DyeStat


The Internet Home of Track & Field





 

The annual DyeStat Elite XC Individual Top 25 series (formerly Foot Locker Favorites and renamed given additional options available now) are national and regional rankings of cross-country runners based on distance-running accomplishments to date, with an emphasis on XC and 3200/2M track results, rather than a projection of how the Foot Locker Finals or NXN Finals will turn out (predictions run later in the season).

Rosa, Dohner, Gedyon make big statements

Nov 27, 2009 Boys Rankings (through Nov. 21 meets)

The Top 25

Wills out of Foot Locker, but Lutz and Stinson are in; Verzbicas-Zeinasellassie battle leads FL regional clashes

Story and rankings by SteveU

Another head-shaking, record-breaking victory by Joe Rosa NJ, a stunning victory by Ryan Dohner TX, and the big California Sectional clashes were the biggest stories among the national boys elite last weekend – on the course, that is.  Off the course, the word from Zach Wills OH that he will only run NXN was the most impactful.

Rosa impresses yet againJoe Rosa had only himself to top when he toed the line at Holmdel Park last weekend for the NJ Meet of Champs.  Having already smashed the course record once this year at 15:04, the next goal had to involve the breaking of the 15:00 barrier.  14:56 later, Rosa had done just that, adding a fourth major CR to his season’s slate and continuing to unveil what seems to be masterful season plan of an initial run of huge performances, followed by a month of low key racing, then a season’s end peak.  Dave Oster's time in 3rd place, 15:30, would be considered eye-popping for almost any other year.  Next up for Joe and twin brother Jim: NXN NE.

Dohner takes down LutzCraig Lutz’s stay at US#2 didn’t last long.  After a month-long string of beastly performances, the Marcus TX junior was flat at the NXN South meet.  Meanwhile, Ryan Dohner – the outstanding Klein Oak TX jr who has run well but without a big win this fall – bounced back from a self-proclaimed career worst race (11th in 5A state) to have his best performance, winning that qualifier at The Woodlands over Lutz and Parker Stinson, and getting back into the Top 25 at #12.  Lutz says he will now go for the FL/NXN double, while Dohner will stick with his Portland berth.

Gedyon leads the charge – The Southern Section championships at Mt. SAC brought together 5 of the 7 nationally ranked Californians and yielded some intriguing results.  The D2 race was the key, bring together #7 and Mt. SAC individual champ Elias Gedyon, #9 and Mt. SAC indiv. runner up Matt McElroy, and #19 and Mt. SAC team race runner-up Heyden Wolff.  At Mt. SAC, Wooff was soundly beaten by Ammar Moussa and dropped in the rankings, but this time he looked more like he did while winning Woodbridge, finishing just four seconds behind Gedyon and beating McElroy.  Gedyon’s 14:31 was the best time of the day, a second faster than Moussa ran in dominating the D1 race.  Wooff moves back into the top ten.  This weekend brings everyone to Woodward for the CIF Finals, after which NXN invitations will be extended.  If they qualify team or individually, Gedyon and Moussa are expected to run in Portland, Wooff is said to be undecided, while McElroy is expected at Foot Locker West.

Wills: Portland onlyZach Wills’ decision to focus on NXN leaves a scenario with 5 of the top 11 focused on NXN, 4 on Foot Locker, 1 doing both, and 1 undecided.  Going 25 deep, the slate is virtually even.  Lutz will have to return to form if he’s going to be competitive at Foot Locker; he said he will just “run to qualify” and then will determine his racing plans from there. 

Don’t expect the Rosas to kill themselves qualifying to Portland from NXN NE, either. 

As for Saturday’s other clashes, the battle between US#2 Lukas Verzbicas IL and #10 (and top Foot Locker returnee) Futsum Zeinasellassie IN should be the most intriguing of the day – but who knows how hard they will push each other.  Both should be fresh, though, and expect the competitive drive of these athletes to take over.  Foot Locker NE should be led by #13 David Oster NJ, #20 Brad Miles PA, and honorable mentions John Raneri CT and Tyler Udland NJ (top returnee).  Foot Locker South will be hard to handicap, with Texans Craig Lutz and Parker Stinson (possibly others) expected to double, matched up against fresh legs from #18 Kirubel Erassa, and the potentially tired legs of Floridians Brian Atkinson and Matt Mizereck – both of whom won state titles last weekend.


The Top 25
Athlete

 1. (1) Joe Rosa, 2011, West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS, NJ - NXN NE
 2. (3) Lukas Verzbicas, 2012, Sandburg HS, IL - Foot Locker MW
 3. (5) Zach Wills, 2011, Mason HS, OH - NXN
 4. (4) Jim Rosa, 2011, West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS, NJ - NXN NE
 5. (2) Craig Lutz, 2011, Marcus HS, TX - NXN South/FL
 6. (6) Brian Shrader, 2010, Sinagua HS, AZ - Foot Locker West
 7. (7) Elias Gedyon, 2011, Loyola HS, CA - NXN
 8. (8) Ammar Moussa, 2011, Arcadia HS, CA - NXN
 9. (19) Heyden Wooff, 2011, Camarillo HS, CA - undecided
 10. (10) Futsum Zeinasellassie, 2012, North Central HS, IN - Foot Locker Midwest
 11. (11) Shane Moskowitz, 2010, Central Kitsap HS, WA - Foot Locker West
 12. (NR) Ryan Dohner, 2010, Klein Oak HS, TX - NXN
 13. (12) David Oster, 2010, Verona HS, NJ - Foot Locker NE
 14. (9) Matt McElroy, 2010, Edison HS, CA - Foot Locker West
 15. (13) Wade Meddles, 2010, Sierra Lutheran HS, NV - FL West (ran NXN SW)
 16. (14) Pablo Rosales, 2010, San Pedro HS, CA - likely NXN
 17. (20) Parker Stinson, 2010, Cedar Park HS, TX - NXN South
 18. (16) Kirubel Erassa, 2010, Grayson HS, GA - FL South
 19. (18) Erik Olson, 2010, Novato HS, CA - NXN
 20. (22) Brad Miles, 2010, North Penn HS, PA - Foot Locker NE
 21. (23) Brian Atkinson, 2010, Melbourne HS, FL - Foot Locker South
 22. (24) Matt Mizereck, 2010, Leon HS, FL - Foot Locker South
 23. (25) Ben Johnston, 2010, North Central HS, WA - NXN
 24. (17) Mark Pinales, 2011, Stony Point HS, TX - NXN/FL South?
 25. (NR) Tyler Byrne, 2010, North Harrison HS, IN - NXN
Honorable mention (more additions coming)
Mohamed Abushouk NC
Connor Adams TX
Blake Ahrold CA
Dylan Anthony AK
Jeff Arnier TX
Michael Atchoo MI
Reece Ayers PA
Luke Baker GA
Colin Barker FL
Aaron Bartnik MN
Aaron Beattie IL
Chris Bendtsen CT
Jacob Benn TX
Marco Bertolotti NY
Sam Bernitt PA
Kellen Blumberg CA
Sean Bone MI
Michael Brajdic OH
Christian Brown Otter ND
Jimmy Clark FL
Nick Composto IL
Domenic D'Aquisto CA
Ben Demaree OR
Armando Del Valle FL
Alex Dier NY
Kevin Dowd VA
Hugh Dowdy CA
Jack Driggs IL
Ryan Eaton KY
Travis Edwards CA
Jeremy Elkaim NJ
Phil Fairleigh IL
Brendan Farrell NY
Scott Fauble CO
Dustin Fay CA
Erik Fitzpatrick ID
Brandon Freyer NY
Lukas Gemar MN
Martin Grady IL
Thomas Graham NC
Johnny Gregorek MA
Luis Gutierrez CA
Curtis Hanle OH
Sherod Hardt AZ
Dan Harris NY
Cody Helbling ID
Francis Hernandez NH
Max Holman MS
Caleb Hoover MO
Nick Hughes NY
Jake Hurysz NC
Eric Jenkins NH
Tyler Jermann IL
Omar Kaddurah MI
Reed Kamyszek MI
Brett Kelly ND
Maksim Korolev MO
Pat Lesiewicz IL
Philip MacQuitty CA
Jose Madera CA
Andrew McCullen VA
James McIllece TX
Clint McKelvey TN
Anthony Manfrin IL
James Martin IN
Mike Mazzaccaro NJ
Colin Mearns VA
Chris Montoya NM
Erick Montoya FL
Vince Montoya NM
Mitch Moriarity CA
Jose Luis Munoz AZ
Danny Nicolls CO
Drew O'Donahue-McDonald WA
Hale O'Herren IN
Billy Orman AZ
David Osborn IN
Jantzen Oshier CA
Andrew Palmer MD
Conner Peloquin WA
Vince Perozzi PA
Kyle Pittman NM
Grant Pollock VA
Samuel Pons CA
Jacob Rainey TN
John Raneri CT
Heath Reedy CA
Curtis Richburg NJ
Daniel Rosales CA
Nick Ross RI
Garrett Rowe CA
Kurt Ruegg CA
Alex Saavedra NY
Will Sanford FL
Colin Savage NY
Walter Schafer CO
Pat Schellberg NJ
Alan Schroeder WA
Michael Scolarici IL
Jake Sienko RI
Andrew Smith IL
Neal Smith TX
Bryan Spreitzer NC
Jonathan Squeri NJ
Parker Stinson TX
Max Straneva NY
Blake Theroux VA
Adam Thorne WA
Donovan Torres TX
Otis Ubriaco NY
Tyler Udland NJ
Justin Vilhauer CA
Scott Vincenzi IN
Jon Vitez NJ
Chris Walden IN
Michael Wallace FL
Aaron Watanabe NH
Roy Wedge KS
Lane Werley CA
Jake Wildenmann KY
Blake Williams NC
Nathan Williams CA
Mack Young WA
Pat Zacharias NM




Top 25 Index

DyeStat