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 Foot Locker Speed Rating Preview 2018

 

I compiled the following lists to familiarize myself with runners competing in Foot Locker 2018 ... I wanted a general idea of what the runners have accomplished in terms of speed ratings with a look towards handicapping the race ... Knowing something about the runners and contenders make the races more interesting when watching the races.

The tables below include:
 ... Overall Rating - an approximated overall speed rating for betting purposes (a "morning-line" or "seed-time" of sorts)
 ... FL Region Rating - speed rating from the Foot Locker regional
 ... State Meet Rating - speed rating from the State Meet
 ... All Available Ratings - other speed ratings from the season (Note - 1 speed rating point = 3 seconds)

Some brief comments about selected runners are given following the tables ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

 

 BOYS Foot Locker Preview Speed Ratings
Name Gr School St Region Overall Rating Foot Locker Region Rating FL Region Place State Meet Rating Available Seasonal Ratings
Cole Hocker 12 Indianapolis Cathedral IN Midwest 199 195 1 193 200 - NXN Nationals
195 - Foot Locker Midwest
195 - NXN Midwest
193 - Indiana States
191 - IHSAA Semi-State 2
190 - Indiana Reg 10
193 - Nike Valley Twilight
192 - FlashRock Invite
189 - Terre Haute St Preview
Devin Hart 12 Pt. Pleasant Boro NJ Northeast 193+ 191 5 194 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
194 - New Jersey MOC
187 - New Jersey Groups
191 - Shore Conference
189 - Manhattan Eastern St
184 - Bowdoin Classic
Josh Methner 11 Hershey IL Midwest 194 190 7 188 195 - NXN Nationals
190 - Foot Locker Midwest
193 - NXN Midwest
188 - Illinois States
187 - Palatine Invite
181 - Richard Spring Inv
Jack Stanley 12 Mendham NJ Northeast 194 194 1 194 193 - NXN Nationals
194 - Foot Locker Northeast
194 - New Jersey MOC
192 - New Jersey Groups
183 - NJ Shore Coaches
178 - PTXC 10 PA
Drew Bosley 12 Homestead WI Midwest 193 193 2 191 192 - NXN Nationals
193 - Foot Locker Midwest
193 - NXN Heartland
191 - Wisconsin States
190 - Midwest Invite
186 - Homestead Highlander
Colin Baker 12 Academic Magnet SC South 193 190 4 196 190 - Foot Locker South
 --- - 9:09.23 (3200m) Dash Doobie
196 - South Carolina States
190 - Great American Fest
Evan Bishop 11 East Grand Rapids MI Midwest 193 193 3 185 193 - NXN Nationals
193 - Foot Locker Midwest
187 - NXN Midwest
185 - Michigan States
183 - Portage Invite
182 - MSU Spartan Inv
176 - Portage Early Bird
Ares Reading 12 Niwot CO Midwest 193 191 5 183 194 - NXN Nationals
191 - Foot Locker Midwest
187 - NXN Southwest
183 - Colorado States
185 - Desert Twilight
179 - Pat Patten Invite
177 - Liberty Bell Inv
Graydon Morris 11 Aledo TX South 189+ 189 8 184 189 - Foot Locker South
184 - Texas State Meet
189 - Texas UIL 5A - Region 1
187 - McNeil Invitational
183 - Marcus I Invite
Lucas Aramburu 12 Brookline MA Northeast 192 192 2 193 192 - Foot Locker Northeast
193 - Mass All-State
185 - Massachusetts Eastern
Kashon Harrison 12 Kirtland Central NM West 192 192 1 192 192 - Foot Locker West
189 - NXN Southwest
192 - New Mexico States
187 - Desert Twilight
Carter Solomon 11 Plymouth MI Midwest 192 192 4 191 192 - Foot Locker Midwest
191 - Michigan States
Daniel O'Brien 11 Virginia Episcopal School VA South 190+ 190 3 --- 190 - Foot Locker South
 --- - 9:07.85 (3200m) Dash Doobie
188 - MileStat.com Inv
Carter Cheeseman 12 Forth Worth Christian TX South 191 191 2 --- 190 - NXN Nationals
191 - Foot Locker South
190 - NXN South
191 - Great American Fest
185 - Southlake Carroll Inv
Camren Fischer 12 Fayetteville AR South 191 190 5 174 184 - NXN Nationals
190 - Foot Locker South
191 - NXN South
174 - Arkansas States
191 - Great American Fest
184 - Chili Pepper Fest
185 - Southlake Carroll Inv
Jake Renfree 12 Knoxville Catholic TN South 190+ 190 7 190 190 - Foot Locker South
 --- - 9:03.73 (3200m) Hoka One
190 - Tennessee States
186 - Trinity-Valkyrie Inv
176 - Cherokee Classic
William Frankenfeld 12 Long Beach Poly CA West 191 192 2 189 192 - Foot Locker West
189 - California States
187 - CA Southern Section
187 - Mt SAC Invite
181 - Nike Portland
186 - Woodbridge Classic
Cole Bullock 12 Red Bank TN South 190 190 6 184 190 - Foot Locker South
184 - Tennessee States
192 - Cherokee Classic
Silas Winders 11 Henry County TN South 190 189 9 170 189 - Foot Locker South
 --- - 9:01.23 (3200m) Hoka One
170 - Tennessee States
190 - MSCCA Championship
184 - Greater Louisville Classic
173 - Memphis Twilight
Cruz Gomez 12 PSJA Memorial TX South 190 191 1 181 182 - NXN Nationals
191 - Foot Locker South
179 - NXN South
181 - Texas State Meet
189 - McNeil Invitational
Ethan Kern 12 York IL Midwest 190 190 6 181 190 - NXN Nationals
190 - Foot Locker Midwest
189 - NXN Midwest
181 - Illinois States
173 - 3A Regional Lake Park
184 - Peoria Invite
181 - Palatine Invite
180 - Richard Spring Inv
Connor Nisbet 12 Wilmington Friends DE Northeast 190 191 3 190 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
190 - Delaware States
186 - Joe O'Neill Invite
186 - Manhattan Eastern St
186 - Great American Fest
189 - White Clay Creek
Liam Murphy 11 Allentown NJ Northeast 190 191 4 188 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
188 - New Jersey MOC
182 - New Jersey Groups
183 - NJ Shore Coaches
Patrick Anderson 11 Mount Lebanon PA Northeast 190 191 6 190 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
190 - Pennsylvania States
180 - District 7 WPIAL
184 - PIAA Foundation
Nick Russell 12 Bishop Kelly ID West 190 191 3 186 191 - Foot Locker West
186 - Idaho States
186 - Bob Firman Invite
184 - Tiger Grizz Inv
180 - Boise City Meet
184 - Jimmy Driscoll Inv
Anthony Grover 11 JSerra Catholic CA West 190 190 4 185 190 - Foot Locker West
185 - California States
175 - CA Southern Section
183 - Mt SAC Invite
185 - Clovis Invite
180 - Laguna Hills Inv
Noah Hibbard 12 Arroyo CA West 190 190 5 190 190 - Foot Locker West
190 - California States
187 - CA Southern Section
180 - Mt SAC Invite
Sam Lawler 11 Pittsford Mendon NY Northeast 190 191 7 179 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
179 - NY States-Class B
182 - Section 5-Class B
183 - Monroe County Champ
183 - Manhattan Inv-Var D
185 - Midlakes Inv-D1
182 - McQuaid Invite
Matthew Farrell 11 Loomis Chaffee CT Northeast 190 191 8 --- 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
182 - NEPSTA Div 1 Champ
167 ?? - Canterbury Inv CT
Mustafe Dahir 12 Choate Rosemary Hall Prep CT Northeast 190 191 9 --- 191 - Foot Locker Northeast
180 - NEPSTA Div 1 Champ
Richard Sturtevant 12 Northfield Mount Hermon MA Northeast 190 190 10 --- 190 - Foot Locker Northeast
180 - NEPSTA Div 1 Champ
Thomas Boyden 11 Skyline UT West 189 190 6 177 190 - Foot Locker West
177 - Utah State Meet 5A
185 - Bob Firman Invite
178 - Highland Invite
Connor Livingston 12 De La Salle CA West 189 189 7 188 189 - Foot Locker West
188 - California States
185 - North Coast Section
177 - Mt SAC Invite
177 - Rough Rider Inv
182 - Stanford Invite
176 - Cool Breeze Inv
David Vannucchi 12 Onalaska WI Midwest 189 190 8 182 190 - Foot Locker Midwest
179 - NXN Heartland
182 - Wisconsin States
Brendan Favazza 11 Clarkston MI Midwest 189 190 9 184 190 - Foot Locker Midwest
184 - Michigan States
David Ahlmeyer 12 Beech Senior TN South 188 188 10 185 188 - Foot Locker South
 --- - 9:11.88 (3200m) Hoka One
185 - Tennessee States
187 - MSCCA Championship
185 - Trinity-Valkyrie Inv
Zachary Stewart 11 Brighton MI Midwest 188 188 10 185 188 - Foot Locker Midwest
185 - Michigan States
181 - MSU Spartan Inv
Daniel Bausch 12 Chugiak AK West 188 188 8 185 188 - Foot Locker West
185 - Alaska State Champ
181 - State Preview
177 - Tsalteshi Invite
Zachary Erikson 12 Idaho Falls ID West 188 187 10 185 187 - Foot Locker West
185 - Idaho States
190 - Bob Firman Invite
179 - BYU Autumn Classic
188 - Tiger Grizz Inv
Jonathan Velasco 12 Mission Hills CA West 187 187 9 184 187 - Foot Locker West
184 - California States
179 - San Diego Section
180 - Dana Hills Inv
172 - Woodbridge Classic
                   
 

General Comment ... I suspect the speed ratings for the top finishers at Foot Locker Nationals may be higher than those shown in table above (that's typically the case) ... To finish in top places at Foot Locker Nationals typically requires exceptional performances, usually season-best performances ... Foot Locker is unique because it has a small field of select runners coming to the race expecting to run fast (knowing they have to run fast to place well) ... Top national competition on a fast course under good weather conditions yields top performances (often season-best performances).

Eight underclassmen from last year's Foot Locker return this year ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

Returning Foot Locker Runners & Speed Rating from 2017:

                   Place  Speed Rating
Graydon Morris   -   2     197
Jake Renfree     -   5     192
Carter Cheeseman -   6     191
Drew Bosley      -   7     191
Devin Hart       -  10     190
Kashon Harrison  -  14     188
Lucas Aramburu   -  38     171
Camren Fischer   -  40     160

Ten runners in this year's Foot Locker field competed at NXN Nationals 2018:

                   Place  Speed Rating
Cole Hocker          2     200  (best ever)
Josh Methner        15     195  (best ever)
Ares Reading        17     194  (best ever)
Jack Stanley        19     193  (best is 194)
Evan Bishop         20     193  (best ever)
Drew Bosley         23     192  (best is 193)
Carter Cheeseman    27     190  (best is 191)
Ethan Kern          28     190  (best is 190.3)
Camren Fischer      55     184  (best is 191)
Cruz Gomez          65     182  (best is 191)

The Top Speed Ratings at NXN Nationals 2018 were:

                   Place  Speed Rating
ANDERSON, Liam      1      201  (best ever)
HOCKER, Cole        2      200  (best ever)
SPROUT, Cole        3      199  (best ever)
YOUNG, Nico         4      198  (best ever)
ALLRED, Easton      5      198  (best ever)
VANCIL, Austin      6      197  (best ever)
MAIER, Alex         7      197  (season best)
STRANGIO, Matt      8      197  (best ever)
GORGAS, Corey       9      196  (best ever)
OHLSON, Connor      10     196  (best ever)

Nine of the the top ten runners at NXN 2018 set speed rating PRs.

Some Individual Runner Comments

Cole Hocker ... the morning-line favorite to win Foot Locker 2018 ... he was undefeated entering NXN Nationals and finished an excellent 2nd despite being affected by a cold virus (said in a post-NXN interview that he was about 90%, but the cold didn't bother him that much during the race) ... The closest finisher to Cole Hocker at NXN who is running Foot Locker is Josh Methner.

Devin Hart ... won the New Jersey Meet of champions in a tight race with Jack Stanley ... I believe Devin Hart has been pointing towards a big performance at Foot Locker.

Josh Methner ... set a very nice speed rating PR at NXN Nationals (195) ... has raced very well in the post-season.

Jack Stanley ... won Foot Locker Northeast impressively ... was invited to compete at NXN Nationals as an At-Large selection and race well at NXN.

Drew Bosley ... one of the top ranked runners nationally all season ... a returning runner from Foot Locker 2017 who could challenge for the top spot.

Graydon Morris ... the top returning runner from Foot Locker 2017 where he finished an outstanding 2nd (197 speed rating) ... entering Foot Locker last year, Graydon Morris had no speed ratings in the 190s (and that's the case again this year) ... But history has a way of repeating itself, so Graydon Morris could have a big performance.

Colin Baker ... popped a big 196 speed rating in winning the South Carolina State Meet, so the capability of a big performance has been demonstrated.

Ares Reading and Evan Bishop ... good PR speed rating performances at NXN ... Evan Bishop was selected to NXN as an At-Large Individual

 ... 34 of the 40 Boys entered Foot Locker 2018 have at least one speed rating of 190 or higher this season ... and that makes the race competitive and interesting ... NXN Nationals had 204 Boys entered with 41 having at least one speed rating of 190 or higher ... This makes Foot Locker and NXN the two highest quality races in US by far ... I need to see the results of Foot Locker before deciding which of the two meets is strongest overall ... NXN surprised me a bit with the number of high speed ratings attained, and I hope Foot Locker will do the same.

 

 

 GIRLS Foot Locker Preview Speed Ratings
Name Gr School St Region Overall Rating Foot Locker Region Rating FL Region Place State Meet Rating Available Seasonal Ratings
Sydney Masciarelli 10 Marianapolis Prep MA Northeast 160 161 1 --- 161 - Foot Locker Northeast
154 - Boston Mayors Cup AA
149 - Canterbury Inv CT
Marlee Starliper 11 Northern PA Northeast 158 159 2 154 159 - Foot Locker Northeast
154 - Pennsylvania States
153 - PA District 3
149 - Mid-Penn Conf
138 - Paul Short Run
142 - PIAA Foundation
Emily Covert 12 Minneapolis Washburn MN Midwest 157 157 1 153 157 - NXN Nationals
157 - Foot Locker Midwest
151 - NXN Heartland
153 - Minnesota States
155 - MSHSL Section 6AA
153 - Roy Griak Invite
153 - St. Olaf Showcase
Taylor Ewert 11 Beavercreek OH Midwest 157 153 2 152 158 - NXN Nationals
153 - Foot Locker Midwest
147 - NXN Midwest
152 - Ohio States
150 - OH Regional Troy
151 - Greater Western Ohio
145 - Nike Valley Twilight
145 - Saturday Night Lights
143 - Trinity-Valkyrie Inv
Grace Connolly 12 Natick MA Northeast 156 156 3 151 156 - Foot Locker Northeast
151 - Mass All-State
158 - Massachusetts Eastern
154 - Brown Northeast RI
Ericka Vanderlende 12 Rockford MI Midwest 154 149 5 155 151 - NXN Nationals
149 - Foot Locker Midwest
155 - Michigan States
154 - Michigan Region 01-1
145 - Portage Invite
150 - Allebdale Falcon
148 - Portage Early Bird
Katelynne Hart 11 Glenbard West IL Midwest 153 151 3 152 150 - NXN Nationals
151 - Foot Locker Midwest
153 - NXN Midwest
152 - Illinois States
153 - 3A Regional Lake Park
152 - Naperville Twilight
149 - Richard Spring Inv
145 - Harvey Braus Inv
Abby Vanderkooi 9 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian MI Midwest 151+ 151 4 142 151 - Foot Locker Midwest
142 - Michigan States
150 - GMAA Invitational
149 - Portage Invite
149 - Allebdale Falcon
145 - Oakridge Invite
149 - Muskegon Catholic Inv
152 - Orchard View Cardinal
London Culbreath 11 McKinney North TX South 153 150 1 145 139 - NXN Nationals
150 - Foot Locker South
154 - NXN South
145 - Texas State Meet
152 - McNeil Invitational
150 - Chili Pepper Fest
141 - Southlake Carroll Inv
Alex Morris 12 Naperville North IL Midwest 152 139 10 149 152 - NXN Nationals
139 - Foot Locker Midwest
152 - NXN Midwest
149 - Illinois States
139 - IL 3A Sect Waubinsie
139 - IHSA 3A Region Oswego
144 - Naperville Twilight
126 - Roy Griak Invite
131 - First To The Finish
Kristin Fahy 12 La Costa Canyon CA West 148+ 146 1 145 146 - Foot Locker West
145 - California States
143 - San Diego Section
148 - Mt SAC Invite
145 - Stanford Invite
Abby Loveys 12 Randolph NJ Northeast 150 149 4   149 - Foot Locker Northeast
149 - New Jersey MOC
151 - New Jersey Groups
149 - Manhattan East St
143 - Six Flags Wild Saf
145 - Warwick Invite
Allison Wilson 12 Montgomery TX South 149 147 5 140 149 - NXN Nationals
147 - Foot Locker South
151 - NXN South
140 - Texas State Meet
141 - McNeil Invitational
134 - Woodbridge Classic
Heidi Nielson 10 Katy Cinco Ranch TX South 148 149 2 146 146 - NXN Nationals
149 - Foot Locker South
142 - NXN South
146 - Texas State Meet
Valerie Lastra 11 Mater Academy Charter FL South 148 148 4 148 148 - Foot Locker South
148 - Florida States
144 - FLrunners.com Inv
125 - STU Invite
Brynn Brown 10 Denton Guyer TX South 148 148 3 150 138 - NXN Nationals
148 - Foot Locker South
148 - NXN South
150 - Texas State Meet
144 - TX UIL 6A-Dis 5
136 - Southlake Carroll Inv
136 - Marcus I Invite
Jaden Theis 11 Lansing Catholic MI Midwest 148 140 8 137 140 - Foot Locker Midwest
137 - Michigan States
150 - MSU Spartan Inv
151 - Michigan Catholic
Grace Ping 10 Winona Cotter MN Midwest 148 143 7 148 139 - NXN Nationals
143 - Foot Locker Midwest
149 - NXN Heartland
148 - Minnesota States
136 - Roy Griak Invite
134 - Rochester Mayo
146 - Stewartville Invite
Adoette Vaughan 12 Hockaday TX South 147 147 6 --- 147 - Foot Locker South
139 - McNeil Invitational
130 - Marcus I Invite
Kate Wiser 10 Pomperaug High CT Northeast 147 147 5 144 147 - Foot Locker Northeast
145 - New England Champ
144 - Connecticut Open
144 - Manchester Inv
Anna Martin 11 Lehi UT West 146 142 3 147 142 - Foot Locker West
147 - Utah State Meet 4A
142 - BYU Autumn Classic
141 - Wasatch Invite
136 - Pre Region 10
Adelyn Ackley 12 Hart MI Midwest 144+ 144 6 144 144 - Foot Locker Midwest
144 - Michigan States
144 - Portage Invite
144 - Allebdale Falcon
150 - MSU Spartan Inv
147 - Benzie Pete Moss
Alyssa Hendrix 11 Riverview FL South 146 146 7 141 146 - Foot Locker South
141 - Florida States
137 - FLrunners.com Inv
Jenna Hutchins 9 Science Hill TN South 146 145 8 148 145 - Foot Locker South
148 - Tennessee States
135 - Great American Fest
134 - Wingfoot Classic
137 - Cherokee Classic
134 - WNC Carnival
Ava Peeples 12 Lake Highlands TX South 145 145 9 143 145 - Foot Locker South
143 - Texas State Meet
136 - McNeil Invitational
136 - Southlake Carroll Inv
129 - Marcus I Invite
Victoria Patterson 11 Deerfield Academy Prep MA SC South 145 145 10 --- 145 - Foot Locker South
140 - NEPSTA Div 1 Champ
132 - Canterbury Inv CT
                   
Allie Janke 10 North Central WA West 145 145 2 136 145 - Foot Locker West
137 - NXN Northwest
136 - Washington States
133 - Hole in the Wall
131 - Bob Firman Invite
Lexy Halladay 11 Mountain View ID West 145 140 4 146 140 - Foot Locker West
126 - NXN Northwest
146 - Idaho States
141 - Nike Battle 509
129 - St. Olaf Showcase
Riley Stewart 9 Cherry Creek CO Midwest 142 140 9 128 142 - NXN Nationals
140 - Foot Locker Midwest
140 - NXN Southwest
128 - Colorado States
129 - Centennial Champ
134 - Nike Portland
132 - Dave Sanders Inv
116 - Liberty Bell Inv
122 - Arapahoe Warrior
Mary Hennelly 11 Suffern NY Northeast 141 142 6 134 142 - Foot Locker Northeast
134 - NY States-Class A
140 - Section 1-Class A
138 - Rockland County
138 - Manhattan Inv-Var A
137 - St. Anthonys Inv-1
124 - Six Flags Wild Saf
127 - Ocean State Inv-RI
129 - Suffern Invite-VA
Taryn Parks 11 Greencastle-Antrim PA Northeast 140 141 7 136 141 - Foot Locker Northeast
136 - Pennsylvania States
140 - Mid-Penn Conf
138 - Carlisle Invite
136 - PTXC 10 PA
Gabrielle Peterson 12 Healdsburg High CA West 140 140 5 138 140 - Foot Locker West
138 - California States
95 - Stanford Invite
Sofie Matson 10 Falmouth ME Northeast 140 141 8 --- 141 - Foot Locker Northeast
130 - New England Champ
Sarah Roffman 12 Littleton MA Northeast 140 141 9 130 141 - Foot Locker Northeast
130 - Mass All-State
Nicole Vanasse 11 Pingry School NJ Northeast 139 140 10 --- 140 - Foot Locker Northeast
138 - New Jersey Groups
125 - NJ Shore Coaches
130 - Ocean State Inv
Audrey Suarez 10 Mayfield CA West 138 138 6 138 138 - Foot Locker West
138 - California States
131 - CA Southern Section
Hana Catsimanes 11 San Clemente CA West 138 137 7 130 137 - Foot Locker West
130 - California States
138 - CA Southern Section
125 - Mt SAC Invite
121 - Orange County
129 - Dana Hills Inv
130 - Woodbridge Classic
Olivia Markezich 12 Bear Creek School WA West 137 137 8 125 137 - Foot Locker West
129 - NXN Northwest
125 - Washington States
Colleen McCandless 12 Granada High CA West 137 135 10 137 135 - Foot Locker West
137 - California States
133 - North Coast Section
130 - Rough Rider Inv
125 - Stanford Invite
139 - Woodbridge Classic
Erinn Hill 11 North Central WA West 136 136 9 125 136 - Foot Locker West
109 - NXN Northwest
125 - Washington States
131 - Hole in the Wall
128 - Bob Firman Invite
                   
 

General Comments

Ten underclassmen return this year from last year's Foot Locker ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

Returning Foot Locker Runners & Speed Rating from 2017:

                    Place   Speed Rating
Katelynne Hart     -   2     159
Emily Covert       -   9     146
Adelyn Ackley      -  10     146
Adoette Vaughan    -  11     145
Marlee Starliper   -  13     145
Alyssa Hendrix     -  18     138
Ericka VanderLende -  25     133
Abby Loveys        -  33     126
Taryn Parks        -  36     124
Heidi Nielson      -  38     112

Eleven runners in this year's Foot Locker field competed at NXN Nationals 2018:

                    Place   Speed Rating
Taylor Ewert           3     158  (best ever)
Emily Covert           4     157  (best ever)
Alex Morris            7     152  (..best is 152.2)
Ericka VanderLende     8     151  (..best is 155)
Katelynne Hart        16     150  (..best is 153)
Allison Wilson        17     149  (..best is 151)
Heidi Nielson         26     146  (..best is 149)
Riley Stewart         37     142  (best ever)
Grace Ping            48     139  (..season best is 148)
London Culbreath      49     139  (..best is 154)
Brynn Brown           50     138  (..best is 150)

Interestingly, only three of the 11 girls who raced at NXN had speed rating PRs ... the conditions were actually decent for the Glendoveer course ... Maybe some of the girls will like San Diego conditions better.

The Top Speed Ratings at NXN National 2018 were:

                    Place  Speed Rating
TUOHY, Katelyn       1      167  (best is 177)
CHMIEL, Kelsey       2      162  (best is 163)
EWERT, Taylor        3      158  (best ever)
COVERT, Emily        4      157  (best ever)
WALTERS, Claire      5      156  (tied best ever)
RAUBER, Brooke       6      154  (best ever)
MORRIS, Alexis       7      152  (best is 152.2)
VANDERLENDE, Ericka  8      151  (best is 155)
GEDDES, Mattie       9      151  (best ever)
ARCHER, Abi          10     151  (best ever)

Selected Individual Runners

Sydney Masciarelli ... Sydney Masciarelli is the unknown factor in this race ... she enters the race with the highest speed rating of all runners (161) which makes her the favorite ... she won Foot Locker Northeast by pulling away from Marlee Starliper and Grace Connolly in the final 800 meters ... The "unknown factor" occurs because Sydney Masciarelli attends a prep school in Connecticut (Marianapolis Prep) that does not compete against public high schools ... also, this is her first season of cross country ... She plays basketball in the winter and she is relatively tall for a cross country runner (5'10") ... Everything she has done to date indicates she is exceptionally talented in XC and track.

I've had several inquiries asking me "How good is Sydney Masciarelli?" ... My answer, "She is obviously very good, but I do not know the extent" ... Actually, I don't think she or her coaches know the extent until she gets tested in competition.

Might have been interesting had Katelyn Tuohy been running Foot Locker ... Through most of the XC season Katelyn Tuohy was at another level compared to high school runners, but her knee injury situation slowed her down a bit ... Katelyn was not 100% at NXN and at a level that could make her vulnerable to an exceptional talent ... Based on what I've seen, Sydney Masciarelli "might" be at a mid-160 speed rating level, but that's a supposition.

Based on Foot Locker Northeast, her running style seems to be to stay with the competition and make a move with 1K or 800 meters to go ... Marlee Starliper pushed the pace at Foot Locker Northeast (don't know what she'll do at Nationals) ... And with the absence of Claudia Lane, I don't see anybody setting a really fast early pace.

Concerning the race strategy overall ... I'm expecting a pack of girls to be at the front for much of the race with somebody making a move past the mid-point ... The pack could include Sydney Masciarelli, Marlee Starliper, Taylor Ewert, Emily Covert, Grace Connolly, Ericka Vanderlende, Katelynne Hart, Abby Vanderkooi, London Culbreath and others ... Could be a very interesting race.

Marlee Starliper ... Marlee Starliper has been improving throughout the season and enters Foot Locker Nationals with an opportunity to win ... her best performance came at Foot Locker Northeast.

Taylor Ewert ... Taylor Ewert has proven that top-level race-walkers can excel at cross country ... The 2010 Foot Locker Champion was Aisling Cuffe of New York (the last girl to break 17:00 at the Balboa Park course), and Aisling Cuffe was an indoor race-walker of her freshmen year in high school before turning to running ... Taylor Ewert was 3rd at NXN and is a real contender to win Foot Locker.

Emily Covert ... Emily Covert has been super consistent at a high level all season ... won Foot Locker Midwest over some top runners on a muddy course and performed well at NXN ... a real contender for a top spot.

Grace Connolly ... Grace Connolly has speed ratings of 151 to 158 this season and that make her a strong contender in this race.

Katelynne Hart ... Katelynne Hart entered last year's Foot Locker Nationals with a speed rating PR of 153 (same as this year's season best) and then popped a big 159 speed rating to finish 2nd (had a good battle for 2nd with Olivia Theis which probably helped) ... Suggests to me that she likes the Foot Locker course at Balboa Park and is definitely a factor in this race.

Abby Vanderkooi ... the freshman has raced exceptionally well in Michigan this season and finished 4th on the muddy Foot Locker Midwest course ... could be a surprise at the Balboa course.

London Culbreath ... London Culbreath is an exceptional talent, but has not fared well at NXN Nationals in recent years ... A switch to Foot Locker and San Diego could be the recipe for a top performance.

Kristin Fahy ... qualified for NXN from the California State Meet, but decided to run Foot Locker instead ... won Foot Locker West ... Kristin Fahy competes in the San Diego Section of California and is very familiar with Balboa Park ... capable of a contending performance.

 ... 15 of the 40 Girls entered Foot Locker 2018 have at least one speed rating of 150 or higher this season ... NXN Nationals had 203 Girls entered with 14 having at least one speed rating of 150 or higher ... This makes Foot Locker and NXN the two highest quality races in US by far ... I need to see the results of Foot Locker before deciding which of the two meets is strongest overall ... NXN did have Katelyn Tuohy and Kelsey Chmiel ... But Foot Locker has top runners that turned down NXN At-Large invitations (Sydney Masciarelli, Marlee Starliper, Grace Connolly and Abby Vanderkooi).

This could be a a really good competitive race!