Northeast Foot Lockers Seeded Boys Race Pix

Northeast Foot Lockers Seeded Girls Race Pix

Frances Koons had the feeling she was good enough to become a Foot Locker finalist after running within nine seconds of a 2002 Finalist in September. She gained the confidence to become a Foot Locker Finalist after a tough Mid-East Regional race in mid-November in Ohio. But on Saturday at Van Cortlandt, she not only had the perfect plan to get a ticket to San Diego, she had the perfect attitude. She did everything right, before and during the race.

The full PennTrack post-race interview with Frances Koons after her 5th place Foot Locker Finalist qualifying race in NYC 11/28

Sixty-four athletes from four region Footlocker meets qualified for a spot at the 2003 Footlocker Nationals on Dec. 13 this Saturday. South Carolina runners competed at the South Region meet on Nov. 29 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.

Frances Koons set her expectations high this season, did the work necessary to have the opportunity to do great things, delivered some early, promising performances, faced mounting expectations because of her success, and today, ignored all the pressure and delivered her best race of the year - a 5th place at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships. The effort earned her a free trip to San Diego in two weeks to face 31 other talented harriers in this the 25th year of \"the nation\'s only true high school championship.\"

More than 30 PA State Medalists lead a contingent of 261 Pennsylvanians to Van Cortlandt Park this Saturday to test themselves against the best the Northeast has to offer in the Foot Locker Regional Championships. There are ten races, including two class races for both boys and girls, plus the featured Seeded races, with the top eight gaining a trip to San Diego in two weeks to run at Foot Locker Nationals.

Trevor Beesley ran away with the Young Men individual title on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Richmond, Va. at the Region III Junior Olympics. Beesley and 14 other runners fought for the title before Beesley crossed the line first in 16:23.86.

To past and present Viking Runners, Alumni, Parents, Moderators, and Friends of the Archbishop Wood Program As we all know, the great patriarch of our proud tradition, Mr. Sharp, passed away last month after a long battle with diabetes. Mr. Sharp was not only a great coach, but also a teacher, mentor and friend to us. Like all of you, the loss of Mr. Sharp hit me pretty hard. However, I did find a positive element that came out of his funeral service. As I stood there and sang \"You Fill the Day\" teary eyed, I looked around and saw so many former runners, parents, moderators, and friends. Afterwards, I was so ecstatic to share memories and war stories with old teammates while meeting other former runners spanning 4 decades.

The Virginia men and William & Mary had rough outings at the NCAA Division I National Championships as the two lone squads representing the state finished second to last and last in the team scoring with Virginia in 30th place (803 pts) and William & Mary in 31st place (850). William & Mary ran without star runner Ed Moran, who was forced to shut his season down due to a stress fracture.

The University of Virginia men\'s cross country team finished 30th at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships held today at the Irv Warren Memoria Golf Course in Waterloo, Iowa. The event was hosted by the University of Northern Iowa. The Cavaliers, competing in the NCAA meet for the first time since 1984, were led by Will Christian, who finished 130th overall in a 31:26.1.

Without its top runner, 2003 CAA Champion William and Mary men

2003 CAA Champion William and Mary men

Plenty of excitement coming from the Florida Milers All Comers Meet held at Oak Hall School. Colorado\'s Ryan Deak wins in 8:51.65. Ovideo junior, Jenny Barringer is now 2nd all time, 10:18.84!

Thanks to Matt Bonsall for providing results of what is ID\'ed as the oldest race for school age children in the US. It\'s held in Berwick, and there are a few names you\'ll recognize.

The first annual VMI Elite 3200m Time Trial saw many PR performances in an event that is used to help prepare athletes for next weekend's Foot Locker South race in Charlotte. In the boys' race, six runners dipped under 10 minutes as a lead pack of four were paced through the 1600 in 4:40. Westfield senior David Groff posted nearly equal mile splits by pulling away with the victory in a blazing clocking of 9:21.

Matt Baum is on site for flrunners.com to bring coverage of the all-comers track meet today (distnace only meet) in Gainesville, sponsored by the Florida Milers Club. Former Floridian Ryan Deak was the winner with 8:51. Justin Harbor was the first high schooler from Florida 9:18, followed by Jeff Masterson 9:21.

Dyestat.com announced on Friday that Spring Valley sophomore Kate Niehaus earned the Nike Athlete of the Week Award. Niehaus holds the state meet best of 17:36, set on Nov. 8 at Hilton Field on Fort Jackson in Columbia, while defending her 4A state title.

CNU senior cross country runner Aimee Gibbs finished 134th at the NCAA Division III National Championships held at Hanover College in Indiana. The senior from Chesapeake finished the meet with a time of 25:34. Gibbs finishes her CNU cross country career as one of the most dominant runner

Virginia's Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Randy Bungard has announced that four athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Virginia. All four have won individual titles at their state meets, including two from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jennifer Beury, Jannea Bridgeford, Sara Ensrud, and Emily Harrison form the core of "a strong class that will help build up our current program tremendously," according to Coach Bungard.

Frances Koons and Steve Hallinan headline this year's PTFCA All-State Cross Country teams as Athletes of the Year. Kevin Kelly, Henderson, and Jen Piskei, garner honors as Coaches of the Year.

Sports Illustrated published an article on Debbie and Amy Huss, who, along with fellow Pennsylvanian Ashleigh Wetzel, have helped to strengthen Vanderbilt's distance program. At the South Regional on 11/15, Ashleigh finished 17th, and Debbie finished 20th to help Vandy finish 5th in the region. Amy did not run because of an injury.

PennTrackXC talked with the top PA finishers from each race to get their take on the competiton, their performance, and their plans for Foot Lockers... Frances Koons, 7th in the girls race; Chris Spooner, 3rd; and Steve Hallinan, 4th, in the boys race.

Ryan Jank is a senior at Dorman High School. Jank talks about his State meet experience from Nov. 8 and how he prepared for the state meet along with what he is aiming for during the 2004 track season.

Henderson\'s Ian Gottesfeld and Greg Williams were to race at the first Deuce @ Singer Farm in their preparation for Foot Lockers in two weeks. But Williams had an official visit this weekend, so he raced the course (with the help of teammate Jim Alexander) to set a CR of 10:30 on the difficult two-mile layout. The 1st \"Deuce\" was run today, with Gottesfeld going 10:10. Ian\'s coach, Kevin Kelly, was 2nd in 10:46.

Armed with a spontaneously crafted and Indiana-inspired team slogan, \"PA Don\'t Play,\" one of our strongest senior teams ever trekked through snow, wind and a pool-side ambush to very nearly conquer all of the Midwest\'s best. Most of PA\'s top seniors made the long journey to far-far-far western Ohio to take on some of the top runners from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. On a wet, gray, typically Ohio November day - and on a pancake flat (except for the man-made mogul) course softened and muddied by overnight and morning rain, the PA girls and boys took it out hard and nearly hung on for the combined team victory. Their two-point miss to Indiana (113-115) represented their best showing in years, and served to solidify the already stellar reputation of this senior class of harriers.

The Texas cross country season concluded today at Old Settler's Park in Round Rock. There were some amazing performances today. It would not be a State Cross Country race without any drama.

Ryan Gallagher reminds us of the leeps and bounds that Cabrini has made in the past year. He believes their results give hope to us all.

Albemarle senior Hari Mix (15:40) and Western Albemarle junior Tasmin Fanning (18:33) were individual race winners in the first annual Virginia State Open Championships. Mix was able to hold off a strong challenge from the Westfield duo of David Groff (2nd, 15:50) and James Scheiner (3rd, 16:01) as Groff and Scheiner helped lead the Westfield to the team title with 20 points. Tasmin Fanning finished one step ahead of sister Jessica Fanning at 18:34 as the two helped lead Western Albemarle to a convincing team win with 21 points.

Both Christopher Newport University men and women's teams recorded their best regional team finishes in recent years with both men's and women's squads taking regional runner-up honors to regional meet host, Emory University.

The William & Mary men and Virginia men had strong showings at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships held at Lake Kristi with third (94 pts) and fourth places finishes (95 pts) as they were separated by a mere one point difference. The William & Mary women were the top finishing Virginia school with their fifth place finish (165 pts), while the Virginia Tech ladies finished a surprisingly strong sixth place (179 pts). Both squads were led by an NCAA Nationals individual qualifier each with Tech's Marlies Overbeeke (5th, 20:20) and William & Mary's Ali Henderson (7th, 20:23).

Taravella senior Jake Wilke, placed 2nd in the 4A State meet last Saturday and is also National Champion and a black belt in tae kwon do.

The first signing period opened yesterday (November 12) and will last for one week. Courtney Hall was the first major signing announced. Deak signs with....?

The South Carolina USATF Youth Cross Country Championships is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 15 at Hilton Field in Columbia.

Whether it\'s cross country or track season, more times than not Granite Bay High standout Caitlin Chock seems to get a jump on the competition. She did it again last week, only this time it was with her lungs, not her legs. Chock announced Wednesday that she has verbally committed to attend the University of Richmond (VA) on a cross-country scholarship next fall.

Lots of pictures from the Florida Cross Country Championship. This page contains 1A boys & girls and 2A boys & girls.

Lots of pictures from the Florida Cross Country Championship. This page contains 3A boys & girls, 4A boys & girls, and 1A girls.

Publisher\'s Note: During the two-week West Chester teacher\'s strike from late September through early October, Henderson girls\' team captain, senior Melissa Ferry, was appointed interim-coach by Head Coach Bill Lott. PennTrackXC received several emails from Melissa during that time looking for a contact for the Steel City Invitational to help her know what to do, when to do it, and all the other things coaches worry about outside of coaching. The emails were so enjoyable, and well crafted, that PennTrackXC asked Melissa to share her two-week journal of her coaching journey. It will not only help you appreciate the many jobs coaches do so well. It will help you appreciate how truly remarkable these student athletes (and sometimes interim coaches) are. My two-week lesson on eating Moroccan food before workouts, winning first-time trophies and much more - Melissa Ferry, Student-Athlete-Interim Coach, West Chester Henderson

(Meet postponed from 11/6-Rain): Belmont Plateau Public League course record holder Mike Syrnick of Central was hoping for a new record, coming within two seconds with a 16:25 win to lead his team to the Northwest Area title with just 17 points. (Syrnick is a member of the Mid-East all-senior team competing 11/15 in Ohio). The Central girls, behind the 20:40 win by Evan Vance, cruised to a perfect score of 15 (they had the first ten spots). Masterman won both North Area races, while Overbrook took the boys\' West Area behind Sargbah Tarpeh\'s 19:38, and West Philadelphia won the girls\' West Area behind Yolonda Green.

Diana Willard battled with West Oak\'s Cassie Rowland for the first loop of Hilton Field at the State Championships on Saturday, Nov. 8. After taking the lead during the second loop the junior at Swansea finished strong while her earning her fifth consecutive A/AA title.

Meet Coordinators Rich Ames and Tim Hickey announce the 2003 PA Mid-East XC Teams of top PA seniors to race 11/15 in Ohio.

The moon eclipsed overhead, stadium lights illuminated the cool night, and Florida

The following teams have received bids to The State Open to be held next Saturday at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia. A committee of coaches from all levels of classification gathered today at the Ragged Mountain Running Shop in Charlottesville to make the selections of the "at large" bids. The decision was made to extend the number of "at large" bids to 10 teams instead of the previously agreed upon number of 6. State champions in each classification already had earned automatic bids. Contact Mark Lorenzoni (daytime: 434-293-3367, evening: 434-977-7208) for more information.

The following individuals are automatic qualifiers for the first annual Virginia State Open, which is to be held next Saturday at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is the first time that Virginia will hold a meet to really determine the fastest high school cross country runners and best cross country teams in the state! The girls\' race starts at 11:30 and the boys\' race at noon. The individual qualifiers include the top 50 fastest times from the public school state meet (held at Great Meadows on November 8th) and the top 20 finishers from the private school championships (held at Woodberry Forest on October 31st).

Quotes from Steve Hallinan, Cardinal O'Hara, after his 11/2 3-peat at the PCL Championships.

Steve Hallinan talked with PennTrackXC following his third straight PCL Individual Championship 11/2 at Belmont Plateau. His 15:43 was just a second from the course record he set in September at the Briarwood Invitational.

QUOTES INCLUDE: Adriene Beltz, Matt Samuel (Dallas coach), Frances Koons, Anna Baker, David Mock, Chris Spooner, Craig Miller, Ian Gottesfeld, Greg Williams, Kevin Kelly (Henderson coach) Competitor and coach quotes from the PIAA State Championships, including: Adriene Beltz, AA Champ; David Mock, AA Champ; Chris Spooner, AA Runner-up and 2002 Champ; Frances Koons, AAA Champ; Craig Miller, AAA Champ; Ian Gottesfeld, AAA Runner-up and 2002 Champ; Greg Williams, Henderson; Kevin Kelly, Coach, AAA Boys\' Champ Henderson; Matt Samuel, Coach, AA Girls\' Champ Dallas

The South Carolina Cross-Country State Championships is making its comeback to Fort Jackson at Hilton Field on Nov. 8 in Columbia.

Brentsville had become synonymous with Group A state titles throughout much of the 90's and and the past few years, it would seem easy to overlook that in Brentsville's final year of Group A competition last fall that they were not in fact the state champions. Another team sent them off with a nice goodbye present by taking away the title they had held for so many years. The first Group A girls' state team champion not reigning from Nokesville, Virginia since the early 90's was crowned last November. The team that appears to be a class above everyone else right now in the pack is defending state champions Central High School from Woodstock.

The Page County boys and team front runner Todd Somers will be trying to accomplish a feat they have been trying to pull off for the past four years...win state titles together.

Stephanie Gammon runs for Daniel High School. The Lion will look to make top three at the 2003 South Carolina State Championship on Saturday.

The championship season has started. With all of the district competition completed around the state it is time to think about Regionals. For those who are not familiar with how to qualify in Texas for the State Cross Country meet here is a quick summary

November 8th has been circled on every Virginia high school runner

While the AAA boys' race seems to a wide open battle between more than a handful of teams and individuals for the state title, the AAA girls' race offers a bit more stability with one team and one individual favored as the odds on favorites going into Saturday's race at Great Meadows. The Northern Region team champions Herndon and the Central Region individual champion Amanda Patterson have proven themselves as AAA's best throughout the season. However, there several contenders that will provide sizable challenges for the favorites to overcome.

PCL Championships-Girls Varsity Race Photos

You would think by the end of November there would be a general consensus on who the top favorites would be to win the VHSL Group AAA boys\' cross country state individual and team titles. However, after the strong performances as well as surprises in last week\'s regional meets, quite a handful of teams and individuals are in contention for the top honors. Without any one team or individual coming in with a clear edge over the other, this uncertaintity makes it certain that this Saturday\'s VHSL Group AAA boys state race could be one of the most exciting and most competitive races in recent history.

Chad Holt is a freshman at Mauldin High School. Holt is one of the Mavericks that will compete at the state meet on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Are you ready for some serious running? On Saturday, November 8, 2003 around 12:30 p.m. at the Great Meadows State Course in The Plains, VA the mighty AA boys Cross Country Meet will get under way. Justin Hatch a senior from Christiansburg will bring his top ranking to do battle with some worthy opponents. The team competition does not seem as competitive now as it was in the early stages of the season.

PIAA State Champs-Boys AAA Finish Photos

PIAA State Champs-Boys AAA Race Photos

PIAA State Champs-Girls AAA Finish Photos

On Saturday, November 8, 2003 around 11:45 a.m. at the Great Meadows State Course in The Plains, VA the highly contested VHSL State AA Girls Cross Country Meet will get under way. The top individual who will carry the title of State Champion looks to be a very close race. However, the team title seems to have already been settled.

Daniel Eils runs for Wren High School. Eils holds the number two runner spot on Wren\'s cross-country team.

Amy Kelly and Steve Hallinan ran their final races at Belmont Plateau, each winning their third consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League title. Kelly led her St. Hubert\'s team to their 2nd straight team title, while LaSalle used perfect pack running to hold off a late-charging Cardinal O\'Hara squad to win by just a single point. LaSalle used the classic (but not necessarily easy to achieve) pack of placing five in the top 14 (6-8-9-11-14), led by Joe Fedorowicz in 6th in 16:46. LaSalle\'s win ended Cardinal O\'hara\'s streak of XC titles at three, and their remarkable run of nine XC, Indoor and Outdoor PCL titles at nine.

A son (or daughter) runs by and that mother (father, etc.) has seen their son (or daughter). Ok, that\'s fine, they cheered them on, but walked onto a course, around some barriers, setup not just for safety issues, but to keep each section of the course clear from the start until the last runner crosses the line.

The story of the Girls AA Race with quotes from Adriene Beltz and Dallas Coach Matt Samuel.

The story of the Boys AA Race with quotes from David Mock and Chris Spooner.

The story of the Girls AAA Race with quotes Frances Koons and Hatboro cocaptain Anna Baker.

The story of the Boys AAA Race with quotes from Craig Miller, Greg Williams and Kevin Kelly.

The University of Richmond men's and women's cross country teams proved by their performance today they are the most improved program in the Atlantic-10 Conference. The women left no doubt they are the best team and showed their number 1 ranking was accurate as they won the league title with an impressive score of 29 points, the 2nd lowest score in league history. The Spider's victory came from the efforts of their top 5 runners who held a split of only 24 seconds as each earned All-Conference honors by finishing in the top 10 overall. The men improved from 8th last year to 4th today and were a mere 3 points out of 3rd-off of Tim Caramore's 7th place all conference effort.

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Henderson\'s Ian Gottesfeld, the defending AAA State Champ, and Greg Williams, made their move where planned. What wasn\'t planned was for a very confident sophomore to follow in their footsteps, and run them down on the final straightaway to win States. Manheim Township\'s Craig Miller says he hopes to win two more. Gottesfeld held on for second, while Williams faded with dehydration. He fared better than a year ago, and helped his Henderson team repeat as State Champs. One race which didn\'t surprise was the girls\' AAA, where Frances Koons went to the front, as is her style, and cruised to a very fast 18:37. Hatboro-Horsham repeated as AAA State Champs, and only lose one of their top five. For Chris Spooner, his plan worked. He surged with 600 to go, but was overcome by heat in the final 30 meters as Westmont Hilltop\'s David Mock passed him to win. Spooner held on for second, but was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion. He\'s fine, and pleased that he and his team, which finished second to Eisenhower, gave everything they had. Adriane Beltz of Hamburg, spent the better part of a year overcoming physical setbacks to post her finest high school race and the AA state championship. Dallas came in from District 2 to stop the Wyomissing streak at four.

The Roanoke College men

The Roanoke College men

The Virginia men's cross country team finished third at the ACC Cross Country Championships for the second consecutive year, led in 2003 by All-ACC performer Will Christian, who finished third overall.

Competing without two of its top runners, James Madison finished second to William and Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association Women

William and Mary graduate student Ed Moran won his second straight league title, and the Tribe took six of the top 10 spots to claim its fourth consecutive Colonial Athletic Association men

In dominating fashion, William and Mary women

On the strength of four runners in the top-five and seven in the top-10, William and Mary men