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| Midwest Region
Nov. 28, 2009 at UW-Parkside, Kenosha WI
CO-IL-IN-IA-KS-MI-MN-MO-NE-ND-OH-SD-WI & overseas military
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Defending champ, US#1 Goethals is heavy favorite
Teammates Decker and Flood from Iowa, Sisson and Robison from Missouri will contend
Footlocker Midwest Girls Preview - Boys Preview
by Bob Gieger - Dyestat/ESPN RISE
 The 2009 Girls Foot Locker Midwest Region returns four qualifiers from last year's Foot Locker final, and a slew of contenders from throughout the region. With temperatures predicted to be in the mid 50’s, the race will be vastly different from the snow-covered 2008 race. Expect the challenging course to be fast.
Returners lead the way
2008 FLMW Champion Megan Goethals (Rochester, Mi) returns for the 2009 meet, as does three-time FL qualifier Emily Sisson (Chesterfield, Mo). Goethals (left, Pat Davey photo) went on to finish a surprising 3rd at the final, while Sisson finished 22nd. Both Goethals and Sisson ran away with their state championships, Goethals with a 1:16 margin of victory and Sisson 1:03. The duo finished 1-2 at the 2008 FLMW, and we could see a similar outcome in '09.
Iowa runner up and NXN qualifier Ashlie Decker returns as well, but this time she will be accompanied by her teammate and State Champion Katie Flood. Decker finished 6th at last years FLMW and went on to finish 18th at the finals. Flood recently set the course record at NXN Heartland, 17:19 and two seconds ahead of Decker. She was a FL finalist in 2007, but did not compete in the Midwest regional in 2008.
Sisson’s teammate and 2008 qualifier Diane Robison returns as well. Robison was the final qualifier from FLMW in '08, and went on to place 29th at the final. Robison finished 7th at the Missouri state meet, running 19:23 for 5k.
2008 FL finals qualifier Jordan Tomecek is not entered at this time.
Challengers from throughout the region
The onslaught of challengers will be led by Colorado’s Kelsey Lakowske and Sam Lewis. The Boulder teammates finished 1st and 4th respectively at the Colorado state meet, and are coached by two time Foot Locker (then Kinney) qualifier and course record holder Melody Fairchild. Englwood’s Clare Gallagher finished 15th at the 08 FLMW and is the #9 returnee in the race.
Illinois brings two of its State Champions in Lavinia Jurkiewicz (class AAA) and Kayla Beattie (class AA). In addition, runners-up Christina Gastfield (AAA) and Margo Richardson (AA) will be in the mix as well. Jurkiewicz was a just-miss at NXN MW, where she placed 8th and was the second individual not to qualify. Beattie was 31st in the same race.
 Waverly Neer of Indiana finished 7th at her state championships and most recently qualified for NXN Finals with her 6th place finish at NXN MW. She will be joined by fellow Hoosier Laicee Pierce, the 3rd place finisher at the IHSAA meet.
Ohio’s Meredith Wagner was the Division I state champion, running 18:03 for 5k, however she came up sick at last week's Mid East Meet of Champions. With a big lead at the 4k mark, Wagner pulled up sick and failed to finish the race. Hannah Neczypor (right, John Dye photo), the 3rd place finisher at the OHSA state meet, was the NXN MW champion. NXN MW runner up Madeline Chambers is not entered at this time.
Kansas has its 6A and 5A state champions entered. Folks from Kansas were hoping that Avery Clifton and MacKenzie Maki would have gone to the NXN Heartland and challenged Flood and Decker, but the duo opted to hold out for the FLMW meet. Kansas runners up Kaelyn Balch (6A) and Danielle Walker (5A) also are entered.
Besides Goethals, Michigan’s Alissa Williams and Krista Parks are entered. They finished 13th and 14th, respectively, at the 2008 FLMW. In addition, look for Sara Kroll, Hannah Meier, and Devyn John to challenge the lead pack. Kroll and Meier finished 3rd & 4th respectively at their state meet, while John was the Division 3 state champion.
Wisconsin has its Divisions 1, 2, and 3 state champions entered as well as the Division 1 runner up. Molly Seidel (Div. 3), Marya Hagler (Div. 2), and Gabby Levac (Div. 1) all finished within 3 seconds in the separate races at the Wisconsin Rapids course. Blair Doney also covered the 4k course in 14:38, 2 seconds behind Levac in the DI race.
Minnesota state champion, freshman Maria Hauger, will be in attendance. Hauger edged out runner up Emma Bates by less than a second, running 14:40.8 for the win on the 4k course. Bates is not entered in the FLMW event..
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