Unlike most other regions, matchups between Foot Locker contenders in the South Region come about frequently. In the first two weeks, nearly all the boys on the MileSplit FL Power Rankings top twelve met another contender, while half the girls seemed to as well. With a couple of very close races, the rankings jumped around a bit, although few newcomers arrived on this weeks' rankings.
MileSplit's Foot Locker Power Rankings - South Region
Boys
1. Colby Lowe (Sr., Southlake Carroll, TX) - Yet unchallenged this season, Lowe continues to leave off where he was last year, dominating in-state competition. Lowe's only challenger, teammate C.J. Brown, finishes thirty seconds or so behind him. Lowe will get a major test the last weekend in September against FLS #10 Reed Conner.
2. Ryan Hill (Sr., Hickory, NC) - The most battle tested runner on this list, Hill took on FLS #7 Luke Lovelace at the Eye Opener Invitational, then less than two weeks later went against FLS #9 Tyler Gilland. Each time Hill came out on top, with a decisive final mile push.
3. Sean Keveren (Sr., Brentwood, TN) - Much like Lowe, Keveren's challengers are too far from him to actually challenge him. While this may prohibit him from showcasing his talent in September, it will save him from over racing early on.
4. Griff Graves (Sr., Abingdon, VA) - Graves smashed his course record during his first meet, then traveled to Illinois to take on that states best, winning impressively over the final mile, to run 14:19 for the three-mile Illinois state meet course.
5. Jason Witt (Sr., Midlothian, VA) - At the Great Meadows Invitational two weeks back, Witt beat a very strong field on a finishing kick. That type of season opener is one he can build from the rest of the season.
6. Peter Dorrell (Sr., Blacksburg, VA) - A few impressive early season performances move Dorrell up the list. He will get his chance to shine against the states' best soon enough. For now, Foot Locker is a definite possibility.
7. Luke Lovelace (Sr., Chapin, SC) - While losing a key early season matchup against FLS #2 Hill, Lovelace still ran a close race, where he proved he will be a challenger to make Foot Locker again, and last year was not a fluke.
8. Thomas Porter (Jr., Mountain View, VA) - Going against FLS #5 Witt at the Great Meadows Invitational, Porter pushed hard to beat Witt in the final stretch, but simply did not have enough, and faded to third, also losing to newly minted FLS #12 Johns Ross.
9. Taylor Gilland (Jr., Chapel Hill, NC) - Gilland lost to FLS #2 Hill at the WNC CC Carnival by nine seconds, but earned a lot of respect and confidence from the matchup. Gilland, who is only a junior, kept up with the senior Hill, last year's Foot Locker regional winner, until the final half mile.
10. Reed Conner (Jr., the Woodlands, TX) - Question marks were placed on Conner in the pre-season. Could he back up the track performances he ran in the spring during the cross country season? Also, would the junior be strong enough to lead his team? Both answers thus far are a definite yes.
11. C.J. Brown (Jr., Southlake Carroll, TX) - Yet to have a chance to take on other top competition than his teammate FLS #1 Lowe, Brown makes strides where he can. Like Lowe, a big test awaits him at the Nike South Invitational, where Brown and FLS #10 Conner match up.
12. Johns Ross (Sr., The Potomac School, VA) - While not on the pre-season Foot Locker South Power Rankings, Ross earned his way onto the list by running well at the Great Meadows Invitational. At GMI, Ross took FLS #5 Witt to the line, while in the process beating FLS #8 Porter.
Girls
1. Ashley Brasovan (Jr., Wellington, FL) - An enormous early season win versus previously ranked FLS #3 Emilie Amaro, shows Brasovan is back in business. Brasovan started the season out speedy last year as well, then faded at Foot Locker Regionals. That is something she needs to overcome this year. If she does this, look out for Brasovan at Nationals!
2. Aurora Scott (Sr., Home Schooled, VA) - Scott opened up her season with an easy 5k performance of 18:27. Scott's cross country season needed to get off to a great start after a strenuous track season, that saw her not running outdoor track at all.
3. Emily Reese (Sr., Chamblee, GA) - Running an 18:01 5k is no easy task for any girl, but to run it with little competition, taking a wrong turn, and still winning by a lot, is exactly what Emily Reese did. Reese's spotlight will shine a little dimmer when matched up with the hype of Brasovan, Scott and Kroeger, but Reese is equally as talented as those three.
4. Cory McGee (So., Pass Christian, MS) - The little sophomore from Mississippi races seldom early on it seems. With few results to her name, and even a smaller amount of competition to challenge her, McGee's focus should be on regionals.
5. Kathy Kroeger (Jr., Independence, TN) - Kroeger, while seemingly healthy and back on the right path, needs to show the same form she showed last season at some point if she hopes to maintain a top five ranking in the region.
6. Kayla Hale (Jr., Holy Trinity, FL) - A big win at the always difficult Astronaut Invitational pushes Hale a spot up from the previous rankings. Her 18:13 5K mark is a great one.
7. Emilie Amaro (Sr., Cypress Bay, FL) - While FLS #1 Brasovan dominated Amaro earlier this month, Amaro bounced back well after the stunning defeat. However, to make Foot Locker Nationals, Amaro can no longer afford a 60+ second defeat by Brasovan.
8. Virginia Hine (Sr., White Station, TN) - Hine is easily the class of Tennessee outside of FLS #5 Kroeger. The lack of competition could prove to be a downfall this season, although Hine's coaches are good ones. Hine easily won her opener.
9. Barbara Stehler (Jr., Trinity Episcopal, VA) - Stehler, the only new girl on the Power Rankings, earned the spot by coming up big over Liz Barclay, who is 4:59 miler on the track. Stehler won the Woodberry Forest Invitational by a dominating 35 seconds. Behind FLS #2 Aurora Scott, Stehler's performance raises her to the top of Virginia.
10. Jennifer Dunn (Sr., Austin, AL) - Easily winning the Tennessee Classic, Dunn shows each week why she is labeled as perhaps the best runner in Alabama. While having high expectations, Dunn will be tested a few times this year by the other great runners in Alabama.
11. Kristie Krueger (Sr., Argyle, TX) - Krueger quickly is distinguishing herself as the best runner in Texas. With previously Foot Locker ranked Catherine Loden coming back slowly from a summer time injury, Krueger is the Lone Star States favorite to make Foot Locker at this point in the season.
12. Lia DiValentin (Jr., Chatilly, VA) - DiValentin keeps the trend of winning alive, proving she is a force in Virginia. DiValentin won the Judges Classic rather easily. She gets a few challenges later this season.