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South Region
Bear Branch Sports Fields, The Woodlands TX
November 17, 2007
Girls Championship
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Results - John Sullivan Race Report
Carroll Southlake TX wins for fourth straight NTN Finals appearance
- South #1 ranked Carroll came out with 88 points and on top in a very close finish, followed by Keller RC of TX (93), Kingwood RC of TX (103), and Hereford CC of TX (122).
- Tara Upshaw of Carroll won in 18:25, with Kristen Hanselka of Kingwood second in 18:30.
 |  | The qualifying teams: Carroll XC and Keller RC. Photo by Bert Richardson
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John Sullivan Race Report
Carroll XC jr Tara Upshaw loves to run hard from the gun, and that has served her well in the past, including a state meet bronze and Nike Team National 6th last fall. This year hadn’t gone as well, and she’d finished “only” 11th at State. But she’d continued to push the pace each week, and it finally paid off today as she led from the start and broke the tape in 18:25.1, with a large early lead being enough to hold off the hard-charging field.
With Upshaw leading at the 800 in 2:34 as they looped past the finish line for the first time, a pack followed a few seconds back which included Kingwood RC sr Kristen Hanselka, Hereford CC sr Abby Metcalf and The Woodlands XC soph Sarah Andrews. The weather conditions were perfect for this time of year, and the runners were flying.
Upshaw continued to press through a 5:27 first mile and held a 10-second lead over Hanselka, as Lamar TC sr Halsey Fowler, Plano West RC jr Jenny Swan and Carroll XC sr Taylor Stephens had joined the others in the top 7. The team race was still up in the air, with the expected top contenders all in the mix.
At 2 miles it was still Upshaw in 11:26 with a 20-second lead, while the Keller RC had moved up, with sr Laleh Mojtabaeezamani now with Hanselka in 2nd and sr Kelly Dawson running 7th.
 | | Eventual 2nd and 4th-place finishers Kristen Hanselka of Kingwood RC and Laleh Mojtabaeezamani of Keller RC. Photo by Bert Richardson |
With 200 meters to go near the final turn for home, the four contending clubs also held down the top individual spots. Much of Upshaw’s lead had vanished, but she would hold on for the win in 18:25.1. Kingwood RC’s Hanselka kicked hard to finish 2nd in 18:30.0, while Hereford CC’s Metcalf sped past Keller RC’s Mojtabaeezamani to earn bronze, 18:31.0 to 18:33.9.
“This was my best race of the year,” said Upshaw afterward, with a big smile. “I feel like I went out just right and not too fast.” She felt rested, and led virtually the entire way against a very strong field. Her strategy of going out hard and holding on worked better than it has most of this year, though the field closed 15 seconds on her in the final half-mile. “I use it in the beginning, and then have nothing left at the end,” she admitted.
Back in August, the girls from Southlake Carroll TX were ranked #1 in the DyeStat South Region pre-season rankings and Keller TX was #2. Not only are the schools close in ability, as indicated by these rankings and their 1-2 finish in the 2006 Texas 5A State meet with key personnel returning, but they are located just 3.94 miles apart, northwest of Dallas on Route 1709. After a school season filled with ups and downs, these young ladies put it all together today as their club teams placed first and second, Carroll XC with 88 points and Keller RC with 93, to earn the coveted Nike Team National berths.
Carroll was led by individual champ Upshaw, and sr Taylor Stephens overcame a season plagued by illness and injuries to finish 7th, with soph Jessica Harper also placing well in 10th. After a tumultuous week which saw their school team given the silver at State on Saturday, only to be awarded the gold on Monday after a scoring error correction, it was finally time to celebrate a championship - and a 4th consecutive NTN appearance. The NTN veterans on the squad had told the others about the experience and wanted them to share it this year. Lucia Xiong, the runner impacted by the State scoring correction, said, “I’m so excited. I’ve heard so much about this trip to Portland.”
“We peaked at the right time,” said Gail Upshaw, speaking in place of Coach Robert Ondrasek. “Tara was disappointed at state, so she was happy to do this for her team today. And for Taylor to be up there like that made a huge difference. The girls are also really happy the boys get to go with us, because we’re definitely like one big family.”
Keller had just missed an NTN berth last year, ending up 3rd in the final South rankings. Then they didn’t run as well at State last week as they’d hoped and finished 3rd. Kelly Dawson, the usual #2, had gotten caught behind the pack early in that race and never recovered, finishing as their #5. According to club coach/parent John Scott, “The team was very disappointed after State and the girls weren’t sure if they wanted to come here. But they decided that Kelly couldn’t end her career like that.”
Kelly Dawson, who finished 5th today, said, “I was glad we got to come here and have another chance. I was a little worried, but knew I could do better. I had some good training this week. This was more relaxed, there wasn’t as much pressure (as State).” Laleh Mojtabaeezamani in 4th added, “This is awesome. I was bawling my eyes out when they announced it (that they had qualified) and I’m not usually like that.”
It was more hard luck for the girls from Kingwood RC (Kingwood TX). Competing for their school, they’d been awarded first at State last Saturday, only to be dropped down second on Monday. Here they were looking for a happier ending, but it wasn’t meant to be as they ran well, but placed 3rd with 103. Making it even tougher to swallow, sr Megan Munoz, running unattached after being unable to break into this deep team’s top 7, finished 21st in her best race of the year, ahead of all her schoolmates except Hanselka in 2nd. This much-deserving club will now have to wait for a possible at-large bid to return to NTN for a 3rd time.
Hereford CC (Hereford TX) finished 4th with 122, as Abby Metcalf (3rd) and Ashley Mason (9th) led the team, with Alyssa Diaz unable to return to full-strength from a mid-season quad injury. Cinco Ranch RC (Katy TX) rounded out the top five with 124, led by sr Alyce Goldsmith in 11th.
The girls of Carroll XC. Photo by Bert Richardson
Results
Results by RunFAR Racing Services (www.run-far.com)
O'All Place | Adj Place | Bib No | Name | Team | Time | Pace |
| 1 | 1 | 1185 | Tara Upshaw | Carroll XC | 18:25.10 | 9:13/M |
| 2 | 2 | 1240 | Kristen Hanselka | Kingwood RC | 18:30.00 | 9:15/M |
| 3 | 3 | 1228 | Abby Metcalf | Hereford CC Club | 18:31.00 | 9:16/M |
| 4 | 4 | 1233 | Laleh Mojtabaeezamani | Keller RC | 18:33.90 | 9:17/M |
| 5 | 5 | 1231 | Kelly Dawson | Keller RC | 18:37.25 | 9:19/M |
| 6 | 6 | 1296 | Sarah Andrews | The Woodlands XC | 18:43.35 | 9:22/M |
| 7 | 7 | 1184 | Taylor Stephens | Carroll XC | 18:44.55 | 9:22/M |
| 8 | 8 | 1278 | Jenny Swan | Plano West RC | 18:50.60 | 9:25/M |
| 9 | 9 | 1227 | Ashley Mason | Hereford CC Club | 18:53.40 | 9:27/M |
| 10 | 10 | 1181 | Jessica Harper | Carroll XC | 18:54.60 | 9:27/M |
| 11 | 11 | 1189 | Alyse Goldsmith | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:01.05 | 9:31/M |
| 12 | 12 | 1209 | Ashley Flores | Haltom City CC | 19:02.50 | 9:31/M |
| 13 | 13 | 1235 | Chelsea Scott | Keller RC | 19:05.95 | 9:33/M |
| 14 | (< 5) | 1303 | Amanda Russell | Vista Ridge Club | 19:07.70 | 9:34/M |
| 15 | 14 | 1200 | Elizabeth Schultz | College Park RC | 19:14.10 | 9:37/M |
| 16 | 15 | 1286 | Jackie Alnes | Spartan Warriors | 19:19.75 | 9:40/M |
| 17 | 16 | 1223 | Jessica Blakely | Hereford CC Club | 19:20.05 | 9:40/M |
| 18 | 17 | 1302 | Samantha Thompson | The Woodlands XC | 19:20.80 | 9:40/M |
| 19 | (< 5) | 1248 | Bree Schrader | K-Park CC Club | 19:23.35 | 9:42/M |
| 20 | 18 | 1283 | Natalia Guerrero | Rogers Arkansas | 19:25.55 | 9:43/M |
| 21 | (< 5) | 1243 | Megan Munoz | Unat-TX-Kingwood | 19:26.25 | 9:43/M |
| 22 | 19 | 1245 | Shelby Nicholls | Kingwood RC | 19:27.05 | 9:44/M |
| 23 | 20 | 1250 | Halsey Fowler | Lamar TC | 19:27.40 | 9:44/M |
| 24 | 21 | 1246 | Addie Quinn | Kingwood RC | 19:28.80 | 9:44/M |
| 25 | 22 | 1299 | Shawn Dalglish | The Woodlands XC | 19:30.05 | 9:45/M |
| 26 | 23 | 1204 | Emily Dunn | Feast Home School | 19:31.20 | 9:46/M |
| 27 | 24 | 1205 | Janessa Dunn | Feast Home School | 19:32.50 | 9:46/M |
| 28 | (< 5) | 1293 | Faith Sanders | Spring RC | 19:32.65 | 9:46/M |
| 29 | 25 | 1247 | Rosemary Steup | Kingwood RC | 19:36.90 | 9:48/M |
| 30 | 26 | 1188 | Itzel Cetina | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:37.90 | 9:49/M |
| 31 | 27 | 1190 | Grace Howard | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:38.95 | 9:49/M |
| 32 | 28 | 1182 | Lauren Hill | Carroll XC | 19:40.35 | 9:50/M |
| 33 | 29 | 1191 | Alli Keithan | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:41.25 | 9:51/M |
| 34 | 30 | 1256 | Alyssa Dooley | Marcus RC | 19:45.05 | 9:53/M |
| 35 | 31 | 1187 | Alex Bullard | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:48.15 | 9:54/M |
| 36 | 32 | 1236 | Ashley Vincent | Keller RC | 19:48.75 | 9:54/M |
| 37 | 33 | 1252 | Bria Guerin | Lamar TC | 19:50.60 | 9:55/M |
| 38 | 34 | 1282 | Courtney Efurd | Rogers Arkansas | 19:52.80 | 9:56/M |
| 39 | 35 | 1253 | Anne Jones | Lamar TC | 19:53.10 | 9:57/M |
| 40 | 36 | 1237 | Sophie Blake | Kingwood RC | 19:53.30 | 9:57/M |
| 41 | 37 | 1193 | Kristen Stone | Cinco Ranch RC | 19:54.80 | 9:57/M |
| 42 | 38 | 1300 | Margo Lyons | The Woodlands XC | 19:57.30 | 9:59/M |
| 43 | 39 | 1232 | Julie Durrwachter | Keller RC | 19:57.50 | 9:59/M |
| 44 | 40 | 1273 | Katie Bassett | Plano West RC | 20:04.30 | 10:02/M |
| 45 | 41 | 1225 | Cuca Jimenez | Hereford CC Club | 20:05.95 | 10:03/M |
| 46 | 42 | 1180 | Caitlin Gilbert | Carroll XC | 20:06.15 | 10:03/M |
| 47 | (< 5) | 1265 | Kylie Fitzgerald | North Cypress RC | 20:07.45 | 10:04/M |
| 48 | 43 | 1199 | McKenze Neal | College Park RC | 20:07.80 | 10:04/M |
| 49 | (< 5) | 1264 | Shiloe Duvall | North Cypress RC | 20:09.70 | 10:05/M |
| 50 | 44 | 1186 | Lucia Xiong | Carroll XC | 20:11.10 | 10:06/M |
| 51 | 45 | 1198 | Emily Jensen | College Park RC | 20:11.75 | 10:06/M |
| 52 | 46 | 1242 | Valerie Logan | Kingwood RC | 20:17.20 | 10:09/M |
| 53 | 47 | 1288 | Emelie Felt | Spartan Warriors | 20:17.90 | 10:09/M |
| 54 | 48 | 1244 | Hailey Nicholls | Kingwood RC | 20:20.20 | 10:10/M |
| 55 | 49 | 1290 | Kat Racine | Spartan Warriors | 20:21.20 | 10:11/M |
| 56 | (< 5) | 1238 | Jessica Boice | Unat-TX-Kingwood | 20:21.40 | 10:11/M |
| 57 | 50 | 1277 | Ellen Stow | Plano West RC | 20:25.50 | 10:13/M |
| 58 | 51 | 1249 | Shelby Bottoms | Lamar TC | 20:28.75 | 10:14/M |
| 59 | 52 | 1195 | Erin Beckman | College Park RC | 20:29.95 | 10:15/M |
| 60 | 53 | 1229 | Devin Orear | Hereford CC Club | 20:30.60 | 10:15/M |
| 61 | 54 | 1260 | Rachel Oleksiak | Marcus RC | 20:31.70 | 10:16/M |
| 62 | 55 | 1292 | Andrea Ranta | Spartan Warriors | 20:34.95 | 10:17/M |
| 63 | (< 5) | 1294 | Kate Andropoulos | The Woodlands RC | 20:37.45 | 10:19/M |
| 64 | 56 | 1276 | Alexa Ramsier | Plano West RC | 20:38.40 | 10:19/M |
| 65 | 57 | 1272 | MacKenzie Abernathy | Plano West RC | 20:43.55 | 10:22/M |
| 66 | 58 | 1201 | Alanna Almirudis | Feast Home School | 20:46.60 | 10:23/M |
| 67 | 59 | 1281 | Danielle David | Rogers Arkansas | 20:47.90 | 10:24/M |
| 68 | 60 | 1197 | Kate Hatley | College Park RC | 20:48.50 | 10:24/M |
| 69 | (< 5) | 1268 | Abigail Sampson | North Cypress RC | 20:48.90 | 10:24/M |
| 70 | 61 | 1192 | Mallory Ramsey | Cinco Ranch RC | 20:49.50 | 10:25/M |
| 71 | 62 | 1230 | Shelby Coval | Keller RC | 20:50.00 | 10:25/M |
| 72 | 63 | 1280 | Sarah Conley | Rogers Arkansas | 20:52.05 | 10:26/M |
| 73 | 64 | 1226 | Brittany Martinez | Hereford CC Club | 20:54.10 | 10:27/M |
| 74 | 65 | 1183 | Jill Pawlowski | Carroll XC | 20:55.25 | 10:28/M |
| 75 | 66 | 1219 | Stephanie Jones | Hebron CC Club | 20:57.80 | 10:29/M |
| 76 | (< 5) | 1271 | Anagabriel Segovia | North Side RC | 20:58.35 | 10:29/M |
| 77 | 67 | 1274 | Nicole Eckles | Plano West RC | 21:02.75 | 10:31/M |
| 78 | 68 | 1301 | Nevena Pilipovic-Wengl | The Woodlands XC | 21:07.45 | 10:34/M |
| 79 | 69 | 1215 | Katy Vanderwater | Haltom City CC | 21:09.05 | 10:35/M |
| 80 | 70 | 1279 | Bonnie Black | Rogers Arkansas | 21:09.20 | 10:35/M |
| 81 | 71 | 1298 | Elisabeth Creasman | The Woodlands XC | 21:09.50 | 10:35/M |
| 82 | 72 | 1259 | Sara Matheny | Marcus RC | 21:11.10 | 10:36/M |
| 83 | 73 | 1218 | Allison Domaic | Hebron CC Club | 21:11.35 | 10:36/M |
| 84 | 74 | 1217 | Jessica Clothier | Hebron CC Club | 21:12.50 | 10:36/M |
| 85 | 75 | 1224 | Alyssa Diaz | Hereford CC Club | 21:17.10 | 10:39/M |
| 86 | 76 | 1287 | Katelyn Colwell | Spartan Warriors | 21:19.55 | 10:40/M |
| 87 | 77 | 1262 | Sidney Stevens | Marcus RC | 21:20.10 | 10:40/M |
| 88 | 78 | 1275 | Christina Hadly | Plano West RC | 21:23.95 | 10:42/M |
| 89 | 79 | 1212 | Tam Nguyen | Haltom City CC | 21:33.40 | 10:47/M |
| 90 | 80 | 1221 | Beth Pelser | Hebron CC Club | 21:34.55 | 10:47/M |
| 91 | 81 | 1222 | Lesley Ratliff | Hebron CC Club | 21:35.45 | 10:48/M |
| 92 | 82 | 1291 | Madelaine Racine | Spartan Warriors | 21:39.10 | 10:50/M |
| 93 | 83 | 1285 | Rosie Salinas | Rogers Arkansas | 21:40.75 | 10:50/M |
| 94 | 84 | 1202 | Briana Atchley | Feast Home School | 21:41.00 | 10:51/M |
| 95 | 85 | 1261 | Dana Saathoff | Marcus RC | 21:42.65 | 10:51/M |
| 96 | 86 | 1234 | Emma Reed | Keller RC | 21:44.60 | 10:52/M |
| 97 | 87 | 1289 | Eunice Koid | Spartan Warriors | 21:45.25 | 10:53/M |
| 98 | 88 | 1257 | Kelsey Eller | Marcus RC | 21:50.05 | 10:55/M |
| 99 | 89 | 1211 | Brittany Lee | Haltom City CC | 21:59.30 | 11:00/M |
| 100 | (< 5) | 1263 | Jordan Buckley | North Cypress RC | 21:59.90 | 11:00/M |
| O'All Place | Adj Place | Bib No | Name | Team | Time | Pace |
| 101 | 90 | 1203 | Leah Baumgartner | Feast Home School | 22:05.80 | 11:03/M |
| 102 | 91 | 1258 | Zoe Lamb | Marcus RC | 22:13.35 | 11:07/M |
| 103 | 92 | 1206 | Ginna Gill | Feast Home School | 22:14.10 | 11:07/M |
| 104 | 93 | 1210 | Chelsi Heginbotham | Haltom City CC | 22:34.40 | 11:17/M |
| 105 | 94 | 1220 | Melissa Mitchell | Hebron CC Club | 22:42.10 | 11:21/M |
| 106 | 95 | 1255 | Catherine Williamson | Lamar TC | 22:43.25 | 11:22/M |
| 107 | 96 | 1297 | Eirann Cohen | The Woodlands XC | 22:51.00 | 11:26/M |
| 108 | (< 5) | 1270 | Crystal Guevarra | North Side RC | 23:07.20 | 11:34/M |
| 109 | 97 | 1251 | Olivia Gantt | Lamar TC | 23:12.05 | 11:36/M |
| 110 | 98 | 1254 | Renee Richardson | Lamar TC | 23:12.50 | 11:36/M |
| 111 | 99 | 1208 | Sydnie Moon | Feast Home School | 23:24.70 | 11:42/M |
| 112 | (> 7) | 1207 | Kelsey Meadows | Feast Home School | 24:10.10 | 12:05/M |
| | | Small School | O'All Place | Adj Place | Bib No | Name | Team | Time | Pace |
| 1 | (< 5) | 1427 | Missy Hebert | Hudson | 21:34.00 | 10:47/M |
| 2 | (< 5) | 1428 | Jeannette Mireles | Hudson | 22:01.60 | 11:01/M |
| 3 | (< 5) | 1429 | Lauren Moore | Hudson | 23:54.55 | 11:57/M |
| | | Junior Varsity | O'All Place | Adj Place | Bib No | Name | Team | Time | Pace |
| 1 | 1 | 1434 | Laura Caflisch | Marcus RC JV | 21:58.20 | 10:59/M |
| 2 | (< 5) | 1448 | Rachel Finninger | Hebron CC Club JV | 23:02.70 | 11:31/M |
| 3 | 2 | 1433 | Jenna Bigbie | Marcus RC JV | 23:39.10 | 11:50/M |
| 4 | 3 | 1437 | Stephanie Sayers | Marcus RC JV | 24:04.20 | 12:02/M |
| 5 | 4 | 1444 | Adranna Mogolon | Marcus RC B JV | 24:05.90 | 12:03/M |
| 6 | 5 | 1435 | Kristen Juett | Marcus RC JV | 24:07.50 | 12:04/M |
| 7 | 6 | 1436 | Katy Murdock | Marcus RC JV | 24:13.40 | 12:07/M |
| 8 | 7 | 1438 | Taylor Sayers | Marcus RC JV | 24:39.25 | 12:20/M |
| 9 | 8 | 1441 | Miranda Granteer | Marcus RC B JV | 24:50.25 | 12:25/M |
| 10 | 9 | 1446 | Alyssa Van Der Styff | Marcus RC B JV | 24:55.95 | 12:28/M |
| 11 | 10 | 1442 | Sarah Hutchenson | Marcus RC B JV | 24:55.95 | 12:28/M |
| 12 | (< 5) | 1449 | Victoria Wilken | Hebron CC Club JV | 25:03.20 | 12:32/M |
| 13 | (< 5) | 1431 | Ariece Marek | Feast Home School JV | 25:14.05 | 12:37/M |
| 14 | 11 | 1440 | Garnet Fetner | Marcus RC B JV | 26:56.60 | 13:28/M |
| 15 | (< 5) | 1432 | Ariel Coday | Hebron CC Club JV | 27:00.05 | 13:30/M |
| 16 | 12 | 1439 | Emily Spain | Marcus RC JV | 27:07.35 | 13:34/M |
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