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Foot Locker Cross Country Nov 25 - Dec 9, 2006 a DyeStat featured meet |
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Foot Locker finals index -
Gallery of Finalists - Northeast boys
text by Steve Underwood, photos by PhotoRun
(Explanation of Win/Place/Show section: As an extra feature, the “Win/Place/Show” section predicts where each finalist can reasonably aspire to finish, with “Win” meaning going for victory, “Place” meaning top 5 or 10, and “Show” meaning top 15-20. Although only half of the runners will finish in the top 20, it is reasonable to say that’s what each athlete hopes to do, at the very least (no one “wants” to finish in the bottom half), and can do if they have a great day.
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1. Craig Forys
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: WIN – If there’s a favorite in this race, it’s Craig. He’s had mixed championship results (good 2nd in NIN 2M, not so good in NON mile), but this is a different Forys this fall. If he’s in position to win with 400 left, he can outsprint almost anyone, but it may be wise to make his move earlier. |
Overview: Craig has had a dream season this fall, going undefeated in major races and breaking (or just missing) course records at Holmdel and Vanny (Manhattan 2.5M and FL NE 5k). He’s put it all together and been consistent all year, showing the ability to produce winning kicks against quality foes. |
2. Sintayehu Taye Overview: Any questions about Sintayehu’s fitness or comeback from spring/summer injury were answered in the Mayor’s Cup 8k in Boston (24:55) and his FL NE runner-up finish. Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: WIN – There’s no reason Taye shouldn’t go for the win here. Some feel that if he’d sprinted all out at the end of FL NE, he could have won there. He’s certainly as fit and talented as anyone out there. The biggest thing he has to overcome is the memory of last year’s poor showing in San Diego. It should be cooler than last year, so that should help. He should look to big brother Ayalew for words of wisdom; Ayalew bounced back from a similarly bad race here to win NIN mile and get 2nd in NON mile. |
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3. Tommy Gruenewald
Leading Stats |
Overview: Tommy G’s senior year has been outstanding, highlighted by his Manhattan course record – nipping Forys’ effort from minutes earlier – and winning NY Feds. His only loss was to Murdock at NY Class AA state, which he avenged the following week. After having his Stotan brothers to share the load at the top for two years, he has developed into the No. 1 man that he obviously had the talent to be. |
4. Steve Murdock
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: WIN – Although Murdock may not quite be at Forys’ or Taye’s level, he’s good enough that he should believe he can win. The biggest thing for Steve will be overcoming fatigue from all the back-to-back hard races – and that IS a big one. Few in the past have been able to run great in San Diego after that kind of schedule. He also wasn’t able to hold back at FL NE as much as he would have liked. He needs to run smart enough that if he doesn’t have enough in the tank to fight for the win, he can still get a good place in the top 5-10. |
Overview: The move to Shen seems to have suited Doc quite well. He hasn’t had a truly bad race all year, even when he’s lost. He has two great victories this year, NTN and NY Class AA state, and has run well in getting runner-up at Great American and even on an off day at Feds (3rd). He was a solid 4th at FL NE at probably less than all-out. |
5. Matt Centrowicz
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: PLACE – While he had a fine effort at FL NE, Matt still needs national-level seasoning under his belt before he’s going to be ready to talk national title. If he runs smart and gives himself a chance to use his speed in the last half-mile, he could nab a top-10 finish or maybe a bit better. |
Overview: The big highlight last spring for Centrowitz was that Penn Relays 3k win, but he wasn’t really able to back that up at the NON 2-mile. Since he didn’t really go out of state to face any leading NE runners this fall, it was hard to rate him high. But he went out at Vanny and showed that he belongs with the nation’s elite. |
6. Donn Cabral
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: SHOW – Donn is pretty green at the national level, without previous experience at a big Nike event or something similar. This will be great for him, though, and put him in a position to really do it up next year. A top 15-20 finish would be very solid. |
Overview: Donn (yes, that’s with two n’s) emerged as arguably the best New England (CT, NH, VT, ME, RI) runner this fall as a junior, winning the state LL and Open meets and New Englands. He was a strong 2nd to Brandon Jarrett in the Brown Invite (beating him later at FL NE). |
7. Brian Rhodes-Devey
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: PLACE – BRD is one of the hardest runners to predict in this race. He has the talent to go for at least the top 10, and he should, but he’ll have to have a great, great day to do it. He could just as likely not make the top 20. If he’s healthy at the line, though, and uses his senior smarts, probably better to give him the benefit of the doubt. |
Overview: BRD has had his ups and downs in trying to stay healthy and race well. NY State and Great American were both big races that didn’t go well, but at NY Feds he was a tiger, giving Tommy G all he wanted and beating Murdock. He ran well at Manhattan, too. |
8. Brandon Jarrett
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: SHOW – Three juniors made FL Finals from the NE, and Jarrett joins Cabral as a runner who will get great experience here, but is probably a year away from contending for top 10 or better. Getting in the top 15 or 20 would be a fine accomplishment. |
Overview: Jarrett has mention as the second best runner in Jersey all year with consistent performances. His best experience was probably the venture to Rhode Island where he won the Brown Invitational over Donn Cabral, as well as a runner-up finish behind Paul Springer PA at the “G” race in Manhattans (8th best time overall). He did not, however, get to compete in the Group or MOC meets because of his school’s lack of affiliation there. That made what he did at Vanny all the better. |
9. Paul Springer
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: PLACE – Based on what he did last spring and most of this fall, Springer really should be a candidate for the top 5-10. He said after FL NE that 2nd was as good as 10th, so if he comes out with guns blazing, he should be better than his region finish made him appear. |
Overview: Springer has had a mostly outstanding year, befitting of someone who was down the list a bit last fall, but then broke out with a 9:01 3200 in the spring. The state’s best were in his district, so that victory there was perhaps his best of the year. Also won the ‘G’ race in Manhattan over Brandon Jarrett NJ, and was 2nd overall to Forys at the Cougar Invite. Jason Weller did have his number at state, however, and then he was a little further back on the FL NE team than expected |
10. Ryan Collins
Leading Stats Win/Place/Show: SHOW – Collins is pretty unknown outside of MA, and this will definitely be new territory for him. Runners from his state don’t get a lot of respect because the times are always slower due to the tough courses, so it’d be nice to see him make a statement in that regard. Still, it will be very tough for him to finish higher than top 20. |
Overview: Collins has a great opportunity this fall to step into the void as the state’s top runner while Mark Amirault struggled with injuries. He’s done that in style, first taking the MIAA Eastern meet, then winning the all-state title at Northfield with a 15:49, beating the course mark by Victor Gras. With that kind of run, it was clear that even had Amirault been fully healthy, he would have had a handful to deal with.