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| South Region
Nov. 28, 2009 at McAlpine Park, Charlotte
AL-AR-FL-GA-KY-LA-MS-NC-OK-PR-SC-TN-TX-VA-VI & overseas military
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US#3 Sveinsson, US#5 Lutz lead entries at McAlpine
Girls race features 3 of the top 6 in the DyeStat Elite Individual Top 25
Footlocker South Preview - Boys Preview
by Brett Honeycutt for Dyestat/ESPN RISE |
 The deepest girls’ field in South Region history? Could be, but only the results will tell after Saturday’s race.
Of the Top 25 ranked girls in the nation, 11 are from the South Region and four are in the top 10. And though three of the 11 are running with their teams at NXN (Laura Hoer of TC Roberson, NC; Kathleen Stevens of Blacksburg, VA, and Nicky Akande of Collins Hill, GA), the top six girls from the South will be at Foot Locker South at Charlotte’s McAlpine Park.
With three running NXN (and those three at No. 7, 9 and 10 of the potential qualifiers) it opens the field up dramatically for a host of other runners to contend for spots to nationals.
Who knows what will happen on race day, but here are the top 10 girls according to rankings:
Chelsey Sveinsson (left, John Dye photo), Greenhill School, Texas (Junior): Ranked 3rd nationally and a 2-time national qualifier (finished third in South Region last year with a time of 17:19). Had an injury near end of this season and skipped NXN regional, so she could be challenged to win.
Kathryn Fluehr, Community School, FL (Junior): Ranked 5th nationally and has a best of 16:59 in winning the Florida 1A title at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City (the 16:59 is faster than Foot Locker national champ Ashley Brasovan ever ran there).
Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft School, Raleigh, NC (Freshman): Ranked 6th nationally and easily won N.C. Independent Schools 3A title. Freshman sensation has come close to dipping under 17 minutes on some fast courses, so she could challenge the 17 minute barrier at McAlpine.
Megan Ferowich, Knoxville Catholic, TN (Sophomore): Ranked 14th nationally and the Tennessee 3A champion, who won in 17:47.76 on difficult course (next closest competitor was nearly 1 minute, 30 seconds back).
Carolyn Baskir, East Chapel Hill, NC (Senior): Ranked 17th nationally. Was the North Carolina 4A runner-up and has a best of 17:14 on a fast course in Cary (could come close to 17 again on Saturday).
Rachel Johnson, Plano High, TX: Ranked 23rd nationally. Texas 5A runner-up and also runner-up at NXN South last week to Andrews.
Carmen Carlos, McGill-Toolen Catholic, AL (Freshman): Ranked 25th nationally and the Alabama 5A Champion who ran 17:43.57 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park to win the state meet by more than a minute.
Amanda Russell, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, TX (Senior): Two-time NXN South qualifier and Foot Locker national qualifier in 2008 (sixth last year at South Region). Also, was third at Texas 5A Championships in 2009 and fourth in 2008.
Other girls to watch:
- Anna Bowles, Lakeside Evans, GA: Georgia 4A champion.
- Emma Brink, Sacred Heart, KY: Kentucky 3A Champion.
- Erika Fluehr, Community School, FL: Runner-up at Florida 1A Championship and the twin sister of Kathryn Fluehr. Has a best of 17:17.
- Kaitlyn Kramer, Ardrey Kell, Charlotte, NC: Ran best of 18:13 at McAlpine and has run the course several times this year (familiarity could give her an edge).
- Sydney Marshall, Chattahoochie, GA: Georgia 5A runner-up.
- Stephanie Schappert, Pope John Paul I, FL: Florida 2A Champion.
- Stephanie Strasser, Fernandina Beach, FL: Florida 2A runner-up.
- Meghan Wetterhall, Lakeside Dekalb, GA: Georgia 4A runner-up.
| Boys race brings together Texans Lutz and Stinson, Georgia star Erassa
 Only one of the top 10 finishers at the Foot Locker South Regional was not a senior last year (Clint McKelvey), but even McKelvey isn’t a lock to qualify. After finishing second at Great American, he suffered an injury and didn’t run in the Tennessee state meet. Although he could be a factor, there are certain to be some surprises this year.
The top contenders are Craig Lutz (Texas 5A Champ), Kirubel Erassa (Georgia 5A Champ), Brian Atkinson (3x Florida 4A Champion) and Matt Mizereck (3x Florida 3A Champion).
Here’s a quick glance at all of the contenders:
Craig Lutz, Marcus High, Texas: Ranked 5th nationally and the Texas 5A Champion, but he finished third at NXN South last week (right, Tom Connor photo). Could have been focused on Foot Locker, though, but Saturday will tell.
Parker Stinson, Cedar Park, Texas: Ranked 17th nationally, he was third at the Texas 5A state meet and runner-up at NXN South last week.
Kirubel Erassa, Grayson High, Georgia: Ranked 18th nationally and the Georgia 5A Champion who hasn’t lost a race this season.
Mark Pinales, Stony Point, Texas: Ranked 24th nationally, he was the Texas 5A runner-up and fourth at NXN South last week.
Brian Atkinson, Melbourne High, Florida: Ranked 21st nationally and the three-time Florida 4A Champion.
Matt Mizereck, Leon High, Florida: Ranked 22nd nationally and the three-time Florida 3A Champion. He missed going to nationals by one place last year, finishing 11th in 15:23 at Foot Locker South.
Donovan Torres, Lubbock Coronado, Texas: Finished 5th at the Texas 5A Championships and was 15th at last year’s FootLocker South Regional (15:27).
Jake Hurysz, Eastern Alamance High, North Carolina: Won the North Carolina 3A championship and has been dominant most of the season.
Thomas Graham, Cary Academy, North Carolina: Two-time North Carolina Independent Schools 3A champion was the top North Carolina finisher last year at FootLocker South and the top ninth grader, finishing 24th in 15:37.
Clint McKelvey, Maryville High, Tennessee: Top FootLocker South returnee from last year (and only returning qualifier) after finishing 8th in 15:10. Finished second at Great American and didn’t run the state meet because of an injury.
Max Holman, Tupelo High, Mississippi: Three-time Mississippi Champion (Won 6A in 2009 and won 5A in 2008 and 2007). Easily won in 2009 and could become first boy from Mississippi to qualify since George Kersh in 1986.
Other boys to watch:
- Colin Barker, Bishop Kenny, Florida: Florida 2A Champion after finishing 4th in 2008.
- Mark Blackmon, Fort Mill High, South Carolina: Three-time S.C. 4A Champion who ran 15:18 at McAlpine in early October. Didn’t lose this year and raced up to competition.
- Jimmy Clark, Creekside, Florida: Florida 3A runner-up.
- Elliot Clemente, Belen Jesuit, Florida: Finished third at Florida 3A Championships.
- Patrick Crawford, East Forsyth, North Carolina: North Carolina 4A Champion.
- Tyler Davidson, Cocoa Beach, Florida: Florida 2A third place.
- Ryan Eaton, Greenwood, Kentucky: Two-time Kentucky 3A Champion finished 22nd (15:33) at last year’s Foot Locker South Regional and is one of the top returning finishers. Brother of Mark Eaton, who won Foot Locker South in 2005.
- Evan Ehrenheim, Daviess County, Kentucky: Kentucky 3A third place.
- Ty McCormack, North Hall, GA: Georgia 3A runner-up.
- Bobby Mintz, Cary Christian, North Carolina: North Carolina Independent Schools 1A/2A runner-up could run close to 15 minutes.
- Erick Montoya, Estero, Florida: 2-time Forida 2A runner-up.
- Scott Morgan, Calvary Baptist, North Carolina: North Carolina Independent Schools 1A/2A champion.
- Mark Parrish, Tampa Chamberlain, Florida: Florida 4A runner-up.
- Ted Richardson, James River, Virginia: Virginia 3A Champion could continue long line of dominance for Virginia runners.
- Blake Theroux, Western Branch, Virginia: Runner-up at Virginia 3A Championships.
- Michael Wallace, Bishop Kenny, Florida: Florida 2A fourth place and won the 2A title in 2008.
- Blake Williams, Northern Durham, North Carolina: Ran all by himself to win one of the lower-seeded races at the prestigious Wendy’s Invitational at McAlpine (15:19), and also won Maymont in Virginia.
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