Weini Kelati Foot Locker National Champion! Ends 29yr Drought!

Photo by: Travis Miller

From the gun Weini Kelati had one thing on her mind and that was winning the Foot Locker National Championship. This race started very much in true Weini Kelati fashion in her final XC high school race. She opened in a blistering 5:13 to open with roughly a two meter lead. 

Two weeks ago at the South region Weini opened in similar fashion but noted that she would need to push it more if she wanted to come away with the big one this time around. To do that she push it harder and harder and made it a point to not let any other girl even begin to think they had a chance to beat her at her own game. 

Through the halfway mark Weini led at 7:58 and every time they hit a hill kept pushing the pace harder and harder. Libby Davidson who has been having her own dream season this year pushed through the halfway mark at 8:13 sitting comfortable in 6th place. 

Up the hill they went and Weini started to get some company, something that had not happened in any race this year past 400m in. This race was different, filled with 40 of the best athletes in the entire nation and you could see Weini and Libby were not the only ones that wanted to win a title. 

By this point in the race Weini, Mareno, and three other girls made the move to pull far ahead of the field. It was anyone's race at this point in that front group. 

Through two miles the race was getting closer and closer. Mareno started to push the pace and for the first time all season Weini was in second place. This was the point where she pulled away from Mareno at regionals but this wasn't going to happen today. Weini re-took the lead to seemingly prove a point even if it was just by a foot. They both came through the two mile mark in 10:55. That was just over meet record pace and was with three other girls to keep the lead group at five. Davidson went through the two mile in 11:15 sitting in 7th place.

After a few turns Weini kept jostling for the lead and just prior to the last big downhill made her move. She pushed five meters in front of Mareno and kept pushing the pace. She opened a small lead that grew to roughly five meters with 500m to go. 

The pace kept picking up! Faster and faster they pushed as the finish line drew near. 

Mareno, Kelati and Gilbert who pushed the pace in the middle were all together. With 200m to go Kelati kept pushing but Gilbert was not going away.

200m to go and it was a flat out sprint. Mareno had slightly fallen back and Kelati hit the 3 Mile mark. The crowd was electric. 

Down the final stretch she came. For the first time all season struggling down the stretch knowing she had to put every single thing she had into it. Her lead was 10 meters but Gilbert wasn't going away. 

Every step Weini took she was getting closer to the finish line but Gilbert was coming! Gilbert was making up ground quickly as the crowd roared and Weini pushed closer and closer to the finish. 

Finally! Weini Kelati crossed the finish line just a few feet ahead of Gilbert in 17:09 to break the 29 year drought for Virginia and to join only Erin Keogh as a Foot Locker Champion from Virginia for girls. 

Libby Davidson moved strong up the hills again, her favorite part, and finished in a very impressive 6th place again, as an underclassmen with a 17:37 time! 

Girls' Complete Results