2007 Foot Locker Nationals
Saturday, December 8th, 2007 @ Morley Field (San Diego)

Rich Gonzalez Meet Preview
The Teams: Northeast - South - Midwest - West

Foot Locker National Videos
Friday Pre-Race Videos
Course Preview Video - Marc Davis/Rich Gonzalez
Sarah Sumpter - Brett Walters
Jordan Hasay - Laurynne Chetelat

Saturday Post-Race Day Videos
German Fernandez - James Attarian -
Jordan Hasay - Kauren Tarver - Meghan Marvin -
Post Race California Girls Group
Girls Winner Ashley Brasovan - Boys Winner Mike Fout

Saturday Evening Interviews Later in Day after race
Kauren Tarver Part 1 - 2 - Riley Sullivan Part 1 - 2
German Fernandez Part 1 -2 - 3 - 4
Chris Schwartz Part 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

Coach Interviews
Louie Quintana - former Arroyo Grande 1990 Kinney Champ
and current Arizona State Coach - Part 1 - 2

      
photos by Kirby Lee - Album

   
photos by Ian and Sean Pearce - Album - More Available here

Brasovan redeems regional sixth with a national win
Girls Race Video

 
Kirby Lee photos

by Steve Underwood

Ashley Brasovan proved Saturday at Balboa Park that sometimes regional results don’t matter and sometimes top runners really do “just run to qualify.” After finishing just sixth in the South regional two weeks ago, the Wellington FL junior made a devastating move over the final hill to catch and pass leader and 2005 national champ Jordan Hasay CA, and then went on to win the 29th Annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championship in 17:20.

It was the second straight victory for a runner from that region, with defending champ Kathy Kroeger (Franklin TN) also passing Hasay into 2nd and finishing in 17:28, giving the South a 1-2. West Region champ Hasay was 3rd (17:31), Northeast Region champ Neely Spence PA 4th (17:35), and Midwest Region champ Claire Durkin OH 5th (17:44). Conditions turned out better than expected in San Diego, as there was a break in the rain from the last two days and just light winds. Temperatures were in the 50s and the course was just a little muddy.

“I’m still in shock,” said Brasovan when the media first got a mike on her. “I’m so happy. It’s just a great way to end the season after the last two years when I’d peaked too early.”

After her South regional finish at McAlpine, many thought Brasovan had lost the form that had moved her to the top of many pundits’ national rankings. In October, she had crushed the best field of the year at Great American, smashing Kroeger’s course record with a 17:05 and beating Kroeger and four other Foot Locker Finalists, past or yet-to-come. She looked more mortal at her state meet, beating Emilie Amaro by eight seconds.

Then came Foot Locker South, which had been Brasovan’s Achilles heel in the past. After twice being favored to make it, but missing, she did finally qualify. But the 6th-place finish led people to believe that her mental or physical edge was gone. The opposite turned out to be true.

After her Finals triumph she said she'd been relieved to qualify, and happy to not be bearing the regional champ mantle. “I felt like the pressure was off of me,” she said.

At the halfway point of the race, Brasovan was in a pack – including Kroeger, Spence, Durkin, and Katie Flood – about 10 seconds behind Hasay. The Mission Prep junior, trying to win for the second time, had made a decision moments into the race to try and run the life out of everyone, passing the half mile and mile in blazing splits of 2:31 and 5:18. Half a mile later, the lead was still solid, but Hasay was beginning to look tired and the chase pack was generating energy.

Jordan’s lead was still 10 seconds at 2 miles (11:05), but Brasovan was beginning to believe she could win. “I realized I had a lot left,” she said. “I was getting closer and closer, so I thought I’d give it a shot.” Ashley never gets to train on hills, but she caught Jordan going up. On the backside, she let her stride and turnover go and torpedoed down. That was, effectively, the end of the race.
Both the South and Northeast girls teams scored 42 points, but the NE won on the tiebreaker. Brasovan’s victory also set up a scenario where, in 2008, the three previous champions could all race each other if they make it back here (Brasovan, Kroeger, Hasay).

Race Recap - by Mike Kennedy

With two defending champions in the field and with no runner able to be dominate for the entire year, the 29th running of the Foot Locker National Cross-Country championships at Morley Field in San Diego was fairly wide open. And for a change of pace, for the first time in history the course could be classified as muddy.

Junior Jordan Hasay of Mission College Prep (San Luis Obispo), who won this race as a freshman in 2005 and has won three straight West Regionals, wasted little time moving to the front and by 800 meters, passed in 2:31, had opened up a five-meter lead over Midwest Region winner Claire Durkin of Kilbourne (Worthington, Oh.), Emily Sisson of Millard North (Omaha, Nb.), Corey McGee of Pass Christian (Ms.) and Kauren Tarver of Serrano (Phelan, Ca.).

Hasay then lengthened her lead to 15 meters as the runners began their first trip on the hill loop. At different times, over the next quarter of a mile, Durkin, Northeast Region winner Neely Spence (Shippensburg, Pa.), defending champion and South Regional winner Kathy Kroeger Independence (Thompson’s Station, Tn.), Aurora Scott (Oaktree Academy, Portsmouth, Va.), and Lauren Smith (Brazoswood, Clute, Tx.) were in the chase pack behind Hasay.

Passing the mile mark in 5:18, Hasay maintained a solid lead before Durkin began to separate herself from the chase back and close the margin. For the moment it appeared that it had become a two-person race with Durkin and Hasay separating from the field. But just as suddenly, Spence, Kroeger, Katie Flood of Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Ia.) and Sisson were able to regain contact with Durkin. As the runners came down off the hill for the first time, Hasay maintained the lead but things were again changing. Crossing the road at a 1½ miles and coming up a gradual incline, Hasay was still leading at 8:08 but Kroeger, Durkin, Spence, Flood and junior Ashley Brasovan of Wellington (West Palm Beach, Fl.) were just behind in a close pack.

Beginning the second and final loop of the 5,000 meter course, Hasay was able to maintain her lead but by two miles, passed in 11:02, Kroeger, Spence and Brasovan had formed a lead pack. After the second time through the lower loop Hasay reopened a 20-meter lead but Brasovan, Spence, Kroeger were still within striking distance.

Heading up the hill for the second time, Brasovan made her move, passing Hasay, and establishing a solid lead at the top of the hill and then increasing her lead to 40 meters as she flew off the steep downhill. Hasay, who has always struggled with downhills, slipped into third behind Kroeger as the runners reached the bottom of the hill, passing three miles in 16:45. Brasovan then just powered up the final small hill before the finish and went on to win in 17:20.

Hasay held on to third behind Kroeger in the final 100 meters, as the two finished in 17:28 to 17:31. Spence was fourth in 17:35 and Durkin was fifth at 17:44. Emily Lipari of Roslyn (Roslyn Heights, N.Y.) just nipped Scott for sixth as both were timed in 17:46.

Results
Scoring Teams and Points:

1. Northeast 42 (4 6 9 11 12 18 24)
2. South 42 (1 2 7 15 17 19 25)
3. West 63 (3 10 14 16 20 22 28)
4. Midwest 70 (5 8 13 21 23 26 27)

   
photos Foot Locker and Kirby Lee
1 Ashley Brasovan (11) South Wellington H.S. West Palm Beach FL 17:20

2 Kathy Kroeger (11) South Independence H.S. Franklin TN 17:28
    
photos Foot Locker and Kirby Lee
3 Jordan Hasay (11) West Mission College Prep. Arroyo Grande CA 17:31

4 Neely Spence (12) Northeast Home-schooled Shippensburg PA 17:35
5 Claire Durkin (12) Midwest Worthington Kilbourne H.S. Columbus OH 17:44
6 Emily Lipari (10) Northeast Roslyn H.S. Greenvale NY 17:46
7 Aurora Scott (12) South Oaktree Academy Portsmouth VA 17:46
8 Katie Flood (10) Midwest Dowling Catholic H.S. Des Moines IA 17:47
9 Carly Seymour (12) Northeast Central Cambria H.S. Ebensburg PA 17:48

10 Kauren Tarver (12) West Serrano H.S. Wrightwood CA 17:53
11 Emily Jones (11) Northeast Bromfield H.S. Harvard MA 17:54
12 Kacey Gibson (12) Northeast Neshannock H.S. New Castle PA 17:55
13 Emily Infeld (12) Midwest Beaumont H.S. University Heights OH 17:55
14 Anastacia Bishton (12) West Mountain Ridge H.S. Glendale AZ 17:56
15 Chelsey Sveinsson (9) South Greenhill School Dallas TX 17:58
    
photos by Foot Locker and Kirby Lee
16 Laurynne Chetelat (12) West Davis Senior H.S. Davis CA 18:00

17 Lauren Smith (11) South Brazoswood H.S. Lake Jackson TX 18:01
18 Chelsea Ley (10) Northeast Kingsway Regioinal H.S. Clarksboro NJ 18:04
19 Kayla Hale (11) South Holy Trinity Episcopal AcademyIndialantic FL 18:05
20 Jessica Tonn (10) West Xavier College Prep. Paradise Valley AZ 18:07
21 Alexandra Banfich (12) Midwest The Culver Academies Plymouth IN 18:07

22 Sarah Sumpter (12) West Healdsburg H.S. Cloverdale CA 18:12
23 Emily Sisson (10) Midwest Millard North H.S. Omaha NE 18:12
24 Shelby Greany (11) Northeast Suffern H.S. Suffern NY 18:25
25 Emilie Amaro (12) South Cypress Bay H.S. Fort Lauderdale FL 18:31
26 Katie Haines (12) Midwest Rockford H.S. Rockford MI 18:35
27 Cory McGee (10) South Pass Christian H.S. Pass Christian MS 18:36
28 Kathleen McCafferty (12) Northeast Oak Knoll School Morristown NJ 18:36
29 Brittany Koziara (11) South Boone H.S. Orlando FL 18:36
30 Mary Kate Champagne (12) Northeast Seton Catholic Central H.S. Plattsburgh NY 18:40
31 Chelsea Oswald (11) Midwest Walsh Jesuit H.S. Medina OH 18:44
32 Meggan Freeland (11) Midwest Western H.S. Albion MI 18:47
33 Taylor Wallace (11) West Henley H.S. Klamath Falls OR 18:56
34 Lindsay Anderson (12) Midwest Leeds H.S. Leeds ND 18:58
35 Stephanie Morgan (11) Midwest Barnesville H.S. Barnesville OH 19:02
36 Kathleen Lautzenheiser (10South Midlothian H.S. Midlothian VA 19:02
37 Nicole Nielsen (11) West Borah H.S. Boise ID 19:06

38 Meghan Marvin (10) West Clovis H.S. Clovis CA 20:26
dnf Keely Maguire (12) Northeast Triton Regional H.S. Georgetown MA
dnf Nadya Bishton (12) West Mountain Ridge H.S. Glendale AZ

Boys - Mike Fout 14:50 winner leads Midwest boys to 29 pts
Boys Race Video

Kirby Lee photo

After several lead changes and a brisk early pace by Utah's Luke Puskedra (82, above), Indiana senior Mike Fout (71) seized the race in the final mile for a 14:50 win. Chris Derrick IL 14:57 charged up from way back to grab second, duplicating the 1-2 finish of the Midwest regional -

Fout's 'perfect focus' overcomes all
by Rich Gonzalez, DyeStatCal.com

German Fernandez wanted sunshine, better footing, and a slightly slower opening mile pace.
Luke Puskedra wanted a slightly eased tempo after a swift mid-race surge.
Donn Cabral wanted a chance to re-run those first two miles.
All Michael Fout wanted was the national title.
Sometimes having the perfect focus against a mega-tough field makes all the difference in the world.
While the competition battled to overcome the elements, the pace, and the mistakes, Mike Fout was busy chasing his dream - and ran it down to perfection.
Fout moved into the lead in the closing mile and withstood a late charge from fellow Midwesterner Christopher Derrick to win the 29th Annual Foot Locker National Championships under mild sunshine and along an uncharacteristically sloppy layout.
Fout, the Midwest Region champion but not a title threat in the minds of many, blazed to victory in 14 minutes, 50 seconds to record the fastest time since Chris Solinsky's dominant 14:41 scorcher in 2002.
Derrick, fresh off a late-surge individual and team win at the Nike Team Nationals last weekend, rallied for second in 14:57. Fernandez, the two-legged wonder from California, overcame a temporary late-race fade to salvage third in 15:09.
Fout passed early- and mid-race leader Puskedra just beyond the two-mile mark after the leaders stormed across in 9:28. The senior from LaPorte (Ind.) began gapping Puskedra and the others approaching the final uphill, overcame a challenge from Texas' Colby Lowe, then had just enough to keep Derrick at bay.
“ Right from the gun” said Fout, when asked when during he first sensed victory was possible. “No matter what was happening during the race, I always felt I could win. In the last 100 meters I just wanted to drive (for the finish).
“ I didn't want it to come down to someone right next me and beat me. That would really be devastating. Just drive, drive, drive. And I had the crowd with me so that really helped.”
Derrick, who pulled off the greatest championship double in the new NTN/Foot Locker era (won NTN, 2nd at Foot Locker), was pleased with his showing.
“ It's always tough to go out with a field like that,” said the senior from Neuqua Valley HS. “I wanted to go out conservative. When you go out hard, it's hard to move that last mile. I didn't think I was making much of a surge, but people were coming back to me.”
Fernandez, who according to roommate Andrew Judd was taking cold medication throughout the weekend, slipped to as far back as sixth early in the final mile before one final surge. He also reportedly fell at the start of the race, working his way from the very back of the pack at the start.
“ (Falling apart) is not me, I was going to get top three,” said Fernandez. “I learned a lot today. I needed something like this.”
Lowe, earning his second All-American showing in as many years, placed fourth in 15:12.
“ I had seven big races in seven weeks…. I was really happy with how I did,” said Lowe. “I also learned that I have pretty good strength now and not just speed. I'm pretty excited about that.”
Puskedra said his race began to unravel late in the second mile when others made their move and he responded with a surge of his own, acting a bit out of reaction.
“ All in all, I really ran my race though and that's what I needed to do,” said Puskedra.
With the 1-2 finish from Fout and Derrick, the Midwest won the boys team competition with 29 points, well ahead of the runner-up Northeast Region's 59.

Results
Scoring Teams and Points:

1. Midwest 29 (1 2 7 9 10 18 21)
2. Northeast 59 (6 8 13 15 17 25 26)
3. West 62 (3 5 12 20 22 24 27)
4. South 64 (4 11 14 16 19 23 28)

    
photos by Foot Locker and Kirby Lee
1 Michael Fout (12) Midwest LaPorte H.S. LaPorte IN 14:50

2 Christopher Derrick (12) Midwest Neuqua Valley H.S. Naperville IL 14:57
 
photos by Foot Locker and Kirby Lee
3 German Fernandez (12) West Riverbank H.S. Riverbank CA 15:09

4 Colby Lowe (12) South Carroll Senior H.S. Southlake TX 15:12
5 Luke Puskedra (12) West Judge Memorial H.S. Ogden UT 15:15
6 Brandon Jarrett (12) Northeast St. Benedict's Prep Hillsborough NJ 15:16
7 Kevin Havel (12) Midwest John Hersey H.S. Arlington Heights IL 15:18
8 Donn Cabral (12) Northeast Glastonbury H.S. Glastonbury CT 15:19
9 Rob Finnerty (12) Midwest Burnsville H.S. Burnsville MN 15:21
10 Maverick Darling (12) Midwest Ovid-Elsie H.S. Ovid MI 15:23
11 Ryan Hill (12) South Hickory H.S. Hickory NC 15:32
12 Stephen Clark (12) West Skyline H.S. Salt Lake City UT 15:34
13 Mark Dennin (12) Northeast Boyertown H.S. Gilbertsville PA 15:36
14 Patrick Campbell (12) South Mooresville H.S. Mooresville NC 15:38
15 Brian Leung (12) Northeast West Windsor-South Plainsboro H.S.West Windsor NJ 15:41
16 Jason Witt (12) South Midlothian H.S. Midlothian VA 15:43
17 Pat Dupont (12) Northeast Fairport H.S. Fairport NY 15:43
18 Bobby Nicolls (11) Midwest Regis Jesuit H.S. Parker CO 15:44
19 Rory Tunningley (12) South Lockhart H.S. Lockhart TX 15:45

20 Riley Sullivan (12) West Trabuco Hills H.S. Rancho Santa Margarita CA 15:46
21 Evan Appel (11) Midwest Dakota Ridge H.S. Littleton CO 15:48
22 Joseph Manilafasha (11) Midwest Denver North H.S. Denver CO 15:49
23 Jim Walmsley (12) West Horizon H.S. Scottsdale AZ 15:50
24 CJ Brown (11) South Carroll Senior H.S. Southlake TX 15:51

25 James Attarian (12) West Dublin H.S. Dublin CA 15:51
26 Kevin Williams (12) Midwest Develyn H.S. Lakewood CO 15:52
27 Vince McNally (12) Northeast Conestoga Valley Senior High Brownstown PA 15:53
28 Zach Rivers (12) Northeast Victor Senior H.S. Victor NY 15:55

29 Brett Walters (12) West Sultana H.S. Victorville CA 15:58
30 Francisco (Tito) Medrano (12) Midwest Jefferson H.S. Lafayette IN 15:59
31 Chris Aldrich (12) Northeast Henderson H.S. West Chestor PA 16:02
32 Miles Unterreiner (12) West Gig Harbor H.S. Gig Harbor WA 16:03
33 Griff Graves (12) South Abingdon H.S. Abingdon VA 16:05
34 Luke Lovelace (12) South Chapin H.S. Chapin SC 16:07
35 Andrew Judd (12) Northeast Conard H.S. West Hartford CT 16:09
36 Jonathan Lafler (12) West Tahoma Senior H.S. Maple Valley WA 16:09

37 Chris Schwartz (11) West Foothill H.S. Bakersfield CA 16:15
38 Andrew Brodeur (12) Northeast Brick Memorial H.S. Brick NJ 16:17
39 Michael Hammond (12) South Midlothian H.S. Midlothian VA 16:20
40 Thomas Porter (11) South Mountain View H.S. Fredericksburg VA 16:22

Post Race Comments from Foot Locker:

Hasay: Overall feelings about the race: It went well. I am pleased with the overall result. I wanted the pace to be fast so I ended up leading for the first two miles. At the end, I was in fourth, so I was happy that I was able to sprint in and place third.
Best part of the race: The first two miles.  Foot Locker Experience: It has been so much fun. This is my third year here and it is something that I look forward to all year long. I meet so many new friends.  Personal note: Thank you to my parents and my brother, Jedd, for always supporting me.Also thank you to my coaches Mando and Leslie, for helping my with my training and always being there for me.

Chetelat: Overall feelings about the race: It didn't go as well as I had hoped because I wanted to finish in the top 10 (and thought I had the ability to do so) but I don't think today was my day and I didn't feel strong at all. Best part of the race:
The best part was what I learned from the race; I learned to get over and move after a dissappointing race. Foot Locker Experience: It has been great and amazing! I can't complain about anything. The location and hotel are perfect and the coordinators are all very accomidating and helpful. I have felt very well taken care of and comfortable this weekend. I love the opportunity Foot Locker gives the runners to talk with professional runners and to ask them questions.

Tarver: Overall feelings about the race: it went pretty well,i finished 10,and had a a good kick at the end to catch a few girls.
Best part of the race: the best part of my race would definitly be the end when i finished and had my kick.  Foot Locker Experience: this is my 4th footlocker trip and i have enjoyed it every year!but this years experience was great,i met alot of great runners and raced well.

Sumpter:  Overall feelings about the race: I'm a little bit disappointed with how my race went -- this is my first time running Foot Locker Nationals, and I came in 22nd. But I figure, hey, that means I'm almost in the top 20 cross country runners in the nation. And for my first year being here, having had such a breakthrough season, that's really pretty cool. Now, I can get back to some real distance running in the off season, back to what I really love.  Best part of the race:  I don't really have a specific point in the race that I especially prize. The whole thing was very intense and it was an honor to be able to run with the calibur of athletes present there.  Foot Locker Experience: I've truly enjoyed bonding with the members of the Western team, they are all incredible athletes and wonderful people both on and off the course. All the staff, parents, and athletes have been nothingless than completely supportive. They were all really here to celebrate running not just as a sport, but as a noteworthy and rewarding life experience.   Personal note: All I can say is thank you so much for all the unwavering faith they have had in me, their continual support and enthusiasm even when I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and of course, that I love them. I run with them in my heart everyday.

Marvin: Foot Locker Experience: Footlocker has been amazing! I have been having a blast! It really cool to hang out with people who run and to have a very fast team. I also thought it was cool to meet some of the people from the Olypmics and to just stay at the hotel is a honor. I am really looking froward to hopefully making it the next 2 years too!  Personal note: I would just want to thank everyone would has been supporting me! They have been encouraging me to keep going, and I'm very thankful to have people who love me so much! Thanks again!!!

Fernandez: Overall feelings about the race: good but not great as I wanted it to be. Best part of the race: the last 800 meters when I caught up to three guys. Foot Locker Experience: great experience learned a lot from this and it made me realize who I really was as a runner  Personal note: I didn't get first as I wanted but left everything in the field and my goals are still going to be achieved, win or lose.

Attarian: Overall feelings about the race: Not as well as I wanted but it was still a fun race Best part of the race:  The downhills Foot Locker Experience: It was an awesome experience from the start where they fly you in and put you up in the del coronado hotel nd they have alot of food and they really take care of you. Personal note: Footlocker Nationals isan awesome experience

Walters: Overall feelings about the race: Well, the race was rather a disappiontment for my personally due to the fact that i really wanted a top 20 finish, but the regional qualifier was a raod race and then we come down here and what do you know its the exact opposite of what we run, muddy and just a soggy course. But if I were to run the race again i would take out a little faster and try and hang on for a little longer. But by in large I am content with the race, i mean 29th in the nation isn't anything to sneeze. But I REALLY am looking forward to future races and regaining the "fast guy with the hair" title.

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