Foot Locker Finals Dec 12, 2009 at Balboa Park, San Diego CA the runners

West Boys Gallery

Photos by Photorun.net
XC Stats and Analysis by SteveU, Track PRs by Mike Kennedy

BRIAN SHRADER

1st FL West 15:25 Sinagua (Flagstaff AZ) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US#6 - 1st 4A-II State 15:15.89, 1st Desert Twilight 14:24.10 (3M), 1st Ray Wherley 15:44.34 Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-2nd FL West/11th FL Finals, ’07-30th FL West Track PRs:  1:52.89, 4:12.07, 9:10.47 Analysis/Notes:  FL West title, continuesunbeaten season … has not been tested by great group of AZ runners(3 FL Finalists, plus Hardt 6th at NXN) … super potential on the track, shown by epic state triple last year (1:52.89/4:13.01/9:10.47), but hasn’t raced in national-level track yet … should be one of 3 for the win and could take it with kick

2nd FL West 15:29 Sierra Lutheran (Minden NV) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US#17 - 3rd Mt. SAC (Ind. Sweeps) 14:39 (3M), 4th Clovis Inv 15:03, 3rd Stanford 15:09 Previous Foot Locker:  Track PRs:  1:59.80, 9:10.68 Analysis/Notes:  Meddles’ key meets were all in Cali., as he went to three of biggest four invites to get tested … each time was very strong 3rd or 4th … breezed to state meet win, as well as NXN SW triumph – but announced in Tempe he would go for FL West … just missed San Diego in 2008 with 11th in qualifier … took 3rd at Golden West with 3200 PR … will need to run patient and smart for chance at top 5

WADE MEDDLES

CODY HELBLING

3rd FL West 15:32 Coeur d’Alene (Lake City ID) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention - 2nd 4A State 16:02.59, 4th NXN NW 15:50.90, 1st Silverwood Inv 15:30.90 Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-7th FL West/25th FL Finals Track PRs:  4:25.89(08), 9:31.03(08) Analysis/Notes:  Showed best form of season in charging up for his 2nd FL Finals berth … regular-season made few headlines, especially because he missed Firman with illness … was nipped at state by Eric Fitzpatrick … was solid at NXN NW, but decided to pass on Portland berth … missed track last spring with injury … has great chance to improve 10 or more spots from 25th last year

4th FL West 15:34 Edison (Huntington Beach CA) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US#15 - 2nd D2 State 15:02, 2nd Mt. SAC (Ind Sweeps) 14:37 (3M), 3rd Sou. Section D2 14:41 (3M) Previous Foot Locker:  Track PRs:  4:15.60, 8:56.44 Analysis/Notes:  has been in the mix in every major race he’s been in, nearly beating Elias Gedyon at Mt. SAC before a fall relegated him to 2nd … also had 3rd at Woodbridge early … has 2nd best 3200/2M PR in the field, placing 5th at state last spring … passed on FL West last year to run NXN Finals, where he was 43rd … definitely a top 5 candidate and could even win

MATT McELROY

SHANE MOSKOWITZ

5th FL West 15:37 Central Kitsap (Bremerton WA) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US#9 1st 4A State 15:06, 1st District 15:30.8, 1st Ft. Steilacom Inv 15:09.6 Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-5th FL West/14th FL Finals Track PRs:  1:55.57, 4:11.75, 8:58.86y Analysis/Notes:  Don’t let his “only” finishing 5th at FL West fool you; Moskowitz is a strong contender for top 4-5 in San Diego, or even the win if everything goes right … quiet regular season with all in-state meets, but set record at 4A state … 3rd best 2M speed in field … very solid FL series as a junior

6th FL West – 15:38 Gig Harbor (Gig Harbor WA) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention 2nd 4A State 15:22, 1st Bob Firman 15:39.8, 2nd District 15:39.2 Previous Foot Locker:  None Track PRs:  8:41.84(3k), 9:05.37 Analysis/Notes:  Consistently strong all fall, with big win at Firman, solid finishes behind Moskowitz at district and state … no Foot Locker in ’08, but was 8th at NXN NW and 33rd at NXN Finals … 2nd at 4A state last spring in 3200 with 9:05.37 PR … Also won fast flight at Sunfair this fall … top 15 is reasonable goal

CONNER PELOQUIN

STEVE MAGNUSON

7th FL West - 15:40 Ironwood Ridge (Oro Valley AZ) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention 1st 5A II State 15:56.35, 2nd Desert Twilight 14:31.2 (3M), 9th NXN SW 15:50.94 Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-10th FL West/24th FL Finals Track PRs:  1:55.82, 4:18.29, 9:08.04 Analysis/Notes:  Showed again that he knows how to peak at FL West with 7th place finish … had been just 9th at NXN SW and Mt. SAC Individual Sweeps … on the other hand, he ran very well at Desert Twilight … good speed from 800 to 3200 … 9:16 3200 as a soph at Golden West … can improve on last year’s 24th with a good race

8th FL West 15:40 Tuba City (Tuba City AZ) Junior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention 2nd NXN SW 15:24.30, 1st 3A State 15:47.35, 8th Doug Conley 16:12.28 Previous Foot Locker:  None Track PRs:  9:15.01 Analysis/Notes:  Excellent post-season at NXN SW and FL West, but like Meddles, qualified for Portland but decided to come to Mt. SAC … 4th best overall at state as 3A champ … 9:15.01 3200 as soph at Golden West … will be a big challenge for top 20, though as he’s probably a year away from really competing here

BILLY ORMAN

PABLO ROSALES

9th FL West 15:47 San Pedro (San Pedro CA) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention - 2nd D2 State 15:08, 4th Mt. SAC (Ind. Sweeps) 14:40 (3M), 1st L.A. City Finals 14:31.3 (3M) Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-38th FL West Track PRs:  1:59.9, 4:18.88, 9:31.5 Analysis/Notes:  Improvement this fall made manifest first with 7th at Woodbridge, then killer 4th at Mt. SAC that put him on national map … at L.A. City Finals, nearly broke long-time mark of former state champ Ramon Gomez … 7th best overall at CIF with 2nd in D1 … may be running out of steam after long season, but still at top 15-20 candidate

10th FL West 15:50 Napa (Yountville CA) Senior ’09 XC: Rank-US Honorable Mention 15th D1 State 15:36, 11th Mt. SAC (Ind. Sweeps) 15:01 (3M), 1st San Joaquin D1 15:40 Previous Foot Locker:  ’08-23rd FL West; ’07-12th FL West (soph race) Track PRs:  9:22.36 Analysis/Notes:  Very impressive run nabs final qualifying spot after 23rd in ’08 … beat several runners that had beaten him at state and at Mt. SAC … finishing in top half would be monumental feat in San Diego

KURT RUEGG