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DyeStat Cross Country 2000
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National Finals |
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Preview
Multiple Levels of Intrigue in Girls' Battle: Western Stars vs. Rising Stars
by Stephen (steveu) Underwood
So you think that without a battle between three of the greatest prep runners in history - which is what Saturday's boys showdown in Orlando appears to have - the girls' Foot Locker CC Championship National Finals race just doesn't seem to have that magical oomph or transcending buzz.
Well, look a little deeper, cross-country freaks. This race will be just as exciting in its own way; give it a chance. So we saw Alicia Craig hook up with Anita Siraki last week - man, that was just the dress rehearsal, the semifinal! This will be the real deal!
And what about Sara Bei? The girl is back (!) and getting closer to the top every week. Or Penny Splichal of North Dakota? She hammered the Midwest region the week before and is ready to mix it up at the top.
Then there's front-running Christa Benton, the South champion, and Jessa Vacek, the Texan who will undoubtedly step up. Finally, you've got a new slew of stars from the East, who have been running impressive times on tough courses. Both of these regions have a lot to prove after last year.
So add it up. You've got a great clash of established rivals, comebacking stars and new faces from new places -- all looking for the peak for a long season at the Oak Trail Golf Course @ Shades of Green.
It's For Keeps This Time
It all starts with Craig (Campbell Co. HS, Wyo.) and Siraki (Hoover HS, Calif.) -- the meet's two highest returnees. The former is unbeaten this fall, won the miles at both Golden West and Foot Locker last spring, and beat Siraki at both national CC (3rd to 4th) and FL West in '99. But the last time the two really raced, Siraki took the FL 2-mile over the Wyoming runner last spring.
And guess what? They could be training together at Stanford next year. "Hopefully, I'll get her to be my teammate," says Craig with a laugh, already committed to the Cardinal herself.
Speaking of cards, neither standout really showed her hand last Saturday at Mt. SAC, though the Great American Champ won by 15 seconds. Craig says she simply felt good on some downhills later in the race, lengthened her stride and pulled away - and not really intentionally.
"Everyone comes in with different goals; I just wanted to race hard," she says. "I wanted to win because that's a nice confidence boost. But I didn't want to have to dig down. I'm excited for Saturday! It's going to be a great time!"
Siraki, who has been perhaps the country's most visibly dominant runner this year, was similarly restrained at Mt. SAC. "I wasn't pushing at all in the race," she says. "I got in a rhythm and just stayed there."
Regarding an outstanding season that has seen more sub-17 clockings than anyone else, she says, "I've always done high mileage, but this year I did a little more. And I've been more focused this year."
Challengers to the Throne
Yes, Siraki has ruled California during Fall 2000, but Bei - now showing form approaching the best of her career - has been closing the gap. Both won state titles (different divisions) two weeks ago and, while Bei's time in her 4th straight title there was 15 seconds slower, she was much closer to Siraki than in the Mt. SAC Invitational. Then last Saturday, the Montgomery senior finished in third within five seconds of her friendly rival at the end.
Having had something of a lapse in training due to an overseas mission trip last summer has been "a blessing in disguise," says Bei, a two-time finalist who missed out last fall. "Now I've been feeling stronger each week and each meet gets more exciting. I don't feel the pressure and expectations like I used to."
To what surely must be the chagrin of the rest of the country, the West's power hardly ends with Craig, Siraki and Bei. Californians Amber Trotter, Liza Pasciuto (the only 9th-grader to qualify), Clara Horowitz and Natalie Stein can all run with the best in the nation. Utah's Laura Zeigle is also an established star and 12th here last year.
But the rest of the country is hardly lying down. The strongest challenge could come from North Dakotan Penny Splichal, who - after finishing a just-out-of-it 9th last year -crushed the Midwest field by 15 seconds.
"Yeah, I missed it by a second, so I'm really excited for it this year," says the second-fastest girl at Great American. "Everything came together in Wisconsin ... In Orlando, I feel I need to go with the leaders, run the best I can and see what happens."
The Midwest is also highlighted by Michigan's three entries, including two from Rockford HS. Kalin Toedebusch, 10th and the third best national returnee from '99, is joined by teammate Linsey Blaisdell and state champ Katie Boyles.
Region runner-up Maria Cicero (Ill.) will certainly be a major factor, as will Ohio duo Michelle Sikes and Chelsea Homan. Megan Kaltenbach joins Sikes as sophomores going from Kenosha.
Collectively, the Northeast could make the biggest turnaround. A distant third last year, the region is led by bold newcomers Natasha Roetter, Meghan Owen and Julia Pudlin - who just ruled Mass., Conn. and Penn. respectively all fall long.
Roetter's perspective may be the prevailing one here. She was undefeated and dominated all of her races. But did she expect to win the Northeast? "Not at all," she says. "I just wanted to qualify and I'm really happy to be going. I'm still surprised."
Pudlin has perhaps become a little more known, but generally this group could be primed to surprise the country after putting up a lot of 17s on tough eastern courses. Five New Yorkers followed them, including '99 qualifier Laurel Burdick, Danielle Coon, Nicole Boykin, Angela Kudla and Michelle Wale.
And look for South returnees Benton and Vacek to help reverse the last-place finish of the region from last fall. Benton could be inspired to repeat her tough, front-running performance from McAlpine in her own state. Vacek was just 6th in the South meet, but was battling a serious virus. She should now be ready to really contend.
Kara Scanlin will also not be far from her own backyard in Orlando, while Candice Kolb, Brooke Stewart and Valerie Lauver join Vacek as Lone Star State qualifiers. Laura Stanley (N.C.) and Elizabeth Benson (Tenn.) will be looking to make their mark as well.
Vacek said after Foot Locker South that part of her inspiration to push beyond her illness was that she simply wanted to return because of what a good time the whole weekend in Orlando has come to be. The dual nature of the whole event - a championship race, yet a festive weekend for all - is what makes the Foot Locker experience so appealing.
Who better then to appreciate it than California's Pasciuto, who not only is the only freshman to qualify but is also a soccer standout running in just her first competitive season.
"I'm feeling really excited about it all," she says. "But I also think I'm ready for it."
And being ready to race, and ready to have a great time, is all any of the 32 qualifiers can ask for.
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