ABINGTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE PENNSYLVANIA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Dallas senior Regan Rome has had a remarkable career at Dallas in her first three years. Rome has been a medalist each of her first three years in XC, twice in AAA and in 2012 taking 3rd - leading her team to the podium in 2nd by just three points in AA, and then to the team title in 2013 with her runner-up finish. She is a three-time defending champ in Distirct 2 (2x AAA,1x AA); and capped off 2012 with a 4th place finish at Foot Locker Northeast, finishing 19th in San Diego, just seven seconds from all-American. Her 8th place in 2013 earned her a return trip to San Diego. And Rome is a three time medalist in AAA in the 3200 in the PIAA champs, plus a two time medalist in the 3k at the PTFCA Indoor Champs, taking 3rd in 2013 in 9:53.59 as Tessa Barrett and Courtney Smith both bettered the state record.
Abington Heights senior Tessa Barrett qualified for states in XC as a freshman and sophomore, and after an eye-opening 17:58 at the 2012 Tennett Invitatonal, she looked destined to challange for a state AAA title. But a mud-fest at the District 2 meet led to an injury, and the opportunity was lost. She bounced back in indoor with a solo 10:02 3k in February. Her 3000 at PTFCA champs was an epic battle with Courtney Smith and Regan Rome - one she ultimately won in a state record 9:47.73. She would go on to take 4th at the Penn Relays 3000 in 9:40, and then 2nd (to Smith) in another battle at outdoor states, going 10:25 for 3200 meters. This year she opened with a stunning 17:26 at Cliff Robbins, and then not only won the Gold Race at PIAA Foundation, but set the course record for the Poop-Out Hill layout in 17:48. And then she followed in the recent spike-prints of Neely Spence and Angel Piccirillo, winning the Foot Locker Northeast Regional... then trumping all of the past Foot Locker finalists from PA by winning the championship at storied Balboa Park.
Brianna Schwartz has been lighting up western PA since her freshman year. Now the record holder at the championship venue at Cooper's Lake in Slippery Rock, she had much bigger goals in mind this year. But a disappointing 5th place state finish led to a renewed commitment and focus, resulting in a 4th place finish at Foot Locker Northeast, and an 6th place ALL-AMERICAN finish at Foot Locker Nationals. Here, in her own words...
I don’t even know where to begin. Footlocker was an incredible experience that I will never forget. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in the 2013 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, not only because it was like a vacation for a weekend in CALIFORNIA, but because I had the privilege to race the best high school runners in the country and make friendships that will last forever. I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the people who put so much work into making this an unforgettable experience for all of us!
Commissioner Patrick M. O'Malley issued a proclamation designating December 19 as Tessa Barrett Day in Lackawanna County recognizing her a... (via Times Leader)
Ross Wilson is the 4th Council Rock North boy to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals. It is no accident, as Wilson gives full credit to long-time coach Dave Marrington.
Top Foot Locker performances of all time...
Footlocker Nationals marks the end of the season for high school Cross County each year. Timers everywhere put up their Ipico Timing Mats and break out the FinishLynx cameras in anticiaption of Indoor Track. Here we have the top 3 boys and girls finish images of FLN.
Complete coverage of Foot Locker Regional meets leading up to Foot Locker Nationals on 12/14/13. (Photo by Margot Kelly)
Interview with Kentucky's own Gabby Karas at Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego after finishing 25th.
Porter Gaud's Brent Demarest talks postrace about Foot Locker Nationals.
Photo courtesy of Margot Kelly, MileSplit.com
Tessa Barrett concluded an undefeated 2013 season, responding to another late challenge from Connecticut's Hannah DeBalsi.
2013 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Girls National Championship Race
2013 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Boys National Championship Race
Separated by just seconds at the finish, Michigan's Grant Fisher and Washington's John Dressel were even closer in the closing stages of Saturday's Foot Locker national championship. (Photo by Margot Kelly)
Devin Clark and Natalie Rathjen ran at the pretigious Footlocker National Cross Country Championships in San Diego.
Maine will have 3 runners competing in the Footlocker Cross-Country National Championship tomorrow in San Diego, CA. On the boys side Dan Currts of Ellsworth, along with Telstar's Josef Holt-Andrews will toe the line, while in the girls race Greely standout Kirstin Sandreuter will compete. Check out pre-meet coverage and check back tomorrow for the live webcast.
The Missouri contingent at Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals had an exciting, yet slightly disappointing, day of racing Saturday in San Diego.
A total of six Virginians competed Saturday at the 2013 Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego, California. Only one of the six was able to earn top 15 All-American honors with West Springfield senior Caroline Alcorta having one of the highest finishes ever by a Virginian in the championship girls' race with a third place finish of 17:31.
Porter Gaud senior Brent Demarest finished out his high school cross country career with a 28th finish at his second Foot Locker Nationals.
Gabby Karas, 3-time defending Class AA State Champion finished 25th overall at Foot Locker Nationals today in San Diego, California.
One of the best days in the history of girls cross country, as two meets crown two champions - one at Foot Locker and another at USATF
Not much else can added to what has already been said and written about Caroline Alcorta's 2013 cross country season. She described it best at the state meet as "amazing". The West Springfield senior will look to put the cherry on top of an incredible past several months of performances and compete with the leaders and individual race contenders on Saturday in the championship girls' race at the 2013 Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego. Alcorta took the time to be interviewed by MileStat.com this past week before she departed off to the West Coast.
Louis Colson of Thomas Edison was the state's undisputed best runner among boys for the entire cross country season and will look to continue to carry that banner into the Foot Locker Nationals race in San Diego this Saturday and compete for All-American honors.
Brent Demarest talks about choosing to attend University of Virginia and other colleges he considered.
After finishing third at the 3A Cross Country Finals, Nease senior Karen Xiang was back to business at the Foot Locker South Regional. The University of Pennsylvania commitment nabbed the tenth and final spot to San Diego in a new personal best time of 17:20.00. We caught up with her before the big race to find out her strategy, her excitement level, and much more!
Fort Myers senior Tyler Bennett finished seventh at the Foot Locker South Regional in a new personal best time of 14:52.00. Last year, Bennett was 20th at Foot Locker South and says he is glad the hard work over the past year has finally paid off. See how he plans to attack the steep hill at Balboa Park, his race strategy, and his thoughts on being one of the top runners in the country.
The William & Mary recruit Breidenbaugh had already been ready to race this late Into the post-season of cross country competing at the USATF National Junior Olympics this coming weekend, but now she will be traveling further west on her flight on Thursday as instead of stopping in San Antonio, Breidenbaugh will keep on going until she gets to Balboa Park in San Diego. MileStat.com interviewed the Trinity Episcopal senior Molly Breidenbaugh before she competes in her first Foot Locker Nationals race.
The Foot Locker regional system remains very strong in some states, but shows signs of declining strength in others. Here is a closer look at the numbers.