Amanda Beach, Bailey Hertenstein Finish Top 20 At Foot Locker Nationals, Hicks 36th

Three of Florida's top distance athletes made the trip out west to San Diego the site of the 2016 Foot Locker National Championships. Amanda Beach and Bailey Hertenstein finished in the top 20 at 12th and 20th respectively, while Charles Hicks of Bolles was 36th against the nation's best.

Melbourne Central Catholic senior and Duke signee Amanda Beach told us she had this meet circled on her calendar since the summer and would rather make it to Foot Locker Nationals then win the state meet. Beach was Florida's fastest female on the day recording a 12th place finish and time of 17:53.91 on a tough Balboa Park Course.



Bailey Hertenstein of Riverview felt a taxing season come to an end by placing 7th at Foot Locker South after DNF'ing the prior year, and following it up by coming in 20th against the nation's best athletes. 


Hertenstein, who is the 2x defending 4A Cross Country Finals champion, looks to dazzle on the track in 2017, and be one of the top distance recruits in the country next year.



Speaking of promise, Charles Hicks of Bolles, was only the fourth sophomore ever to make the trip to Foot Locker Nationals. Although he finished 36th, he has two more years to show the rest of the country what he is made of. Hicks, was runner-up in the 2A Cross Country Finals, behind FSU signee Caleb Pottorff and will be the favorite in 2017. He says this weekend has definitely been a trip to remember.


"I was just really happy to be there. It's been my longest season by five weeks so I didn't really know what to expect today. All in all I'm happy with the result and even happier to have got here."

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