Preview - Great American Cross Country Festival - DyeStat high school track and field

Preview - High School

by John Dye

There will be more than 4,000 runners in 24 races. Here are some of the teams and individuals to watch for.

The 2001 Race of Champions winners -- Saratoga NY girls and Kingwood TX boys -- will be back to defend their titles. Both went on to be US#1 in The Harrier's final 2001 rankings. Saratoga is picked US#1 girls team again in The Harrier's pre-season listings for 2002. On the boys side, however, Kingwood's Houston area rival The Woodlands is The Harrier's pre-season US#1 team. The Woodlands boys have lived up to their advance billing by beating Kingwood twice already this season in home and home invitationals. Both teams are entered here. [Editor's Note: The Great American does not recognize national rankings, and its teams are selected before any national rankings are announced.]

The top high school runners are divided between the Race of Champions and the Seeded Invitational races, with the ROC only including those with on strong teams. Leading individuals:
ROC boys: St. Xavier Louisville sr Bobby Curtis, winner of the Seeded Invitational here last year as well as the mile at Nike Indoor, Arcadia, and AOC Raleigh.
Seeded Invitational boys: Stevens Point WI sr Chris Solinsky, 3rd in both the ROC and the Foot Locker national finals last year and winner of the Arcadia 3200 in the fastest time of the year; Mt. Tabor NC sr Matt Debole, 2001 Penn Relays mile champion; Middletown OH soph Jeff See, who set a new national freshman record for the indoor mile last year; and Smoky Hill CO sr Brent Vaughn, 2001 Colorado state champion and winner of the big Liberty Bell Invitational this year.
ROC girls: Saratoga NY fr Nicole Blood, #1 runner on the nation's #1 team as an 8th grader last year; Mountain View UT jr Heidi Magill, who ran the fastest 800 meters in the US last spring at Arcadia (2:06.34); Murrieta Valley CA jr Liza Pasciuto, 6th at the 2000 Foot Locker national finals; and Red Bank NJ senior twins Amanda and Kathleen Trotter, who led Red Bank to a new national distance medley indoor record last winter and are running cross country instead of soccer this year.
Seeded Invitational girls: Orem UT sr Amber Harper, highest ranking returnee (9th) from the 2001 Foot Locker national finals; Smoky Hill CO sr Megan Kaltenbach, unbeaten in 9 straight major meets on the track last season, ran the fastest mile of 2002 (4:43.54 at AOC Raleigh), and winner of the big Liberty Bell Invitational this season; Killingly CT sr Meghan Owen, Connecticut and New England champion and a Foot Locker national finalist; and Hawthorne Academy NJ sr Lindsay Van Alstine, 2001 New Jersey champion and a Foot Locker national finalist.

The cream of college women's teams will be here with Brigham Young, Georgetown, North Carolina State, North Carolina , and Arkansas ranking 1-2-3-6-9 in the nation. Men's top 10 teams entered are Northern Arizona (5), North Carolina State (7), and Georgetown (9).

High School Race of Champions Teams

Race of Champions

Boys (27 teams)

Girls (28 teams)

Amherst H.S. (MA)

• 1st place – 2001 Division I MA State Championships
• Return 2 of 7 runners
• Lead by senior Ian Marcus and junior James Dietz

Benson H.S. (NE)

• 1st place – 2001 NE A State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by sophomore Nate Preston junior Jack Lemke

Bishop Hendricken H.S. (RI)

• 13th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place – 2001 RI State Championships
• Return 3 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Steve Walsh and David Murphy

Brookwood H.S. (GA)

• 9th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place – 2001 GA 5A State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Lead by senior Kurt Kimmons and junior Matt Roberson

Chiles H.S. (FL)

• 3rd place – 2001 FL 2A State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners (not including new comer Ryan Deak)
• Led by senior Herbie Thiele and junior Ryan Deak (winner of 2001 Race of Champions).

Hilliard Davidson H.S. (OH)

• 3rd place – 2001 OH Division I State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Alan Burkitt and Christian Nichols

Davis H.S. (UT)

• 1st place – 2001 Great American Seeded Invitational
• 1st place – UT Division 5 State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners (including their top 3)
• Led by seniors Jace Nye and Brad Phippen

Gulliver Prep H.S. (FL)

• 1st place – 2001 FL AA State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners (including top 3)
• Lead by senior Jordan Adler and Andrew Martin

Henderson H.S. (PA)

• 2nd place – 2001 PA AAA State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Ian Gottesfeld and senior Mike Merrick

Hoover H.S. (AL)

• 1st place – 2001 AL State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Phillip Moore and Michael Brown

Kingwood H.S. (TX)

• 1st place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place – 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Lead by senior Matt Munoz and junior Tom Wensrich

La Salle H.S. (OH)

• 2nd place - 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 2nd place – 2001 OH Division I State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Jason Beck and Eric Mayhaus

Leesville Road H.S. (NC)

• 3rd place – 2001 NC 4A State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners (including top 3)
• Lead by seniors Paul Himberger and Joseph Estevez

Long Beach Poly H.S. (CA)

• 6th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 4th place – 2001 CA Division I State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Kevin Brulois and Kevin Word

Marcus H.S. (TX)

• 2nd place – 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• Return 5of 7 runners
• Led by Tyler Champan and Kevin Miller

Memorial H.S. (OK)

• 1st place – 2001 OK State Championships
• Return top 3 runners
• Led by Tyler Schmiedeberg and Marc Shumate

Mt. View H.S. (UT)

• 8th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place – UT Division 4 State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by senior Mike Steele and junior Steve Strickland

Rubidoux H.S. (CA)

• 1st place – 2001 CA Division II State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Antonio Jimenez and Mobin Ghoury

Salesianum (DE)

• 1st place – 2001 DE State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by seniors Tom Lord and Ryan Hamill

Shenendehowa H.S. (NY)

• 2nd place – 2001 NY Federation State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by juniors Scott Mindel and Jacob Gurzler

South View H.S. (NC)

• 5th place – 2001 NC 4A State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by juniors Jason Williams and Josh Wyatt

St. Xavier H.S. (OH)

• 4th place – 2001 OH Division I State Championships
• Return 3 of 7 runners
• Led by senior Kyle Kowalski and junior Josh Walters

St. Xavier H.S. (KY)

• 1st place – 2001 KY AAA State Championships
• Return 7 runners
• Led by 2001 Seeded Invitational Champion Bobby Curtis

Thomas Jefferson H.S. (VA)

• 5th place – 2001 VA AAA State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by senior Keith Bechtol and junior Christo Landry

Toms River North H.S. (NJ)

• 3rd place – 2001 NJ Meet of Champions
• Return 4 of 7 runners (including top 3)
• Lead by senior Pete Hess and T.J. Westen.

Valencia H.S. (CA)

• 2nd place – 2001 CA Division II State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners (including top 3)
• Led by senior Juan Robles and junior Nathan Learn

The Woodlands H.S. (TX)

• 11th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 4th place – 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Lead by senior Jonathan Norris and junior Brian Sullivan

Ayala H.S. (CA)

• 5th place - 2001 Division I CA State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by junior Whitney Patton and senior Ashley Curtis

Amherst H.S. (MA)

• 2nd place - 2001 Division I MA State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Amber Sayer and sophomore Spring Greeney

Carson H.S. (NV)

• 1st place - 2001 NV 4A State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by senior Shanna Sparks and sophomore Sheena Bonaldi

Columbia H.S. (NY)

• 2nd place – 2001 Great American Seeded Invitaional
• 4th place - 2001 NY State Federation Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners (all sophomores)
• Led by sophomores Julie Carr and Katrina Hines

Dickinson H.S. (ND)

• 1st place - 2001 NDClass A State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by Allison Pritchard and Ariel Smith

Esperanza H.S. (CA)

• 4th place – 2001 CA Division I State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by sophomore Joy Wilk and senior Alison Costello

Foothills H.S. (CA)

• Did not qualify for state championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by juniors Emily Haigh and Katie Stracham (both finished top 15 in state meet)

Fountain Valley H.S. (CA)

• 7th place - 2001 Division I State Championships
• return top 6 runners
• Led by senior Bethany Nickless and junior Amanda O'Neal

Houston H.S. (TN)

• 12th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 TN AAA State Championships
• Return 3 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Caroline Peyton and Rachel Anderson.

Jenks H.S. (OK)

• 1st place - 2001 OK 5A State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by Alayne Thompson and Brianna McLeod

Kingwood H.S. (TX)

• 5th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• Return 3 of 7 runners
• Led by senior Liz Philipp and junior Kirby West

Lakeside H.S. (GA)

• 4th place – 2001 Great American Invitational
• 2nd place - 2001 GA 5A State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by juniors Rebecca Mullen and Elicia Skelton

Marcus H.S. (TX)

• 6th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 2nd place - 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• Return 3 of 7 runners
• Led by sophomore Tara Gruber and senior Kristi Cook

Mountain View H.S. (UT)

• 2nd place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 UT Division 4 State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Heidi Magill and sophomore Heidi Houle

Mount Tabor H.S. (NC)

• 6th place – 2001 Great American Seeded Invitational
• 1st place - 2001 NC 4A State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Amy Dibianca and Taylor Steelman

Murrieta Valley H.S. (CA)

• Did not qualify for 2001 State Championships
• Ranked #2 Pre-season in CA
• Led by 2000 Foot Locker Finalist Lisa Pasciuto
• Return 5 of 7 runners

North Central H.S. (WA)

• 1st place – 2001 WA 4A State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Katie Whittaker and sophomore Stephanie Whittaker

Orem H.S. (UT)

• 4th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 2nd place - 2001 UT Division 4 State Championships
• Return 4 of 7 runners
• Led by seniors Amber Harper and Jenn Buss

Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (FL)

• 8th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 FL 2A State Championships
• Return 5 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Valeria Rodriguez and senior Karina Cruz

Red Bank Regional H.S. (NJ)

• National Record Indoor DMR
• Did not qualify for state championships
• Led by Katy and Amanda Trotter (first year of competitive Cross Country)

Robinson H.S. (VA)

• 5th place – 2001 Great American Seeded Invitational
• 1st place - 2001 VA AAA State Championships
• Return top 6 runners
• Led by seniors Joanna Rodgers and Sam Ference

Sanford H.S. (ME)

• 1st place - 2001 ME Class B State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by senior Rachel Wilson and junior Sarah Cannon

San Pasqual H.S. (CA)

• 1st place - 2001 CA Division II State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners (including top 5)
• Led by juniors Claire Rethmeier and Lorin Scott

Saratoga Springs H.S. (NY)

• 1st place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 NY Federation State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners (including top 5)
• Led by freshman Nicole Blood and junior Ali Rowe

Spanish River H.S. (FL)

• 11th place – 2001 Great American Race of Champions
• 1st place - 2001 FL 5A State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by junior Gabrielle Polhemus and senior Brenda Banuelos,

Turpin H.S. (OH)

• 1st place - OH Division I State Championships
• Return 6 of 7 runners
• Led by junior Carolyn Rauen and senior Malanie Price

Warren East H.S. (KY)

• 1st place – KY 2A State Championships
• Return all 7 runners
• Led by juniors Dannella McClure and Jenny Wimsatt

Wyommissing H.S. (PA)

• 1st place – PA AA State Championship
• Return top 5 runners
• Led by senior Amy Huss and junior Ashley Iwanowski

Top 20 High School Individuals

Boys

Girls

Race of Champions

Keith Bechtol, sr.
Thomas Jefferson S&T (VA)
• 9:16.75 – Southern Classic
• 57th – 2001 VA 3A State XC Championships

Kevin Brulois, sr.
Long Beach Poly H.S. (CA)
• 18th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 12th – 2001 CA Div. I State XC Championships

Bobby Curtis, sr.
St. Xavier H.S. (KY)
• 1st - 2001 GACCF Seeded Invitational
• 1st - 2001 KY 5A State XC Championships
• 21st – 2001 Foot Locker Championships
• 4:07.61 – Gold West Invitational
• 9:02.83 – Bulldog Classic

Ian Gottesfeld, jr.
West Chester Henderson (PA)
• 4th – 2001 PA 3A State Championships
• #11 Returnee – Foot Locker NE

Christo Landry, jr.
Thomas Jefferson S&T (VA)
• 32nd – 2001 VA 3A State XC Championships
• 9:15.36 – Southern Classic

Matt Munoz, sr.
Kingwood H.S. (TX)
• 28th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 8th – 2001 TX 5A State XC Championships

Jonathan Norris, sr.
The Woodlands H.S. (TX)
• 51st – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 12th place – 2001 TX 5A State Championships
• 9:18.38 – Dave Bethany Relays

Juan Robles, sr.
Valencia H.S. (CA)
• 6th – 2001 CA Div. II State XC Championships
• 9:19.80– CA SS DII Prelims
• 4:21.01 – CA District Meet of Champions

Brian Sullivan, jr.
The WoodlandsH.S. (TX)
• 66th place – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 6th – 2001 TX 5A State XC Championships
• #10 Returnee – Foot Locker South
• 4:14.92 – Klein Relays
• 9:08.13 – 2001 TX District Championships

Sam Vasquez, sr.
Flagler Palm Coast H.S. (FL)
• 9th – 2001 GACCF Seeded Invitational
• 3rd – FL State 3A XC Championships
• #5 Returnee – Foot Locker South
• 4:10.94 – FL 3A State Championships

Nicole Blood, fr.
Saratoga Springs H.S. (NY)
• 8th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 4th – 2001 NY Federation XCChampionships
• 4:50.15 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Heidi Houle, soph.
Mt. View H.S. (UT)
• 17th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 4th – 2001 UT 4A State Championships
• 2:10.01 – Arcadia Invitational

Heidi Magill, jr.
Mt. View H.S. (UT)
• 6th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 2nd – 2001 UT 4A State XC Championships
• 2.06.34 – Arcadia Invitational

Brianna McLeod, sr.
Jenks H.S. (OK)
• 7th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 2nd – 2001 OK 5A State XC Championships
• 4:56.87 – Adidas Outdoor Championships
• 10:45.05 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Bethany Nickless, jr.
Fountain Valley H.S. (CA)
• 21st – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 4:59.71 - CA SS Div. I Championships
• 10:48.3 - CA SS Div. I Championships

Ali Rowe
Saratoga Springs H.S. (NY)
• 16th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 8th - 2001 NY Federation XC Championships
• #7 Returnee – Foot Locker NE

Amber Sayer
Amherst H.S. (MA)
• 9th – 2001 MA State XC Championships
• #6 Returnee – Foot Locker NE
• 10:48.94 – MA State Championships

Shanna Sparks – Carson H.S. (NV)
• 10th – 2001 NV 3A State XC Championships
• 10:54.13 – Arcadia Invitational

Liza Pasciuto
Murrieta Valley H.S. (CA)
• 6th – 2002 Foot Locker Championships
• 4:54.82 – Arcadia Invitational
• 10:53.35 – CA SS Championships

Amanda Trotter
Red Bank H.S. (NJ)
• 1st Season of XC
• 4:56.69 – Shore Conference Championships
• 10:32.81 – Adidas Outdoor Championships
• Indoor DMR National Record

Kathleen Trotter
Red Bank H.S. (NJ)
• 1st Season of XC
• 4:57.62 – Shore Conference Championships
• Indoor DMR National Record

Seeded Invitational

Mike Alizzi, jr.
Syosset H.S. (NY)
• 6th place – 2001 NY Federation Championships
• #8 Returnee – Foot Locker NE
• 9:11.33 – Arcadia Invitational
• 8:31.88 – Penn Relays

Andy Biladeau, soph.
Tampa Jesuit H.S. (FL)
• 4th place – 2001 FL 2A State XC Championships
• 1st – 2001 Foot Locker South Freshman Race
• 2nd place – Nike Indoor Freshman Mile (4:22)
• 9:19.62 – FL State 2A Championships

John Crews, sr.
Rockbridge H.S. (VA)
• 4th – 2001 VA AA State XC Championships
• #8 Returnee – Foot Locker South
• 9:05.51 – Southern Classic

Matt Debole, sr.
Mt. Tabor H.S. (NC)
• 1st – 2001 NC 4A State XC Championships
• 16th - 2001 Foot Locker XC Championships
• 4:09.73 – Penn Relays

Steve Hassen, sr.
Vanguard H.S. (FL)
• 1st – 2001 FL 3A State XC Championships
• 1st – 2001 GACCF Invitational
• 11th – 2001 Foot Locker South
• 9:05.76 – Adidas Outdoor Championships
• 4:13.42 – Golden South Classic

Mike Poe, sr.
Etiwanda H.S. (CA)
• 4th – 2001 CA Div. 1 State XC Championships
• 4:14.42 – Arcadia Open
• 9:11.63 – CA State Championships

Jeff See, soph.
Middletown H.S. (OH)
• 12th place – 2001 OH Div. 1 State Championships
• National Freshman Indoor Mile Record
• 4:17.2 – OH Div. 1 State Championships

Chris Solinsky, sr.
Stevens Point H.S. (WI)
• 3rd – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 1st – 2001 WI Div. I XC Championships
• 3rd – 2001 Foot Locker Championships
• 4:11.1 –WI Div. I State Championships
• 8:51.64 – Arcadia Invitational

Alex Tatu, sr.
Thomas Dale H.S. (VA)
• 1st – 2001 VA AAA State XC Championships
• 4:14.18 – Arcadia Invitational

Brent Vaughn, sr.
Smoky Hills H.S. (CO)
• 1st – 2001 CO 5A State XC Championships
• CO 2-mile State Record Holder
• 9:06.31 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Jessica Cickay, jr.
Council Rock H.S. (PA)
• 2nd – 2001 PA State XC Championships
• 26th – 2001 Foot Locker Championships
• 11:01.6 – Colonial Classic

Amber Harper, sr.
Orem H.S. (UT)
• 3rd – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 1st – 2001 4A State XC Championships
• 9th – 2001 Foot Locker Championships
• 4:53.43 – Arcadia Invitational
• 10:51.61 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Emily Harrison , jr.
Warren County H.S. (VA)
• 9th – 2001 VA 2A State XC Championships
• 10:54.3 – Southern Classic

Megan Kaltenbach, sr.
Smoky Hills H.S. (CO)
• 27th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 1st – 2001 CO 5A State XC Championships
• 14th – Foot Locker Championships
• 4:43.54 – Adidas Outdoor Championships
• 10:07.15 – Golden West Invitational

Elizabeth Maloy
Holy Names H.S. (NY)
• 5th – 2001 NY Federation XC Championships
• 4:50.88 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Jesse Mizzone, sr.
Passaic Valley H.S. (NJ)
• 13th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 2nd – 2001 NJ XC Meet of Champions
• #8 Returnee – Foot Locker NE

Meghan Owen, sr.
Killingly H.S. (CT)
• 10th – 2001 GACCF ROC
• 1st – 2001 CT Open XC Championships
• #4 Returnee – Foot Locker NE
• 4:50.55 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Carolyn Rauen
Turpin H.S. (OH)
• 15th – 2001 OH Div. 1 State XC Champions
• 1st – 2002 Midwest Meet of Champions
• 10:53.81 – Adidas Outdoor Championships

Lindsay Van Alstine
Hawthorne Christian Academy (NJ)
• 1st – 2001 NJ XC Meet of Champions
• 27th – Foot Locker National Championships

DyeStat is published by John Dye, Baltimore MD

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