AAU National Championships 2012

Photos by June Wessinger and Thomas McLeroy for scrunners.com

Runners chosen by anonymous panel in each part of state after reviewing results from last week. Runners of the week presented by go-green events.

NORTH CHARLESTON – Tami Dennis was packing her team’s equipment after a long day of USATF cross-country competition last Saturday at Wannamaker Park, only to be interrupted repeatedly by parents thanking her with a handshake, a hug or both.

Have you ever wondered how the size of your state meet stacks up against the size of the state meets in other states? Here's a quick answer to that question for the 2012 cross country season. (via MileSplit)

Amazing 9 year old and double indoor AAU National Champion Noah Castro of Hurricane, West Virginia easily won the Foot Locker South Region 3000m boys 10 and under race  with a blazing fast time of 10:59 for a 5:54 mile pace. The future of West Virginia and U.S. distance running is looking very good. Watch out world, here comes Noah! No ark needed this time.  

Matthew Brafford, a junior at George Washington High School, is trying to claim gold for the second time in a week at the 2012 AAU National Cross Country Championships on Saturday, December 01, 2012 @ Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.

Gaffney track and field coach Aaron Anderson was injured in a car accident and is intensive care, Gaffney coach Bill Conley said in a statement. 

The Shrine Bowl Run coaching staff released an updated route for the Dec. 15 Shrine Bowl Run that runs from Greenville to Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, a 33-mile course. 

“I don’t think about the miles that are coming down the road, I don’t think about the mile I’m on right now, I don’t think about the miles I’ve already covered. ... (via Going the Distance)

Matthew Brafford, a junior at George Washington High School, just won the young men's high school division at the AAU National Cross Country Championships at Winthrop University / Rock Hill, SC.

Lexington's Zack Langston finished 53rd out of 196 runners at Nike Cross Nationals earlier today with a time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds on a muddy course in Portland, Ore. 

Noah Castro (L) and new 3000 meter CC American Record holder Andrew Avilla from New Hampshire Noah Castro, a fourth grader at Winfield Elementary School, placed ninth in the bantam boys division at the AAU National Cross Country Championships at Winthrop University / Rock Hill, SC. Castro covered the 3K course in a personal best time of 10:48.64 while the champion, Andrew Avila, set a new national record in 10:15.

For the third consecutive year the Derby City Athletic Club with runners from all over the state of Kentucky was the AAU Cross Country National Runner-up team, narrowly missing out on the championship to the California Comets 117-113.  Having been National Champions in 2009 and Runners-up in 2010 and 2011, the team from Derby City came to Rock Hill for the AAU Cross Country Championship with one goal in mind, an overall team national championship. 

Hilton Head's Jack Manesiotis has committed to University of Florida, his family told scrunners.com tonight. 

USATF South Carolina told scrunners.com that the organization with help of Myrtle Beach has won its bid for the 2014 USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country National Championships. 

Thor Newsome of Rineyville Elementary won the AAU National Championship last Saturday in the Primary Division (7-8 year olds.)