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 Great American Cross Country Festival

October 11, 2008 at Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly Spain Park), Hoover AL

SteveU, Pat Davey, Tony Jones on site

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Girls ROC
Boys ROC
Boys Small School
Girls Small School
Boys Seeded
Girls Seeded
Boys Red
Girls Red

Results
Girls ROC
Boys ROC
Boys Sm. School
Girls Sm.School
College Men ROC
College Women ROC

Winners Table

10/5 Update - Box Assignments

Preview
Entries
Schedule
Directions
Meet Info
Prior Years on DyeStat

Meet's Own Site
Brasovan Stays on Top

Other ROC titles to Bill Matthews, Collins Hill GA girls,
Montgomery Bell Acad. TN boys


Pat Davey Photo Galleries - Girls ROC - Boys ROC
Boys Small School - Girls Small School - Boys Seeded - Girls Seeded - Boys Red - Girls Red


Early pack shot: Ashley Brasovan, Emily Sisson, Jessica Tonn, Amanda Winslow, Stephanie Morgan, and Kathy
Kroeger in the first mile.  Photo by Pat Davey

Lead Highlights
  • Wellington FL sr Ashley Brasovan pulled away from Independence TN sr Kathy Kroeger in the final 800 to win the Girls ROC by 8 seconds in 17:17.  Following were Kroeger 17:25, Emily Sisson MO 17:39, Stephanie Morgan OH 17:56, Amanda Winslow GA 18:02, Jessica Tonn AZ 18:18, Diane Robison MO 18:24, Madeline Morgan AL 18:30.  
  • SE#2 Collins Hill GA used the power from a great top three, led by Amanda Winslow, to win the Girls ROC team title with 51 points.  Mountain Brook AL was 2nd with 83.
  • In Boys ROC, it was Baylor TN senior Bill Matthews pulling away late with a course record 15:35 over Knoxville West TN sr Matt Sonnenfeldt 15:43.  The old CR was Sean Keveren's 15:37.
  • Montgomery Bell Academy TN used strong depth, packing their runners between 15th and 38th, for a victory with 125 points.  St. Xavier KY was 2nd with 136.
 
Winning drives to the finish by Brasovan and Bill Matthews.  Photo by Pat Davey

Brasovan's still the champion of champions - By SteveU

The Girls Race of Champions at the Great American Cross-Country Festival Saturday was filled with talent and intrigue.  The best individual invitational field of the year – and one of the best ever – were all lined up, ready to slug it out for the championship and the right to be called a national championship favorite.  The competition between the female national elites was just part of the many team and individual battles that took place at the 11th annual large-scale harrier event, but it deservedly got by far the most attention.

While there was reason to think several of the girls could win in the ROC, there was also great reason to think that the race was Ashley Brasovan’s to lose and that it was really the rest of this great field against the defending Foot Locker national champ.  Could anyone resist her when she turned up the volume after the mile (5:30), after the halfway mark, and after the final hill – all places where her intensifying pace might force the competition to back off or risk destruction?

No, they couldn’t.  Kathy Kroeger, 2006 Foot Locker champ and 2007 runner-up, gave Brasovan the stiffest challenge, as most expected she would.  They duked it out through the woods, having dropped the other contenders, with Kroeger sometimes surging into the lead, even if “by coincidence,” as she said later.  They passed 2M in 11:00.  But after the duo ascended the monster hill at 2.5 miles, the Wellington FL senior and defending champ here used her great downhill running skills to pull quickly away from the 2006 Great American champ and put the race out of reach.

Brasovan’s 17:17 on the moderately warm, humid, windy, overcast day was 11 seconds off her course record from last year, but the winner didn’t seem too concerned about that.  “I wanted to go for it, but there was more wind out there than last year.”  The champ didn’t let the mini-mountain get to her, even if she doesn’t run over any of them in South Florida.  She certainly took advantage of the downhill, though.  “It was probably the first hill I’ve run all season, she said. “But I don’t really look at hills as obstacles.”

A completely spent Kroeger came in next, at 17:25.  Following her were Emily Sisson MO (17:39), Stephanie Morgan OH (17:56), Amanda Winslow GA (18:02), Jessica Tonn AZ (18:18), Diane Robison MO (18:24) and Madeline Morgan AL (18:30).

The other conquerors in the team and individual battles in the Race of Champion events had plenty of reason to be excited, too.

While Winslow was hoping for a great individual finish, she also had great interest in helping carry her SE#2 Collins Hill GA team against Mountain Brook AL, the 3rd-ranked team in the same region and the defending NXN Southeast champ.  Not only did she meet her goal in 5th, and defeated Mtn Brook #1 Madeline Morgan, but her teammates pretty much took care of business in every position and won easily with 51 points.  The Bama power was 2nd with 83, with Oak Ridge TN 3rd with 151.

Collins Hill junior Nicky Akande was 11th in 18:48, followed by soph Vicky Winslow – Amanda’s sister – in 13th with 18:51.  More importantly, the trio was 1-4-5 in the team scoring.  “Our top three have been really huge for us all year,” said Coach Andrew Hudson.

Meanwhile, the boys individual race didn’t have the national power that the girls race did, but it served as a good border war between Alabama and Tennesee, concerning a handful of runners hoping to make national waves this fall and get to either NXN or Foot Locker Finals.  Last year, Matt Sonnenfeldt, Bill Matthews, and Pat McGregor had taken 2-3-4 behind winner Sean Keveren, and figured to battle for the individual crown.

They did just that.  Matthews led past the mile and 2M (4:59/10:00), but Sonnenfeldt did plenty of work ahead of the group at times, seeming to expend more than his rival.  Then the Baylor TN senior took over the race at 4k, opened up a 2-second lead and extended coming out of the tunnel.  “I made my move halfway through the woods but Sonnenfeldt hung on for a while.  He’s tough.

“I felt confident I had the win with 600-800 to go.”

His reward was a 15:35, beating Keveren’s course record by two seconds.  The Knoxville West TN sr Sonnenfeldt was 2nd in 15:43, Bishop Kenny FL jr Michael Wallace 3rd in 16:01, and McGregor – a senior at local Hoover HS – 4th in 16:09.

The boys ROC team race turned out to be a tight, crazy battle with several teams.  Five teams got in their first two runners before the first man from Montgomery Bell Academy TN.  Hoover, with its 3-4-16 finish (team scoring) through 3 runners had a big lead.  But no one had a better last two scoring runners than the Nashville college prep day school, which has been on the NXN bubble list for the SE.

They would score 125 points, 11 up on St. Xavier KY.  Hoover was another seven back at 143, not getting the 4-5 they needed to back up their top trio.  SE-ranked Collins Hill GA and Baylor TN, expected to battle for the win, were just 4th (154) and 7th (172).

“We won this race based on our 4th and 5th runners,” confirmed MBA Coach Robert Pruitt.  “We were surprised.  There were teams with better averages than we had.  It's a team win.”

Indeed, Saturday’s winners will remember their day at this annual fest in Hoover, but many across the country will recall the day the nation’s best girls gathered here … and Ashley Brasovan was once again unbeatable.


SteveU's Preview


Event
Click on link
Winners
Girls Race of Champions

Ashley Brasovan, Wellington, FL 17:17
, Kathy Kroeger, Independence TN 17:25
Collins Hill GA 51, Mountain Brook AL 83

Boys Race of Champions

Bill Matthews, Baylor TN 15:35; Matt Sonnenfeldt, Knoxville West TN 15:43
Montgomery Bell Academy TN 125, St. Xavier KY 136

Boys Small
School


Matt Kenwright, St. Benedict's, 17:19; Brad Pitawanakwat, St. Benedicts 17:37
St. Benedict's Auburndale 39, PK Yonge 62

Girls Small
School

Erika Ramsey, Wesleyan, 20:27; Carly Vandeven, St. Benedict's 20:35
St. Benedict's Auburndale 62, Knoxville Catholic 65

Boys Seeded
Invitational

Aaron Ramirez, Woodmont SC,16:30; Christian Ritacco, Niceville FL, 16:42
Flowery Branch GA 63, Niceville AL 113

 Girls Seeded Invitational
 
Kathleen Thompson, Pkwy Central MO, 19:56; Meghan Roberts PK Yonge FL, 20:12
Harpeth Hall School TN 82, Roswell GA 83

 Boys Red
Invitational


Josiah Stanton-Brooks, Union Grove GA, 17:11; Jamie Bosse, Siegel TN, 17:15
Union Grove GA 54, Wheeler GA 73

Girls Red
Invitational

 
Kiara McCue-Woods, Flowery Branch GA, 20:16; Allison Brackin, Wheeler GA, 20:41
Flowery Branch GA 72, Wheeler GA 98

Boys JV
 
Gil Walton, McCallie TN, 17:50; Zach Beavin, St. Xavier KY, 17:55
St. Xavier KY 16, Montgomery Bell Acad. TN 62

 Girls JV  
Amanda Day, Assumption KY, 21:15; Olivia Harlow, Assumption KY, 21:17
Assumption KY 21, Holy Trinity Academy FL 64

 Boys Freshmen
 
Bradley Gossett, Wesleyan GA, 18:18; Doug Mohme, Wesleyan GA, 18:19
Wesleyan School GA 15, Pope GA 63

 Girls Freshmen  
Madeline Held, Spain Park AL, 21:41; Caroline Hawkins, Harpeth Hall TN, 22:37
Harpeth Hall School TN 35, Assumption KY 37

 College Men
8K ROC
 
Micah Tirop, U-Tenn Chatt., 24:59; Emmanuel Kirwa, South Alabama, 25:29
U-Tenn. Chattanooga men 33, South Alabama 52

College Women 5K ROC  
Sabrina Lefort, U-Tenn Chatt., 18:55; Tara Gietema, U-Tenn Chatt., 19:01
U-Tenn. Chattanooga women 17, South Alabama 81





Schedule

Event # Race/Event Start

1 Open 3K Race 7:30 am
2 Small School Champs, Boys 5K 8:45 am
3 Small School Champ, Girls 5K 9:10 am

 -   Opening Ceremonies  9:35 am 

4 Race of Champions, Boys 5K 9:45 am
5 Race of Champs, Univ. Men 8K 10:10 am
6 Race of Champions, Girls 5K 10:45 am
7 Race of Champs, Univ. Women 5K  11:10 am 

 -   Race of Champions Awards  11:35 am 

8 Invitational Boys, Seeded 5K  12:00 pm 
9 Invitational Girls, Seeded 5K  12:25 pm 
10 Invitational Boys, Red 5K 12:50 pm 
11 Invitational Girls, Red 5K 1:15 pm
12 JV Boys 5K 1:40 pm 
13 JV Girls 5K 2:05 pm 
14 Freshman Boys 5K 2:35 pm
15 Freshman Girls 5K 3:05 pm
16 Invitational Boys, White 5K (if necessary) 3:35 pm
17 Invitational Girls, White 5K (if necessary) 3:50 pm
     
  END 4:15 pm

Harrier Ball (Includes Dinner) 7:00-11:00pm


Meet Information
  • Deadlines:  Normal entry deadline is September 1.  Absolute entry deadline (late fees assessed) is September 21.  Roster submission deadline is October 3.
  • Awards: Medals to top 25 individuals; trophies to top 3 teams in Race of Champions and top 2 in other races.
  • Because of ongoing sanctioning issues, this year's high school division is open only to schools who are members of their high school state associations.
  • State sanctions have been applied with the National Federation of State High School Associations for 25 states.
  • Registration Site


Directions

DIRECTIONS TO VETERANS PARK AT VALLEYDALE ROAD (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
From I-59 Southbound (from TRUSSVILLE/ GADSDEN).
Merge onto I-459 S via the ramp on the LEFT toward MONTGOMERY / I-20. (Go 16.9 miles.)
Merge onto I-65 S via EXIT 15 toward MONTGOMERY. (Go 3.0 miles.)
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
From I-20 Southbound (from LEEDS / ATLANTA).
Merge onto I-459 S via EXIT 136 toward MONTGOMERY / TUSCALOOSA. (Go 14.0 miles.)
Merge onto I-65 S via EXIT 15 toward MONTGOMERY. (Go 3.0 miles.)
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS TO VETERANS PARK AT VALLEYDALE ROAD (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
From I-20/59 Northbound (from BESSEMER / TUSCALOOSA).
Merge onto I-459 N via EXIT 106 toward GADSDEN / ATLANTA. (Go 15.0 miles.)
Merge onto I-65 S via EXIT 15 toward MONTGOMERY. (Go 3.0 miles.)
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS TO VETERANS PARK AT VALLEYDALE ROAD (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
From I-65 Northbound (from PELHAM / MONTGOMERY).
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.2 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go 2.9 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS TO VETERANS PARK AT VALLEYDALE ROAD (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
From I-65 Southbound (from DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM).
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS FROM WYNFREY HOTEL
(1000 Galleria Circle, Hoover, AL 35244)
TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
Start out from Galleria Circle; turn LEFT onto US-31 N / MONTGOMERY HWY S / AL-3 N. (Go 0.2 miles.)
Merge onto I-459 N toward ATLANTA / GADSDEN / I-65. (Go 0.9 miles.)
Merge onto I-65 S via EXIT 15 toward MONTGOMERY. (Go 3.0 miles.)
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS FROM AMERI SUITES HOTEL
(2980 John Hawkins Pkwy, Hoover, AL 35244)
TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
Start out and Turn RIGHT (NORTHEAST) onto JOHN HAWKINS PKWY / AL-150 toward CREEKSIDE AVE. (Go 0.2 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto GALLERIA BLVD. (Go 0.3 miles.)
Merge onto I-459 N toward I-65. (Go 1.5 miles.)
Merge onto I-65 S via EXIT 15 toward MONTGOMERY. (Go 3.0 miles.)
Take the CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD exit- EXIT 247. (Go 0.4 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-17 N / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 3.2 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS FROM HOOVER MARRIOTT COURTYARD
(1824 Montgomery Hwy S, Hoover, AL 35244)
TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
Start out and Turn LEFT (SOUTH) onto US-31 S / MONTGOMERY HWY S toward CHASE CORPORATE DR. Continue to follow US-31 S. (Go 1.9 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto VALLEYDALE RD. (Go 4.3 miles.)
Turn LEFT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 0.8 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS FROM HOOVER HOMEWOOD SUITES
(215 Inverness Center Dr, Hoover, AL 35242)
TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
Start out going NORTH on INVERNESS CENTER DR toward INVERNESS CENTER PL. (Go <0.1 miles.)
Make a U-TURN at INVERNESS CENTER PL onto INVERNESS CENTER DR. (Go 0.5 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto CR-17 / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go 3.3 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 0.8 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto JAGUAR DRIVE to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow JAGUAR DRIVE to Parking for XC Course.


DIRECTIONS FROM AMERI SUITES
(4686 Highway 280 S, Hoover, AL 35242)
TO Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School) AND XC COURSE
Start out and turn RIGHT (WEST) on US-280 W / AL-38 W toward E INVERNESS PKWY. (Go 0.1 miles.)
Make a U-TURN onto US-280 E / AL-38 E. (Go 0.5 miles.)
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CR-17 S / VALLEYDALE RD. (Go 3.8 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto CR-29 / CALDWELL MILL RD. (Go 0.8 miles.)
Turn RIGHT onto Jaguar Drive to Veterans Park at Valleydale Road (formerly known as Spain Park, adjacent to Spain Park High School). (Go 1.3 miles.)
Follow Jaguar Drive to Parking for XC Course.
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