2016 Foot Locker XC Championships

Foot Locker Girls Preview

Foot Locker Girls Preview

We preview the girls race at the 2016 Foot Locker Nationals.

Dec 8, 2016 by Johanna Gretschel
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Our friends at MileSplit break down everything you need to know about Saturday's 38th Foot Locker nationals. 40 girls from across the country will race in San Diego on Saturday at 12:15 PM Eastern for a national title. Check out the full list of finalists and watch all the regional race videos here.

Watch Claudia Lane dominate the Foot Locker West Regional in 17:20.



The Favorites


Claudia Lane | Malibu, CA | SOPHOMORE
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #2

Super-sophomore Claudia Lane started the year off with a bang by chopping more than three minutes off her time at the Seaside Invitational -- she ran 19:30 for three miles as a freshman and 16:25 for the win this year. Now she is the top contender for the Foot Locker Nationals title. Her only loss this season was to NXN champion Brie Oakley at the Woodbridge XC Classic, 15:58 to 16:16, back in September. Since then, Lane ran the fastest time of the day at the California State Championships to win the D4 state title (16:45, No. 3 all-time performer at Woodward Park), plus set a sophomore course record at Mt. SAC (16:32.6, No. 6 all-time performer). It's too bad she won't get another crack at Oakley this season, but the San Diego course is likely more in her favor than the muddy conditions in at NXN's Glendoveer Golf Course.

Nevada Mareno | Leesville Road, NC | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #3

Stanford commit Nevada Mareno is the top returner to Foot Locker Nationals, where she placed a hard-fought third one year ago behind Maryjeanne Gilbert and Weini Kelati. The North Carolina state champion, who won a national title in the indoor mile as a sophomore, has had a slower build-up in 2016 than 2015. Some of this is due to traveling for college visits. While her stats don't pop as much this fall, she is undefeated and won the Foot Locker South region --one of the most competitive-- unchallenged after breaking away at the first mile mark.

Nevada Mareno after winning Foot Locker South:



Watch Alyssa Aldridge win the Foot Locker Northeast Regional by 15 seconds.



The Challengers


Alyssa Aldridge | Mainland Regional, NJ | JUNIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #16


Undefeated this year and won Foot Locker Northeast by 15 seconds. Placed 23rd at Foot Locker Nationals as a sophomore.

Alyssa Aldridge after winning Foot Locker Northeast:



Jordan Oakes | Holy Names Academy, WA | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #25

The Washington state champion moved down in the rankings after a fifth-place finish at Foot Locker West, though she was likely just running for place. Oakes, a Stanford commit, was 20th at Foot Locker in 2015 and enters this year's championship with a nearly perfect record. She most notably took down NXN runner-up Ember Stratton on two separate occasions, at the Border Clash in Beaverton on Nov. 20, and the Nike Portland XC Invitational at Portland Meadows on Sept. 24.

The Darkhorses


Watch Anne Forsyth dominate the Foot Locker Midwest Regional.



India Johnson | Hilliard Davidson, OH | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #11

Breakout senior year is the end result of four years of steady progression through the high school ranks. The Michigan State commit was undefeated in the state of Ohio, including her first state cross country crown, and took runner-up honors at both NXN Midwest and Foot Locker Midwest. She is executed her race plan perfectly to break into the top 10 at Nike Cross Nationals with a 17:53, ninth place performance. Johnson is peaking at just the right time.

India Johnson after placing ninth at NXN in big breakthrough performance:



Heather Holt | George C. Marshall, VA | JUNIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #14

The Virginia junior has tested herself against a ton of top names this season: Kelsey Chmiel, Kate Murphy and most recently, Nevada Mareno at the Foot Locker South Regional. She doesn't have a big scalp just yet, but Holt unleashed an impressive kick to finish just two seconds behind Mareno at the South Regional after the Stanford commit took off in the first mile. All signs are pointing to a big run coming up.

Heather Holt after taking second at the Foot Locker South Regional:



Rebecca Story | Christian Academy of Knoxville, TN | JUNIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #15


Took sixth place at Foot Locker South to advance to her first national cross country championships in a banner year after taking 44th at NXN Southeast in 2015. Besides the regional meet, Story has not raced any out-of-state competition but she did clock an impressive 9:59.85 3200m at the HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals on Nov. 18. That mark makes her the fastest two miler in the field --Mareno has run 10:00-- as well as a significant title threat. Of note: she was fourth at the Brooks PR two mile in 10:11 this past June, just behind NXN champion Brie Oakley.

Rebecca Story after qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals:



Anne Forsyth | Ann Arbor Pioneer, MI | JUNIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #19


She has been one of the faster girls in Michigan for the past few years but really came into her own this fall. Recorded a runner-up finish behind Maggie Farrell at the Michigan State Championship, but beat out the senior to claim a spot to nationals at NXN Midwest. She won the Foot Locker Midwest Regional over India Johnson, then went on to place 14th at NXN after being one of the fastest off the line.

Anne Forsyth after winning the Foot Locker Midwest Regional:



Watch the loaded Foot Locker South Regional, featuring #3 Nevada Mareno, #14 Heather Holt, #15 Rebecca Story and 2015 Foot Locker finalist Julia Heymach, plus Saucony Flo50 bubble individuals Anna Marian Block and Niamh Schumacher.



Who else could make an impact?

Jacqueline Gaughan| Exeter, NH | JUNIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #21

Notes: New England champion, second at Brown Northeast Invitational to #12 Katherine Lee; second to Aldridge at Foot Locker Northeast; 5th at 2016 NBNO 5K in 16:53.82



Maria Coffin | Annapolis Senior, MD | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: #22


Notes:
third at Foot Locker Northeast; Maryland State champion; set Hereford course record at 17:49.38; 27th at Foot Locker Nationals in 2015



Julia Heymach| Houston Lamar, TX | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 Ranking: Not Ranked


Notes:
8th at Foot Locker South; 36th at Foot Locker Nationals in 2015; 16th at NXN in 2015; five-time Texas state champion

Niamh Schumacher | King's Academy, TN | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
third at Foot Locker South; Tennessee state champion; runner-up at Jesse Owens Classic behind #15 Rebecca Story and ahead of Annika Sleenhof (19th at NXN)



Nicole Fegans | Landmark Christian, GA | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
4th at Foot Locker South; Georgia state champion



Grace Connolly | Natick, MA | SOPHOMORE
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
4th at Foot Locker Northeast; Massachusetts state champion; 2016 NBNO Freshman mile champion



Alexandra Beitia | Granite Bay, CA | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
third at Foot Locker West; fourth at CIF D2 State Championship; ASICS Clovis champion

Kearan Nelson | Central Valley Senior, WA | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
Foot Locker West runner-up; third at Washington State Championship

Kayla Young | Denver North, CO | SENIOR
Saucony Flo50 bubble


Notes:
third at Foot Locker Midwest; Colorado 3A state champion ahead of Quinn McConnell (17th at NXN); 33rd at Foot Locker Nationals in 2015

Watch the 2015 Foot Locker Nationals Girls Championship.