Defending NXN Champs Looking Great for 2008
Jul 27, 2008
Nike Team Nationals in 2007 saw the Neuqua Valley High School team from Naperville, Illinois squeeze out a narrow victory at Portland Meadows to bring home their first national cross country championship. A successful season from the opening gun, the squad won every meet they entered, including the Illinois State Championship, NTN Midwest Regional and then the national title. This year the squad will be highly ranked again, but will most certainly have a different feel. MileSplit took some time to talk with Neuqua Valley's coach Paul Vandersteen about this year's expectations, what their summer training is like and much more. (picture above by Robert Mirenzi)
It's never happened before and it may never happen again, but the 2008 cross country season is shaping up to become one of the most memorable ever. In a rare twist of fate, this year's national meet could host three Foot Locker national champions, as '07 champ Ashley Brasovan, '06 champ Kathy Kroeger and '05 champ Jordan Hasay all come back for their senior seasons, hoping to repeat the magic they've had before in San Diego. All three top our preseason girls top ten, but see who else made the list. (Pictured left by John Herzog: Ashley Brasovan is defending national champion)
With the track and field season coming to an end, and teams across the land getting coming into the heart of their summer cross country training, we take a look forward towards the fall and what lies ahead. To kick-off our 2008-2009 cross country coverage we take a look at the top ten male returnees, which includes a trio of Colorado athletes, all of whom are Foot Locker National returnees as well. While athletes like German Fernandez, Mike Fout, Chris Derrick, Colby Lowe and Luke Puskedra have all moved on, a new class of distance talent is ready to take over and create their own legacy. (Pictured left: Colorado's Bobby Nicolls is the top Foot Locker returnee)
The talented quartet of Chanelle Price (PA), German Fernandez (CA), Ashley Brasovan (FL) and Chris Derrick (IL) flew into Los Angeles Tuesday, taking part in a two day extravaganza that Gatorade puts on once a year. As the male and female winners of the Gatorade track and field and cross country Player of the Year awards, each athlete was put up a five-star hotel, got to mingle with such notable athletes as Matt Leinhart, Greg Oden, Allyson Felix and Candace Parker, and took part in an awards ceremony that preceded the ESPY Awards. The Gatorade Player of the Year program drew to an end, naming the male and female national winners. Read about Brasovan's and Derrick's experience, as the two took time out of their busy schedules to talk with MileSplit.
With all the athletes home safe and sound after competing in the World Junior T&F Championships this past week, we take a look back at the top performances by prep athletes in the competition. While performances were abundant, we single out the top eight, led by none other than new national high school hammer throw record holder Conor McCullough (CA) (pictured right by Joy Kamani of 
The final day of the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships came and went Sunday, as Team USA wrapped up a successful week. Two prep athletes stood out amongst the crowd during the final day. Hurdle sensation Booker Nunley (pictured left by Joy Kamani of 
Day four had Team USA looking good with numerous medals and some great preliminary results from some of the top high school athletes in the land. Leading the way were Rachel Laurent (LA) and Ryann Krais (PA)(pictured left by Joy Kamani of 
What an exciting day the third day of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships were. Team USA impressed across the board, including the six preps that took part in Thursday's action. Leading the way on the women's side was Florida junior Lanie Whittaker(pictured right by Joy Kamani of 
On day two of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships, Team USA followed the lead of junior Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, TX) (pictured left by Joy Kamani of 
Wow! The final day of the U.S. Olympic Trials is in the books. What an experience this has been. From the magic of Laura Roesler, to the national record of Jeff Demps, to the toughness and talent of Jordan Hasay, this 2008 edition of the Trials has been one to remember. On Sunday the lone high school athlete competing was Jordan Hasay (pictured right by Tim Fulton) in the women's 1500m final. Hasay finished an amazing tenth in 4:17.36! Full story inside. 
On Thursday the U.S. Olympic Trials started up again with much fanfare. During the evening three prep athletes competed against the nation's best, all holding their own. In the women's 1500m, Christine Babcock (CA) placed seventh overall in heat one after leading the opening portion of the race, finishing in 4:18.32, while Jordan Hasay (CA) (pictured left by Tim Fulton) finished seventh in heat two, leading the first 1100m to finish in 4:18.39. Both Babcock and Hasay advanced to tomorrow's semi-finals, although Hasay can't compete due to traveling to World Juniors to compete in the 1500m in Poland. Ohio high jumper Erik Kynard cleared the opening height of 2.15m, but couldn't manage to clear 2.20 in the men's high jump.
With a stellar season already behind her, California's Christine Babcock is ready to race one last time. The University of Washington-bound senior closes out her prep career this week, taking part in the women's 1500m run at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Babcock's had a season to remember after earning a national record for the 1500m distance and looks to make one last statement before heading off to college. Read about Babcock's expectations for the Trials, what she's done in her training over the past few weeks and what she plans to do with the rest of her summer.
It was a year that perhaps should have earned a U.S. #1 in the 100m dash and being labeled as the top sprinter at the high school level, but it turned out to be so much more. Florida's Jeff Demps (South Lake, FL) (pictured left by Victor Sailor of 
Another great day of competition wrapped up with some great performances. The best result of the day came from Florida's Jeff Demps, who set the national record in the 100m dash with his winning mark of 10.01 (wind-legal!). Demps started right next to Tyson Gay in the quarter-final race, getting off to a great start, but moved even better over the final 25 meters to place second in his heat and move on to the semi-finals tomorrow at 2:30 PDT. (Jeff Demps pictured right, courtesy of Victor Sailor, 
Day one of the U.S. Olymic Team Trials is complete and four top high school athletes showed their best against the nation's top professional athletes. Leading the way Friday were seniors Victoria Jordan (TX) and Chanelle Price (PA), junior Anna Jelmini (CA), and sophomore Laura Roesler (ND). Read about the day's performances from MileSplit US on-site. (Laura Roesler pictured by Richard Svaleson)
In this quick chat with California distance phenom Jordan Hasay, MileSplit national editor Scott Bush asks Hasay how her build up is going, what her expectations are heading into the Trials and what her plan is at the World Junior T&F Championships in a few weeks. Hasay has a lot to say about each subject, especially on what she learned from racing the pro runners earlier in the season at Stanford and what competing in Poland means to her. (Hasay pictured right running at the Arcadia Invitational earlier this season, photo by Scott Bush)
It was announced Thursday morning that distance running sensation German Fernandez won the Gatorade National Boys T&F Athlete of the Year award. The Riverbank High School (CA) senior won the award after completing a record breaking season, one that saw him set the national record in the two-mile last weekend at Nike Outdoor Nationals in 8:34.40. Earlier this season Fernandez ran the most impressive distance double ever, winning California state titles for 1600m in 4:00.29 and the 3200m run in 8:34.23, all in less than two hours. Fernandez joins an impressive list of past winners and now sets his sights on his college career at Oklahoma State University.
The last day of the USATF Junior National T&F Championships took place Sunday and the results presented were the perfect way to end an excellent weekend. Six Junior National champions Sunday were high school athletes, including Jordan Hasay (CA), Rachel Laurent (LA), Ryan Fleck (OH), Ryann Krais (PA), Geoffrey Tabor (OK) and Laurynne Chetelat (CA). Each one booked their ticket to Poland to compete at the World Junior T&F Championships, July 8-13. See who brought their best on the final day. (Rachel Laurent pictured left by Margot Kelly)