MileSplit\'s Foot Locker Power Rankings - National (Oct.2)

 

A weekend of top notch action concludes, and the new MileSplit Foot Locker Power Rankings - National (Oct. 2) are now ready.  Many of the top ten originals still roam the list, but a few fresh faces enter the mix.  The biggest jump on the list is Katie Flood (So., Dowling Catholic, IA), moving from un-ranked to fourth in the country after a huge win over Emily Sisson at the Roy Griak Invitational.  Meanwhile, Doug Smith (Jr., Gill-Bernard's, NJ) and Kevin Williams (Sr., D'Evelyn, CO) both enter the boys rankings. 

 

MileSplit's Foot Locker Power Rankings - National (Oct. 2)

 

Boys

 

1. German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA) - An amazing 14:42 effort at the Stanford Invitational, in lue of beating a very solid group of competitors, highlights Fernandez' top billing.  Fernandez beat the field by 40 seconds.

 

2. Luke Puskerda (Sr., Judge Memorial, UT) - Already having a stellar fall, Puskerda beat another field by over a minute, as he won the Orem Invitational. 

 

3. Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) - Derrick broke his second course record in as many weeks, as he won the Lockport Invitational, leading his US ranked squad to the team title as well, despite running without their number two runner.

 

4. Brandon Jarrett (Sr., St. Benedict's, NJ) - Jarrett, who's run under the radar to this point, opened up his invitational season with a big 15:03 5k mark at the Cougar Invitational.

 

5. Colby Lowe (Sr., Southlake Carroll, TX) - Lowe soundly beats the competition in Texas this fall each week.  Next week could be his biggest test prior to Foot Locker Regionals, as he competes in the Nike South Invitational.

 

6. Ben Johnson (Sr., Albuquerque Academy, NM) - Another impressive performance this past weekend at his team's invitational.  Johnson continues to show he is the class of the competition in the southwest area. 

 

7. Vince McNally (Sr., Conestoga Valley, PA) - Idle.

 

8. Ryan Hill (Sr., Hickory, NC) - Idle.

 

9. Doug Smith (Jr., Gill-St. Bernard's, NJ) - A solid 15:10 5k effort at the Paul Short Run Friday night pushed Smith into the rankings.  The New Jersey kid is running well, and continues to make strides.  His first big test comes in two weeks against US #4 Brandon Jarrett. 

 

10. Kevin Williams (Sr., D'Evelyn, CO) - Williams ran a huge mark in Colorado a few weeks back, breaking the course record at the Liberty Bell Invitational, and running a second faster than Ben Johnson, although he was in a seperate race.  Williams continues to beat the deep talent in Colorado this season, which means a lot this year.

 

 

Girls

 

1. Jordan Hasay (Jr., Mission Prep, CA) - Idle.

 

2. Ashley Brasovan (Jr., Wellington, FL) - Brasovan started hot last year, fading at Foot Locker regionals.  This year, Brasovan needs to work on that late race toughness, which she is seemingly getting down very well this season.  At the Southern Stars Invitational, Brasovan beat South ranked Kayla Hale by 35 seconds, in a fine effort of 16:43 over 5k.

 

3. Neely Spence (Sr., Shippensburg, PA) - Spence opened her competitive invitational season by winning the Paul Short Invitational by nearly a minute, as she blitzed the field by 52 seconds, on her way to running 17:37.

 

4. Katie Flood (So., Dowling Catholic, IA) - Flood's dominance at the Roy Griak Invitational over US ranked Emily Sisson means a lot.  It means Flood isn't merely an Iowa phenom, but rather a national phenom.  Flood beat Sisson by 36 seconds, easily pulling away over the last half in the race, marking herself as one of the favorites for this year's national championship.

 

5. Christine Babcock (Sr., Woodridge, CA) - The Woodridge senior racked up yet another impressive win, as she won by a large margin at the Yucaipa Invitational, running 17:12.

 

6. Carly Seymour (Sr., Central Cambria, PA) - Seymour easily won the Spiked Shoe Invitational at Penn State University Saturday.  Seymour continues to showcase her running ability this year, winning by large margins thus far.  This time around, Seymour won by 44 seconds, while running 17:57 for 5k.

 

7. Emily Reese (Sr., Chamblee, GA) - Idle.

 

8. Aurora Scott (Sr., Home Schooled, VA) - Idle.

 

9. Emily Infeld (Sr., Clev. Heights Beaumont, OH) - Idle.

 

10. Emily Sisson (So., Millard North, NE) - Sisson came into the season as one of the favorites to take home the Foot Locker National title after finishing third in '06.  However, this past weekend at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota, that thinking changed a bit.  Sisson lost to now US #4 Katie Flood by 36 seconds over the tough 5k course.  While the season is a long one, Sisson realizes that another step up is needed if she hopes to take home the national crown.