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2006 Nike Team Nationals - Championship Girls

10:30 am Saturday

Dec. 9, 2006 Portland OR

See the Webcast - Results - Live Blog -

New York sweeps - Fayetteville-Manlius ends dream season with 50-point win. Ashley Higginson NJ 19:19 wins. Corona del Mar CA's Sarah Cummings and Shelby Buckley win Foot Locker finals berths

Manlius Coach Bill Aris and his girls are very happy at the award ceremony ~ photo by John Dye

Unheralded F-M girls do what highly rated F-M boys could not 

by Dave Devine, Northwest regional editor

Two years ago, at the inaugural Nike Team Nationals, there was a substantial buzz surrounding a school from upstate New York believed to be one of the top boys’ teams in the nation. Fayetteville-Manlius (F-M) was the perfect match for a nascent, countrywide team competition—a tight pack with no superstars and a legendary work ethic. That team placed second to an equally vaunted York squad in 2004, and returned in 2005 to place 3rd behind Saratoga NY and York (on a tie-breaker). This year F-M was back, as the Manlius XC team, but it was the girls, not the boys, who toed the line.

And it was those girls who delivered Coach Bill Aris his first national title in his third attempt.

The F-M girls had been gaining steam all season, according to Coach Aris. “I knew we were going to have a good team this year. How good remained to be seen. It kept developing and building...we rose at the right moment at the end of the year, winning our State and Fed [NY Federation] championships, and I believed we had one more race in us. We just ascended the ladder.”

Even during pre-race introductions, Aris’ young charges were all business. While some teams smiled or joked among themselves as they jogged from the introduction paddock to the starting line, the Manlius girls were grim-faced and determined. That razor focus was on display early, as Mackenzie Carter and Kathryn Buchan got out strong, infiltrating the top ten in the first kilometer. The team was in 5th at that point (180 pts), with live scoring updated on massive screens alongside the track. Hilton (NY) XC club was listed in first place, with 115, followed by Westfield (Indiana) with 144.

By the second checkpoint, Manlius had asserted itself, surging to the lead in the team standings with 147 to Westfield’s 172 and Newport’s (Corona del Mar CA during the season)187. A chip error, undiscovered until after the race, resulted in Hilton being dropped from the live scoring updates, though they were more than holding their own on the muddy course.

Manlius, with Carter (4th 19:33.1) and Buchan (5th 19:35.6) continuing to lead the way, fronted the field at each of the two remaining checkpoints, but a chaotic final kilometer still left the finish uncertain. Manlius’ 3rd runner (Jessica Hauser) crossed in 29th, by which point Westfield had scored their first four. Westfield’s 5th wouldn’t cross until 123rd, however, which handed the battle up front to the two NY schools (Manlius and Hilton) and a surprising Carroll (Texas) XC squad.

Manlius’ fourth through sixth scorers shut the door on the competition with their 44th, 46th and 48th placings, and suddenly the girls who lingered in the shadows of the F-M boys for the last two years had struck elusive gold.

On the victory stand, the team described the moments after the win as “absolute euphoria.” Their coach said he had found inspiration for the team’s race plan in a favorite rock band.

Aris, who must be considered one of the great cross country minds in the country after F-M’s showings the last three years, said “I’ll give it to you straight: I love Pink Floyd. The first two kilometers was Comfortably Numb, the last three kilometers was Run Like Hell. That sums it up. That was the whole race.”

Carroll was declared the initial runner-up, before the chip error plaguing Hilton was resolved. After a short delay to sort out the scoring, Portland Meadows had its second straight 1-2 New York finish: Manlius 128, Hilton 178, Carroll 187.

One key to Hilton’s finish was the gutsy effort of top runner Allison Sawyer, who led the first 4k before losing a shoe and fighting to hang on for third.

The individual race was as thrilling as the team battle, with several lead changes in the last mile. Sawyer fronted the strung out pack into the final furlong, but lurking nearby was defending NTN champion Betsy Bies (Yankton XC) and Ashley Higginson (Colts XC), both of whom had nailed down Foot Locker berths in their respective regionals a week earlier.

Bies, hungry for the repeat win, pounced as soon as the daunting mud gave way to firmer ground. “I tried to focus on running as fast as I could when I could, because you can’t really do anything in the mud. Our coach said, ‘If you guys want to make a move you have to do it on the grass.’” Bies did, seizing the lead with a move that looked to be a race breaker.

By then, Sawyer’s shoe had been claimed by the thirsty muck, and Higginson saw an opportunity as well. “Sawyer lost her shoe,” Higginson said after the race. “I saw that and I was thinking, ‘That’s hard for her, but I’ve got to go for this now. Maybe I can get Betsy if I really go for it. One point could make the difference.” A powerful, decisive move carried her past Sawyer and Bies into a lead she never relinquished.

In the paddock afterwards, Bies was happy with her second-place finish, and admitted there was little she could have done to counter Higginson. “I put in my surge as long as I could, and then [Higginson] caught me. There wasn’t really anything I could do about it.”

When Higginson was asked what her coach said this week to prepare her and her Colts teammates for the race, she took the long view. “It didn’t have to do with just this week. Last year we felt like we missed out. Since then, we’ve been counting the days. We knew how hard we had worked for it all summer. I don’t think any words needed to be said this week.”

If any words were necessary, it may have been the four offered by Coach Aris to explain his team’s triumph in the blisteringly competitive field.

“We got it done with four things—team, love, faith and belief.”

And that’s a hard combination to beat.

Results

RecordTiming.com - Contractor License                       Hy-Tek's Meet Manager
                Nike Team Nationals Championship Races - 12/2/2006               
                                   Portland, OR                                  
                               Last Completed Event                              
 
Event 3  Girls 5k Run CC Championship
==================================================================================
    Name                    Year School                Avg Mile     Finals  Points
==================================================================================
  1 Higginson, Ashley         07 Colts XC Club           6:12.9    19:18.4    1  
  2 Bies, Betsy               07 Yankton XC Club         6:14.6    19:23.8    2  
  3 Sawyer, Allison           08 Hilton XC Club          6:16.9    19:31.0    3  
  4 Carter, Mackenzie         10 Manlius XC Club         6:17.6    19:33.1    4  
  5 Buchan, Kathryn           09 Manlius XC Club         6:18.4    19:35.6    5  
  6 Upshaw, Tara              09 Carroll XC Club         6:19.2    19:38.1    6  
  7 Eckert, Allison           07 Sioux Falls XC Club     6:19.5    19:38.9    7  
  8 Cummings, Sarah           07 Newport XC Club         6:19.8    19:39.8    8  
  9 Eckert, Krista            07 Sioux Falls XC Club     6:20.1    19:40.9    9  
 10 Buckley, Shelby           08 Newport XC Club         6:23.4    19:51.2   10  
 11 Jackucewicz, Briana       09 Colts XC Club           6:23.7    19:52.1   11  
 12 Walker, Marika            07 Greenbelt XC Club       6:24.6    19:54.9   12  
 13 Schultz, Caroline         07 Hilton XC Club          6:26.8    20:01.6   13  
 14 Brasher, Julie            09 Albuquerque XC Club     6:27.6    20:04.1   14  
 15 Ferber, Chistina          07 Carroll XC Club         6:27.7    20:04.5   15  
 16 Krasich, Kristina         07 Westfield XC Club       6:28.7    20:07.7   16  
 17 Damon, Allison            08 Newport XC Club         6:30.3    20:12.4   17  
 18 Prescott, Lindsay         08 Phoenix XC Club         6:31.3    20:15.7   18  
 19 Bingham, Margaret         08 Westfield XC Club       6:31.4    20:15.8   19  
 20 Bottorff, Juliet          09 Wilmington XC Club      6:31.9    20:17.5   20  
 21 Murakami, Shannon         07 Santa Clarita XC        6:32.1    20:18.0   21  
 22 Lautzenheiser, Kathleen   10 Midlothian XC Club      6:33.2    20:21.7   22  
 23 Hines, Rosemary           09 Hinsdale XC Club        6:34.3    20:24.9   23  
 24 Love, Kaitlyn             09 Westfield XC Club       6:35.1    20:27.6   24  
 25 Hood, Nicole              10 Concord XC Club         6:35.5    20:28.7   25  
 26 Hoenke, Bridgette         07 Billings XC Club        6:36.2    20:31.0   26  
 27 Lautzenheiser, Leia       10 Midlothian XC Club      6:37.6    20:35.2   27  
 28 Ehrman, Breanne           08 Westfield XC Club       6:37.6    20:35.3   28  
 29 Hauser, Jessica           07 Manlius XC Club         6:37.7    20:35.5   29  
 30 Olson, Camille            07 Phoenix XC Club         6:37.8    20:35.9   30  
 31 Velarde, Rachel           08 Albuquerque XC Club     6:38.1    20:36.8   31  
 32 McCartan, Jenna           07 Wilmington XC Club      6:38.5    20:38.0   32  
 33 Dunn, Katherine           08 Santa Clarita XC        6:38.8    20:38.8   33  
 34 Redman, Jennifer          07 Greenbelt XC Club       6:39.5    20:41.0   34  
 35 Lockhart, Dominique       08 Greenbelt XC Club       6:39.9    20:42.4   35  
 36 Sternhagen, Kristin       08 Yankton XC Club         6:40.1    20:43.0   36  
 37 Fain, Auriele             08 Billings XC Club        6:40.4    20:43.9   37  
 38 Eisenhauer, Aleina        07 Phoenix XC Club         6:40.4    20:44.0   38  
 39 Rorabaugh, Becca          07 Fairbanks XC Club       6:40.5    20:44.3   39  
 40 Donaghy, Allison          08 Colts XC Club           6:41.4    20:47.0   40  
 41 Denny, Emily              07 Carroll XC Club         6:42.4    20:50.1   41  
 42 Callahan, Maggie          07 Fairbanks XC Club       6:42.7    20:51.0   42  
 43 Ritchie, Sarah            09 Hilton XC Club          6:42.8    20:51.3   43  
 44 Hooley, Hilary            07 Manlius XC Club         6:43.1    20:52.4   44  
 45 Crow, Emily               07 Tupelo XC Club          6:43.3    20:52.9   45  
 46 Chapman, Courtney         10 Manlius XC Club         6:43.5    20:53.5   46  
 47 Brown, Kirsten            07 Carroll XC Club         6:44.1    20:55.4   47  
 48 Malone, Molly             10 Manlius XC Club         6:44.4    20:56.2   48  
 49 Herman, Shelby            08 Hilton XC Club          6:44.8    20:57.7   49  
 50 Cerney, Heather           09 Concord XC Club         6:45.2    20:58.9   50  
 51 Leader, Tiffany           07 Yankton XC Club         6:45.4    20:59.5   51  
 52 Zumbach, Lauren           09 Hinsdale XC Club        6:45.9    21:01.1   52  
 53 Hannah, Kristy            10 Albuquerque XC Club     6:46.2    21:02.0   53  
 54 Dlhy, Brittany            08 City of Iowa XC         6:46.3    21:02.2   54  
 55 Smith, Emily              07 Yankton XC Club         6:46.6    21:03.2   55  
 56 Houser, Kellie            09 Concord XC Club         6:46.7    21:03.6   56  
 57 Kershner, Katie           08 Wilmington XC Club      6:46.8    21:03.8   57  
 58 Hofer, Mariah             10 Yankton XC Club         6:47.5    21:06.0   58  
 59 Johnston, Paige           09 Midlothian XC Club      6:47.7    21:06.5   59  
 60 Lehman, Cara              07 Billings XC Club        6:48.3    21:08.6   60  
 61 Dow, Samantha             08 Midlothian XC Club      6:48.4    21:08.9   61  
 62 Kuckertz, Elaine          09 Hinsdale XC Club        6:48.8    21:10.0   62  
 63 Murakami, Amber           10 Santa Clarita XC        6:49.0    21:10.8   63  
 64 Aragon, Alexa             10 Billings XC Club        6:50.1    21:14.0   64  
 65 Davis, Samantha           07 Fairbanks XC Club       6:50.4    21:14.9   65  
 66 Teslow, Kayla             09 Fairbanks XC Club       6:50.9    21:16.5   66  
 67 O'Dowd, Kristen           07 Colts XC Club           6:50.9    21:16.5   67  
 68 Aliotti, Sara             09 Concord XC Club         6:51.1    21:17.2   68  
 69 Bedonie, Allison          09 Albuquerque XC Club     6:52.2    21:20.4   69  
 70 Jones, Ashley             08 Hilton XC Club          6:52.5    21:21.5   70  
 71 Kapusta, Gina             07 Hinsdale XC Club        6:53.2    21:23.6   71  
 72 Hart, Kelsey              09 City of Iowa XC         6:53.3    21:23.9   72  
 73 Yagla, Jessica            10 City of Iowa XC         6:53.5    21:24.5   73  
 74 Arrington, Tyreka         09 Greenbelt XC Club       6:53.7    21:25.2   74  
 75 Parsons, Molly            10 Wilmington XC Club      6:54.3    21:27.0   75  
 76 Caputo, Catie             07 Manlius XC Club         6:54.4    21:27.4   76  
 77 Sidwell, Samantha         07 City of Iowa XC         6:54.4    21:27.6   77  
 78 Stephens, Taylor          08 Carroll XC Club         6:54.9    21:28.9   78  
 79 Riley, Jade               09 Phoenix XC Club         6:55.2    21:29.9   79  
 80 Kautz, Seanna             10 Sioux Falls XC Club     6:55.6    21:31.1   80  
 81 Donaghy, Erin             08 Colts XC Club           6:56.0    21:32.5   81  
 82 May, Hilary               07 Newport XC Club         6:57.0    21:35.5   82  
 83 Hargens, Erin             09 Sioux Falls XC Club     6:57.4    21:36.7   83  
 84 Castagno, Joanie          07 Wilmington XC Club      6:57.6    21:37.5   84  
 85 Breems, Bailey            10 Sioux Falls XC Club     6:58.0    21:38.6   85  
 86 Witt, Amy                 10 Midlothian XC Club      6:58.3    21:39.5   86  
 87 Ostlie-Madden, Erin       08 Albuquerque XC Club     6:58.7    21:40.7   87  
 88 Rivers, Teshika           09 Greenbelt XC Club       6:59.0    21:41.7   88  
 89 Steinman, Katherine       10 Tupelo XC Club          6:59.4    21:42.9   89  
 90 McKay, Anne               07 City of Iowa XC         7:00.1    21:45.1   90  
 91 Rorabaugh, Marisa         10 Fairbanks XC Club       7:00.3    21:45.6   91  
 92 Jauregui, Brianna         09 Santa Clarita XC        7:00.3    21:45.8   92  
 93 Gushue, Allison           08 Newport XC Club         7:01.1    21:48.1   93  
 94 Valverde, Laynee          09 Albuquerque XC Club     7:01.5    21:49.5   94  
 95 Corban, Elizabeth         07 Tupelo XC Club          7:02.6    21:52.8   95  
 96 Flott, Allie              09 Colts XC Club           7:02.8    21:53.5   96  
 97 Miller, Mary Caroline     07 Midlothian XC Club      7:03.3    21:55.2   97  
 98 White, Cassidy            10 City of Iowa XC         7:03.6    21:56.0   98  
 99 Laser, Jenny              07 Hinsdale XC Club        7:04.4    21:58.3   99  
100 Hilson, Megan             10 Yankton XC Club         7:04.4    21:58.6  100  
101 Steinberg, Jade           08 Yankton XC Club         7:06.0    22:03.3  101  
102 St. Geme, Christie        07 Newport XC Club         7:07.0    22:06.5  102  
103 Crowley, Caitlyn          08 Sioux Falls XC Club     7:07.6    22:08.4  103  
104 Tollefson, Libby          07 Billings XC Club        7:07.8    22:09.0  104  
105 Hickson, Christian        09 Greenbelt XC Club       7:09.2    22:13.3  105  
106 Crocetti, Lindsay         09 Hilton XC Club          7:09.5    22:14.5  106  
107 Rumbo, Kailey             10 Phoenix XC Club         7:10.0    22:15.9  107  
108 Chavez, Ashley            08 Concord XC Club         7:10.5    22:17.5  108  
109 McFerrin, Maggie          09 Tupelo XC Club          7:10.6    22:17.7  109  
110 Selander, Christine       08 Midlothian XC Club      7:10.7    22:17.9  110  
111 Fain, AuraLea             10 Billings XC Club        7:13.5    22:26.8  111  
112 Slykhous, Nicole          07 Newport XC Club         7:13.7    22:27.2  112  
113 Castagno, Annie           07 Wilmington XC Club      7:14.4    22:29.5  113  
114 Rumore, Nicole            09 Concord XC Club         7:14.6    22:30.3  114  
115 Kahovec, Toccoa           08 Santa Clarita XC        7:14.9    22:31.1  115  
116 Holman, Catherine         10 Tupelo XC Club          7:15.0    22:31.5  116  
117 Holland, Maria            09 Tupelo XC Club          7:15.2    22:31.9  117  
118 Mulligan, Erin            08 Concord XC Club         7:15.3    22:32.3  118  
119 Valdez, Faviola           09 Albuquerque XC Club     7:15.8    22:33.9  119  
120 Vaziri, Alyssa            08 Santa Clarita XC        7:16.3    22:35.5  120  
121 View, Brittany            08 Greenbelt XC Club       7:17.2    22:38.2  121  
122 Molt, Keri                09 Santa Clarita XC        7:19.2    22:44.5  122  
123 Rutledge, Brittany        07 Westfield XC Club       7:19.2    22:44.6  123  
124 Cleary, Emily             08 Hinsdale XC Club        7:19.6    22:45.8  124  
125 Bowers, Aurora            08 Fairbanks XC Club       7:21.4    22:51.3  125  
126 Tollefson, Phoebe         07 Billings XC Club        7:22.1    22:53.5  126  
127 Mason, Jana               07 Tupelo XC Club          7:22.6    22:55.0  127  
128 Stevens, Heather          09 Hinsdale XC Club        7:22.8    22:55.5  128  
129 Boger, Wendy              09 Fairbanks XC Club       7:23.2    22:56.9  129  
130 Fagan, Emily              10 City of Iowa XC         7:25.2    23:03.1  130  
131 Fehr, Kallie              10 Wilmington XC Club      7:25.9    23:05.4  131  
132 Ingalls, Sara             07 Sioux Falls XC Club     7:26.7    23:07.7  132  
133 Robertson, Kimberly       07 Westfield XC Club       7:26.8    23:08.2  133  
134 Clark, Morgan             09 Colts XC Club           7:27.4    23:10.0  134  
135 Peck, Renee               09 Phoenix XC Club         7:28.6    23:13.5  135  
136 Brown, Hannah             10 Carroll XC Club         7:30.2    23:18.6  136  
137 Christie, Dana            10 Westfield XC Club       7:33.8    23:29.9  137  
138 Gilbert, Caitlin          09 Carroll XC Club         7:37.5    23:41.3  138  
139 Walsh, Shannon            09 Phoenix XC Club         7:40.2    23:49.7  139  
140 Abrams, Chelsea           09 Hilton XC Club          7:46.4    24:09.1  140  
                                                                                 
                                   Team Scores                                   
=================================================================================
Rank Team                      Total    1    2    3    4    5   *6   *7   *8   *9
=================================================================================
   1 Manlius XC Club             128    4    5   29   44   46   48   76          
      Total Time:  1:41:30.10                                                    
         Average:    20:18.02                                                    
   2 Hilton XC Club              178    3   13   43   49   70  106  140          
      Total Time:  1:42:43.10                                                    
         Average:    20:32.62                                                    
   3 Carroll XC Club             187    6   15   41   47   78  136  138          
      Total Time:  1:42:57.00                                                    
         Average:    20:35.40                                                    
   4 Colts XC Club               200    1   11   40   67   81   96  134          
      Total Time:  1:42:46.50                                                    
         Average:    20:33.30                                                    
   5 Yankton XC Club             202    2   36   51   55   58  100  101          
      Total Time:  1:43:15.50                                                    
         Average:    20:39.10                                                    
   6 Newport XC Club             210    8   10   17   82   93  102  112          
      Total Time:  1:43:07.00                                                    
         Average:    20:37.40                                                    
   7 Westfield XC Club           210   16   19   24   28  123  133  137          
      Total Time:  1:44:11.00                                                    
         Average:    20:50.20                                                    
   8 Greenbelt XC Club           243   12   34   35   74   88  105  121          
      Total Time:  1:44:25.20                                                    
         Average:    20:53.04                                                    
   9 Albuquerque XC Club         254   14   31   53   69   87   94  119          
      Total Time:  1:44:44.00                                                    
         Average:    20:56.80                                                    
  10 Midlothian XC Club          255   22   27   59   61   86   97  110          
      Total Time:  1:44:51.80                                                    
         Average:    20:58.36                                                    
  11 Sioux Falls XC Club         264    7    9   80   83   85  103  132          
      Total Time:  1:44:06.20                                                    
         Average:    20:49.24                                                    
  12 Wilmington XC Club          268   20   32   57   75   84  113  131          
      Total Time:  1:45:03.80                                                    
         Average:    21:00.76                                                    
  13 Phoenix XC Club             272   18   30   38   79  107  135  139          
      Total Time:  1:45:21.40                                                    
         Average:    21:04.28                                                    
  14 Billings XC Club            291   26   37   60   64  104  111  126          
      Total Time:  1:45:46.50                                                    
         Average:    21:09.30                                                    
  15 Fairbanks XC Club           303   39   42   65   66   91  125  129          
      Total Time:  1:45:52.30                                                    
         Average:    21:10.46                                                    
  16 Concord XC Club             307   25   50   56   68  108  114  118          
      Total Time:  1:46:05.90                                                    
         Average:    21:13.18                                                    
  17 Hinsdale XC Club            307   23   52   62   71   99  124  128          
      Total Time:  1:45:57.90                                                    
         Average:    21:11.58                                                    
  18 Santa Clarita XC Club       324   21   33   63   92  115  120  122          
      Total Time:  1:46:24.50                                                    
         Average:    21:16.90                                                    
  19 City of Iowa XC Club        366   54   72   73   77   90   98  130          
      Total Time:  1:47:03.30                                                    
         Average:    21:24.66                                                    
  20 Tupelo XC Club              454   45   89   95  109  116  117  127          
      Total Time:  1:49:17.80                                                    
         Average:    21:51.56     

Live Blog

by TinaJ

Chip Misplacement; results -

1. Manlius 128
2. Hilton 178
3. Southlake Carroll 187
4. COlt's Neck 200
5. Yankton 202
6. Newport 210
7. Westfield 210
8. Greenbelt 243
9. Albuquerque 254
10. Midothian 255

unofficial FINISH - Manlius 120, Carroll 174, Colt's NEck 187, Newport 197

4th interval - Manlius 136, Carroll 172, Yankton 193, Newport 197, Colt's Neck 203, Greenbelt 237, Midlothian moved in to 245, and Albuquerque 248

wait, Carroll's in second, 162! Then Newport, Westfield, Yankton, Colt's, Phoenix, Wilmington, Greenbelt and Hilton - any one of the top ten could have it!

interval 3 - Everybody's in contention! Manlius 143, Newport 189, Yankton 208, COlt's NEck 213, Phoenix 234, Wilmington 250, Greenbelt 253, Hilton 254!! really close!

before the second interval Hilton was running 2 and 4 individual.... looks like Fairbanks AK in 7th

interval 2 - Manlius leads 147, Westfield 172, Newport/Corona Del Mar 187, Yankton 191, Phoenix 196, and Hilton drops to 6th with 226

good for Hilton, who're usually a fast closing team

1st interval - Hilton 115, Westfield 144, Phoenix 161, Yankton 165, and Manlius 180

Star Spangled Banner over Portland Meadows... the sun's out, it's a beautiful day

Woot woot - Girls Championship race soon! catch the team scoring splits as we get them HERE at NTNs...

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