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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).
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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 again – Joe 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 Lutz – Craig 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 only – Zach 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.
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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 |
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Top 25 Index
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