The Future of Footlocker XC

FL could have had it all several years ago, but choose to stay with their format of individuals only.

Thanks to the original founders and developers of the event Josh Rowe of Nike along with Mike Donnelly and the present Nike crew of Schoolmeister and Holts, plus the NSSF team of Spier, Holzherr and Limmer along with the original mgt. committee team comprised of Danny Green, Rich Gonzalez, Marc Bloom and John Dye and some wisdom by Joe Newton for giving the sport what they wanted. The event has never sat back and said "we can't make it better". The sport now has a true National Championship that follows all state, national and international formats. They hit the nail on the head with their vision and efforts.

FL could have thrived, but now treads water.

The NCAA has a 20 mile limit which they will waive a bit, like maybe 40 miles. They don't want the big schools to hog championships for their alma mater. Portland is too far for UO to host a champs. UP is within the range of Portland Meadows but doesn't want to help UO with a competitive advantage.

People that aren't top 40 in the country talent can group with their team and go to NXN. I think if you are a bad ass on a sucky team, FL will always be the way to go.

You sound like a commercial.

Your Nike paycheck is waiting for you...

runn wrote:

I'm a high school coach- Nike is seen as the real thing. Footlocker is for runners who can't make it at NXN so the settle for Footlocker.

FL missed the boat when they let Nike take over and didn't go with the team thing.

Anyone who thinks XC is an individual sport hasn't been watching.

Nike may very well win out when all is said and done, but you're beyond a moron with that statement about FL being for runners that can't make NXN. It's even more of a joke that you are supposedly a coach.

This year the majority of the best boys are going to NXN, but it was only a year ago where the best runner (Verzbicas) was at FL only.

I guess Cuffe and Venables must not be good enough to make NXN on the girls side...is that how you explain the fact that they'll be at FL over Nike?

Foot Locker is the true national championship with the best runners on an excellent course. Nike has the dollars and the sales pitch, but not the talent or the course. While Foot Locker may be losing folks to Nike, it still is regarded as a more prestigious race. Ask any college coach

Both nxn sw individual winners declined nxn national invites and will run FL. Guess they must both be second rate athletes unable to qualify for nxn?

runn wrote:

I'm a high school coach- Nike is seen as the real thing. Footlocker is for runners who can't make it at NXN so the settle for Footlocker.

FL missed the boat when they let Nike take over and didn't go with the team thing.

Anyone who thinks XC is an individual sport hasn't been watching.

Boy, are you out of touch with reality or what? Guess you're going with NXN this year. Good, don't let the door hit ya.........

Guess you have been spending too much time on Gilligan's Island Thurston. Be prepared for a major FL announcement after this year's race.

FL = Final Lap

Choc Man = On Nike's Payroll

Interesting concept...

http://www.runnerstribe.com/blog/post/show/id/159-Nike-Vs-Footlocker-XC-Champs-Part-2-By-Bryan-Green

Great idea, I think.

Interesting idea that FL could end up with something like 16 from the midwest and 10 from the south, for example.

Thank goodness for Footlocker, and it's National Championships, provided for the top high school young women and men in the country.

This is all about choice.

Take the high road or the low road.

Nike's constant PR campaign intended to destroy high school athletics in exchange for it's personal gain is quite sad.

runn wrote:

I'm a high school coach- Nike is seen as the real thing. Footlocker is for runners who can't make it at NXN so the settle for Footlocker.

FL missed the boat when they let Nike take over and didn't go with the team thing.

Anyone who thinks XC is an individual sport hasn't been watching.

I'm sorry but you're a pretty stupid sounding coach.

Im a college frosh right now and ran footlocker my first three years and switched to nxn senior year. And frankly, I do think that footlocker is dying. It seemed like my FL region was not as strong as most of the best runners in our region went to nxn ( including the top few guys in the state). Plus a guy who finished outside the top ten at states last year qualified for FL nationals. Obviously not his best race at states, but still. I think that the move is already on for nxn and will continue to shift that way.

National level, I thought that they may have been even last year but this is the first year that there will be a difference.

Lukas has said he will run Nike if he can only run one, so that pretty much answers your question.

Speaking of Footlocker...Just thinking, do we have a wild race shaping up for NCAA Div I next year. The rematch of what was it, 2006 FOOTLOCKER BATTLE? So, we got Derrick#2gunning for next year. German #3 obviously is very able to show at a battle next year. Lowe#4 will be another man that could run at the front next year. Fout#1 is slowly coming on, anyone who knows Fout...knows he is on a mission for next year. Of course Luke#5 will be running at the front. Kind of wild, wonder if the same guys could..nah...never happen its just to wild to imagine.

Hey was looking for ideas on how FL can compete with NXN and be saved. Nothing can be done this year with entrants and big names so what might FL do in the future to reverse the current trends? Why are they just continuing on like they always have and letting NXN take over? Let's not let this great tradition die.

How about?

FL = Falling Lower