiers
| Pl | Name | Hometown | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | Chelsey Sveinsson | Dallas, TX | 16:53 |
| 2) | Kathryn Fluehr | Naples, FL | 17:09 |
| 3) | Rachel Johnson | Plano, TX | 17:10 |
| 4) | Megan Ferowich | Caryville, TN | 17:12 |
| 5) | Shelby Hayes | Orlando, FL | 17:12 |
| 6) | Wesley Frazier | Raleigh, NC | 17:17 |
| 7) | Amanda Russell | Cedar Park, TX | 17:19 |
| 8) | Erika Fluehr | Naples, FL | 17:20 |
| 9) | Paige Kvartunas | Springfield, VA | 17:22 |
| 10) | Grace Tinkey | Macon, GA | 17:24 |
The Northeast
US# 3 Aisling Cuffe (NY) (Photo by Don Rich) may be small in size, and gentle in demeanor, but she sure packs an aggressive punch on the cross country course. Cuffe was undefeated on the year, winning a NY state championship, a Federation championship, and the Foot Locker Northeast championship. The last was her most impressive, taking down a 28 year old mark held by 1982 Foot Locker National Champion Christine Curtin and becoming the first harrier ever under the 18:00 barrier on the course. And she did it solo into a 50mph headwind on the finishing straight. Cuffe will be looking to mix it up with Goethals and Sveinsson up front in San Diego. US# 17 soph Abbey Leonardi (ME) finished 2nd in the race and will be making her first trip to San Diego after finishing an impressive 12th at last year's regional as a freshman. US# 18 Chelsea Ley (NJ) will be making her third appearance at the National Championships, and is coming off a season in which she won the NJ MOC. Her best showing was an impressive 8th place finish last year. Colleen Schmidt (NY) finished 4th in the Northeast for her first appearance at the big show. Joining them in San Diego will be Marielle Hall (NJ), Lauren Sara (CT), Emily Durgin (ME), Sara Sargent (PA), Lauren Mullins (NY), and Meg Ryan (CT).
Northeast Regional Qualifiers
| Pl | Name | Hometown | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | Aisling Cuffe | Cornwall-Hudson,NY | 17:45 |
| 2) | Abbey Leonardi | Kennebunkport, ME | 18:31 |
| 3) | Chelsea Ley | Clarksboro, NJ | 18:33 |
| 4) | Colleen Schmidt | Point Lookout, NY | 18:35 |
| 5) | Marielle Hall | Mt. Laurel, NJ | 18:36 |
| 6) | Lauren Sara | Stratford, CT | 18:37 |
| 7) | Emily Durgin | Standish, ME | 18:38 |
| 8) | Sara Sargent | Yardley, PA | 18:42 |
| 9) | Lauren Mullins | Binghamton, NY | 18:54 |
| 10) | Meg Ryan | Fairfield, CT | 18:54 |
