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There are 30 races, but the heart of Great American from the start has
been the Nike Race of Chmpions. Before Great American, top national teams
rarely ran against each other. Marc Bloom provided national rankings in
The Harrier magazine, but there were very few face to face tests of team
strength. The Nike Race of Champions annually pits 10 or more national
boys and girls team powers in an early season matchup.
Profiles of Leading Teams
Here are profiles by Ricky Quintana of the National Scholastic
Sports Foundation of some the leading teams in the Nike Race of Champions:
| Boys | Girls |
Boys
(Researched and written . www.nationalscholastic.org )
Desert Vista (AZ)
Desert Vista returns three from last year’s team which won it’s
first 5A state championship. Chris Steel, Pat Gahan and Jeff Jones will
be a tough top three, but have to burden the load and hope that someone
steps forward.
Catalina Foothills (Arizona)
Coach Grant’s crew cemented themselves as Arizona’s number
one cross country team after wins at every major Arizona state invitational
and their third straight State 4A championship. They return six from that
group including individual state champ and 3200m track runner-up (9:31.13)
Ben Reed.
Denver West High School ( CO)
Coach Brad Barnes thinks his team is destined to be one of the great teams
in the country this season. And why shouldn’t he? He returns six
boys from a team that went undefeated in Colorado, collected a 5A State
XC Championship, and placed 2nd in the seeded division of the Great American
Festival. They are led by two all staters; sophomore Mohammed Ige, 8th
in the 1600m, 4:25.96, and 6th in the 3200m, 9:49.89, and junior Aden
Ahmed, 7th in the 3200m, 9:50.49. They also have a third, senior Jesse
Romero, that Barnes thinks will complete a strong front running trio that
will crack the 15:30 barrier for 5k. And remember, that’s at altitude.
Salesianum (DE)
Since 1969, Salesianum has lost only 5 Division I State Championships.
That’s 29 titles. They also have produced 13 individual state titlists.
They were hurt by graduation and return only two from last year’s
team that placed 25th in the Great American Festival’s Race of Champions.
Look for senior Sean DeCecchis and sophomore Alex Gambogi to lead the
way with rising juniors, Joseph Donnelly and Mike Kowal stepping in to
fill the void.
Bishop Kenny (FL)
The Crusaders earned their 5th state championship, won the small school
division at the Great American Festival with a combined time that would
have placed them 4th in the Race of Champions and ended the season as
Florida’s best team last year.
They will be led by three track finalist; senior, Tony Costanza, 6th in
the 1600m, 4:23.75, junior Chris Mullany, 9th in the 3200m, 9:45.35, and
Brain Doyle, 11th in the 3200m, 9:52.36. Closely behind them are a tightly
grouped pack of seniors that is poised to improve their national status.
South View (NC)
South View returns six boys from last year’s team that dominated
the North Carolina XC scene last year. Their lone defeats came in a heartbreaking
tie breaker at the state meet and an 18th place finish in the Great American
Race of Champions.
The senior laden team will be led by Footlocker XC Championship South
Region14th placer, 15:23.14, Robert Longoria, Sr, Josh Wyatt, Sr, 7th
in 3200m, 9:41.40, and Paul Longoria, Sr, 10th in the 3200m, 9:51.91.
Jason Williams, Sr, and Jonathan Isom, Sr, will add the strength to a
team which should once again be the cream of the crop in North Carolina.
Cherokee (NJ)
Cherokee returns six boys from a team that placed third in the Group IV
Championships and 6th at the New Jersey Meet Of Champions.
They are led by state track finalist, Tom Yersak, 13th in the 3200m, 9:46.37,
and a close knit group of five who were within 25 seconds of each other
in the two season ending meets.
Christian Brothers (NJ)
Christian Brothers is synonymous with championships in New Jersey collecting
18 Parochial A titles and 13 NJ All- Group titles in the past 33 years.
They are expected to improve upon last year’s 3rd place showing
at the New Jersey Meet of Champions
(NJMOC) as six of their top seven returns.
Last year’s front runner, Will Metlofchik, will again be the team’s
best after placing 12th in the 3200m at NJMOC, 9:23.04, and recording
a personal best of 4:18.2 in the 1600m. Behind him are four seniors who
are within 40 seconds of each other.
Shenendehowa (NY)
Coach Matt Jones ended last XC season with the top rated team in New York
after collecting the NYSPHSAA Class A State Championship and winning the
NY Federation Championship. With all members of the varsity returning,
they will look to repeat last year’s sensational performance.
Seniors Jacob Gurzler, 11th in the 1600m, 4:23.1, Ryan Gaedje, 7th in
the 3k steeple, 9:43.41, and Phil Roach, 12th in the 3200m, 9:39.76 will
try and build off their track success to lead this team which sports less
than a minute gap between their first and seventh runners.
Warwick Valley (NY)
Warwick Valley was hit hard by graduation losing four of their top seen
to graduation.
Winner of three state team champions, Coach Richard Furst will look to
senior Jake Larde, 6th in the 800m State Champs, 1:55.97, Bill Velasquez
and sophomore Mike Mark to fill the void.
Hilliard Davidson (OH)
Last year’s Division I State XC Champs and Adidas Outdoor 4 x mile
Champions, will be hard pressed to repeat last year’s stellar seasons
after losing five of their top seven.
They will depend on lone returnees Josh Brink, Sr, Nate King, Jr, and
an arsenal of some 20+ returning runners to regain their top showing.
Middletown (OH)
After last June’s Adidas Outdoor Championships last year, it will
be hard not to turn one’s attention to Ohio for the next two years
as then sophomore, Jeff See, cracked Alan Webb’s four year old National
record, with his 4:06.07 3rd place finish in the best high school mile
field ever assembled.
See is not the only performer returning from last year’s winner
of the Great American Festival’s seeded race. All- Ohio first teamer,
Michael Veatch, and five other sub 17:00 5ker’s return to make this
team formidable.
LaSalle (OH)
The Big Red Express again returns a strong team that should finish in
the top ten in the Race of Champions. They have finished runner-up the
past three seasons in the Ohio Division I State XC Championships, have
earned All-American honors outdoors in the 4x mile, and placed 6th at
state in the 4x800m with a time of 7:49.06.
They return runners 3-7 and are led by 4x Mile All-Americans Kyle Dragan,
Sr, and Dan Heister, Jr.
Henderson (PA)
Henderson earned their second state championship in six years last year
after finishing runner-ups in 2001.
They are led by 2002 Footlocker finalist, Ian Gottesfeld, Sr who also
recorded a 9:20.40 in the 3200m in track. 4:17.51 1600m performer, Greg
Williams, Sr, should give them two strong runners at the front. They will
have to rely heavily on these two as they are the only two returning from
the top five.
Webb School of Knoxville (TN)
The 2002 Division II State Champs return this year with a strong top five.
Tennessee’s 2003 preseason #1 pick ( source: Mike Wood), earned
their second championship in school history last year.
They will be led by two state track finalists: junior Lex Hultquist, 3rd
in the 3200m, 9:41.78 and 6th in the 800m, 2:00.93 and senior Denton Jones,
7th in the 1600m who have both have personal best of under 16:00 for 5k.
John Wright and Andrews Press are also under the 16:00 barrier.
Kingwood (TX)
Kingwood lost three all-staters after collecting a surprise eighth state
title over heavily favored rival The Woodlands last year. Seniors Brian
Bergquist (4:20 and 9:20 on the track), Tom Wensrich(4:18 and 9:30), and
David Matuschak( 4:24, 9:37) are a tough trio. Behind them 4 of their
teammates with PR’s of 9:55 or faster for 3200m from last year.
That should make a potent top five.
The Woodlands (TX)
The Woodlands’ dominating 93 point victory last year in the Race
of Champions (ROC) was short lived after the disqualification of their
top two runners. The 10 time Texas state champions lost only two from
last year’s team.
2002 Footlocker finalist and 5A State champion, Brian Sullivan, leads
the way. The senior was third in last year’s ROC before the disqualification,
and has the fastest PR over 1600m, 4:08.87, and 3200m, 9:02.88. Returnees
Dane Hurtubise, Justin Smith, Daniel Lanzillotti, and Ben Schultz will
get plenty of help from Luke Hansen, Daniel Gerber, Footlocker South 9th
grade champ, and Garret Jones. That’s eight runners with 3200m PR’s
of 9:45 or better and 6 runners with 1600m bests of 4:23 or better. No
team compares.
Mt. View (UT)
After the disqualification of the top 5 from last year’s Race of
Champions, Mt. View was elevated to the top spot. Living legend, Coach
David Houle, finished the season adding one more Utah state championship
victory to the record book. He now leads Utah in 5 categories; total victories,
total at same school, consecutive wins, and total and consecutive state
championships.
This year, they return 3 from last year’s team. State track finalists,
senior Steve Strickland, 4th in the 1600m and 2nd in the 3200m, and Jared
Keller, Sr, state champ in the 1600m, 4:21.14, and 2nd in the 800m will
be the top returning performers. Justin Leavitt, the other lone returnee,
will need help from a group of two seniors and one sophomore that have
PR’s of under 5:00 for the 1600m.
Orem (UT)
Orem returns five from last year’s team that placed 4th in the Utah
Class 4A state championships.
Their top five are separated by a mere 60 second spread.
Senior Peter Wright is the fastest of the group with senior Tim Wright,
sophomore, Race Ostler adding some strength up front.
Girls
Desert Vista (AZ)
The two time state champions lost a close one to Mountain Pointe at last
year’s state xc champs. They are led by the Sammons sisters; sophomore,
Keara, the 5A state xc runner-up and 5A state 3200m champ, 11:15.95, and
senior Katie, 4th at the 5A state xc and 3rd in the 3200m last year. They
will have added strength up front with 5A state 1600m champ, 5:08.46,
sophomore Haley Paul.
Flagstaff (AZ)
Flagstaff earned their third straight and 5th state championship title
in school history last year with a convincing win. State xc champion,
and 3200m runner-up, senior Annie Falor returns along with senior teammates
Marie Jean Loverich, Merry Placer, and Amber Gordon. That’s possibly
4 under 19:15.
Canyon Country (CA)
The former high school of lone 2003 5k World Champ member, NCAA 5K Champion,
and now graduated Stanford standout, Lauren Fleshman, Canyon Country is
looking east to compete in the prestigious ROC. Last year’s 6th
place CIF Div. I championship team enters the season ranked a lofty #2
by DyestatCal. They return last year’s front runner, sophomore Jessi
Locke, senior Alysia Johnson, CIF 6th place 800m runner, 2:12.27 and will
get help from another sophomore, Courtney Granger, 5:11.57 at CIF Div
SS Champs. In all 6 return making for great possibilities.
Bishop Kenny (FL)
Seven time state champions, Bishop Kenny, lost one from last year’s
state runner-up team, but added a transfer. Seniors, Courtney Hall, two
time state champ in the 1600m, 4:59.95, and Kelly Marshall, 3rd at state
in 3200m, along with junior Mallory Wellman, state-runner-up in 3200m,
11:28.13, form a tough trio up front. Junior Sarah Till, a member of their
4x800m state 3A champion team that ran 9:19.37, also returns.
Spanish River (FL)
The Sharks walked away with their fourth consecutive and sixth overall
state title last year and were the overwhelming number one in Florida.
They return to the ROC eyeing an improvement on their 18th place finish
last year. Their top returnee is senior state 1600m runner-up, 5:03.23,
Danielle Almeida. Sophomore 19:35 transfer Lauren Muntz and senior Chelsea
Jefferson, back after a one-year absence, will complement sub 19:30 performers
Kelley Mitchell, and Gabrielle Mae Polhemus.
Sacred Heart (KY)
Sacred Heart collected their third straight class 3A state team championship
on the strength of Footlocker finalist and individual state xc champion,
senior, Maddie Schueler. Sophomore Leah Ryan, 1600m champ, 5:07.13, will
give them a potent one-two punch. Two others return with experience and
the entire team is projected to be under 20:00 for 5k.
Amherst (MA)
The defending Div 1 All State champs return 3 from last year and a super
soph who will try to capitalize on a great freshman track season. State
3200m champion, 10:45.15, state xc runner-up and the 7th fastest returnee
from the Footlocker northeast region, Amber Sayer will contend for top
honors in the ROC. She is followed by sophomore Allyson Rinderle who posted
a 5:03.54 1600m at track regionals before finishing 4th at state in the
1600m. Junior Spring Greeney and sophomore Niina Heikkinen will provide
added depth for a team that should certainly improve on last’s 17th
place in the ROC.
Bay Shore (NY)
Bayshore made steady progress nationally after finishing third at the
NYSPHSAA Class A state championship and 5th at the NY Federation champs
last year. In the winter, they challenged for the NIKE Indoor Championship
DMR title finishing 2nd and at the Adidas Outdoor champs they won the
4x800m title. They are led by surprise Footlocker All-American and NYSPHSAA
state Class A xc champion, junior Laura Cummings and vastly improved state
1500m runner-up, 4:34.56, junior Mary Liz McCurdy. Four others veterans
return to make this team very tough.
Columbia (NY)
This up and coming team finished 14th in the ROC and 11th at the NY Federation
championship last year on the strength of three eighth graders. Freshman
Ashley Ferriero and junior Julie Carr will be strong front runners with
one more year’s training under their belts. With entire team returning
for the next two years, this team should be one to watch.
Saratoga Springs (NY)
Saratoga returns after their third consecutive Great American Festival
Race of Champions (ROC) title. They extended their record setting number
of NYSPHSAA state titles to 11 and claimed their 13th New York Federation
after last year’s wins. They return all 7 plus junior Adidas Outdoor
4 x mile team member and 4th place 1500m state placer, 4:39.14, junior,
Ruby Solomon. Last year’s ROC winner and Footlocker All-American,
Nicole Blood will look for her second consecutive title in just her sophomore
year. Adidas Outdoor 4x mile team champion members sophomore Lindsey Ferguson,
and sophomore Cameron Vahanian will provide awesome support for a team
which has only one senior on it’s varsity roster.
Warwick Valley (NY)
Warwick Valley returns six from last year’s team which placed 6th
overall at the NY Federation championship. The winners of the combined
three invitational races at last year’s Great American will be vying
for a top ten performance in the ROC. They are led by promising sophomore,
Aislinn Ryan. The remaining members should be under 20:00.
Colerain (OH)
4 time state champs, Colerain, returns 5 veterans and five promising newcomers.
Junior Brittany Detzel leads the way after last year’s 9th place
Div I state xc finish, 18:15, 5:04 clocking personal best in the 1600m
and 2:14.1 5th place state Div I finish in the 800m. Sub 11:50 3200m teammates,
junior Meggie Schmidt and sophomore Bryn Winters should bolster them up
front. After a strong summer of training, this team should be able to
improve on their 11th place showing in last year’s ROC.
Hilliard Davidson (OH)
Hilliard captured their own Midwest Meet of Champions and then went on
to claim their first Div I state title last year. They return 6 of 7.
Senior Mia Feigelist is the top returnee from state with her 17th place
18:56 performance and is closely followed by junior Melissa Hornor who
placed 9th in the 1600m at state. The spread between their top five is
less than 45 second so expect a sea of blue finishing near the top quarter
of the field.
Turpin (OH)
Coach Steve Nester’s Aug.14th resignation as girl’s coach
came as a surprise to his 2002 state runner-up team. Boy’s coach,
Jim Gossett, was immediately tapped to replace the outgoing coach who
leaves on good terms and will handle the men’s and women’s
programs at Xavier University. The team returns only three from last year’s
4th place ROC team including state xc runner-up and two sport athlete,
senior, Carolyn Rauen.
Wyomissing (PA)
Wyomissing collected their fourth straight Class AA team state championship
last year on the strength of now graduated blue chippers, twins, Debbie
and Amy Huss. Senior Ashley Iwanowski is their top returnee and will look
to capitalize on her successful spring track season that saw her finish
14th in the 3200m at state in a time of 11:35.68. Two other veterans return,
but will need help to repeat their 5th place finish in last year’s
ROC.
Cedar Park (TX)
Seniors Cassie Hostick and Halie Bullin are two top guns who should challenge
for the top spot in any race this year. State xc runner-up, Hostick recorded
a best of 4:55.49 and placed third at the Texas 5A 1600m championships
in the spring. Bullin posted bests of 5:03 for 1600m and 10:57 for 3200m.
These two should be well up front. It’s up to the rest to support
them.
Kingwood (TX)
Kingwood collected their second consecutive and fifth overall class 5A
state championship last year. They return four from a team that placed
8th in the 2002 ROC. Class 5A state 3200m finalist and 11:04, 5:10 performer,
sophomore, Danielle Selner leads a closely packed group which includes
junior Ali Ray, senior, Kirby West and sophomore Mackenzie Phillips. With
a total of eight girls under 5:30, this team could go a long way.
Davis (UT)
Davis returns 4 from last year’s team that placed 2nd in the class
5A state championships and placed first in the seeded invitational at
Great American. Corrine Smith, Lynette Purdy and Wendy Wilson are all
proven sub 20 runners and should provide a force at the front. They will
have to have some help to contend for a top ten finish.
Mt. View (UT)
The 13 time state champions were edge out by a mere 3 points at last year’s
class 4A state championship by Orem. Footlocker All-American, Heid Magill
returns for her final year of a most impressive 4 year stint that has
seen her claim 4 state track records and 10 state track championships.
Closely behind her will be junior Heidi Houle, an outstanding 800m runner
and xc runner in her own right. These two could be the best one-two punch
of any team in the field. Seniors Melynne King and Ann Marie Thomas are
the other two veterans of this tradition rich team that placed 7th in
last year’s ROC.
Orem (UT)
Orem ended a ten year dry spell to claim their second state title in school
history with a three point win over state power Mt. View last year. They
lost their number one, Footlocker All-American Amber Harper, number two
and number 7. Junior Heather Mella is their top returnee. She’ll
need some help if they are to duplicate their top ten finish in the ROC
from last year.
Douglas (WY)
Douglas dominated the Class 3A state xc championships by taking the first
three places and scoring just 25 points last year. Using their middle
and long distance strength, they were also able to capture the track and
field championship title. State xc champ, 3200m champion, 11:54.05, and
1600m state runner-up, 5:25.32, junior, Jenne Dilts is the top returnee.
800m, 2:18.11,1600m, 5:22.44, 3A state champ, and xc runner-up, junior
Marissa Saunders is followed by state xc 3rd placer, sophomore Kelsey
Shatto. With those three under 20 minutes, they should be able to place
in the top ten.
Great American Cross Country Festival
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