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Craig Nowak (Sr.) Cypress Woods, TX Senior Craig Nowak came back with a vengeance this week to win the Footlocker South Regional. After finishing third at the NXN Regional, the Texas state champion won a hotly contested race with Ahmed Bile. Nowak took the title in 14:37 beating Bile by one second. He was 51st in this race last year, so Craig’s got to be excited with a big win over great competition. It will be interesting to see which postseason race he decides to attend, but either way, he’s got to feel confident after a great improvement this year. |
Karlie Garcia (Jr.) Oakmont, CA Oakmont High School’s Karlie Garcia may be the most underrated harrier in the country. She’s been overshadowed by several other big names in the state of California, but that hasn’t stopped her from attacking every course she’s ran this year. Karlie won the Clovis and Mt. SAC Invitational before going on to place second last weekend at the CA State Championships. Her time of 17:20 for the 5k course was the second fastest overall on Saturday losing only to state champion Carrie Verdon by one second. Karlie missed last cross country season with a stress fracture however she was 15th at Footlocker as a freshman in 2009. She will definitely be an underdog to watch in the postseason this year. |
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Tony Smoragiewicz (Sr.) Rapid City Central, SD Preseason adidas All-American Tony Smoragiewicz resurfaced on the national scene last weekend to win the NXN Heartland regional. The South Dakota native got some serious competition on his home turf in the likes of Jake Leingang and Russ Sandvold. However, Smoragiewicz pulled away just after the mile and held on to win in 15:19. Tony has had a relatively quiet cross country season so far, but he should be in the mix at both NXN and Footlocker. |
Amanda Fox (Jr.) Naperville, ILL Coming off a strong performance at the NXN Midwest regionals Naperville Central senior Amanda Fox brings home the adiZERO Athlete of the Week for week nine. Amanda is having a sensational post season, winning the Midwest regional and barely missing the Illinois state meet course record by :02 (a record held by 2011 Dream Miler Kayla Beattie, 16:22 for 3-Mile). This past weekend, Amanda squared off with Blue Springs South Senior Samantha Nightingale in Terra Haute, Ind. and was able to pull away in the final 400m winning in a time of 18:09.1 (Nightingale 18:09.9) for 5,000m. The win punches Fox's ticket to PDX for NXN Nationals on December 3rd. |
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Anthony Armstrong (Sr.) Kamiakin, WA The week eight adiZERO Athlete of the Week award goes to Washington harrier Anthony Armstrong. The senior from Kamiakin High School bounced back after a tough defeat last week to rival Natyhan Weitz. Armstrong and Weitz went to battle on the Pascoe course in a race that came down to the line with Armstrong winning a narrow one second victory. His time of 14:58 broke the old course record of 15:06 previously held by Shane Moskowitz. Anthony should be the favorite to win the NXN Northwest regional. |
Katie Knight (Jr.) North Central, WA North Central High School junior Katie Knight wrapped up the week 8 adiZERO athlete of the week with her outstanding performance at the Washington State Meet. The Spokane, Washington native was all business on Saturday as she crushed the course record by :24 and defeated Glacier Peak junior Amy-Eloise Neale (US#3). Katie used a fast opening mile (5:26) and a series of tactical surges in the final mile to open up an :18 gap and bring home her first state title. Knight seems to be rounding into shape at the right time, so watch for her and the talent rich state of Washington to bring home some hardware this post season. |
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Dallin Farnsworth (Sr.) Highland, ID Highland senior Dallin Farnsworth continued to steamroll through the 2011 season on Saturday, while winning his second consecutive 5A Idaho state title. Dallin claimed the title after running 15:40 on the Eagle Island course which also hosts the Bob Firman Invitational. His time was 38 seconds faster than his next competitor, and was the fastest time of the day. Farnsworth has now won three big meets in 2011 and was 3rd at the competitive Clovis Invite earlier this month. Dallin’s next meet will most likely be the NXN NW Regional in Boise where he placed 5th last year. Look for him to improve on his 33rd place finish last year at Nationals and be in the mix towards the front. |
Molly Seidel (Sr.) University Lake Molly Seidel takes home the adiZERO athlete of the week honors for week seven after her impressive showing at the Wisconsin State Meet. Molly captured her fourth consecutive individual title becoming only the second female in state history to accomplish the feat (The other being three time Olympian Suzy Favor). Her time of 13:39 (4,000m) was an all-time meet record and put her over :40 in front of second place. Keep an eye on Molly as she looks to improve on her 11th place showing at Footlocker in 2010. Even though she hasn’t had much competition this year Molly is an exceptional athlete with the tools necessary to compete at the highest level. |
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Darren Fahy (Sr.) La Costa Canyon, CA The temperatures heated up just in time for a blazing day at Mt. SAC in Walnut, CA. La Costa Canyon's Darren Fahy ran the fastest time of the day, beating out the other 16,000 runners who participated at the country's biggest cross country meet. His 14:41 for the 3-mile course was eight seconds better than Arcadia's Sergio Gonzalez, and the fastest time run in the nation last weekend. This is Fahy's first win on the famed Mt. SAC course and should give him a ton of confidence beating a quality field. Darren's undefeated so far this year and he's the clear favorite going into the state meet on November 26. |
Sarah Baxter (So.) Simi Valley, CA Week 6 honors for the adiZERO Athlete of the Week go to sensational sophomore Sarah Baxter. In only her second race of the season Sarah brought the heat, scotching a 16:59 (3 mile) under the hot California sun. Playing to her strengths, Sarah used the hills of the famous Walnut, CA course to pull away from a stacked field in the 2nd half of the 64th running of the Mt. Sac Invitational. Although her time in 2011 was slower than her all-time freshman record of 2010, Sarah put :32 between her and 2nd place finisher Sarah Fakler and :46 between Dream Mile Champion Cami Champus. Look for big things from Sarah this post season as she tries to take herself and the Simi Valley Pioneer (that upset US #2 La Costa Canyon) to the winners circle. |
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Travis Neuman (Jr.) Summit, OR After a great performance at the adidas Cross Country Classic Travis Neuman claimed the week 5 adiZERO Athlete of the Week honor. The junior from Summit high school proved he's the top individual in Oregon after beating a stacked field at Fernhill Park on Saturday. The meet featured some of the top teams and individuals from the Northwest as Travis took down 4A state champ Zorg Loustalet by running 15:16. Neuman is on a roll so far this season winning three of the four races he's run, so look for him to continue his streak at the state meet on November 5th. |
Julie Macedo (Sr.) Wilmington, DE Week 5 honors for the adizero Athlete of the Week go to Wilmington, Delaware's Julie Macedo. Julie won the Joe O'Neil Invite in an impressive 16:55.26. Giving her the 1st and 2nd fastest times in the country for the 2011 XC season. Although times in XC can be a little deceiving, because not everyone runs on a standard surface like a track, Julie has left the competition in the dust this year. The "W" at this past weekend's race gives Julie four invitational wins for the year; including Paul Short, Six Flags Wild Safari and Lake Forest XC Festival (which she won by almost 3 minutes and would have placed 6th in the varsity boy's race). Look for Julie to lead the Charter School of Wilmington "Force" into the post season and repeat as the Division I state champion. |
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C.J. Albertson (Sr.) Buchanan, CA C.J. Albertson is the adiZERO athlete of the week after a huge win at the Clovis Invitational.Albertson defeated Bryan Guijarro of Knight and Dallin Farnsworth of Highland along the way running 15:01 for 5k. He already holds the junior class record on the course which he set last year running 14:51. C.J. looks to be the man to beat this year in California after this win and decisive victories at the Mt. Whitney Invite (14:17) and Woodbridge (14:13) |
Jillian Fanning (Jr.) Feyetteville-Manlius, NY Week 4 honors for the adiZERO Athlete of the Week go to the "Beast of the East" Jillian Fanning. Jillian is following up an outstanding track season, that saw her run 9:43 for 3K, by taking down some of the stiffest competition country. The Fayetteville-Manlius junior ran the fastest time of the day, 14:03.8, in the Eastern States section of the Manhattan Invite and lead the hornets to the team title. Jillian defeated a strong field of athletes that included North Shore's Brianna Nerud and 2011 Dream Miler Haley Pierce. Look for Jillian to improve on her US #10 ranking by seasons end and lead her team to its 6 national title in a row. |
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Daniel Moore (Sr.) Holy Trinity, FL Week three’s adiZERO Athlete of the Week is Daniel Moore from Holy Trinity high school in Melbourne, FL. The senior had a breakthrough performance at the Great American Cross Country Festival with a huge win over US #4 Jacob Burcham. Daniel improved his time by nearly a minute from last year running 14:57 for the 5k course. Daniel’s course record is quite impressive when considering the only other person to run sub-15 on the course was Alan Webb back in 2001. He was 28th in this race last year; so Daniel’s offseason training has clearly paid off. He’s one to watch at the upcoming FSU invitational, which always brings in the top competition from Florida. |
Amy-Eloise Neale (Jr.) Glacier Peak, WA Week three honors for the adiZERO Girls Athlete of the Week go to Glacier Peak, WA Junior Amy-Eloise Neale. Coming off an impressive win in the seeded race at the Stanford Invite, Amy continued her winning ways at the Seafair Invite in Yakima, WA. Amy covered the 3mi course in an outstanding time of 17:03.9 and defeated the talented Katie Knight of North Central (Spokane, WA). Her time was a course record by 6 seconds, knocking off Brianna Felnagle as Queen of the Seafair. Watch for Amy to be a force this post season as she has proven time in and time out that she has what it takes to compete with the best in the country. |
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Edward Cheserek (Sr.) St. Benedict's Prep, NJ adidas Dream Miler Edward Cheserek (St. benedict's Prep) is the adiZERO Athlete of the Week after a dominant performance at the Passaic Coaches Invitational in New Jersey. Cheserek established a new course record at Garrett Mountain by running 14:53 for the 5k course. Edward ran the first ever sub-15 clocking on the course and was nearly 2 minutes ahead of his next competitor. To put this race in context, sub-8:50 man Jeremy Elkaim only ran 15:49 on this course last year. It will be great to see what Edward is capable of on a fast course with elite competition. |
Carrie Verdon (Sr.) Campolindo, CA Week 2 honors for the adiZERO High School girls athlete of the week go to Campolindo High School's (Moraga, CA) Carrie Verdon. Carrie captured the seeded girl's title at the Stanford Invite in an impressive 16:59, making her the first girl in the country to crack the 17 minute barrier. Carrie's time was a 59 second improvement from her junior year on the same course and was enough to defeat a talented field that included many of the top California runners and Dream Miler/adidas Pre-Season All-American Amy Eloise-Neale. Look for Carrie to continue her winning ways, defend her California Division III state XC title and lead the cougars to another team title. |
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Futsum Zeinasellassie (Sr.) North Central, Indianapolis, IN adidas preseason All American Futsum Zeinasellassie had a great day at the Indiana FlashRock Invite running away from the field in 14:36. He established a new course record for 5k on the Northview Championship Course beating US #13 Jason Crist along the way. Futsum was the runner-up at Footlocker last year, so it seems as if he's on track to make history this year. |
Erin Finn (Jr.) West Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, MI West Bloomfield Jr. Erin Finn picked up where she left off last cross country season by running a course record 17:16 (5,000m) at the Spartan Invite in East Lancing, Michigan. Erin not only took down the course record, but put nearly 100m between her and the nearest competitor Grosse Point South Jr. Hannah Miere's. Her time of 17:16 currently stands at the US number #1. Watch out for Finn as she hopes to improve on her 7th place finish at Footlocker last year. |
the last two aren't in high school
On Anthony Armstrong's post, you have a few misspellings...
1st, its PASCO, not pascoe
2nd, its Nathan, not Natyhan
Cross Country Awareness Day
October 28th, 2011
Carrie Verdon did run the fastest time of the day but not run in the seeded race, she ran in the Div 3 race where in fact she had good competition to push her, the weather was cool and comfortable at 3:40. Amy-Eloise Neale won the seeded race and finished 29 seconds faster than the second place finisher of that race (katie Bianchini). At 1:40 when the seeded race went off it was hot and uncomfortable. You need to check your facts and get your story right. I'll hazard a guess that if Amy-Eloise Neale was in the same race as Carrie Verdon the final results would have been different.