Footlocker 2013

McGorty and Cheserek graduated this year. I'm not sure of any big names

I couldn't tell you much about this years class. However I agree. Never too early for some speculation and I am also interested in learning more about the guys this year. Time will undoubtedly tell, but still curious!

Have to think that Haney will be an all American this year. Seems wide open so I can see him winning

haney will probably win. he just ran a 3:44 1500 and that puts him well in front of his competition.

Team Blake wrote:

Have to think that Haney will be an all American this year. Seems wide open so I can see him winning

Haney has yet to have a great cross country season, but if he is healthy I can't see anyone beating him. He's phenomenal. However, Jacob burcham was in a similar position to Haney at that age and look what happened to him his junior AND senior years of XC. Not as fast over 3200, but still a sub 9 guy very early in his high school career. Did Haney get too fast too quick? And is he really a stellar cross country runner? Or just a track guy?

Aaron Templeton will win. Quintin McKinnish will be top 10. Don't know about anyone else!

Top 10 returners from footlocker south (to get the conversation moving):

1. Aaron Templeton - 14:54

2. Quintin McKinnish - 15:00

3. Brent Demarest - 15:06

4. Patrick Gregory - 15:17

5. Ian Milder - 15:18

6. Tyler Bennett - 15:22

7. Wyatt Maxey - 15:24

8. Chase Geary - 15:25

9. Daniel Navarro - 15:26

10. Gabriel Haughey - 15:27

Honestly think that McKinnish will win. The guy is crazy talented

Lol. Completely biased opinions. Does anyone on here have anything to say about anything outside of the south region?!

Skeptical1 wrote:

Haney has yet to have a great cross country season, but if he is healthy I can't see anyone beating him. He's phenomenal. However, Jacob burcham was in a similar position to Haney at that age and look what happened to him his junior AND senior years of XC. Not as fast over 3200, but still a sub 9 guy very early in his high school career. Did Haney get too fast too quick? And is he really a stellar cross country runner? Or just a track guy?

haney is a completely different type of runner than burcham. Haney missed almost all of last year's xc season due to an IT band injury. Burcham is a 800/mile guy and Haney is a mile/2 mile guy.

number ln e wrote:

haney is a completely different type of runner than burcham. Haney missed almost all of last year's xc season due to an IT band injury. Burcham is a 800/mile guy and Haney is a mile/2 mile guy.

I'm honestly very glad to hear that. I think Blake is great. Found myself disappointed with Burcham though.

All returning footlocker competitors:

7 15:29 63 Aaron Templeton 11

12 15:34 84 Conner Mantz 10

13 15:36 67 Quintin McKinnish 11

14 15:37 86 John Dressel 10

16 15:41 87 Kramer Morton 11

19 15:43 74 Patrick Perrier 11

25 15:48 70 Brent Demarest 11

28 15:56 55 Kyle Kroon 11

30 15:59 80 Nicholas Elswick 11

34 16:07 59 Brent Kennedy 11

39 16:28 58 Chris Alvarado 11

Connor Mantz and Nick Elswick will be guys to look for. Especially after Elswick's insane 5k at NBON.

Templeton is the type of toughness runner who will be able to put the course record in jeopardy.

Thundercats_GO wrote:

All returning footlocker competitors:

7 15:29 63 Aaron Templeton 11

12 15:34 84 Conner Mantz 10

13 15:36 67 Quintin McKinnish 11

14 15:37 86 John Dressel 10

16 15:41 87 Kramer Morton 11

19 15:43 74 Patrick Perrier 11

25 15:48 70 Brent Demarest 11

28 15:56 55 Kyle Kroon 11

30 15:59 80 Nicholas Elswick 11

34 16:07 59 Brent Kennedy 11

39 16:28 58 Chris Alvarado 11

That's all good and all... But who are the sleepers?!?! I want the guys who you think will bust on to the scene this year and be competitive. Some of these guys probably won't even make it back to FL!

Can I get at least a few honest predictions? Top 15 at nationals maybe?

Garrett O'Toole. Ran 3:49 in June. Went to NXN last year, but should go footlocker this year.

Haney will likely run that crap fest called NXN and he will have a hard time winning because that pointless race is ridiculously unpredictable and isn't a true indicator of a national champion at all. His loss if he doesn't come to Footlocker, but I have a feeling he will go NXN... Sad but true. If Haney isn't present at the real National Championship (Footlocker) then it looks wide open to me. This one, at least for now, looks like it could be anyone's race.

Team

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Looking at underclassmen finishes in each region:

MW - 4,10,13,23,29

N - 5,8,9,14,21

S - 3,7,10,16,17

W - 4,6,7,11,13

I would have to say the West looks like it has the strongest returning class and the Midwest could really struggle this year.

Individuals (Top 5 from each regional race + significant others; w/key times from this spring)

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Midwest

4 - Patrick Perrier (IL) 9:03

10 - Nicholas Elswick (OH) 9:00, 14:28 5k

13 - Jackson Bertoli (IN) 9:12

23 - Addison DeHaven (SD) 8:57

29 - Chase Barnett (MI) 4:24/1:54; No 3200

This race could be hugely impacted by what the guys from MN choose to do. Five underclassmen, including a freshman (Eli Krahn 8:58), from MN went under the previous state meet record of 9:02.65 held by Elliot Heath. Obsa Ali (8:57) leads this MN group. If they choose to run Footlocker this fall the Midwest team could look very different. Krahn is from Stillwater, a team that competed at NXN and probably will again - will Eli try running NXN and Footlocker as a Sophomore?

Grant Fisher (MI) is just a sophomore. He ran 9:04 at the state meet and then just ran 3:50 for 1500 and the World Youth Championships. He did not run Footlocker or NXN last year to my knowledge. Will he this year?

Noah Kauppila (MO) ran 8:54, 4:10c, and 1:54 this spring. Last fall he was 30th at Footlocker MW. He's clearly a force to be reckoned with.

Elswick's 5k at NBON makes him look like the favorite currently in the Midwest.

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Northeast

5 - Kyle Kroon (NJ) 9:03

8 - Chris Alvarado (CT) 9:07

9 - Brent Kennedy (PA) 9:13/4:15c

14 - Josiah Hanko (NJ) 9:02

21 - Stephan Maine (NJ) 9:05

No major standout performances this spring among this group. Three other guys from the Northeast did run under 9:00. Kyle Levermore (NJ; 8:55) leads this group that includes Mickey Burke (NY; 8:57) who ran NXN last fall, and Tim McGowan (NY; 8:59)

The Northeast could be a solid team this fall, but I don't see the individual winner coming from this group.

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South

3 - Aaron Templeton (TN) 9:04

7 - Quintin McKinnish (TN) No outdoor times on Milesplit; 1:58 indoor

10 - Brent Demarest (SC) 9:15/4:17c

16 - Patrick Gregory (KY) 9:10/4:13c

17 - Ian Milder (NC) 9:13/4:17

There were no athletes from the South that made noise on the track this spring. I think the South could be in trouble this fall if track times mean much.

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West

4 - Connor Mantz (UT) 9:04 (lead the first part of Arcadia 3200)

6 - Jon Dressel (WA) 8:59

7 - Kramer Morton (UT) 9:26/4:14

11 - Elijah Armstrong (ID) 9:04/4:15

13 - Caleb Webb (CA) 9:09/4:18

Connor Mantz and Elijah Armstrong were both just sophomores this past year and are both fiercely competitive. They ran very well this past year, and I expect they will be much stronger next year. Blake Haney (CA; 8:48) and Joe Hardy (WA; 8:51) could join this group to create a monster team. Hardy ran NXN and I would expect him to do so again this year as it's in his backyard.

California also had 3 freshman under 4:18 in the 1600 this spring including Tamagno at 4:09. As they mature this fall, they could become major players as well.

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Overall, I agree with the common assessment that the individual title is wide open this year. It could be strongly influenced by Footlocker rookies. In any case I expect the West team to win the team title easily.

Note: I was surprised in looking at this data that of the top 5 returning guys from each regional race only two of them had top 10 3200 times this spring among returners: DeHaven - 7th; 8:57 and Dressel - 10th; 8:59. Elswick was 11th at 9:00.