Boys - Girls

Boys

THE FAVORITES

After finishing a modest 13th in his first Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals last year, Andrew Bumbalough (Brentwood Academy,TN) produced an unpredicted dominating performance in the two mile at the Arcadia Invitational on April 10,2004.

Following far far off the first mile pace of Andy Biladeau(Jesuit, Tampa,FL), Bumbalough slowly made his way into second place behind heavy favorite, Shadrack Kiptoo(La Cueva, Albuquerque, NM). With 2 laps to go, Kiptoo looked like a lock to win as he continued to lead. But Bumbalough had other plans. He pulled to Kiptoo's side and with ease began to pull away over the final 600m to score a stunning upset and clock an impressive 8:49.87; a PR by over twenty seconds.

Later Bumbalough spoke about his lengthy preparation for the race which he felt had prepared him for the win. The confidence with which he spoke was eerie considering he had just blasted the entire field effortlessly. He maintained his winning streak in the 3200m winning the state title and adding the 1600m title for good measure. He opted out of any post season meets ending the season ranked #5 by Track and Field News.

Entering this season, Bumbalough spoke modestly of his goals. He only sought to improve on last year's times and take a page from his preparation for Arcadia to prepare himself for the difficult Balboa Park course in San Diego, CA in December. He went undefeated this season and posting course record times.

In his two big efforts, the TN Classic and the state meet, he has lowered the 3 mile course state record twice to a final most likely long standing time of 14:14. With a reported 8:53 3200m in a time trial, Bumbalough seems primed to not only win this Saturday, but threaten the venerable 14:43 course record held by the great Alan Webb(South Lakes,Reston, VA).

Bumbalough will have company too in the form of Scott MacPherson (Plano, TX). MacPherson followed a similar path as Bumbalough last year. Finishing with the same time, 15:30 and just one place behind him at Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals, MacPherson produced a sensational 8:54.50 3200m PR at the Texas Relays. The tough TX track schedule kept him out of post season meets.

MacPherson too has gone undefeated this season in cross country and ended the season with a state 5k course record of 14:34; a stunning 41 second ahead of runner-up, Orey Smith of South Lake Carroll,TX. MacPherson will also be primed for a run at the record and will be the only one who can challenge Bumbalough.

THE CHALLENGERS

None of the challengers have the resume of the top two, but certainly can't be discredited after some much improved performances in the past year. The final 6 spots could be anyone's really. This group is so close, 5 seconds could make a difference in who qualifies and who does not.

NC State signee, Robert Bedsole, has also gone undefeated this year. His 4:38 first mile at the Great American Festival broke the spirits of the contenders giving him some day light on fast finishing runner-up Jeff See(Middletown, OH) who finished in 15:17. Bedsole’s time was a course record 15:13. He has also produced several low 15 minute efforts this season on a variety of courses.

Super soph Kevin Schwab (Mustang,OK) finished only 129th(16:25) in last year's seeded race, but has produced some quick times this cross country season. At the Chili Pepper meet in Fayetteville, Ark, Schwab pulled away from a strong field to win by 20 seconds. His fast 14:44 was a course record. He has not been defeated this year and won his state meet 22 seconds with a time of 15:55.

Virginia signee Andy Biladeau (Jesuit, Tampa, FL) watched friend Laura Bowerman earn one of the final qualifying spots at last year's Foot Locker South Region race before going out and finishing 16th(15:22), third best among the south returnees. Biladeau started this season off with an 8k before registering a fourth place finish(15:29) at the Great American Cross Country Festival, third best among the south region entrants. A hard fought second place at the 2A state championships to Jeremy Criscione(Interlachen,FL) produced his best time of the season,15:09. He sandwiched his state meet performance with two impressive dueces. In the first, he steamed to a 9:08 two mile at the half time of his team's football game, and then on Nov.13, he turned the tables on Criscione and some of Florida's best to run a 9:10.21 for 3200m in windy conditions. Healthy and looking stronger than ever, Biladeau is almost certain to get one of the qualifying spots.

The lanky Michael Chapa (Tucker,VA) is much improved after last years 23rd place finish(15:27). At the Great American Festival,he hung on gamely before eventual winner, Robert Bedsole, broke open the race. His 15:22 was second best among the south entrants. He also won his state meet by 34 seconds in sloppy conditions. His winning time was 15:54.

After finishing second in the 2A state track meet in the 3200m, 9:13.07, Jeremy Criscione (Interlachen,FL) opted out of post season racing to train for this upcoming cross country season. Stints in Utah and NY seem to have paid off. His early efforts were modest. He recorded a 2nd place at the flunners.com meet and a 3rd place to Bumbalough and Ben Hubers(GA) at the Jesse Owens Classic. In the final month of the season, he was able to erase an early season loss to 3A FL state champ,Justin Harbor, at the Bobcat Classic and cruise to some fast times in his preparation for the state meet. His peak was perfect for the state meet. Criscione seemed in control the entire race and shadowed defending 2A state champ, Andy Biladeau’s, every move. In the final 1k, Criscione eased away speeding to state meet and course record of 15:02 and leaving Biladeau exclaiming " That's one tough kid!" He followed that with a 9:21.67 for the 3200m at the Florida Milers Club, third best among high schoolers.

Sam Bryfczynski (Walton,GA) also timed his peak perfectly this season. After some early wins, Bryfczynski, suffered a humbling loss to Bumbalough at the TN Classic. At the 5A state meet, he was able to hold off GA super soph, Ben Hubers(McEachern,GA) to claim the title with a 15:31 time.

North Carolina has two blue chip contenders. Jack Bolas (Chapel Hill, NC) finished 20th last year(15:25), but was beaten soundly by Sandy Roberts (Broughton,Raleigh, NC) at the 3A NC State championships. Roberts was timed in 15:36 to Bolas'15:54. Roberts nearly matched that spread over Bolas with a 9:03.2 to 9:21.5 clocking over 3200m in a tune up for the Foot Locker South meet. Roberts was 59th last year, but should certainly be in contention for a top spot.

Justin Harbor (Flagler Palm Coast, Bunnell,FL) won the mid season flrunners.com easily over Florida's best,minus Biladeau. After a defeat to Criscione at the Bobcat Classic, Harbor stepped on to the track and produced a sensational 8:59, negatively splitting a 4:35,4:24 for the distance. At the state meet, he went out quick and suffered late before cruising home in a time of 15:19. He too competed in the Florida Milers Club event on Nov.13, posting a 9:17.84.

THE RACE

Expect another torrid start. Robert Bedsole used the long downhill at Great American to register a 4:38 opening mile. Scott MacPherson and Andrew Bumbalough will feel comfortable at this pace or even faster. The challengers will also be willing to go out at break neck speeds so that the leaders don't get too far away. Expect a low 4:30 at the mile for the leaders with a strung out pack in tow. Up and down the hill should weed out some. The loop around the lake is telling. Many begin to feel the pace just before the two mile mark and one can see in the competitors eyes and form who will be contenders.

Bumbalough and MacPherson should hit the deuce in 9:20-25. Only a couple will be able to match this pace. The pace over the final mile will not taper off. Both Bumbalough and MacPherson will be prepared for the final drive home. Bumbalough showed his ability to crack open a fast pace with his victory at Arcadia. In a similar situation at the Texas Relays,MacPherson could not hang on to Brian Sullivan's(The Woodlands,TX) last 400m sprint finish.

Expect a record setting run in the 14:38 range for Bumbalough. MacPherson should also get under the record. Behind them..... tons of potential qualifiers. Bedsole, Biladeau, Criscione and Roberts look to be the strongest, but as was the case last year and in any given year at the south region, some may surprise. This group is so close. Expect anything above 15:05 not to qualify.

Girls

CAN BARRINGER REPEAT?

Last year, Jenny Barringer was able to open some day light on the field by the bottom of "the hill" and cruise to a uncontested 15 second victory over the last half of the race. Barringer would be considered a strong favorite were it not for major jaw surgery which kept her from training for a month this summer and one of the best fields ever assembled for a cross country race.

She started her racing late this season, but was still able to post a best of 17:08 at the state meet by season's end. Barringer has admitted that she is a "month behind" in her training, but it does not put a damper her outlook on the season or her ultimate goal, a national championship.

"I'm hoping to do a lot better," she said with a smile when asked what her goals for Foot Locker this season shortly after her third state 4A championship in Tampa on November 6. And one should not doubt Barringer who has finished no worse than sixth in any major cross country competition in the the past two years. Look for a more savvy and experienced race from Barringer who has a 35th at the IAAF World Juniors to her credit and has shown a resilency no matter the terrain(hills at Great American and Foot Locker nationals) or conditions(snow at USA Junior Cross Country Trials in Indianapolis).

THE CHALLENGERS

Erin Bedell logged some 60+ miles this summer to prepare her miler body for the rigors of the cross country 5K distance. In her first test, The Great American Cross Country Festival ROC, Bedell was able to run with the lead pack for much of the race before Warwick Valley's Aislinn Ryan put on the jets to run away with the win. Bedell hung on for fourth in a time of 17:36 and was able to get seven seconds on Barringer over the final mile.

Bedell then dropped down in distance to dominate Texas cross country. Her sterling 10:39 at state to win by 18 seconds over 10:30ish track two milers and teammates Brooke Upshaw and Miranda walker of Carroll, South Lake, TX indicates that her miler speed may just be catching up with her in cross country, a deadly proposition.

Spring Valley, SC Kate Niehaus is the most experienced of the bunch. She has quietly made two national cross country finals and is vying for a third. An amazing feat for a girl who only began running for her team the beginning of her freshman year when her coach saw her in soccer conditioning drills. Niehaus has also shown some resilency, coming from a DNF in her first outing at nationals to a 17th place finish last year.

This season, she has steadily improved winning nearly every race she has run and finishing well at her two big races, 9th(18:02) at Great American despite misjudging the finish and coming to a stop 75 meters from the finish, and 24 second loss second place finish(17:44) to 2002 Foot Locker 4th placer Laura Cummings at the Brown Invitational.

THE DARK HORSES

It's hard to call this tremendously deep field "dark horses" when there are eleven(14 total) sub 10:52 3200m runners amongst them. With credentials like these, they won't sneak up on anyone and the commonly seen surprises may be few and far between. A few of them have had impressive cross country seasons to set them apart from the others.

It's hard to separate Carroll Southlake teammates, Brooke Upshaw and Miranda Walker. The two seem to swap places with Upshaw getting the upper hand at their state meet. Walker was an oh-so-close two seconds out of qualifying last year and after a 10:32.3 3200m last year will be a threat for a top eight finish. Upshaw was only 32nd last year at Foot Locker South, but in track improved to 4:53.1 1600m and 10:38.76 for 3200m. A runner-up finish at state may be give her a boost of confidence.

Lithe Nicole Schappert (Pope John Paull II, Boca Raton,FL) was dogged by injuries last year entering this race and finished a distant 24th. A healthy Schappert ripped a 10:27.98 3rd place at the Arcadia Invitational to stamp herself as a major contender regionally as well as nationally. This season she has continued to remain healthy posting a best of 17:33. Her 16th place finish at the Great American Festival NIKE ROC followed a stride for stride race with Barringer at flrunners.com the week before. There, Schappert raced gamely before losing by one second in a kick to the finish. An elated Schappert was beaming with added confidence afterward. She has gone unchallenged since her October Great American race and is another potential threat to finish in the top eight.

Carmen Mims (Mercy Academy, Louisville,KY) finished 9th two years ago to childhood friend and eventual two time Foot Locker National Finalist, Maddie Scheuler. The third time may be the charm for her. In the south laden field at the Great American Festival NIKE ROC, Mims was 17th,6th best among the south runners. She has since gone on to a dominating state meet record(18:26) win at her state meet.

Melissa Dewey (Hayflied, Alexandria, VA) has made marked improvement since her 36th place finish last year. In two consecutive weeks, she posted a blazing 16:42 and 17:07 on the 2.98 Lake Burke Park course. She followed that with a easier than expected 1:11 pasting of sensational freshman Aurora Scott(Western Branch, VA) at the state meet. She has also won by large margins all season and will be in the lead pack.

Kelly Parrish (Vanguard, Ocala, FL) is another who has been under the radar in cross country circles. Last year, the sophomore finish second to eventual Foot Locker finalist Laura Bowerman(King, Tampa,FL) at the 3A state meet. The former cheerleader used a strong winter build-up under coach James Travieso, Steve Hassen's coach, to blaze a 4:57.07 mile and 10:50.36 two mile on the track in the spring. An injury kept her out of any post season meets, but she came back with a vengeance in her first cross country meet to post a 17:57. She followed that with a 12th place finish(18:09) at the Great American Festival NIKE ROC,4th best among the South entrants. The 3A state champ also has run under 18:00 on two other occasions, 17:43PB at Katie Caples and 17:44 at state, and won by large margins, Katie Caples by 1:33 and by 36 seconds at state. In a tune-up on Nov.13, Parrish posted a 10:54.67 for 3200m.

Elizabeth Bruce (Forsyth,Winston Salem,NC) ran an impressive second to Kate Niehaus at the WNCCC in August and then went on to run away with the small schools race at Great American. She also won the NC independent schools championships on the tough 2002 Great American SAS course in Cary, NC in a stunning 17:42.

Laurel Pritchard (Vestavia Hills, AL) has gone undefeated this year. Her wins have been by large margins and she posted the top time, 18:08, at the state meet. She finished 32nd last year.

Eighth grader Caitlin Chitwood (Scottsboro,AL) was a close second to the top time of the day with her 18:11 win in the Class 5A race.

THE RACE

Expect a more torrid than usual start at McAlpine on Saturday. Jenny Barringer and Erin Bedell like a fast pace and Bedell's Speed can match Barringer’s strength in the dash for position. The two should be able to head the charge into the first turn before the course narrows onto the track like path. The challengers will also go with the pace, so there will be a huge pack by the mile. A 5:15 first mile last year put you in arrears. Expect the same again as the leaders come through in about 5:05.

The much talked about hill tests the resolve of the front runners for the day and usually whittles the pack to the top 15 or so. Barringer used the long steep downhill last year to create her gap, but the strong and experienced field should be able to keep her in their sight this time around.

The loop around the lake usually lifts spirits as the several hundred spectators create a deafening crescendo of cheering. The two mile can be expected to be reached in the 10:45-50 range with only the top eight in contention. The runners will disappear into the woods which usually proves to be the determiner for the top eight spots. With so many in contention and the expected top two, Barringer and Bedell, unwilling to yield, the pace will be stiff.

The drive home should be heated. Expect some faltering from those who braved the torrid start and may have gotten in over their heads. The final loop around the lake is deceivingly long leaving some to kick too early and others too late.

Expect the top eight to finish under 17:38, the best showing ever at the Foot Locker South Region.