Hollister's promotional efforts were credited with bringing Nike running shoes to prominence in the early 1970s (via OregonLive.com)

On Nov. 27, 2010, a rainy, unseasonably cold Saturday in Fresno, Calif., Holland Reynolds pulsed through the 3.1-mile course upright, trailing only the race’s leader. (via NY Daily News)

  Today is February 1st, national signing day! Athletes around the country (and world) can now make their college commitments official. Many of the top stars around the country will have official signing ceremonies today, while others may do so in the coming days in weeks. We want to applaud all of our college-bound seniors and celebrate their decisions of where they will spend the next four years.

At the Armory on Saturday Strymar Livingston set the 500m NR with a time of 1:01.68 with Najee Glass under the record as well with a 1:02.16! Edward Cheserek scored a US#2 All-Time clocking of 4:02.21. (Photo by Kyle Brazeil)

Wow, I can’t believe that Cross-Country season is over! It has been such a long journey and I could not imagine a better way to end it.             This past month I have been struggling and trying to fight off sickness; at CIF finals I caught a cold which then turned into bronchitis by Thanksgiving and was at it’s worst right before the State Meet. Unfortunately I got sick at the absolute worst time, but I can’t do anything about it; it happens.

Cheserek held off a late charge by Zeinasellassie after a back and forth battle nearly the whole way.  Seidel was able to make a break with 300 to go after Finn led the race for close to 2.5 miles.  Great races all around from all the athletes!  (Photo by Don Rich)

It's a good thing that the athletes have so much to distract them on beautiful Coronado Island or else their nerves would surely eat them to bits. Although they will have many great races yet in their potential-packed running careers, to them this seems like the most important race of their lives. And in many ways it is.

The girls race at Foot Locker Nationals is a little more wide open than the boys race, but there are still a handful of girls at the top who will be difficult to beat.  The top 3 returners from last year have all had great seasons and have proven they can race well under the pressure at Balboa Park. 

The boys race at Foot Locker Nationals has the potential to be a very special event.  The course record of 14:36 at Balboa Park has been held by Reuben Reina since 1985.  This record is in serious jeopardy as both Edward Cheserek (NJ) and Futsum Zenasellassie (IN) have been consistently under 15 minutes this year.  Photos by Victah Sailor/Photorun.net.  Center Photo by Don Rich.

The field separated quickly after the “cannon” went off to start the 2011 NXN Championship, with the strong favorites, surging ahead from the crowd of runners behind them.  Led by Sam Nadel of North Shore, the pack would include Sarah Baxter (Simi Valley), Haley Pierce (Tatnall), Katie Knight (Northwest), and Jillian Fanning (FM).  Nadel took an early lead, reminiscent of Nick Ryan's race strategy from an hour earlier, and ran alone with a 20 meter lead.  That lead soon diminished, as a strong group quickly caught up.  

Sarah Baxter (CA) won the individual title with a time of 17:38, 3rd fastest on the course.  Haley Pierce (DE) was 2nd, Katie Knight (WA) was 3rd and Jillian Fanning (NY) was 4th. Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) set history once again with their 6th straight team victory at NXN.  This years squad faced quite a bit of adversity, losing two of their top-5 but still retained their position atop the podium.  Saratoga Springs (NY) made them work for it, finishing 2nd by just 24 points with a score of 60 to 84.  Tatnall (DE) finished an impressive 3rd with 186 points.

The Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) brings together the best teams in the country and pits them against each other on the most unique course available.  Portland Meadows will once again play host to the championship battle and the manufactured course that traverses the interior of a horse racing track will have all the traditional features of European style cross country racing; including plenty of mud.

Twenty-two of the nations' top teams and forty-five of the best individuals will make the trek to Portland, Oregon for Nike Cross Nationals. The teams are comprised of two winners from nine different regions and four “At-Large” berths, decided on by a team of Nike consultants. 

In case the Simi Valley girls cross country team needed another strong endorsement to be awarded an at-large berth to the eighth annual Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. (via dailynews.com)

Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep, NJ set course record in 15:20.  Foot Locker Regionals take place in the North, Southeast and Midwest.  NXN Regionals in the Northeast, New York and Southeast. (Photo by Don Rich)

  The National High School Coaches Association would like to announce Calvin Christian, Michigan and Tatnall, Delaware as the boys and girls XCNATION Small School National Team Champions. Having a total student body enrollment less than 400 students these two programs have excelled to unparalleled heights in 2011.

Luis Martinez, Erin Hooker, American Fork, Fort Collins win NXN SW; Daniel Vertiz, Madi McLellan, South Lake Carroll win NXN S.  Much more inside!

  Cami returns this season as one of the top distance runners in California.  In 2010 Cami finished the Cross Country season with a Division 4 State Title and a PR of 17:45 over the difficult 5k course.  Her success didn't end there as she made her mark in the mile during the 2011 outdoor season.  With another state title in the 1600 and a PR of 4:40.88 Cami moved into the US#1 spot.  One week later she hit the oval again against the countries best milers -  taking home the gold in the dream mile and cementing her US#1 spot.  Keep checking back as we follow Cami during her final high school cross country season.

For the third year in a row US#1 Fayetteville Manlius, NY scored a perfect 15-points over US#2 Saratoga Springs, NY at the New York State Championships.

Futsum Zeinasellassie is in at NXN, now to qualify at Foot Locker before beginning the quest to win both titles. (Photo by Paul Everett)

US#1 Julie Macedo and US#8 Haley Pierce battled each other relentlessly in Delaware this past weekend, with Haley collapsing and Julie finishing 2nd after staggering close to the finish.  US#4 Grace Tinkey is back and won a state title with the only sub-18 time on the day.  US#6 Erin Finn won her state title in MI and looks poised for a great championship season ahead.  US#7 Katie Knight blasted a 17:10 5k in WA to win a state title and run the fastest time in the state by far.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available.  

US#1 Julie Macedo continues to win, this time taking her conference title with a time of 17:37, as she continues to dominate the national scene.  US#2 Molly Seidel won her 4th straight state title in WI with a time of 13:39.  US#9 Abbey Leonardi won her 4th straight ME crown with a time of 18:27.  US#15 frosh Jordyn Colter won her first CO state title in a dominating way with a time of 18:24.  More state action will heat things up this weekend as we get closer to the championship finals.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available.

Mt. SAC was this past weekend and Sarah Baxter (Simi Valley CA) proved herself in a big way, entering the rankings at #12 after winning the Team Sweeps race with a time of 16:59, the fastest on the day.  Erin Finn (West Bloomfield MI) ran an impressive 17:43 to win by a huge margin at her league meet.  Kelsey Braithwaite (Box Elder UT) moved up to #17 after winning a state title and breaking a 12 year old record with a time of 17:36.4.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Mary Cain (Bronxville NY) moved to #19 with her top-10 all-time finish at Bowdoin Park with a 18:05.96 clocking.  And Abbey Leonardi (Kennebunk ME) ran 18:05.59 to set the course record at her Regional meet despite muddy conditions, moving up one spot to #9.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available.

US#5 Stillwater MN jumps in the power rankings after smashing their 1997 Harrier National Champion Team Conference meet record. US#4 American Fork UT runs past US#11 Davis UT for the 2nd fastest team time in Utah State Meet history. US#7 Rancho Cucamonga CA tops US#8 Arcadia CA to win the Mt. Sac Invitational. US#19 Hamilton Southeastern IN defeats US#26 Carmel IN and almost US#15 Columbus North IN at Semi-State. US#2 Bismarck ND score 17-points to win the North Dakota State Championships. US#6 Belen Jesuit FL is looking more and more like the best team in Florida State History.

Mary Cain #10 All-Time at Bowdoin NY | US#3 Bismarck scores 17 pts for 7th straight, US#5 Leingang goes sub-15 in ND.  Simi Valley wins loaded Team Sweeps at Mt. SAC.  (Photo by Kyle Brazeil)

Many athletes were idle, but there were a few big changes in the rankings this week.  US#1 Julie Macedo (DE) continues to assert her dominance as she won the Joe O'Neill Invite by 42 seconds over US#9 Haley Pierce (DE) with a time of 16:55.26.  US#19 Kelsey Braithwaite (UT) moves into the rankings with her course record setting performance to win the 4A title in 17:36.4.  Also in the rankings for the first time is US#20 Amanda Fox (IL) who ran 16:35.8 for 3 miles at her conference meet.  A lot is going on this weekend with 5 state championships taking place and the big Mt. Sac Invite in CA.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available.

History was made as Southlake Carroll TX ran the third fastest team 5k in US history. 15:14.68 team average falls only behind 1980 Bloomington North IN 15:12.68 @ Indiana State Championships and 2010 Arcadia CA 15:14.20 @ California State Championships. Placing four in the top five, 2. Joe Sansone 15:04; 3. Trevor Gilley 15:11.3; 4. Ben Golestan 15:17.1; 5. Nate Sullivan 15:19.8; 8. Connor Hendrickson 15:21.2; 9. Alex Johansson 15:25.70; 12. Kyle Scanlon 15:40.7. The reward, a major bump in the national rankings to #1 nationally.

Edward Cheserek gets 4th course record in 4 weeks, this time a 14:34 clocking at the Brown Invite.  Southlake Carroll (TX) boys set historical 5k average mark in Arkansas! (Photo by Patrick Bendzick)

Many athletes were idle, but there were a few big changes in the rankings this week.  US#1 Julie Macedo (DE) took the week off, but will race at the Joe O'Neil Invite in DE this weekend.  Molly Seidel (WI) continues to improve as she put an incredible 13:10 4k clocking on the board with a win at the Lakelands Conference Champs.  Another big mover in the girls rankings was Jillian Fanning (NY) who jumped to US#5 with her performance at the Manhattan Invite.  Jillian led US#1 Fayetteville-Manlius to the win with her 14:03 clocking.  Also making the at US#20 was Brianna Nerud (NY) who defeated Haley Pierce (DE) to finish 2nd in Manhattan with a time of 14:22.  Frosh Alana Hadley (NC) made the list at US#24 by winning the UNC Charlotte Invite with a time of 17:30.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available. 

Photo above left: Victah Sailor/Photorun.  Photo above right: Don Rich/Penntrackxc

Julie Macedo (DE) blasted a 17:26 5k in PA to run the 3rd best time on the Paul Short Invitational course to settle into the #1 spot.  Grace Tinkey (GA) goes to the number two spot while Molly Seidel (WI) retains the third spot.  Haley Pierce (DE) rockets up the rankings as she proves she is healthy with a win at the Great American XC Festival.  Other newcomers to the rankings include New Yorker Mary Cain at #18, Maria Hauger (MN) at #22 and Sarah Fakler (AZ) at #23.  Full updates on each athletes recent accomplishments are below.  Be sure to click on each athletes name to see times, articles, photos and interviews of each athlete if available.

US#1 Edward Cheserek (NJ) set a new course record of 14:53 at Holmdel Park NJ. US#7 Anthony Armstrong and US#9 Amy-Eloise Neale top Sunfair in WA. (Photo by MaroonNews)

During a break in training for the Olympics, Usain Bolt told young runners at a California clinic his best advice is to always have a goal. (via USATODAY.COM)

Jacob Smith of Wenathchee Jacob Smith set a blistering pace for a hot day challenging anyone to stay with him & won convincingly.   Dylan Blankenback from California & Korey Krotzer of Auburn Riverside took second & third.

Maddie Meyers led the way with yet another 18 minute clocking but she had an impressive & young cast of supporters.

Darren Fahy (Sr., La Costa Canyon, CA) and Amy Eloise Neale (Jr., Glacier Peak) won the seeded races at the Stanford Invitational.

We begin our cross country season athlete journals with Harvard Westlake senior Cami Chapus.  Cami returns this season as one of the top distance runners in the California.   Photo left: Victor Sailor/Photorun.  Photo right: Don Rich/PennTrack

Tweet Share Here are the CIF-SS Division 1 preseason rankings. 1. Great Oak 2. Dana Hills 3. Vista Murrieta 4. Warren 5. San Clemente 6. Rancho Cucamonga 7. Trabuco Hills... (via OC Varsity)

Big events happening across the country as the season gets into full swing!

Burroughs senior Anthony Monroy is our next runner on the "Who To Watch" list.

Current results from 19 meets of national importance from around the nation.  More to come all weekend right here on MileSplit!

Arcadia senior, Ryan Vargas, is our next runner in the "Who To Watch" series.

Senior Kristian Martinez from Golden Valley High School is our next runner on the "Who To Watch" list.

La Costa Canyon junior, Kelly Lawson, is our next "Who To Watch" athlete.

Wesley Frazier (NC) left little doubt as to who the best runner in the country is after the 2011 outdoor track season.  The Ravenscroft harrier created her own form of history at the 2011 NBON meet by winning two events and finished an impressive third in another.  Frazier won the 5000 meter run with a sophomore record of 16:24.83 after taking control of the race late.  She then came back in the 2 mile and finished third with an impressive 10:10.86 clocking.  She could have stopped right there and cemented her legacy as a super-soph, but Frazier was also entered in the mile.

La Costa Canyon senior, Darren Fahy, is our next runner in the "Who to Watch" series.

Vista Del Lago sophomore, Clare Carroll is our next athlete in the "Who to watch" series.

Saugus senior Karis Frankian is next in our "Who To Watch" series!

Next up is senior Brian Guijarro from William J. Pete Knight High School.

La Costa Canyon sophomore, Emma Abrahamson, is next in the "Who To Watch" series.  

We continue the series with Arcadia senior Sergio Gonzalez.

CJ Albertson (Sr., Buchanan HS) starts our "Who To Watch" series.

  Award-winning journalist Marc Bloom has been compiling high school cross-country rankings for more than 20 years. His most recent books are “God on the Starting Line” (Breakaway, 2004) and “Young Runners” (Simon & Schuster/Fireside, 2009).

Jason Byrne with Florida Milesplit (flrunners.com) is on site with Todd Grasley and Alex Bundez.  Joining them from Bahamas Athletics are Kermit and Keton Taylor.

Sitting in class next to Trinity Wilson, many of her classmates know her as the school’s best hurdler. While it is a fair statement, that is as misleading as calling Allyson Felix “a good sprinter.”

  When it comes to girls’ track and field, the Harvard-Westlake School (photos above by Jeff Sides) is one of those teams that can often get lost in the shuffle.  The small independent college preparatory school, located in Los Angeles, has an enrollment (grades 7-12) of roughly 1,600 with slightly more than half that total comprising its high school student body.

MYRTLE BEACH -- Forty athletes will represent the United States at the IAAF World Youth Championships from July 6-10 in Lille, France, USATF announced today.   Photo: Scrunners.com

  Darren Fahy, CA (photo above left), won the boys 3000 meter run in 8:35.17 and Travis Colby, AZ (photo above right), won the boys Javelin with a toss of 8:35.17.

Photos by Susan Goldman. EUGENE, Ore. (June 23,2011) – In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Amy Weissenbach of Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.) and Gunnar Nixon of Santa Fe High School (Edmond, Okla.) as its 2010-11 Gatorade National Track & Field Athletes of the Year.  Weissenbach and Nixon were surprised with the news at the 2010-11 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where they are both competing.

Harvard-Westlake (CA) ran an earth-shattering 11:22.23 for the DMR National Record!  (Photo by Pat Montferrat)

Long Beach Poly (CA) just destroyed the 4x800 National Record with a clocking of 7:28.75 powered by Myles Andrews' sick 1:47.71 leg!

(Photo by Jeff Sides)  Blacksburg set the DMR national record last year.  Who has the best chance to enter the books this year?

INDIANAPOLIS — Lukas Verzbicas has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after becoming the fifth U.S. high school athlete ever to run under four minutes in the mile with his victory in the adidas Grand Prix High School Dream Mile.  Cover photos by Don Rich/PennTrackXC    

Girls Dream Mile, Story and Video!

Jantzen Oshier led most of the race until Lukas Verzbicas (IL) took over the lead in the final lap.

Another weekend of exciting track and field.........The adidas grand prix dream mile and dream 100 dash.....The Golden West Invite.......The New England Championships............NY Federation.........NJ Meet of Champions!  

Deep fields feature 27 athletes ranked top 3 in nation, including 11 at #1

  Lukas Verzbicas gets coveted 2 mile record.  Amy Weissenbach US#3 A-T 2:03.04 800!  Oshier 4:00.83 1600 at CA states.  (Photos by Victah Sailer, PhotoRun.net)

Billy Orman US#2 |  Burcham's Stellar Triple | Melia Xox 2 US#1's and Akawkaw Ndipagbor 2 US#3's.

Chris Hollis, New Generation Manager at Adidas Group, talks about the Dream Mile and Dream 100 and answers questions about the selection process and future of the event.

Track Chat with Ciarra Brewer, James Logan CA, who boasts a 43-04.25 PR for the Triple Jump, good for US#7 All-Time.

Long Beach Poly, CA, lit up the track in the boys COA 4x800 with a US#3 All-Time clocking of 7:31.69!  Anchor Myles Andrews split 1:49.54.  (Photo by Don Rich).  Dendy 50-8.25 Triple Jump (Photo by Don Rich).  Ammar Moussa 14:05 at Stanford (Photo by Victah Sailer/PhotoRun).

NEW YORK CITY (April 27, 2011) – Eleven high school track stars, including eight who have run fast enough to currently be ranked among the Top 3 in the country at distances ranging from 100 meters to 3200 meters, have been added to the fields for the High School Dream Mile and Dream 100 at the adidas Grand Prix on June 11, meet organizers and adidas have announced.

Track Chat with Jantzen Oshier, Trabuco Hills CA, who boasts a 4:04.24 PR this year for 1600 meters.  He will also be competing in the adidas 'Dream Mile' in June.

Mary Cain, NY, blasted a 2:06.44 at the NY Relays for US#1!  (Photo by Chris Hunt)

Photo above left: Akawkaw Ndipagbor (Sr., Long Beach Poly) anchors the girls 4x100 relay to a 1st place finish and a US#3.  Photo above right: Trinity Wilson (Jr., St. Mary's)  finishing 1st in the 100 Hurdles for a US#2.

Dana Hills pulled an upset over Elias Gedyon and his Loyola teammates to win the DMR invite in 10:08.02 for a US#1.  Photo by Alan Voorhees.

Loyola boys take 4x1600, Xavier Prep girls win 4x800, US#1 4x2 for LBP girls.  Gunnar Nixon (Santa Fe, OK) returned to Arcadia for his second win in the Decathlon with a record setting 7577.

A big weekend of meets brought some great results and many top 10 US marks! Photo above by Dennis McClanahan -  Mt. Miguel Elite Invite!

   The top ten times are getting quicker as the season advances.  This week we filtered out the wind aided marks in a few events.

 Great Marks across the state.   Brandon Ford (Mt. Carmel) won the high jump with a 6-10 jump.  Deante Kemper (Sierra) also jumped 6-10.  Cami Chapus (Jr., Harvard Westlake) had an impressive double with a 4:51.66 1600 and a 10:29.48 3200.  Photos by Gabriel Santana.

 The USA team before the World Cross Country race in Spain.  USA Cover photo from left, Kelly Strong (USA Junior Women's Coach), Julie Nacouzi, Sierra Vega, Katie Flood, Molly Grabill, Hannah Valenzuela and Aisling Cuffe.  Photos by Mike Scott.

Alli Billmeyer and Jantzen Oshier took the girls and boys dream mile qualifier titles.  Watch the race videos, courtesy of Flotrack.org, inside!

 Another great track and field week!  Please send results (flat html format) to mkelly@milesplit.us.  We don't want to leave anyone out!!

Each week Milesplit will highlight several athletes from across the country who demonstate outstanding performances in track and field.  Ammar Moussa (Arcadia, CA) and Anthony Coleman (Alief Elsik, TX) are just 2 of the six in the spotlight this week.  Photo of Ammar Moussa by Mike Scott http://miscottrunningphoto.shutterfly.com/2010) p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #ffffff; background-color: #000000} span.s1 {text-shadow: 2.0px 2.0px 2.0px #000000}

 Each week Milesplit will highlight several athletes from across the country who demonstate outstanding performances in track and field.  Sarah Baxter (Simi Valley, CA) and Maddie Morrow (Hoover, OH) are just 2 of the six in the spotlight this week.  File photo by Margot Kelly Calruners.com.