Week in Review: Foot Locker National Championship

By / December 11, 2011 12:58 AM

Foot Locker Nationals

On-Site Coverage

MA Athletes Among Elite Company at Foot Locker

Very few states can brag about having three athletes compete at the Foot Locker National Championships in one year.  In fact, only Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, and Texas can make claim to the accomplishment in 2011.  When compared based on population, the feat is even more pronounced, and the quality of Massachusetts distance running was truly on display Saturday in San Diego. Jonathan Green (St. John’s High School Shrewsbury), Chris Allen (King Philip High School), and Joel Hubbard (Marshfield High School) represented their state with pride as the three made their first trip across the country to compete in the prestigious individual competition.  

Seidel, Cheserek Win Tight Battles for Foot Locker National Titles

Cheserek held off a late charge by Zeinasellassie after a back and forth battle nearly the whole way.  Seidel was able to make a break with 300 to go after Finn led the race for close to 2.5 miles.  Great races all around from all the athletes!  (Photo by Don Rich)

3 Foot Locker All-Americans from Northern Region

Impressive show by the Northern Region at the Foot Locker Nationals with all of their region's three representatives in the high school national championship race earning All-American honors with top 15 finishes. Chantilly junior Sean McGorty led the way with a 10th place finish of 15:28. McGorty was following the same path as his mother who raced on back in 1983 as a Foot Locker/Kinney National finalist (22nd place). Trailing only two places and one second behind was a familiar foe in South region teammate Ahmed Bile of Annandale. Competing in his second Foot Locker Nationals, Bile became an All-American once again with a 12th place run of 15:29. Rounding out the group of Virginia boys at Foot Locker Nationals was Skyline junior Thomas Madden, who will be the ninth highest returnee next year if able to qualify again after garnering a 23rd place finish. Lake Braddock junior Sophie Chase capped off her stellar fall of racing with All-American honors in San Diego by placing 11th with a time of 17:44. Meanwhile, Cosby senior Megan Moye just missed a top 15 All-American finish with her 16th place run of 18:01.   Check out MileSplit US coverage of Foot Locker Nationals

Catarina Rocha is an All-American

Being honored as an All-American has now become a tradition in the Rocha household.  Catarina followed in the footsteps of her father and uncle Saturday, as she secured a place in the record books with her seventh place finish (17:37) at the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

All Winners at Foot Locker Nationals

It's a good thing that the athletes have so much to distract them on beautiful Coronado Island or else their nerves would surely eat them to bits. Although they will have many great races yet in their potential-packed running careers, to them this seems like the most important race of their lives. And in many ways it is.

Flrunners At Foot Locker Nationals: Live Twitter Updates

Jason  is out in beautiful San Diego, California for Footlocker Nationals. Follow him and the rest of the MileSplit team with live Twitter updates on all the action! Pre-Race Interviews, meet coverage, and much more on the way!

Foot Locker XC 2011 Predictions

Predictions below are made for fun and entertainment purposes.  Enjoy and feel free to add comments with your own predictions and words of encouragement for the athletes competing this weekend!

Q&A with Foot Locker Nationals Qualifier Connor Rog

One of Connecticuts' top distance runners Connor Rog talks about his high school career, preparation for Foot Locker Nationals this weekend, and his plans to run collegiately at the University of North Carolina.

Foot Locker Nationals Girls Preview

The girls race at Foot Locker Nationals is a little more wide open than the boys race, but there are still a handful of girls at the top who will be difficult to beat.  The top 3 returners from last year have all had great seasons and have proven they can race well under the pressure at Balboa Park. 

MileSplit XC Journal: Angel Piccirillo, Homer Center - Entry #7 Dec 7th

Angel Piccirillo enters her senior season as one of the top distance runners in Pennsylvania, as well as the U.S. Bursting on the scene as a sophomore - Piccirillo won her first of two indoor state mile titles, first of two outdoor 1600 meter titles and first of two Penn Relays COA titles. So far in her senior year, she has added a second state title in AA cross country, and a Northeast Region title and 2nd Foot Locker Finalist qualifier.

Foot Locker Nationals Boys Preview

The boys race at Foot Locker Nationals has the potential to be a very special event.  The course record of 14:36 at Balboa Park has been held by Reuben Reina since 1985.  This record is in serious jeopardy as both Edward Cheserek (NJ) and Futsum Zenasellassie (IN) have been consistently under 15 minutes this year.  Photos by Victah Sailor/Photorun.net.  Center Photo by Don Rich.

Jacob Thomson is Heading to Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego

  Holy Cross Junior Jacob Thomson qualified for Foot Locker Nationals with a 7th place finish today at Foot Locker South in Charlotte, North Carolina.  He is the first Kentucky boy since Michael Eaton in 2005 to qualify for San Diego.  Big congratulations to Jacob!!!!!

Edward Cheserek makes it official: No. 1 runner in the nation picks Foot Locker

Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep, the No. 1 XC runner in the nation, ended the season long speculation  about which race he would pick, the Foot Locker or Nike Northeast Regionals. The winner is......Foot Locker! Cheserek, who has broken course records in all five of his races this season, finished second as a sophomore last December at the Nike Nationals. ... (via The Star-Ledger - NJ.com)

Manesiotis has sights on Foot Locker Nationals

HILTON HEAD ISLAND – Jack Manesiotis says he’s had a "pretty good" cross country season, so far. He’s trimmed a few seconds off his personal record in the 5K, but the Hilton Head High junior knows he can do better.

Videos

Nathan Weitz chats before the race Dallin Farnsworth chats before the race. Jen Rhines - Olympian and Foot Locker Alum Garrett Heath Interview
Erin Finn Pre-Race Interview Michael Clevenger Pre-Race Kelsey Braithwaite Pre-Race Dallin Farnsworth Pre-Race
Craig Nowak Pre-Race Angel Piccirillo Pre-Race Andrew Gardner Pre-Race Catarina Rocha Pre-Race
Ahmed Bile Pre-Race Daniel Vertiz Pre-Race Jarrod Shoemaker - Pro Triathlete, Foot Locker Alumn Suzy Favor-Hamilton - Olympian Interview
Tony Smoragiewicz Pre-Race Julia Bos Pre-Race Jorge Torres - Foot Locker Alum Jen Rhines - 3x Olympian, Foot Locker Alum
Jake Leingang Pre-Race Grace Tinkey Pre-Race Cali Roper Pre-Race Bobby Curtis - Foot Locker Alum
Adam Goucher - Foot Locker Alum Thursday Night Scavanger Hunt Molly Seidel Pre-Race Makena Morley Pre-Race
Lindsey Burdette Pre-Race Futsum Zeinasellassie Pre-Race Darren Fahy Pre-Race Abbey Leonardi Pre-Race
Daniel Lennon Pre-Race FLCC Nationals - Thursday Activities 2011 FLCC Regional Recap Top Two Finishers in Each Race
Catarina Rocha - 7th place All-American Edward Cheserek - National Champ Laura Leff - 3rd place All-American Futsum Zenasellassie - 2nd Place
Daniel Vertiz - 5th Place Grace Tinkey (GA) - 6th Place Josh Brickell (GA) - 8th Place Tim Ball - 16th place in 15:32
Sophie Chase - 11th Place Olivia Ortiz - 19th Place Chris Godwin - 39th Place Ahmed Bile - 12th Place
Cali Roper - 18th Place Thomas Graham - 9th Place Molly Seidel - National Champion Karlie Garcia - All-American 5th place
Jacob Thomson - 19th Place Lily Williams - 35th Place Tony Smoragiewicz - All-American 7th place Matthew McClintock
Craig Nowak - 14th Place Megan Moye - 16th Place Bridget Blake - 38th Place Girls Webcast Replay - Full Race
Nathan Weitz - All-American 3rd place Boys Webcast Replay - Full Race Karis Jochen - 12th Place Angel Piccirillo: All-American 13th place
Alana Hadley Dustin Wilson - All-American 13th place Sammy George Abbey Leonardi - All-American 4th place
Dallin Farnsworth - All-American 11th place Cami Chapus - 22nd place - 18:08 Anna Maxwell - 24th place - 18:14 Clare Carroll - 27th place - 18:17
CJ Albertson - 36th place - 16:16 Emily Nist Jordan McPhee Kelsey Braithwaith
Nikki Hiltz Makena Morley Cameron Miller - 31st place - 16:01 Kevin Durham - 37th place - 16:21
Tori Gerlach Erin Finn - All-American Runner-up

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights

USATF National Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships

On-Site Coverage

USATF National Junior Olympics returns to S.C.

MYRTLE BEACH -- USATF National Junior Olympics returns to the state Saturday at Whispering Pines golf course. The last year the meet was held in the state was 1999 at The Roger Milliken Center. 

S.C. USATF'S volunteer KlING: Serving the sport

Chris Kling's introduction to the sport of track and field wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. As a freshman at Timken Senior High School, Kling ran the 800 and threw the discus, but it was a relay that left a sour taste in his mouth.

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights