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DyeStat Cross Country 2000
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South Regional |
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Preview - Certainty �
and Mystery at McAlpine
by Stephen (steveu) Underwood
Two things seem certain about predicting the outcome of Saturday's Foot Locker South regional championships. One is that if you polled qualified observers as to the winner or the single most-likely national qualifier from the boys' race, virtually everyone would have the same answer: Alan Webb of South Lakes (Va.) HS. The second is if you polled the same people as to the remaining seven qualifiers for the boys, as well as the top eight in the girls' race, you'd have nearly as many predictions as you will runners on the McAlpine Greenway CC layout in Charlotte, N.C. this weekend. Saturday's gala will have 15 CC races spread over almost seven hours, ranging from Masters to middle-schoolers. But the two that everyone will be most attuned to will be the seeded races beginning at 10 a.m. (girls) and 10:30 a.m. (boys). Those will determine the eight standouts from each gender that will earn a slot on the starting line at the national finals in Orlando on Dec. 9.
Boys
Only the most heinous disaster should keep defending South champ Webb from handling the best competition the region has to offer -- the same way he's dominated nearly every race he's run since the start of his junior year. The only "blemish" on his record, if you can call it that, was an 8th at Nationals last December -- which followed the blistering course-record 14:52 that he used to whip the field at McAlpine last year.
But what really opened eyes this fall was that clocking that began with a "13," as in the record 13:57 he ran to win his Concorde District meet at Burke Lake Park. Never mind that the course is 2.98 miles. The result -- along with races like his Great American title (14:59) and the Virginia AAA state crown he claimed two weeks ago (15:03) -- have again served notice that Webb not only is much more than a miler, with incredible range, but a serious threat to win it all in Orlando.
Who will make up the rest of the South team?
The possibilities are numerous, but first you must look towards the other five returning team members -- Steven Maddox, Bobby Lockhart, John and Sean Jefferson, and Stephen Haas. While it would seem no mystery that these young men should make up 3/4 of the team, the reality is that numerous others are hoping to prove themselves worthy challengers.
Depending where you hail from, you'll get arguments for that state to have the most qualifiers or its top runner(s) to give Webb the toughest battle. Stephen Haas (North Mecklenburg HS, N.C.) was the last South qualifier in '99 and has seemingly been surprisingly underrated, with a relatively modest start to his season. But he recently claimed the N.C. state crown on McAlpine in 15:12 � and how can you pick against the second-best finisher from the region at nationals (11th) last year anyway? "This year we extended his base and increased his mileage," says Brad Herbster, Haas' coach and xctrack.com web site publisher. "He was running well at the beginning of the year, but not fantastically. Now he's running fantastically. He's just in solid, solid shape."
Steven Maddox (The Colony HS, Texas) is actually the second-highest returnee from the South race (3rd/24th at nationals). But Rod Koborsi of Jersey Village HS (13th South) is the top dog in the Lone Star State right now after gapping Maddox in the final kilo in the Texas 5A meet two weeks ago (14:58-15:20). Koborsi certainly has one of the best chances of breaking up last year's top six returnees. In any case, both are serious contenders.
Virginians will probably tell you the next closest thing to a sure bet after Webb is one of their own. Bobby Lockhart (John Handley HS) was the top sophomore in the country last fall, finishing 4th in the South and 16th at nationals. The fastest miler (4:08) in the field next to Webb, he won the Virginia AA race on Nov. 11 in a record 15:24.
Perhaps the deepest set of championship contenders comes from Florida, starting with '99 nationals qualifying twins John and Sean Jefferson (Atlantic-Delray HS), who finished 5th and 7th in the South last fall. They also were 3rd and 6th at Great American in September. But that's only the beginning. Mike Swope (Winter Park HS) beat both Jeffersons in the 4A state meet with a 14:54. There's also Matt Cianciulli (Flagler Palm Coast HS), a junior who won the 3A Fla. meet (15:14) and handed Swope his only loss at the Flrunners.com Invitational. And don't forget Rolf Steier (Berkeley Prep), whose only loss was to Swope and who won the 1A Fla. meet (15:10). "Mike and Matt are good friends and trained together this summer," says Jason Byrne, flrunners.com publisher and meet director. "But the Jeffersons will be looking for redemption. Realistically, Florida has five guys with a good shot."
Other state champions and all-staters from around the region will hope to get in the mix. Among the most highly-regarded of those would have to be Kentucky's Bobby Curtis, Georgia's Joe Thorne and Alabama's Matt Tillman. Curtis (HS), just a sophomore, won the FL South freshman race last year, but has stepped up with several low 15s and the fastest state-meet winner in the Bluegrass State. Thorne (56th in '99) dominated Georgia competition all year, clocking the only sub-16 in five state-meet classes. Tillman, 18th in FL South last year and the 8th best returnee, has been the best in 'Bama all year.
Then there's South Carolina's Brandon Bartholomew, Tennessee's Sean Stevens, Louisiana's Pat Gavin, Mississippi's Robert Stevenson and West Virginia's Jay Urse -- all fastest at their respective state meets. At 35th, Stevens is the highest returning FL South finisher of that group. Still others can lay claim to being contenders. South Carolina's Graham Lovett and Kevin Jones saw their 4A state title dreams ended with a wrong turn while leading in their meet. Other results they've had demonstrate that they are among the region's best. Michael Hatch (63rd at FL South in '99) and Reed Fisher are other SC hopefuls.
Matt Maline (50th), Matt Keally (36th), John Crews and Allen Carr (58th) are four of Virginia's next best, or Bryce Ruiz (22nd) and Austin Smith could contend if they can recover from injuries that hampered their state meet efforts.
Texans in the mix could be Tyler McCollom, Rob Morrow and Ty Stanfield (53rd), or Woodlands runners and solid returning placers like Rob Dunphy (34th) or Chris Esselborn (59th). Georgia's Nic Cowan (39th), Mississippi's Jake Raines (40th) and Louisiana's Greg Fell (60th) are actually the best returnees from their states. N.C. Independent Schools champ Chris Elder (24th) is another to look for, along with Jeff Gosselin (37th) and Matt DeBole from the host state. Another darkhorse, among several in Florida, is freshman Ryan Deak, perhaps the best 9th-grader in the country.
Girls
Three of the top eight and nationally-qualifying girls from FL South '99 were expected back this year, but only two will toe the line Saturday. Jessa Vacek (Carroll HS) of Texas and Christa Benton (Keswick Christian HS) of Florida were 2nd and 6th respectively in Charlotte last fall, then 23rd and 25th in Orlando.
Vacek won her 4A state meet over 3200 meters on Nov. 11 with an 11:10, while Benton had the fastest overall clocking to win her 1A battle last week in 17:25.
On the other hand, North Carolina's Casey McGraw (Morganton Freedom HS) -- 3rd in the South last year and the highest national returnee from the region (21st) -- has missed the season with injury problems. With a recent fractured ankle sidelining Julia Lassiter-Lucas of Myers Park HS (19th in the South in '99), the home state's chances have been reduced. Laura Stanley (Carolina Day HS) should help make up the difference, though, being an Independent Schools champ (18:36) and the 7th best returnee (16th) from the South last year. "Laura is definitely one to watch," says George Phillips, publisher of NCPrepTrack.com. "Ginger Wheeler (4A champ from Mt. Tabor HS) is the best of the rest and I would say Kristin Stroupe (Watauga HS) is close behind, even though she collapsed at the state meet."
It could be the Sunshine State that will be the most prosperous, however. Three of the top six South returnees are from Florida, including Kara Scanlin (Jacksonville Episcopal HS) in 13th and Jill Gerber (Cypress Lake HS) in 14th. Jessica Zabel (Lake Mary HS), the Florida 4A champ in 17:58, leads several other contenders. "Christa Benton is clearly one of the best runners in the country," says flrunner.com's Byrne. "I would say Jill Gerber is the other girl who probably has the best chance to make it (from Florida). She was leading the entire (3A) race, when in the last 400 she collapsed. She had such heart and was an inspiration to us all. She could barely walk, but finished the race."
Other contenders include strong returning finishers from FL South who haven't fared as well in their state meets, and state champs with less Foot Locker experience near the front. Alli Sauer of Kentucky was 12th in FL South last fall, but just 7th in her recent state meet. Kelly Swain, the leading Virginia returnee and the second-best Southern runner at Great American, also was 7th in her state final.
Some others who placed high or won one of their state's titles -- or ran well at FL South last year and could challenge -- include the following: Veronica Ramirez (17th in 99 FL South) and Candice Kolb of Texas (20th), Jessica Taylor of West Virginia (22nd), Connie Heiskell of Georgia (25th), Jackie John of Louisiana (27th), Jennifer Thompson of Alabama (37th), Julia Cathcart of Mississippi (38th) and Erin MacBeth (45th) and Sarah Damen (89th) of Tennessee.
Georgia's Shannon Wommack wasn't among FL South finishers last year, but dominated her state's 4A meet and will probably be the best of the newcomers. Some of the others to watch include Monique Ortega, Brooke Stewart and Valerie Lauver of Texas; Jessica Hellender, Jennifer Gomez and Andrea Austin of Florida; Rebecca Mullin and Kathleen Turchin of Georgia; Keira Caristrom, Kelley Otstott and Jeannie Addison of Virginia; Amelia Slagle, Katherine Merrill and Alicia Valtin of North Carolina; Angelina Blackmon of South Carolina; Elizabeth Benson, Whitney Wonderlin and Kristin Furman from Tennessee; Ashley Moulton of Alabama; Suzanne Cooney of Kentucky; Danielle Princiotta of Mississippi; Anne Wales, Grace Ann Nathannon of Louisiana; and Susan and Jennifer Davis of West Virginia.
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