2006 Foot Locker Northeast region - Girls
Nov. 25, 2006 Van Cortlandt Park, New York City
Results - Marc Davis video - PA juniors Neely Spence and Carly Seymour 'relax' their way to 1st & 3rd. Hannah Davidson extends FL Finals streak to three. Shelby Greany, Elizabeth Deir and (by a fingernail) Danielle Tauro repeat. Two stars to stay home. by Don Rich
penntrackxc.com Ommmmmmm. Breathe. Relax. Ommmmmm. Breathe. Just relax. Ommmmm... I think I better move up if I want to make the finals. Ommmmm... there, that's better. I'm in first. Ommmmm.... The common strength shared by the two Pennsylvania juniors who took 1st and 3rd in the Northeast Region is that these girls have learned how to control their emotions, how to quickly assess a situation, but more importantly, not to over-react. They are confident in their abilities. Confident in their training. And confident they can meet their goals. Even if they're not feeling great. Even if they're a bit back in the pack. Neely Spence of Shippensburg, and Carly Seymour of Central Cambria near Altoona, are both going to the west coast for the first time. Both used a strong mental approach and preparation for the race to deal with different problems each faced early. And both were thrilled with the results. Neely Spence crosses the finish line. photo by PhotoRun 
Neely Spence was in position to earn a spot in 2005. But a then-undiagnosed iron deficiency conspired to sap her strength over the final 1000 meters, when she would slip from the top ten to 19th. Problem corrected. But Neely is not just a year older and smarter. There have been other big changes, as well. It's a year in which the homeschooled daughter of 1991 Marathon World Championship medalist Steve Spence became a member of a high school team for the first time. PA Governor Ed Rendell had signed the legislation in January 2006, and by November 4th, Neely was a state champion... running for her local high school, Shippensburg. Neely knew the plan. Get out fast, be comfortably in the front pack entering the woods, keep contact on the hills and then to go to her strength – downhill with speed – to get a top ten position and a trip to San Diego. It was the getting out fast part that presented a problem very early. The 5:20 mile pace would chew through the pack as the race wound through the hills. Spence said that because of the fast start, she never really felt that great throughout the race. "I didn't know whether I just wasn't having a good day, or if I was actually running pretty fast." Because she didn't panic, it actually turned out to be the latter one. Faced with the prospect of an off day, Spence started to focus on her breathing, rhythm and form. "My breathing helped me to be focused and stay relaxed." She also relied on newfound confidence from the 17:38 she had run 13 days prior to win the women's division of the New York Roadrunners Club XC Championships at Vanny. And she relied on her training. "I knew that I could handle just about anything. My training has been going really well." Spence was in the top ten at the top of Freshman Hill, and stayed in the 6-10 group through the woods, with the lead group just ahead. At the top of the last big hill, Spence made her move. "I really rolled on that downhill and just kept working my way up to see how many people I could pass." She rolled pretty well, because by the approach to the bridge, she was in 2nd. Crossing the bridge there was another downhill, and guess what happened... "I took the lead down that hill and headed for the finish." But (now three-time) Foot Locker Finalist Hannah Davidson, the Saratoga Springs NY junior, and Carly Seymour had other plans. The three battled, with Seymour briefly in front. Spence says she had no idea she had it won before she crossed the line. "I was running scared."
Spence's winning time of 17:41.1 was three seconds off her NYRRC time. It was that race that had given her the extra confidence to push through what she knew would be a tough race. Her 17:38 goes on the all-time Vanny list, and was faster than the 2005 winning FL NE time. "That was totally shocking. I had no idea I was capable of doing that." Now she does. It was only the second race of the season where Spence ran her own race. All the races prior to the NYRRC race had been strategic – gauging the competition at the two mile and then doing what was necessary for the win. Her district race had been delayed to just five days prior to states, so she ran that race to qualify. "Every race this year has turned out perfect. But this one was better than I imagined." Wonder what Spence is imagining heading to San Deigo? She didn't have an answer. "I take one meet at a time and haven't even thought about the national meet. I'm just looking to get my cool-down" (Hint to interviewer, gotta go). While Spence is in the lead pack, Seymour is taking a different approach. From 35th! Carly Seymour came to the Manhattan Invitational in October to get acquainted with the course, but more importantly, to learn how it feels to race in a group of talented runners. And notice we say 'group.' She is used to having a challenger or two in the small schools division in PA, but in her local races, she is always alone. Well, at Manhattan, she learned quickly, finishing 6th in the elite Girls' Eastern States race and gaining the confidence she needed. What she didn't expect to happen as the Northeast Regional race unfolded was exactly what happened. She got boxed in, and found herself in 35th entering the woods. Whoops. But no worries. Seymour has a hobby. It's, ummm, yoga. And she was prepared for anything. "It's a mental race, so I spent a lot of time mentally preparing myself through Yoga. Just relaxing. Breathing." While the lead group with Spence and Davidson was through in 5:20, Seymour was 'in the 5:30's". She was concerned. "I have never been that far back." By the mile, she had moved up in the teens. Then, in the hills, she really started to roll. "I kept passing so many people. I guess I saved a lot of energy." Soon, she heard someone yell she was in 13th. "I heard the girls around me breathing real heavy and they were tired, and I felt great, so I thought I had better kick it in." Kick she did. With about 1000 meters to go, she had moved into 5th, within 25 meters of Spence and Davidson. By the time Spence and Davidson had crossed the bridge, Seymour was right with them. Coming out of the woods, she heard someone else yell she was 3rd. "I got an energy burst and I was suddenly in first. But then they (Spence and Davidson) passed me, and I didn't care. It's still the top ten. But I was thinking, '35th to 1st' wow. I was in shock." Her 17:44 was within three seconds of Spence and two seconds of Davidson. Reflecting on the race, Seymour was pleased with the unusual way it had unfolded. "I could have handled the 5:20 start, but then like States, my third mile I would have hit a brick wall." She was the runner-up in AA this year to Neshannock junior Kacey Gibson, who was in the top ten for a time, but finished in 18:18, less than four seconds out of the last spot. Hilton senior Ashley Higginson leads three final three first-time qualifiers. Shelby Greany and Elisabeth Deir earn return trips. Danielle Tauro survives to race another day. First time finalist Ashley Higginson, the recent two-time runner-up in NJ to returning Finalist Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional, spent much of the race in 4th, and that is where she finished, running 17:52. Higginson knew the importance of getting out fast. All she wanted to do was just give herself a chance. "You just have to deal with how fast it goes out here. I knew if I could get to the hills, I knew I could be in it." Approaching the two mile mark, she passed a struggling Tauro, but was quickly passed by Spence. "So I was still in 4th." She says that Spence, Davidson and Seymour separated heading down the hill, fighting each other off heading for the finish. Higginson will be making her first west coast trip(s) starting with the Nike Team Nationals next week with her Colts Neck NJ team, and will return home before heading to southern California for Foot Lockers. "I really have to get home for my calculus AP class. I have to take that class." But she also prefers the comfort of home and being around her support group. "The travel doesn't affect me that much." For 2007, she hopes to be joining the nationally ranked Princeton squad. "That's where I'm going." Joining Higginson for the first time in San Diego will be Alison Smith, a senior from Atholton, Maryland, 5th in 17:55.9; Allison Sawyer, a senior from Hilton HS in New York; and Massachusetts sophomore Emily Jones, 9th in 18:03.9. The three additional returning finalists include Suffern sophomore Shelby Greany, 6th in 17:58.8; Elisabeth Deir of Honeoye Falls-Lima, NY, 7th in 18:00.6; and Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional NJ senior, 10th in 18:14.5. Despite the torrid first mile (2:32 800, 5:20 mile), Greany feels her 2005 race was tougher because she basically had to sprint the last mile to even qualify. She was 5th at the mile, but then says she looked down for a second, and when she looked up, "everyone was gone." She spent much of the race in 10th and noticed that the blistering opening pace had 'killed everyone." Greany got some extra motivation exiting the woods when she heard that the 11th place girl was right behind here. "I know her (Caroline Schultz, Hilton senior), and she has a fast kick, so I had to start moving. I knew she would be coming after me." Greany found her kick and moved up to 6th. Greany hopes to improve on her finish in 2005 at Nationals. "The recent warmth may be less of a shock. Last year we went from 30 degrees to 70." One of the girls she passed was fellow-returnee Elisabeth Deir, who also enjoyed passing those who were not able to handle the fast early pace. She says she just fed off the energy of the people at virtually every turn in the race. "Even though you're running your guts out on the course, you don't notice as much because there are other people to distract you. You have momentary goals of passing people and not letting up." Deir is aiming for top ten at Nationals. She'll make a college decision by mid-December, concentrating her final choices in the Northeast. Tauro, who was 6th in the finals in 2006, was in 3rd with 1000 meters to go, but had been in trouble since the two-mile point and nearly didn't finish. According to Dyestat reporter John Nepolitan, Tauro started to stumble with 70 meters to go, and went down twice in the final 20 meters, before crossing the line in 10th, less than a half second in front of Hilton NY's Caroline Schultz. "My eyes rolled in the back of my head with a mile to go. I don't know, maybe I was overhydrated." Not making the return trip to the Finals will be Colts Neck's Briana Jackucewicz, a sophomore, who was 19th, and junior Caitlin Lane, Greenwich NY, who stopped shortly after 4000 meters, in obvious distress.
Danielle Tauro falls a second time just short
of the finish line. photo by John Nepolitan
 | Still dazed, Tauro crosses the finish line. - photo by PhotoRun
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Results Place Name Grade City St Gseeded
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1 Spence, Neely 11 Shippensburg PA 17:41.1
2 Davidson, Hannah 11 SARATOGA SPRINGS NY 17:42.1
3 Seymour, Carly 11 EBENSBURG PA 17:44.0
4 Higginson, Ashley 12 MARLBORO NJ 17:52.0
5 Smith, Alison 12 COLUMBIA MD 17:55.9
6 Greany, Shelby 10 Suffern NY 17:58.8
7 Deir, Elisabeth 12 Lima NY 18:00.6
8 Sawyer, Allison 12 MILTON NY 18:01.7
9 Jones, Emily 10 Harvard MA 18:03.9
10 Tauro, Danielle 12 Manahawkin NJ 18:14.5
11 Schultz, Caroline 12 HILTON NY 18:15.0
12 Gibson, Kacey 11 New Castle PA 18:18.8
13 Thompson, Melanie 10 High Bridge NJ 18:20.8
14 Crofford, Lara 12 Newville PA 18:21.5
15 Champagne, Mary Kate 11 PLATTSBURGH NY 18:23.9
16 Heigis, Lara 12 WALPACK NJ 18:26.8
17 Olson, Jamie 12 GLASTONBURY CT 18:27.3
18 Sikora, Allison 12 Newtown PA 18:27.9
19 Jackucewicz, Briana 10 Farmingdale NJ 18:34.2
20 Bottorff, Juliet 10 NEWARK DE 18:37.6
21 Barton, Jessica 12 NEWTON MA 18:40.3
22 Maguire, Keely 11 GEORGETOWN MA 18:40.9
23 Cattuna, Theresa 12 CHERRY HILL NJ 18:42.5
24 Lusardi, Catherine 11 SOUTH WALES NY 18:44.7
25 Hulton, Jenna 11 EAST AURORA NY 18:45.9
26 Griffin, Georgia 11 Norwich VT 18:46.2
27 Sinclair, Halsey 12 SILVER SPRING MD 18:48.2
28 Marino, Amanda 12 JACKSON NJ 18:48.4
29 Gregory, Meaghan 10 SCOTIA NY 18:48.8
30 Gallo, Laura 12 CRAWFORD NJ 18:49.0
31 Walker, Marika 12 BOWIE MD 18:49.4
32 Harrison, Cara 12 GAITHERSBURG MD 18:50.1
33 Roecher, Samantha 10 CHARLTON NY 18:50.3
34 Ivs, Eliza 12 HARVARD MA 18:51.6
35 Spratford, Katrina 11 Califon NJ 18:56.2
36 Schuman, Amy 11 LEE NH 18:59.3
37 Walsh, Marie 10 Aberdeen NJ 18:59.8
38 Meholick, Kassandra 12 New Cumberland PA 19:00.0
39 Pennings, Tori 11 WARWICK NY 19:00.6
40 Hartung, Genna 10 Morrisville NY 19:01.2
41 MacK, Jeanne 11 BRISTOL RI 19:01.7
42 Shertzer, Lindsey 12 Washington Boro PA 19:02.1
43 Kligman, Hannah 12 Radnor PA 19:02.6
44 Black, Bridgette 11 Hanover NH 19:02.9
45 Lanois, Emily 10 HAMILTON MA 19:03.2
46 Woodruff, Alycia 12 WESTCHESTER PA 19:03.8
47 Kinney, Dale 9 MORRISTOWN NJ 19:04.8
48 Wallace, Jaime 9 ALDEN NY 19:05.4
49 Hursey, Katie 12 Hampstead MD 19:06.0
50 Gilmartin Donohue, Kaylin 11 WHITE PLAINS NY 19:06.5
51 Zarger, Lauren 10 ERIE PA 19:06.7
52 Dinnan, Courtney 11 Hamden CT 19:07.9
53 Ross, Kathryn 11 Doylestown PA 19:08.3
54 Goutos, Cassandra 9 SARATOGA SPRINGS NY 19:09.1
55 Jenkins, Jordan 10 McSherrystown PA 19:11.4
56 Kellner, Katie 10 West Windsor NJ 19:13.5
57 Stephens, Heather 11 RIDGEFIELD CT 19:14.3
58 Malloy, Kristen 10 Phoenix MD 19:15.0
59 McCarter, Elizabeth 12 Ellicott City MD 19:16.1
60 Cannon, Caitlin 12 WEST HARTFORD CT 19:16.7
61 Vogel, Christine 11 GLASTONBURY CT 19:17.3
62 Hogan, Callie 12 BAYSHORE NY 19:17.4
63 Cawley, Erin 10 Newark Valley NY 19:17.6
64 Gay, Morgane 11 Bethesda MD 19:19.2
65 Berard, Tori 10 DENVILLE NJ 19:19.7
66 Chodoff, Alaina 12 CHERRY HILL NJ 19:20.2
67 Stasakova, Erika 11 BELAIR MD 19:20.3
68 MacKay, Rebekah 12 WHITINSVILLE MA 19:21.2
69 Millhouse, Karaleigh 11 Boiling Springs PA 19:22.1
70 Rosettie, Kate 10 Corning NY 19:22.6
71 Hinds, Abby 12 Moutain Lakes NJ 19:23.0
72 Kubala, Kristina 12 COATESVILLE PA 19:23.3
73 Seguine, Brina 12 Rensselaer NY 19:24.8
74 Van Houten, Meghan 11 LIMA NY 19:27.1
75 Morrison, Sarah 12 CHAMBERSBURG PA 19:28.4
76 Hines, Erica 10 ENFIELD CT 19:29.7
77 Redman, Jennifer 12 NEW CARROLLTON MD 19:30.2
78 Ramsey, Kesley 12 Franklin Lakes NJ 19:32.8
79 Standridge, Kimberly 12 RANDOLPH NJ 19:33.3
80 Davies, Kathleen 12 Huntington Valley PA 19:33.5
81 Clark, Sydney 11 LANCASTER PA 19:33.9
82 Spratt, Lilly 12 OLD LYMC CT 19:34.4
83 Busby, Natalie 11 New Paltz NY 19:35.2
84 Jamieson, Dana 11 BOSTON MA 19:36.5
85 Downing, Jennifer 11 Stow MA 19:36.9
86 Sinclair, Ashlyn 12 SILVER SPRING MD 19:37.6
87 Lamparter, Marie 12 Carlisle PA 19:38.3
88 Troy, Dana 12 LEBANON CT 19:38.9
89 Horton, Ashley 12 Candor NY 19:39.7
90 Goetschius, Amanda 12 FRANKLINVILLE NJ 19:41.5
91 Bower, Natalie 10 Pleasant Unity PA 19:43.3
92 Thomas, Keara 12 HAVERHILL MA 19:43.5
93 Boland, Colleen 12 Drexel Hill PA 19:43.9
94 Mullins, Paige 11 Binghamton NY 19:44.4
95 Schneider, Rachel 10 SANFORD ME 19:45.5
96 Simonetti, Sarah 11 PERKASIE PA 19:46.4
97 Altland, Christine 12 Hazlet NJ 19:47.9
98 Hefferan, Amanda 12 Parsippany NJ 19:48.9
99 Cronin, Jennifer 12 KINGS PARK NY 19:49.8
100 Webber, Eliza 11 STODDARD NH 19:51.0
101 Davis Hayes, Cecilia 12 PHILADELPHIA PA 19:51.3
102 Bascelli, Amanda 9 FOLSOM PA 19:51.6
103 Provost, Rachel 12 MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP NJ 19:52.3
104 Perron, Emma 12 WEST HARTFORD CT 19:52.7
105 McCartan, Jenna 12 NEWARK DE 19:53.6
106 Bellon, Brianne 9 Greenfield NY 19:54.4
107 Locke, Ali 10 BOONTON NJ 19:55.2
108 Dewdney, Berol 10 Putney VT 19:55.7
109 Kershner, Katie 11 TATNAIL 19:56.8
110 Mitchell, Kristin 11 GLASTONBURY CT 19:57.4
111 Ballantyne, Emily 10 YORK PA 19:58.3
112 Diacont, Margaret 10 NAZARETH PA 19:58.7
113 Weberg, Kristen 10 EAST AURORA NY 19:59.2
114 Hays, Erin 12 WADING RIVER NY 20:00.1
115 Kelly, Courtney 11 NORTH BELLMORE NY 20:02.1
116 Bossardet, Katherine 12 Gales Ferry CT 20:05.0
117 Crawford, Erin 10 EAST AURORA NY 20:07.0
118 Lewis, Shatievah 11 PHILADELPHIA PA 20:07.3
119 D'Orazio, Kaitlyn 10 York ME 20:09.3
120 Peverda, Molly 12 Hampden ME 20:12.0
121 Crocetti, Lindsay 10 ROCHESTER NY 20:12.5
122 Stocker, Lauren 12 WESTFIELD MA 20:12.8
123 Ritchie, Sarah 10 HILTON NY 20:13.0
124 Madden, Kimberly 10 HOCKESSIN DE 20:13.9
125 Dubin Rhodin, Abbie 12 EASTON PA 20:14.3
126 Christensen, Jean 10 RUMFORD RI 20:14.5
127 Kerr, Grace 12 SOUTH HAMILTON MA 20:15.8
128 Gallagher, Kerri 12 Belle Harbor NY 20:16.6
129 Smith, Alyssa 11 ROCHESTER NY 20:19.9
130 Moynihan, Kate 10 STORRS CT 20:20.4
131 Andrianos, Leah 12 EAST SYRACUSE NY 20:21.4
132 Clarke, Emma 11 Bronxville NY 20:22.3
133 Jeltes, Lindsey 12 OAKLAND NJ 20:25.3
134 Werley, Danielle 12 OREFIELD PA 20:26.2
135 Corley, Jillian 12 NEW LONDON NH 20:30.9
136 Reese, Kristin 11 Holmes NY 20:33.7
137 Solly, Amanda 11 West Seneca NY 20:37.3
138 Griffith, Erika 11 MOUNT LAUREL NJ 20:39.7
139 Moniz, Kellyann 12 SOUTH HAMILTON MA 20:40.6
140 Castagno, Joan 12 NEWCASTLE DE 20:41.0
141 Fuller, Hannah 9 NAZARETH PA 20:41.7
142 Clarke, Nicole 11 ABINDON MD 20:42.2
143 McCary, Laura 12 GAITHERSBURG MD 20:42.9
144 Marshall, Katie 11 KINGS PARK NY 20:44.8
145 Lierandi, Ashlyn 12 RIDGEWOOD NJ 20:45.0
146 Ferrarini, Maura 11 Springfield MA 20:46.4
147 Troy, Samantha 12 LEBANON CT 20:47.9
148 Robbins, Mary Rachel 11 LOCKPORT NY 20:49.8
149 Wells, Christina 12 WASHINGTON CT 20:50.6
150 Woodward, Tait 12 Annapolis MD 20:51.4
151 Lewis, Brett 10 Scituate MA 20:52.0
152 Pearce, Nicole 12 SOUTH WEYMOUTH MA 20:55.2
153 Avilleira, Ashley 12 JACKSON NJ 20:58.6
154 Weismiller, Hilary 11 McKean PA 20:59.0
155 Mehlman, Nicole 10 PERKASIE PA 20:59.5
156 Horgan, Erin 11 Southboro MA 21:02.6
157 Saldanha, Kaitlynn 12 SCARBOROUGH ME 21:14.3
158 Wadlow, Lauryn 12 CARVER MA 21:21.3
159 Slonski, Stephanie 11 Griswold CT 21:23.3
160 Torres, Jessica 12 Clifton NJ 21:26.9
161 Fraser, Kelsey 11 Lockport NY 21:30.5
162 Castagno, Annie 12 NEW CASTLE DE 21:43.7
163 Kasala Hallinan, Caitlin 12 WORCESTER MA 21:49.2
164 Hamill, Carly 12 ANNAPOLIS MD 21:53.4
165 Mendoza, Sarah 11 Clifton NJ 22:00.6
166 McKenna, Marie 10 PERKASIE PA 22:17.6
167 Merzbach, Debbie 12 ROCHESTER NY 22:33.6
168 Dodd, Martina 12 SEVERN MD 22:36.4
169 Stanton, Jessica 12 ELMIRA HEIGHTS NY 22:39.2
170 Weglinska, Sabina 11 Clifton NJ 22:40.2
171 Martinez, Susan 11 Clifton NJ 22:58.5
172 Senor, Maggie 11 Teaneck NJ 23:00.3
173 Doyle, Sarah 12 WORCESTER MA 23:01.5
174 Pelak, Leanne 12 West Milford NJ 23:14.5
175 Myers, Lauren 12 Dover NH 23:29.9
176 Palmer, Caitlin 12 ELMIRA HEIGHTS NY 26:32.2
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