Photo by Steven Pisano
When Foot Locker Northeast entries started to trickle in, one thing became apparent - the Maryland girls were going to be loaded. But dominate the meet?
That was a bit unexpected.
Photo by Chuck Martin
Saturday's showing at Van Cortlandt Park may have been the best national qualifier performance by a group of Maryland runners - ever. The state's top finisher was Annapolis' Maria Coffin, who placed third for the second year in a row. Unlike 2015, however, she was joined by three more Maryland runners in the top ten: Patuxent's Hayley Jackson, Walter Johnson's Abbey Green and Catoctin's Julien Webster. All four girls will be headed to San Diego for the 2016 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.
The field of Marylanders went even deeper. Hereford's Kelly Wesolowski, who beat Webster at the 2A State Championships, finished 13th. With five girls in the top 13, Maryland easily won the meet head-to-head against other states. Pennsylvania was the only other state to even have two finishers in the top 13. Poolesville's Nandini Satsangi and Wright freshman and 3A state champion Haley Cummins finished in the top 35.
The Nike Cross National Southeast Regional is usually the more popular meet among Marylanders, with the fast course and warmer conditions. While there is a better chance to qualify for a national race as an individual at Foot Locker, it takes true top-of-the-line talent to make the top ten. The fact that four girls were able to make it this year affirms what has become apparent over the course of the season: that this year's group of Maryland runners is quite possibly the best the state has ever seen.
So let's sit back and cheer on Coffin, Jackson, Green and Webster at this year's Foot Locker Cross Country Championships!