XC 2009
Last week was a barn-burner as top ranked teams fell across the country. Top individuals and teams will assert themselves on a weekend filled with super meets and national implications, including the first state championship. Week #6 features huge Invitationals including the Florida super meet flrunners.com Invitational; the return of the Great American XC Festival to Cary, NC; and the oldest meet in the country, The Oklahoma Cowboy Jamboree.
To get the week going we recommend reviewing some very good story's on Wesley Frazier, a super freshman who is rewriting the record books in North Carolina; and a story about a surprising team, US#14 Germantown Friends, PA and their battle with US#4 Haddonfield, NJ, One Race at a Time. A story out of Rhode Island featuring Johnny Gregorek, the son of great distance star John Gregorek, "A Family's Passion, A Son's Success." Finally, a synopsis of what it means to be great, the greatest, and who stands at the precipice. A look inside the girls national championship chase, "Running into Greatness".
Rewriting NC History, One Step at a Time by Jessica Quiroli
A Family's Passion, A Son's Success by Bill Malinowski
Running into Greatness by Aron Taylor
Germantown Friends is opening eyes in PA, and the US by Don Rich
NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Click the above map)
Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invite 55th (IL): US#7 Loyola boys are backing up their defeat of York last week with a dominating win, averaging 16:01.4 over 5k and scoring 24 points. Loyola had the top-3 places, all under 15, with Nico Composto winning the meet with a time of 15:46. Mark Donohue was 2nd in 15:49, and Jack Seeberg was 3rd in 15:51. They had an impressive 17 second spread 1-4 and a 52 second 1-5 spread. Meet Page
Peoria Invite (IL): US#11 York boys ripped a 15:08 average for 3 miles @ Detweiller to win Peoria with 39 points. York had 3 in the top-7 and 5 in the top-13 with Andrew Smith leading the way with the win in 14:43. Prospect won the girls race with 54 points with Broke Wolfe leading the way with a 17:10 win. Meet Page
Gulf Coast XC Stampede (FL): Malia Cali, St. Thomas Aquinas, won the girls varsity race by ripping a 17:55 5k, putting nearly 90 seconds between herself and 2nd place. Kirubel Erassa, Grayson, won the boys varsity race with a 15:24 clocking. Meet Page
Alaska State Meet (AK): North to the Future. The nations first state championship is underway. Gone are the days of the dominance of record setting Trevor Dunbar who ran 15:07. But there was plenty of excitement in the state up north. 123A defending state champion Jacob Kirk, Grace, runs away from the field winning by a minute in 15:43.4! He would lead the Grace boys to the team championship with a low 27 points. In the boys 4A championship it was '08 third place finisher Dylan Anthony who would bring the championship back to Kodiak for the second year running! It was not without trial as he battled Service standout Silas Talbot to the wire. It was Anthony who would prevail in 15:41.9 to Talbot's 15:48.2. The team championship would go to Service. In girls action, the 123A action Kenny Lake was again brought home an individual championship by defending state champion Kailey Wilson who won with the fastest time of the day in 18:56.1. In the 4A race, Courtney Kisner won in 18:58.4. She was followed closely by '08 4th place finisher Ivy O'Guinn who was right on her heals with a 19:00.1. Meet Page
Shore Coaches Meet (NJ): Joe and Jim Rosa hammer one out at Holmdel with a 1-2 finish with times of 15:04 & 15:16!! Joe Rosa smashed Craig Forys course record of 15:15.2 with brother Jim narrowly missing the mark as well. The Rosas now own the 1st and 3rd times run all-time at the historic Holmdel course. Tyler Udland was also under 16, running 15:55 for 3rd. Holmdel All-Time List | Milesplit Onsite Coverage | Complete Meet Coverage
Staub / Barnes Invitational (CA): Heydon Woof dominates with a 15:30.78 3-mile victory. Woof, a sub 9 minute two miler is undefeated on the year coming off a 14:08 3-mile victory at Woodbridge. He paced his camarillo team to victory with a 16:17 avg and 75 team points over Golden valley's 92. Arcadia junior Katrina McAlister runs away from the girls field with an impressive 18:10 winning by over 40 seconds! Meet Page
Brooks Sunfair Invitational (WA): US#1 Henry Jackson dominates! Producing the best team performance since the '93 Mead team! A meet record in terms of individual times for one team! The Jackson team took first place in four flights, 2nd place in two flights, and the top runner took 5th place in the top flight. In combined team scoring: 1. Henry Jackson-81; 2. Auburn-Riverside-235; 3. Issaquah-246; 4. Kamiakin-263. Among the individual flights victors for Jackson were, Conner Frederickson who won in 16:13; Chris Knakal won in 16:20; Nathan Calacat won in 16:13; Blake Nelson won in 15:49. In another flight Grant Grosvenor placed second in 16:58; Sean Rowe placed second in his flight in 15
:58. In the top runner flight Jackson standout Mitchell Briggs places 5th in 15:39. The fastest runner of the day goes to Conner Peloquin, the Gig Harbor senior won going away in 15:24. Peloquin was coming off an impressive Bob Firman Inv. victory. Coach Eric Hruschka comments on his team, "I thought the team was very good, we scored the second lowest team score since Mead in '93, from my calculations we would have basically beaten them, I felt the kids travelled well and we came out very competitive. We had a kid win the freshman race, sophomore race, junior race, and senior race, we had 9 guys sub 17! We are pleased." As the call ended you could hear the team chanting in the background, oh, and that '93 Mead team, they were Harrier National Champions. Also competing, US#7 Glacier Peak squared off against US#5 Jesuit; Glacier Peak head coach Dan Parker says, "We competed fairly well, Jesuit was solid, the first and second girls were pretty good, our top runner Amy Eloise-Neale has been down with the flu and was having trouble breathing, but we competed well. Our 7th runner placed 18th in her flight, had she been up there the scoring for all seven runners would have been so much closer." In 7 man scoring Glacier Peak loses to Jesuit as Jesuit ties the meet flight record with 13 points, in combined regular team scoring teams places as follows, 1. Jesuit,OR-99; 2. Glacier Peak,WA-150; 3. Gig Harbor,WA-210; 4. Boise,ID-232. Two weeks in a row Jesuit narrowly loses to a top 5 national team, upon further review these tow teams look identical time wise. Glacier top runner Amy Eloise-Neale runs 18:16 losing to Annamarie Maag of Jesuit who won in 17:40. Dan Parker says, "Amy should have run right with Maag, but she has been ill all weak with the flu and was having a hard time breathing." In other flights, Stephanie Jones places 6th in her flight with 19:11. Sara Whybark places second in her flight with a time of 19:24. Katie Bianchini wins her flight in 19:29 and Brenna Condon runs 19:33. (Image Henry M. Jackson Head Coach Eric Hruschka) Meet Page
Brea Invitational (CA): US#5 Arcadia place five in the top 16 with an impressive 16:33 5K average in a race featuring 437 athletes! Top individual Ammar Moussa who is coming up off a runner-up Stanford placing with a dominant 15:53 5k victory. Arcadia is improving dramatically behind the dominance of Moussa who won Woodbridge in 14:11, paced second at Stanford in 14:57. Arcadia defeated 37 teams! Meet Page
McQuaid Invitational (NY): US#1 Saugus, CA were flat out dominant, winning with 21 points! Saugus had 5 scorers in the top-9 and all 7 runners in the top-14 with a 1-5 average of 17:36.41 over the 3-mile layout. Kaylin Mahoney, Saugus, won in 17:02.19 and teammate Karis Frankian was 2nd in 17:12.40. The team average of 17:36.41 is confirmed as #2 all-time, second only to '08 F-M's 17:31! Saugus times: 17:02.19 - Kaylin Mahoney (Saugus High School (SS)); 17:12.40 - Karis Frankian (Saugus High School (SS)); 17:18.99 - Stephanie Bulder (Saugus High School (SS)); 18:12.31 - Danielle Hernando (Saugus High School (SS)); 18:16.12 - Merissa Kado (Saugus High School (SS)); 18:18.47 - Emily McCarty (Saugus High School (SS)) Milesplit Onsite Coverage Running into Greatness by Aron Taylor Meet Preview by Tim Fulton Complete Meet Coverage
Ron Jorgeson Memorial XC Invitational (MO): Emily Sisson, Parkway Central, (Photo by Paul Everett, MoMileSplit.com) is back and she is on FIRE. Sisson won the girls varsity race with a time of 18:04 to gap the field by nearly 2 minutes on a tough and hilly layout! Interview with Emily Sisson | Complete Meet Coverage
Midwest Meet of Champions (OH): US#1 Zach Wills, Mason, (Photo by Mike Nie) won the boys Varsity race with a time of 15:27 on a very windy day in Ohio. US#9 Magnificat rolled to an easy victory with a score of 34 points, placing 5 scorers inside the top-18. Madeline Chambers led Magnificat with a 17:57 victory. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Preview Here | Complete Meet Coverage
Great American XC Festival (NC): Carolyn Baskir, NC, won the girls ROC with very fast finish over Samantha Nadel, NY, 17:14 to 17:17. Baskir's time was the 2nd fastest ever on the WakeMed course. Brian Atkinson, FL, won the boys ROC with a smoking 15:13. Clint McKelvey, TN, was 2nd in 15:18. US#6 Saratoga Springs won the girls ROC team championship with 66 points over US#8 Blacksburg, 116 points. Brookwood, GA, won the boys ROC with 111 points. (Photos by Jeff Sides) Milesplit Onsite Coverage Complete Meet Coverage
Brian Atkinson Clint McKelvey Carolyn Baskir
Oklahoma Cowboy Jamboree (OK): US#2 Chelsey Sveinsson, TX, cruised to an easy victory with an unofficial time of 10:31. More details as they become available. Complete Meet Coverage
McNeill Invitational (TX): US Standout Conner Adams, Flower Mound, (Photo by Alex Aldaco, TXRunning.com) won the boys Gold race with a quick 14:53.1 5k clocking. Donovan Torres, Lubbock Coronado, was 2nd in 14:55.1. Ashley Isham, Cedar Park, won the girls Gold race with a time of 18:04.4. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Complete Meet Coverage
Flrunners.com Invitational (FL): Kathryn Fluehr, FL, ran an amazing 17:00.73 to win the Girls ROC with a win over sister Erika, who ran 17:24.36 for 2nd. To put the time in perspective, 2007 FL champ Ashley Brasovan, holds the course record at 16:46.66! Winter Park takes the girls team title with 63 points. Matt Mizereck takes a fast finishing Boys ROC in 14:56.51 with Armando Del Valle on his heels in 14:56.84! Erik Montoya was 3rd in 15:06.03. Dr. Phillips takes the boys team title with 81 points. (Photos by Rick Andrews) Milesplit Onsite Coverage Live Results Posting Here | Meet Preview Here | Complete Meet Coverage
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Hagan Stone Classic (NC): US#6 Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft, broke her own course record at the Hagan Stone Park, running away with a 17:42 victory by a margin of 74 seconds. Lee-Davis (VA) girls put 3 in the top-5 individually to win with 58 points. Complete Meet Coverage
Texas State Classic (TX): St. Michael's Catholic senior Dennis Hodapp runs a 14:46.7 3-mile to claim the individual title. Corpus Christi Carroll wins the team title with an impressive 15;57 team avg, and 29 team points. Meet Page
Metroplex Challenge Invitational (TX): US#2 Craig Lutz wins meet with a 16:06 to lead his team, Marcus to victory with 32 points. Meet Page
East Newton Patriot Invitational (MO): Caleb Hoover, College Heights Christian, continued his undefeated season, winning with a big margin in a time of 15:03.19. Courtney Wood, Neosho, won the girls race in 17:47.19, nearly a minute margin. Complete Meet Coverage
Saucony / TCA Titan Thunder Invitational (CO): US#11 Classical Academy pulls out a squeaker over Fort Collins 39-40. Classical Academy was helped by a 1-2 finish with US#15 Kaitlin Hanenburg leading the way as 2-time champion with a time of 18:05.8. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Complete Meet Coverage | Meet Story- 39-40
Marion County Championships (IN): US#5 Futsum Zeinasellassie wins his county meet with a time of 15:47.7. Traishaun Johnson, Ben Davis, was a close 2nd with a time of 15:49.10. Danielle Sullivan, Franklin Central, won the girls county championship with a time of 18:23.10. Complete Meet Coverage
Queen Creek Twilight Meet (AZ): On a beautiful and cool Arizona evening Brian Shrader, Sinagua, took off from the gun and won the boys Sweepstakes race with a time of 14:24. Steve Magnuson, Ironwood Ridge, took runner-up honors with a time of 14:31.2. US#3 Jessica Tonn, Xavier College Prep, doesn't disappoint, as she tours the Toka Sticks Golf Course in a time of 16:32.2 for a commanding victory. Freshman teammate Sarah Fakler finished 2nd in 17:22.4. (Photos by Margot Kelly, AZtrackXC.com) Milesplit Onsite Coverage Complete Meet Coverage | Meet Preview Here | Article
Wendys Invitational (NC): Mark Blackmon, Fort Mills, won the Invitational Boys Race in 15:16. Blake Williams, Northern Durham, runs unofficial 15:20 for a solo win in the Boys Open Race. Laura Hoer, TC Roberson, won the Invitational Girls Race in 18:11. More to come! (Photos by Ken Charnock, LandSharkPhotos.com) Milesplit Onsite Coverage Lane Assignments | Complete Meet Coverage
Mark Blackmon Blake Williams Laura Hoer
Paul Short Invitational (PA): US#14 Aisling Cuffe (NY), (Photo by Don Rich, PennTrackXC.com) rips the Lehigh University campus for a 17:06 victory at the Paul Short Invitational. Aisling narrowly missed out on the course record of 17:03, set by Aislinn Ryan, Warwick, NY, in 2003. PA's Sara Sargent finished a distant second with a time of 17:47. More to come... Milesplit Onsite Coverage Complete Meet Coverage | Meet Preview
Black Bear Invitational (NH): Aaron Watanabe, Hanover, won the boys varsity race with a time of 15:50 but had company in Jack Collopy, Oyster River, who finished 2nd in 15:54. Heidi Caldwell, Hanover, won the girls varsity race in 18:18 with Brianna Tevnan, Merrimack Valley, 2nd in 18:21. Meet Page
Maine Festival of Champions (ME): Will Geoghegan, Brunswick, ran an incredible 15:32 course record despite pouring rain and a torn up, muddy course. Emily Durgin, Cheverus, won the girls race with a time of 18:34. Complete Meet Coverage | Meet Story
Grout Invitational (NY): US#13 Queensbury rocked the Division 2 race with a score of 29 points, impressively putting 4 runners in the top-5. Queensbury's Danielle and Brittany Winslow were 1-2 with times of 15:34.28 and 15:38.07 for 2.75 miles. Dan Harris, Shenendehowa, won the Division 1 race with a 2.75 mile time of 13:28.03. Chaminade won the team battle with 49 points. Manu Kumar, Yorktown, won the Division 2 race with a time of 13:27.78. Complete Meet Coverage
Sierra Valley Conference-SJ (CA): Riding an impressive 3rd place showing at the Stanford Inv. Oakridge, CA produces a dominant team effort. Placing 1-4 with a 0 second spread, all at 16:52, and the fifth runner in 8th at 17:15 the team wins with 18 team points. Meet Page
Royal/Thousand Oaks/Calabasas Tri-meet (CA): US#3 Royal dominates with 17 team points against Thousand Oaks. More to come as information becomes available. Meet Page
Octoberfest Invitational (VA): Kaitlyn Davis, Mountain View, won the girls varsity race with a time of 18:09 over Katherine Walker, Brooke Point, 18:11. Yazid Zouaimia, Centreville, won the boys varsity in a close finish with John McGowan, Sidwell Friends, with both timed in 15:45. West Potomac took the girls title with 191 points and Mountain View, took the boys title with 136 points. Complete Meet Coverage
Indianapolis City Meet (IN): Hale O'Herren, Indianapolis Cathedral, continues to win meets with a 15:43.70 clocking. Complete Meet Coverage
Weekend Preview
A quick look around the nation
Sunfair Invitational (WA): With 98 registered teams, US#1 Henry Jackson faces its stiffest competition yet in the annual Washington super flight meet. In attendance are a healthy and determined US#15 Kamiakin, who recently at the Highlander popped an amazing 13:06 2.6 mile average. Also in attendance will be MEAD, who is coming off a 52 team shallacking at the Montana Mountain West Classic. US#7 Glacier Peak, WA vs US#5 Jesuit, OR, coming off an impressive runner-up finish at the Stanford Inv. where they finished 9 points behind US#4 Torrey Pines will seek to assert themselves as the top team. In attendance will be US#5 Jesuit, OR, a great opportunity for Glacier Peak to jump into the national top five with a victory. Milesplit Washington Editor David Taylor recently spoke with current Gonzaga XC Coach Pat Tyson regarding Henry Jackson's potential, "I knew Ferris was good this year, their coach always has them prepared especially for state, but I felt that Jackson had the best depth in the state and possibly the nation; I am not surprised at all that they are number one in the nation and I had a few teams who were number one. I know the coach and the team very well and they are that good."~Pat Tyson (Read the Story) Meet Page
McNeill Invitational (TX): Featuring US#2 Cedar Park who is is coming off a major victory at the Feast Flight Score Meet. Last years meet only had 6 runenrs under 16 minutes over the 5K course, Cedar Park may put all five under the mark this year. Race will also feature US Standout Conner Adams, Flower Mound, who is coming off of a 15:05 5K victory last week. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page
McQuaid Invitational (NY): Featuring 244 schools this New York Super meet will feature the US#1 Saugus, CA girls! Saugus is coming off a 18:12 3-mile victory @ Foothill where they posted a 9 second 1-5 spread! Notably absent however is US#2 and defending national champion Fayetteville Manlius. On the meet page it states "244 schools, 190-from NY; 27-from out of state; 27-from Canada" Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Preview by Tim Fulton Meet page
Saucony / TCA Titan Thunder Invitational (CO): US#11 Classical Academy hosts their home meet, in attendance will be formerly national ranked Fort Collins as they seek to get back into the national title hunt. The Academy are the defending champions and it is clear Fort Collins arrives with a purpose. US#15 Kaitlin Hanenburg seeks to repeat as individual champion. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet page
Great American XC Festival (NC): (US#6 Saratoga vs. US#8 Blacksburg vs. US# 12 Monroe-Woodbury) US#6 Saratoga Springs will be in the Girls ROC and will be looking to make a statement as US#1 Saugus invades their home state of New York at the McQuaid Invitational. US#8 Blacksburg, VA heads into the meet to face Saratoga, NY and hopefully walk away with another victory over a national elite team. US#12 Monroe-Woodbury also seeks to demonstrate that they are the one of the top teams in NY and perhaps country. In the boys ROC, formerly nationally ranked Bishop Guerton, NH will be in attendance. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page
Queen Creek Twilight Meet (AZ): US#3 Jessica Tonn, Xavier College Prep, is a strong favorite in the girls Sweepstakes race. Soon-to-be-ranked Brian Shrader, Sinagua, is the top-dog in the boys Sweepstakes race, but will have company to contend with. The action kicks off at 4:30PM PST tomorrow. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page Meet Preview Here
Pepperdine Invitational (CA): US#5 Arcadia is celebrating a Stanford Invitational victory over top ranked national competition. Scheduled to compete at Pepperdine however, the meet is not scheduled on the University's page. More info needed.
Midwest Meet of Champions (OH): US#1 Zach Wills, Mason, will be competing here and there is excitement in the air over seeing yet another sub-15 performance out of the talented harrier. US#9 Magnificat is heavily favored in the girls varsity race. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Preview Here Meet Page
Wendy's Invitational (NC): A North Carolina super meet, the annual invitational traverses the famed Foot Locker South McAlpine Greenway Park course. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Lane Assignments Meet Page
Flrunners.com Invitational (FL): The largest meet in the Southeast, this meet will feature top teams from throughout the region. Including 14 of the top 15 boys teams in the State of Florida. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page Meet Preview Here
Shore Coaches Meet (NJ): Traversing the historic Holmdel Park course, US#4 Haddonfield will compete in the New Jersey Super Meet. This will be a great test and national indicator of just how dominant the team can be, they are coming off a historic victory at the Bowdoin Inv. US#6 Joe Rosa and US#13 Jim Rosa square off against US#11 Tyler Udland. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page
Oklahoma Cowboy Jamboree (OK): US#2 Chelsey Sveinsson, TX, highlights the field of the 73rd edition of the marquee Mid-West meet. Meet Page
Jesse Owens Classic (AL): Meet Page
Peoria Invitational (IL): Located on the site of the Illinois State XC Championship, Detweiller Park is considered by many as the fastest 3-mile course in the nation. Suffering a narrow defeat at the Palatine Inv. US#11 York steps up to face the top competition and prove to many the long green line is still in full force. Meet Page
Loyola Lakefront Invitational (IL): US#7 Loyola is reeling from a tremendous team performance at the Palatine Inv. where they downed the #1 team in the nation and jump into the national rankings. Averaging 14:35 last week over 3-miles, the team looks for a week off as they compete on their home course. Meet Page
Paul Short Invitational (PA): Always a solid meet in PA, this years edition features Leigha Anderson, Cumberland Valley, who recently ran a 18:20 to win her firs invitational of the season. The college races should be fun to watch as well. Milesplit Onsite Coverage Meet Page Meet Preview
Alaska State XC Championships (AK): Meet Page
Grout Invitational (NY): US#13 Queensbury will compete in the Girls Div II race; rebounding from an early season loss the team regrouped and had a stellar performance finishing 2nd at their own invitational last week defeating US#8 Shenendehowa and US#10 Burnt-Hills in the process. Meet Page
Highland Invitational (NM): US#13 Albuquerque Academy competes in another local invitational. It would seem Coach Adam Kedge has his team looking towards a state championship. No team within NM can match the depth and strength of AA. Meet Page
Past weekly headlines
XC 2009