With only two days left for the last qualifier for Foot Locker everything should be set for a fine yet challenging race. All the serious training is done and barring injury everyone should be at full strength. With a thick frost that needs to be scraped from my car this morning I, as I am sure are northwest runners, thrilled just to think of warm temperatures in California. There are still a few things that need to be remembered by all those aspiring to become a part of the thirty year plus tradition of Foot Locker. First of all the west course is a challenging and classic course.
This is not a man-made contrivance on a flat plain with two speed bumps. This is a course that needs to be respected. The first hill alone, known as the “switch-back”, is formidable in its own right. Once runners cross to the other side of the course one must take on the steep “poop out”, which is very aptly named and also longer than it looks at first glance. Enough said there we think. Lastly there is the area known as “reservoir hill”, which is quite steep. It comes after the two-mile mark in the race, which makes it even more daunting. What most people seem to forget is that this is really two hills. Runners ascend a fairly steep hill and then descend with a view of the track in the distance. It is especially deceiving, because runners do not just head straight for the track and the finish line. Once at the bottom harriers must make a sharp right hand turn and climb another grade of a good fifty meters, which is just as steep. The hills make the course a challenge and it is important to run a smart race, for those final climbs can make one’s legs feel like jello in the final mile, if you go out too fast. This is a true cross country course and demands a degree of strength plus intelligence. It is not a glorified track meet, as are many races. It helps, if you believe that ‘hills are my friends’ yet race the course respectfully. It also is worthy of note that this race is handled in the American way. Race it successfully and qualify or your season ends. There are no ‘do-overs’ here and there is no panel of so-called experts to anoint you as a finalist, if you do not succeed on race day. Runners must succeed on their own merits and that is a good thing and it is inherently fair.
Gathering on Saturday will be a glittering array of the finest runners in the West, who are not afraid to take on the best runners in the nation as well as some impressive hills. It is always impressive just to look at the number of State champions alone not to mention the many invitational title holders, who will be on hand. Here are but a few of the runners to watch on Saturday. There are six young ladies, who have been good enough, as well as fortunate enough, to earn a trip to San Diego for nationals already and leading the way is Maddie Meyers of Seattle, who is looking to become one of the somewhat rare number of three-time finalists. Maddie has won the Tomahawk Invitational as well as her division of the Westside Classic and the Washington State (1A) championship. This year her focus has been Foot Locker, so the four-time State champion should be quite formidable. California’s Carrie Verdon is the highest returning finishers from the West with her nineteenth place finish at nationals in 2010. She has had a banner season this fall with triumphs at De La Salle, Stanford, Diablo and at North Coast to name a few and last weekend she annexed the Division III championship at State. Anna Maxwell ran in Hawaii and claimed the Kamehameha title and later won divisions at Stanford & Mt. SAC, while Clare Carroll, who was fourth in the West last year, placed 7th in California D-3 in 17:56. Kendra Weitz of Washington won the Sundodger Invitational and has the distinction of being a part of a family sister-brother team to qualify for Foot Locker in the same year. In fact, as far as I know, only one other brother –sister combination has ever qualified even in different years in the long Foot Locker history. She and her brother Nathan look to do something special again and she has shown she can handle this course with her sixth place finish last fall. Karlie Garcia of California qualified for Nationals in 2009 but was hampered by injuries last fall but she is certainly back in form, as evidenced by her victories at Del Oro, Clovis and Mt. SAC plus her second in the D-3 race last Saturday.
Naturally most everyone is in the position of endeavoring to qualify for the first time and there are a fair number of runners, who have more than a good shot of fulfilling their dream. Two of those young ladies come from the Northwest: Jordan McPhee of Mt. Rainier in Washington & Emily Nist of Bishop Kelly in Idaho. Jordan is one of the surprises of the season. Although her spring track season suggested she’d have a pretty good transition to the sport, Jordan has been particularly impressive. She started with a win in the Bellarmine Invitational and then swept the Fort Steilacoom, Mt. Baker & Richland races. She annexed the State 4A championship with a time of 17:25, which was six seconds under the former record and she accomplished it with no one really challenging her. Her only loss, a third at Border Clash, was on a short course and she proved at Richland, she can handle hills. One never knows in cross country but, if she can hold a bit in reserve prior to Reservoir Hill, she is very capable of earning a trip to California. Emily Nist is a three-time Idaho 4A champion with victories at Driscoll, Caldwell and the Boise City Meet. Emily will have her Bishop Kelly team mate Rebecca Lassere to run with, who has had a fine season in her own right including a fourth place effort in her division at Sunfair. It is hardly a stretch to think of her in joining Mary Lyons, the Bishop Kelly runner who won the first Kinney-Foot locker meet, and Nicole Nielsen of Borah as the only girls from the State to qualify. Chandler Olson is another runner to watch and she knows the course having finished 19th in the race last year. She is the number nine returnee from the West and she triumphed at Bellevue & in her division at Tomahawk. Chandler was third at State with 18:21 after winning her Northwest Regional.
New Mexico will send two State champions to the Mt. SAC course: Caroline Kaufman & Rachel Fledderman. Both won their divisions at Rio Rancho before claiming the 2A & 3A titles respectively. Lindsay Adams the current Nevada 4A champion placed fifth at Stanford & won the Reed Invitational. Katie Gorczyca, the 2010 Nevada champion, will also take on the challenge. Katie has won at Mojave & at Las Vegas this fall. Others to watch include Brittany Gappa, the Sehome and North County champion from Washington, who was fifth at the Washington 2A State meet, and Presli Hutchinson of Idaho, who won the Tiger/Grizz. Idaho’s Cheryn Trapp, second at Canyon Country, and Sanne Holland, the Silverwood champion, who placed fourth in the 2A division in Washington, should also be in the mix. Not to be overlooked is marina Roberts, who is not afraid to push the pace and placed third at State. Marina won at Sehome & at Salt Creek plus as she was a winner at Fort Worden. Another outstanding runner from Idaho is Mikayla Malaspina, who won the Gary Ward & Canyon Country and garnered second at State in 4A. Arizona will be represented by Diana Garcia, who won the Conley Invite and was second at Mt. Carmel. She placed second in Arizona as well as second at NXN.
There are a number of Californians, whose name I had not seen earlier, and whose listing now is certainly not a reflection on where they might place in the race and indeed it would be logical to expect at least a couple to join us in San Diego. It certainly would be hard to argue Cami Chapus’ credentials, when one considers that she triumphed at Woodbridge and then took third at Mt. SAC. The California Regional winner placed second in the Division 4 race at Woodward Park last Saturday in a time of 17:57. Molly Babcock is another runner of note with a second at Laguna, first in the Jaguar & a third place effort in D-2 in California, while Amy Weissenbach edged out & placed third behind Chapus at State after being second in the Sectional. The number six returnee from 2010 is Adriana Olivas, who placed 14th last year.
There are only three guys, who were underclassmen last year, when they qualified and Andrew Gardner of Spokane leads the list given his fourth place at Nationals as only a sophomore. Andrew won the Mountain West Invitational and placed second at Sunfair. He was upset at State in the 4Aa race by Jacob Smith, who also is nationally ranked. Jacob ended his season due to lingering injuries, which is a shame, and it is feared that Gardner may have similar issues. For males being a three-time qualifier is still rare after three decades and one can only hope that he is healthy enough to keep his string going, so that he has a shot of making three trips to San Diego by his senior year. Nathan Weitz on the other hand is healthy and the number two returnee from 2010 is one of the favorites for Saturday’s race. Nathan, who was fifth in the West as a junior, had a solid year, which included victories at Sundodger and the Greater Spokane League plus a second at State in a resounding time of 14:58. If he is on his game he will be tough to beat. Californian Darren Fahy also hopes to return and his fall campaign has left him undefeated after victories at Bronco, Clovis, Stanford, Mt. SAC and at the California State meet. The Division I winner had the fastest time of the day last weekend.
Dallin Farnsworth of Idaho is a two-time State champion, who has the incentive of joining his brother Taylor as a Foot Locker National finalist. He has broken numerous course records along the way this season and can count victories at Cardinal, the Tiger/Grizz, Madison & the major Firman Meet. His only losses were a third at Clovis and a third in the NXN Regional. He’s skipping the Little League meet for a chance to take on our nation’s best runners and it has a very good chance of being rewarded. While we are looking at Idaho Erik Harris is another very capable athlete. He won at Canyon Country & Dani Bates before being upset at State in another division. Erik is the number nine returnee from last year’s race. Cody Curtis of Coeur d’ Alene placed third at State after racking up trophies at Farragut and at District. He is another, who is capable of being on the awards’ stand.
Oregon will send its strongest contingent, since the State was honored by the qualification of Kenny Klotz & Isaac Stoutenburgh in 2005. On hand Saturday will be three State champions: Travis Neuman, Kyle Thompson & Paul Adams. Neuman is the 5A champion, who has won at Albany, Bend and Adidas Concordia. The Summit star also has the fastest time in the State. Kyle Thompson is a precocious sophomore, who won the 6A championship. He is another in a fine line of Central Catholic runners, who include Kenny Klotz, Galen Rupp & Taylor Morgan. Kyle has already raced this fall in California: Palos Verdes, where he finished third. Paul Adams of Mazama had a string of second place finishes before claiming his District and then the State 4A tile. He is coming on at the right time of the year and that is why we race in the first place. Though Jackson Baker may not be a State champion, but he was not far off and he has scored a string of triumphs including Hermiston, Wilsonville and Hood River. Baker is always a very game runner, who is more than capable of earning a trip to Balboa Park. Also representing Oregon will be Zach Holloway, who won the Silver Falls Invitational and Hudson Eustace, who placed fifth last year in the Foot Locker West junior race.
Washington will also send Patrick Gibson, who is the State’s 2A champion & the winner of the Capital Invite. Keegan Symmes, the winner of the Tomahawk Invitational and Kingco meet will represent the State, as will Alex Kinsey of Spokane, who placed 43rd in the race last year. Hunter Johnson, who earned seventh at State and placed fifth in the Border Clash, is also one to watch. Sumner Goodwin, who was only two places behind Johnson at Border Clash, will also race for Washington and Spokane.
Aside from Fahy California will be represented by C J Albertson. C J had an off-day at State where he placed sixth but he has won at Woodbridge, Mt. Whitney, Clovis and at Seaman. If he is back on track he is dangerous. Brandon Pugh, 16th in the West last year, and Luis Luna, who was 23rd last fall should be on hand. Kevin Durham, who was fourth at State & second in Orange County should also be in the mix.
Ben Saarel, the Utah State champion in 3A, should fare well. He has won at Highland and at Murray. New Mexico will be represented by its State champion Anthony Varela, who ran 15:55 at State. Hopefully this will give fans a cursory view of some of the great talent, which will challenge the Mt. SAC course and each other. These are all quality high school runners and it is hoped I have not inadvertently overlooked someone. Good luck to everyone, who is joined a great tradition in scholastic running.
Foot Locker is the only race, which is truly democratic in its qualification method of selection.