2011 Foot Locker Cross-Country: Molly Seidel Stays Perfect As Cheserek-Futsum Duel Lives Up To Hype

By LetsRun.com
December 10, 2011

Quick recaps and results for the girls and boys Foot Locker races below.

Girls: Molly Seidel Turns Back A Tough Challenge From Erin Finn

Erin Finn put up an epic fight but Molly Seidel came from behind to win the 2011 Foot Locker Cross-Country National High School Championships.

With last year's top six all graduating, Finn was the top returner from a year ago. Seidel, who missed last year's Foot Locker finals by one spot, has been on a tear ever since. Undefeated this year in XC, she won the Midwest Regional, 26 seconds ahead of Finn, who was third.

More Girls Photos Here

That was all forgotten on Saturday as Finn ran like the top returner.

Finn seized the lead in the first half mile (2:37) and extended it at the mile (5:20). She was all alone with 39 of the best girls in the country behind her.

Finn still had a significant gap on the field at 2 miles (11:08) but Seidel had emerged from the pack and was chasing Finn down.

Just after they started up the big hill for the second time, 14 minutes into the race, Seidel caught Finn. She wasted no time and immediately went by Finn and extended her lead going up the hill. Surely the race was over as all that was left was a downhill and flat to the finish.

Then, coming down the hill, Finn did the unthinkable. She ran with reckless abandon and flew past Seidel 16:15 into the race, opening up a lead of her own of roughly 10 meters. This was getting interesting.

Seidel kept her composure and began to reel Finn back in. She passed Finn one final time (she hit 3 miles in 16:47) and held on for the victory in 17:21.4 to Finn's 17:23.9.

Laura Leff, only a sophomore, who was 5th in the Northeast region, was third. Seidel and Finn led the Midwest to the team title.

*Girls Race Video here

Girls Results

2011 Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals                     
                           Morley Field, San Diego, CA                           
                              Last Completed Event                               
 
Event 1  Girls 5k Run CC
=======================================================================          
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points          
=======================================================================          
Results - Women                                                                  
  1 Molly Seidel              12 MW, Hartland, WI       17:21.4    1             
  2 Erin Finn                 11 MW,W Bloomfield, MI    17:23.9    2             
  3 Laura Leff                10 NE,Syracuse, NY        17:33.9    3             
  4 Abbey Leonardi            12 NE,Kennebunkprt, ME    17:35.3    4             
  5 Karlie Garcia             11 WE,Roseville, CA       17:35.6    5             
  6 Grace Tinkey              11 SO,Macon, GA           17:37.0    6             
  7 Catarina Rocha            11 NE,Peabody, MA         17:37.3    7             
  8 Kelsey Braithwaite        12 WE,Perry, UT           17:38.4    8             
  9 Makena Morley              9 WE,Bigfork, MT         17:39.1    9             
 10 Julia Bos                 11 MW,Rockford, MI        17:39.2   10             
 11 Sophie Chase              11 SO,Burke, VA           17:44.2   11             
 12 Karis Jochen              11 SO,College Sttn, TX    17:44.8   12             
 13 Angel Piccirillo          12 NE,Homer City, PA      17:46.1   13             
 14 Lindsey Burdette          12 MW,Horton, MI          17:55.1   14             
 15 Alexandria Fons           10 MW,Franklin, WI        17:56.7   15             
 16 Megan Moye                12 SO,Moseley, VA         18:01.8   16             
 17 Nikki Hiltz               11 WE,Aptos, CA           18:04.0   17             
 18 Cali Roper                12 SO,Conroe, TX          18:04.1   18             
 19 Olivia Ortiz              11 SO,Bradenton, FL       18:05.9   19             
 20 Nicole Mello              11 MW,Columbia, MO        18:06.4   20             
 21 Maria Hauger              11 MW,Shakopee, MN        18:06.6   21             
 22 Camille Chapus            12 WE,PfcPalisades, CA    18:07.9   22             
 23 Jordan McPhee             10 WE,Normandy Prk, WA    18:13.7   23             
 24 Anna Maxwell              10 WE,Felton, CA          18:14.5   24             
 25 Taylor Manett             12 MW,Rockford, MI        18:16.1                  
 26 Sydney Scott              12 MW,Idaho Sprngs, CO    18:17.2                  
 27 Clare Carroll             10 WE,Folsom, CA          18:17.7                  
 28 Holly Bischof             12 NE,Hainsport, NJ       18:17.9   25             
 29 Samantha George           12 SO,Raleigh, NC         18:18.9   26             
 30 Alexis Panisse            12 NE,Bellrose, NY        18:19.2   27             
 31 Kaylee Flanagan           11 MW,Roselle, IL         18:19.4                  
 32 Sydney Segal              11 WE,BeverlyHills, CA    18:20.7                  
 33 Hannah Oneda              12 NE,Wesminster, MD      18:21.0   28             
 34 Alana Hadley               9 SO,Charlotte, NC       18:22.0                  
 35 Lily Williams             12 SO,Tallahassee, FL     18:29.1                  
 36 Caroline Kellner          12 NE,Wst Windsor, NJ     18:32.1                  
 37 Emily Nist                12 WE,Meridan, ID         18:34.3                  
 38 Bridget Blake             11 SO,Orlando, FL         18:36.1                  
 39 Tori Gerlach              12 NE,Perkasie, PA        18:37.3                  
 40 Meredith Speakman         12 NE,Carlisle, PA        18:45.6                  
                                                                                 
                                   Team Scores                                   
=================================================================================
Rank Team                      Total    1    2    3    4    5   *6   *7   *8   *9
=================================================================================
Results - Women                                                                  
   1 MW			              42    1    2   10   14   15   20   21          
      Total Time:  1:28:16.30                                                    
         Average:    17:39.26                                                    
   2 NE 			              52    3    4    7   13   25   27   28          
      Total Time:  1:28:50.50                                                    
         Average:    17:46.10                                                    
   3 WE                         61    5    8    9   17   22   23   24          
      Total Time:  1:29:05.00                                                    
         Average:    17:49.00                                                    
   4 SO                          63    6   11   12   16   18   19   26          
      Total Time:  1:29:11.90                                                    
         Average:    17:50.38                                                                                                        

More Boys Photos Here

Boys Race Lives Up To Its Hype As Cheserek Defeats Futsum

This was a great race as the 2010 Foot Locker boys' race lived up to its hype. Edward Cheserek, undefeated in 2011 with course records in each of his races, battled with the undefeated Futsum Zeinasellassie stride-for-stride until the final 100m when Cheserek outkicked Futsum for the win.

CJ Albertson opened a lead in the first half mile (2:21). The field bided its time behind Albertson, who would fade to 36th. They hit the mile in 4:48 as Cheserek and Futsum began to position themselves at the front. Futsum made his first big move just after the seven-minute mark as they hit 1.5 miles in 7:19.

Last 600 of Boys Race
(Full Race and Larger Video Here)

It was a two-man race, as Futsum would surge and then Cheserek would countersurge but neither could drop the other. Two miles was in 9:50 and any shot of  a course record (14:36) was gone. As they went back up the big hill for the second and final time, Cheserek put in another big surge to retake the lead, but Futsum hung tough and would not be dropped. They emerged down the hill together. On the flats, they sprinted for the title. Cheserek pulled in front but Futsum was in striking distance. Futsum was not able to summon one final surge and Cheserek won his first national title in 14:51.5, 0.6 ahead of Futsum.

Nathan Weitz of Spokane, Washington, runner-up in the West region to  Darren Fahy, who was undefeated heading into FL Finals, emerged from the chasers to get third. Jake Leingang of North Dakota was fourth and Andrew Gardner, Weitz's cross-town Spokane rival, was 6th. Fahy's undefeated season came to an end in 17th.

Edward Cheserek's course record streak came to an end as Reuben Reina's 26-year-old course record will turn 27.

*Boys Race Video *FL Youtube Channel

Boys Results

                    2011 Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals                     
                           Morley Field, San Diego, CA                           
                              Last Completed Event                               
 
Event 2  Boys 5k Run CC
=======================================================================          
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points          
=======================================================================          
Results - Men                                                                    
  1 Edward Cheserek           11 NE,Newark, NJ          14:51.5    1             
  2 Futsum Zeinasellassie     12 MW,Indianapolis, IN    14:52.1    2             
  3 Nathan Weitz              12 WE,Spokane, WA         15:20.5    3             
  4 Jake Leingang             11 MW,Bismarck, ND        15:21.2    4             
  5 Daniel Vertiz             12 SO,San Antonio, TX     15:22.5    5             
  6 Andrew Gardner            11 WE,Spokane, WA         15:23.1    6             
  7 Tony Smoragiewicz         12 MW,Rapid City, SD      15:24.0    7             
  8 Joshua Brickell           11 SO,Suwanee, GA         15:24.2    8             
  9 Thomas Graham             12 SO,Cary, NC            15:24.4    9             
 10 Sean McGorty              11 SO,Fairfax, VA         15:28.0   10             
 11 Dallin Farnsworth         12 WE,Pocatello, ID       15:28.9   11             
 12 Ahmed Bile                12 SO,Annandale, VA       15:29.2   12             
 13 Dustin Wilson             12 NE, Philadelphia, P    15:29.4   13             
 14 Craig Nowak               12 SO,Cypress, TX         15:31.0   14             
 15 Matthew McClintock        12 NE,Athens, ME          15:31.3   15             
 16 Timothy Ball              12 NE,Piscataway, NJ      15:32.7   16             
 17 Darren Fahy               12 WE,Carlsbad, CA        15:33.7   17             
 18 Connor Rog                12 NE,Fairfield, CT       15:34.1   18             
 19 Jacob Thomson             11 SO,Louisville, KY      15:41.5   19             
 20 Robert Domanic            11 SO,Lewisville, TX      15:42.0                  
 21 Daniel Lennon             12 NE,Morrisonville, N    15:43.7   20             
 22 Jonathan Green            11 NE,Berlin, MA          15:45.4   21             
 23 Thomas Madden             11 SO,Front Royal, VA     15:45.7                  
 24 Christopher Allen         12 NE,Norfolk, MA         15:46.7                  
 25 Michael Clevenger         12 MW,Decatur, IL         15:50.7   22             
 26 Malachy Schrobilgen       12 MW,Oak Park, IL        15:52.3   23             
 27 Evan Chiplock             12 MW,Saginaw, MI         15:52.8   24             
 28 Ryan Polman               12 MW,Independence, OH    15:56.2   25             
 29 Sam Berger                12 MW,Zionsville, IN      15:57.6                  
 30 Luis Luna                 12 WE,Santa Rosa, CA      16:00.9   26             
 31 Cameron Miller            12 WE,Bakersfield, CA     16:01.5   27             
 32 Addison DeHaven           10 MW,Brookings, SD       16:02.6                  
 33 Grant Nykaza              11 MW,Beecher, IL         16:06.4                  
 34 Billy Gaudreau            12 WE,Dana Point, CA      16:07.0   28             
 35 Joel Hubbard              12 NE,Marshfield, MA      16:09.4                  
 36 CJ Albertson              12 WE,Fresno, CA          16:15.9                  
 37 Kevin Durham              12 WE,Lake Forest, CA     16:20.8                  
 38 Miles Smith               11 WE,Lakewood, CA        16:21.8                  
 39 Chris Godwin              12 SO,Gainsville, FL      16:27.9                  
 40 Blake Udland              12 NE,Short Hills, NJ     16:53.9                  
                                                                                 
                                   Team Scores                                   
=================================================================================
Rank Team                      Total    1    2    3    4    5   *6   *7   *8   *9
=================================================================================
Results - Men                                                                    
   1 SO                           44    5    8    9   10   12   14   19          
      Total Time:  1:17:08.30                                                    
         Average:    15:25.66                                                    
   2 MW                           58    2    4    7   22   23   24   25          
      Total Time:  1:17:20.30                                                    
         Average:    15:28.06                                                    
   3 NE                           63    1   13   15   16   18   20   21          
      Total Time:  1:16:59.00                                                    
         Average:    15:23.80                                                    
   4 WE                           63    3    6   11   17   26   27   28          
      Total Time:  1:17:47.10                                                    
         Average:    15:33.42                                                                                                                                                                                                                



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