by Stephen Underwood
Boys Summary - If you're looking for boys returning from the Foot Locker national race last year, look to the South region. From last year's otherwise senior-laden race, we have Tennessee's Andrew Bumbalough and Texas's Scott MacPherson. Each has backed up their top returnee status last spring and this fall. Bumbi, who was 5th in the South and 13th nationally in 2003, merely rocked the Arcadia 2M field last spring with an 8:49.87, which held up as the national leader. He is unbeaten this fall with a 14:14 3M best.
MacPherson (4th South/14th Nationals) has also not lost this fall after sizzling a 8:54.50 3200m behind Brian Sullivan at the Texas Relays. He is the favorite to win 5A Texas this weekend. For either not to qualify would be a huge upset.
Who will fill the next six spots is much more up in the air, with most of the contenders having established their credentials since last fall. There are relatively known quantities, like Great American Nike ROC Champ Robert Bedsole, Florida 2A Champ Andy Biladeau, and Virginia standout Michael Chapa.
But there are also relative unknowns like Oklahoma sophomore Kevin Schwab, whose 14:45 at Chile Pepper leads the nation. While he took the measure of the top dogs of South #1 The Woodlands at that race, he is otherwise pretty untested against the best. Overall, it would be wise to figure that at least 1-2 more athletes from both Texas and Florida will be up there.
The Lone Star State got no less than half the qualifiers at McAlpine last fall.
Girls Summary - The South girls race is likely to be ruled by a trio of veterans who have been there and done that --- returning qualifiers Jennifer Barringer, Erin Bedell and Kate Niehaus. Defending champ Barringer had a few ups and downs in the spring and fall, but has been steadily coming this fall, with a 17:08 at her Florida state meet to close with a bang.
Bedell was third in 2003, then just 25th at nationals. But she built her resume with a 4:43 mile to win Golden West last spring, and has ruled Texas this fall. Ditto for state dominance (South Carolina) with 2-time qualifier Niehaus. The three have already prefaced their showdown at Great American Nike ROC, where Bedell placed the highest with a fourth.
The remaining contenders are a mix of some experience and plenty of newcomers. While the Nov. 13 state meets in Texas and Virginia will tell a lot, already having established themselves are Elizabeth Bruce (NC), Miranda Walker (TX; 9th in 03), and Melissa Dewey (VA). Two standouts from 2002 who didn't compete last year -- Tara Lenn (AL), who was 4th, in 02 and Carmen Mims (KY), who was 9th -- will make things interesting, as will freshmen like Emilie Amaro (FL), Aurora Scott (VA), Melissa Dewey (VA) and Emily Reese (GA). Foot Locker South Boys Contenders
Robert Bedsole, 2005, Hoover HS, AL
PRs/Top Times: 15:12 (Husky Challenge), 14:40 3M;
Track: 8:44.63 3000m, 9:22.29, 4:21.99
2003 Foot Locker: 45th South (16th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st Great American Nike ROC, 1st Furman Inv.
Andy Biladeau, 2005, Jesuit, Tampa, FL
PRs/Top Times: 15:09 (State); Track: 3:56.38 1500m, 4:15.87, 9:08.5y
2003 Foot Locker: 16th South (3rd returnee) Other Top Placings: 2nd 2A State, 4th Great American Nike ROC
Jack Bolas, 2006, Chapel Hill HS, NC
PRs/Top Times: 15:25 (FL South 03); Track: 4:19.5, 9:36.0
2003 Foot Locker: 20th South (5th Returnee) Other Top Placings: 2nd 4A State, 1st Wendy's
Sam Bryfczynski, 2005, Walton HS, Marietta, GA PRs/Top Times: 15:30 (FL South 03); Track: 4:20.50,
9:17.43
2003 Foot Locker: 27th South (7th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st 5A State
Andrew Bumbalough, 2005, Brentwood Acad. HS, TN PRs/Top Times: 14:58 (FL South 03), 15:21 (Jesse Owens), 14:14 3M (state); Track: 8:49.67y, 4:10.99
2003 Foot Locker: 5th South (2nd returnee)/13th Nationals (1st returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st D-2 State, 1st Jesse Owens Inv., 1st Arcadia 2M, 1st State D-2 1600
Michael Chapa, 2005, J.R. Tucker, Glen Allen, VA PRs/Top Times: 15:12 (Region); Track: 9:18.63, 4:21.00i
2003 Foot Locker: 23rd South (6th returnee) Other Top Placings: 3rd Great American Nike ROC, 1st 3A Region, 1st Lee Davis Inv.
Jeremy Criscione, 2005, Interlachen, FL
PRs/Top Times: 15:02 (State); Track: 9:13.06, 4:25.01
2003 Foot Locker: 40th South (14th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st 2A State, 1st Region, 2nd 2A State 3200
Ryan Curran, 2005, Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem, NC PRs/Top Times: 15:36 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 34th South (11th returnee) Other Top Placings: 4th 4A State
Daniel Gerber, 2006, The Woodlands, Spring, TX PRs/Top Times: 15:04 (Chile Pepper); Track: 9:10.36
2003 Foot Locker: 44th South (15th returnee) Other Top Placings: 3rd Chile Pepper
Justin Harbor, Flager Palm Coast HS, Bunnell, FL PRs/Top Times: 15:19 (State)
2003 Foot Locker: 137th South
Other Top Placings: 1st 3A State
Ben Hubers, 2007, McEachern, GA
PRs/Top Times: 15:29 (Jesse Owens)
2003 Foot Locker: none
Other Top Placings: 2nd 5A State, 2nd Jesse Owens Inv.
Bryce Iverson, 2005, Manassas, VA
PRs/Top Times: 15:23 (FL South 03); Track: 9:17.00,
4:17.75
2003 Foot Locker: 17th South (4th returnee) Other Top Placings:
Daniel LaCava, 2005, Grace Prep HS, Arlington, TX PRs/Top Times: Track: 4:16.33
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 2nd Marcus Inv. II, 3rd Cowboy Jamboree
Scott Mackley, 2005, Kathleen HS, FL
PRs/Top Times: 15:21 (State)
2003 Foot Locker: none
Other Top Placings: 4th 2A State
Scott MacPherson, 2005, Plano HS, TX
PRs/Top Times: 14:46 (Rick Neill Inv.); Track:
4:12.84, 8:54.50
2003 Foot Locker: 4th South (1st returnee)/14th Nationals (2nd returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st District, 1st McNeil Inv., 1st Humble Inv., 2nd 5A State 1600, 2nd Texas Relays 3200
Michael McCullough, 2005, Rogers, AR
PRs/Top Times: 15:11 (Chile Pepper)
2003 Foot Locker: 200th South
Other Top Placings: 6th Chile Pepper
Timothy McLeod, 2005, Episcopal, Jacksonville, FL PRs/Top Times: 15:10 (Chile Pepper); Track: 9:06.77y
2003 Foot Locker: 141st South
Other Top Placings: 5th Chile Pepper, 1st 2A State 3200
Kevin Ondrasek, 2005, Carroll HS, Southlake, TX PRs/Top Times: 15:38 (FL South 03); 4:18, 9:34
2003 Foot Locker: 37th South (13th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st District 5-5A, 1st Texas A&M Inv., 1st Nike South Inv.
Ari Perez, 2006, King HS, Corpus Christi, TX PRs/Top Times: 15:33
2003 Foot Locker: none
Other Top Placings: 13th Great American Nike ROC, 1st Miller Citgo Inv.
Jeff Rhodes, 2005, Florence, AL
PRs/Top Times: 15:31 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 29th South (8th returnee) Other Top Placings:
Derrick Robbins, 2005, Newport News, VA
PRs/Top Times: 15:36 (FL South 03); Track: 1:53.91,
4:18.96
2003 Foot Locker: 33rd South (10th returnee) Other Top Placings:
Sandy Roberts, 2006, Broughton HS, NC
PRs/Top Times: 15:20 (Region); Track: 4:15.6, 9:27.02
2003 Foot Locker: 59th South
Other Top Placings: 1st 4A State, 20th Great American Nike ROC
Ben Schulz, 2005, The Woodlands, TX
PRs/Top Times: 15:04 (Chile Pepper)
2003 Foot Locker: 49th South (20th returnee) Other Top Placings: 2nd Chile Pepper
Kevin Schwab, 2007, Mustang, OK
PRs/Top Times: 14:45 (Chile Pepper), (also 15:17);
Track: 9:32
2003 Foot Locker: 129th South
Other Top Placings: 1st 5A State, 1st Chile Pepper, 1st Oral Roberts, 1st Cowboy Jamboree
Bryan Sharkey, 2005, Gulliver Prep, Miami, FL PRs/Top Times: 15:17 (State); Track: 4:15.76y,
2003 Foot Locker: 30th South (9th returnee) Other Top Placings: 3rd 2A State, 15th Great American Nike ROC
Nicholas Stephens, 2005, Grady HS, Atlanta, GA PRs/Top Times: 15:34 (Alexander Inv.); Track: 9:37.80
2003 Foot Locker: 36th South (12th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st 2A State
Reid Wilson, 2005, Spring Valley HS, SC
PRs/Top Times: 16:15 (State)
2003 Foot Locker: 46th South (17th returnee) Other Top Placings: 1st 4A State, 27th Great American Nike ROC
Honorable Mention:
Lewis Woodard, NC; Will Noble SC; Chase Eckard; NC; Coleman Hoover, FL; Luke Hansen, TX
Foot Locker South Girls Contenders
Brittney Alberto, 2005, Carroll HS, Southlake , TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:22 FLS
2003 Foot Locker: 26th South (12th returnee)
Other Top Placings: (coming back from injury)
Kerry Allen, 2006, St. Petersburg , FL
PRs/Top Times: 18:06 FLS
2003 Foot Locker: 13th South (6th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 6th 4A State
Emilie Amaro, 2008, Cypress Bay HS, FL
PRs/Top Times: 17:59 ( Lourdes Inv.), 18:05 (State)
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 2nd 4A State, 1st FIU/Lourdes Inv., 3rd flrunners.com Inv.
Jennifer Barringer, 2005, Oviedo , FL
PRs/Top Times: 17:08 (State); Track: 2:16.31, 4:49.01y, 10:35.21, 10:02.27 3000m
2003 Foot Locker: 1st South (1st returnee)/3rd Nationals (3rd returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st 4A State, 6th Great American Nike ROC, 1st flrunners.com Inv., 1st region, 9th AOC 2M
Erin Bedell, 2005, Plano West HS, TX
PRs/Top Times: 17:36 (Great American), 10:49 2M (CC); 4:43.71y, 4:26.62 1500m
2003 Foot Locker: 3rd South (2nd returnee)/25th Nationals (13th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 4th Great American Nike ROC, 1st Region I-5A, 1st Golden West Mile,
Elizabeth Bruce, 2006, Forsyth Co. Day HS, Winston-Salem , NC
PRs/Top Times: 17:42 (State); Track: 11:09.33
2003 Foot Locker: 21st South (8th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st 3A State Independent, 1st Great American Small Schools , 2nd WNC Carnival, 1st Seahawk Inv.
Emily Borsare, 2007, McIntosh HS, GA
PRs/Top Times: 18:09 (Alexander); 5:12.40, 11:14.43
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 2nd, 4A State, 2nd Alexander Inv.
Emily Carpenter, 2008, Carlisle HS, AR
PRs/Top Times: 14:44 2.5K ( Chile Pepper)
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st Chile Pepper, 1st 2A State
Anna Chase, 2006, Martinsville , VA
PRs/Top Times: 18:23 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 28th South (13th returnee)
Other Top Placings:
Melissa Dewey, 2005, Alexandria , VA
PRs/Top Times: 17:37 (Glory Days), 16:42 (2.98M); Track: 10:42.7
2003 Foot Locker: 36th South (18th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st Glory Days Inv., 1st District
Jackie Drouin, 2007, Collins Hill HS, GA
PRs/Top Times: 18:28 (State); Track: 2:17.57, 5:02.99, 11:08.13
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st 5A State, 3rd Furman Inv.
Amy Fowler, 2005, Austin , TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:13 (FL South 03); Track: 10:47.44
2003 Foot Locker: 16th South (7th returnee)
Other Top Placings:
Jocelyn Gardner, A&M Consolidated HS, TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:21 (McNeil), 11:22 2M CC; Track: 11:02
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st McNeil Inv., 2nd II-5A
Christina Henderson, 2006, Coppell , TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:01 (FL South 03); Track: 10:41.05
2003 Foot Locker: 11th South (5th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 2nd McNeil Inv.
Nicole Jones, 2007, Westfield HS, TX
PRs/Top Times: 10:54 2M CC; Track: 10:52.14, 10:11.45 3000m, 4:54.17
2003 Foot Locker: none
Other Top Placings: 1st Region 3-5A
Tara Lenn, 2005, St. Paul s HS, AL
PRs/Top Times: 18:08 (region?), 18:30 (Jesse Owens)
2003 Foot Locker: None (2002: 4 th South/27 th Nationals
Other Top Placings: 1st Region?, 2nd Jesse Owens Inv.
Catherine Lynn, 2007, Centreville , VA
PRs/Top Times: 18:39 FLS
2003 Foot Locker: 38th South (20th returnee)
Other Top Placings:
Hailey Mercer, 2007, Kings Academy HS, FL
PRs/Top Times: 18:08 (State)
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st 1A State
Carmen Mims, 2005, Mercy Academy HS, KY
PRs/Top Times: 18:28 (Great American); Track: 10.37.93y, 4:56.68
2003 Foot Locker: None (2002: 9 th South)
Other Top Placings: 17th Great American Nike ROC, 8th AOC 2M
Elisabeth Molen, 2007, Birmingham , AL
PRs/Top Times: 18:34 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 33rd South (15th returnee)
Other Top Placings:
April Montgomery, 2006, Broken Arrow , OK
PRs/Top Times: 18:04 3M
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st Woodbridge Inv. D-2
Kate Niehaus, 2006, Spring Valley HS, Columbia , SC
PRs/Top Times: 17:43 (Wendys); Track: 10:41.54
2003 Foot Locker: 4th South (3rd returnee)/17th Nationals (9th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st 4A State, 9th Great American ROC, 1st Wendys Inv., 2nd Brown Champs, 1st WNC Carnival
Kelly Parrish, 2006, Ocala Vanguard HS, FL
PRs/Top Times: 17:44 (State); Track: 4:57.07y, 10:50.36y
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st 3A State, 12th Great American Nike ROC, 2nd Mobile MOC 2M
Amanda Patterson, 2006, Midlothian , VA
PRs/Top Times: 18:39 FLS; Track: 10:40.36, 9:54.74 3000m, 5:00.55
2003 Foot Locker: 37th South (19th returnee)
Other Top Placings:
Laurel Pritchard, 2006, Vestavia Hills HS, Birmingham , AL
PRs/Top Times: 18:11 (State 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 32nd South (14th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st Jesse Owens, 1st Furman Inv.
Emily Reese, 2008, Chamblee HS, GA
PRs/Top Times: 17:46 (Alexander)
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st 4A State, 1st Alexander Inv., 2nd Furman Inv.
Nicole Schappert, 2005, Pope John Paul II HS, Delray Beach , FL
PRs/Top Times: 17:33 (District); Track: 4:55 , 10:27.98y
2003 Foot Locker: 24th South (11th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st 2A State, 16th Great American Nike ROC, 1st flrunners.com Inv., 1st Region, 3rd Arcadia 2M
Aurora Scott, 2008, Western Branch HS, VA
PRs/Top Times: 18:03 ; Track: 4:37.48 1500m
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings:
Jill Skinner, 2005, Brentwood HS, TN
PRs/Top Times: 17:47 3M; Track: 5:13.47, 11:08.68
2003 Foot Locker: None
Other Top Placings: 1st 3A State, 2nd Memphis Twilight, 23rd Great American ROC
Stefanie Slekis, 2006, Forest Park HS, VA
PRs/Top Times: 18:11 (Disney); Track: 5:00.3
2003 Foot Locker: 41 st South (22 nd returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st Disney Classic 4A, 3rd Maymount Festival
Cheryl Spring , 2006, The Woodlands HS, Spring, TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:19 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 22nd South (9th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st Cowboy Jamboree, 3rd Lufkin Coke Classic, 3rd Nike South, 2nd District, 3rd Region
Brooke Upshaw, 2006, Carroll HS, Southlake , TX
PRs/Top Times: 18:27 (Nike South); Track: 10:38.76, 4:53.10,
2003 Foot Locker: 34th South (16th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 2nd Nike South Inv., 2nd Texas A&M Inv.
Miranda Walker, 2006, Carroll HS, Southlake , TX
PRs/Top Times: 17:56 (FL South 03), 11:03 2M (CC); Track: 10:32.22, 4:53.41
2003 Foot Locker: 9th South (4th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 1st Texas A&M Inv., 1st Nike South, 2nd Region I-5A
Ashley Williams, 2005, Mt. St. Mary HS , Little Rock , AR
PRs/Top Times: 18:20 (FL South 03)
2003 Foot Locker: 23rd South (10th returnee)
Other Top Placings: 5th 5A State, 1st Orange Crush Inv., 2nd Chile Pepper
Honorable Mention:
Faith Barlow, TX; Lindsey Pickens, GA; Lindsey Nadolski, NC; Andie Cozzarelli, NC; Jacqueline Areson, FL; Sarah Bowman, VA; Ina Ables, OK;
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