With over half a dozen of the top boys and girls participating in their respective state competitions, a lot of fine performances highlighted the weekend. The top state performances came from Chris Derrick (IL) and Carly Seymour (PA). Derrick won the Illinois State Meet with the second fastest mark ever on the course, and the fastest time in thirty years. Seymour dominated the Pennsylvania State Meet, running the fastest time of the day by 25 seconds in 17:49.
MileSplit Foot Locker National Power Rankings - Weekend Wrap-Up
Boys
1. Luke Puskedra (Sr., Judge Memorial, UT) - Season Complete.
2. Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) - Derrick won the Boys AAA State Championship Saturday in central Illinois in 13:52. His time ranks him as the second fastest ever on the course, only behind cross country World Champion Craig Virgin. Derrick's first place effort also led his team to the team championship.
3. German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA) - Fernandez dominated the competition at his league championship. His time of 14:51 set the course record at the Frogtown course.
4. Ben Johnson (Sr., Albuquerque Academy, NM) - With three of his top five teammates sitting out at the 5AAAA District Championships, Johnson knew he needed to guide his team with an individual win. His first place effort helped the team win easily, while he ran 15:39.
5. Colby Lowe (Sr., Southlake Carroll, TX) - Lowe won the Region I Championships with a time of 14:25, winning by 32 seconds. His first place effort led his team to the team title.
6. Kevin Williams (Sr., D'Evelyn, CO) - Season Complete.
7. Vince McNally (Sr., Conestoga Valley, PA) - Entering the Boys AAA Championships as the heavy favorite, an intestinal illness knocked McNally from his top spot all the way back to an eighteenth place finish. McNally gave credit to the race winner in gracious fashion, and his coach stated he will bounce back in the next week or so.
8. Rob Finnerty (Sr., Burnsville, MN) - While he missed the state record, Finnerty won the Minnesota State CC Championships in 15:28. Using his superior speed, Finnerty gapped the field and went on to win by nine seconds.
9. Doug Smith (Jr., Gill-St. Bernard's, NJ) - While Smith missed out on another match-up against state rival Brandon Jarrett, he did win the NJISAA "B" Championships in 15:35, which trumped Jarrett's "A" time by seven seconds. Smith won the race by 48 seconds.
10. Sean Keveren (Sr., Brentwood, TN) - Keveren won his second consecutive state championship Saturday at the Tennessee State Meet. Keveren beat the field running 15:46, winning the meet rather easily.
Girls
1. Jordan Hasay (Jr., Mission Prep, CA) - Results Forthcoming.
2. Ashley Brasovan (Jr., Wellington, FL) - Brasovan easily won the District 5-4A Meet. Her 18:06 5k performance capped her third consecutive district title, and was done so on a windy and wet day. Her first place score also helped guide her team to the district team title.
3. Neely Spence (Sr., Shippensburg, PA) - Despite feeling under the weather all week, Spence ran the second best time of the day in the Girls AAA Championship. Her time of 18:14 beat the field by 25 seconds.
4. Carly Seymour (Sr., Central Cambria, PA) - The champion of the day in Pennsylvania, not only did Seymour win the individual title in the fastest time of the day, but also helped her team win the team title. Seymour's mark of 17:49 was 25 seconds faster than any other girl regardless of class, as she won the Girls AA Championship by 40 seconds.
5. Katie Flood (So., Dowling Catholic, IA) - Season Complete.
6. Christine Babcock (Sr., Woodbridge, CA) - Won her league championship run on her home course. Babcock ran easily away from the field, finishing in a time of 16:58 for the three mile course.
7. Georgia Griffin (Sr., Hanover, NH) - Won the NHIAA Meet of Champions on Saturday in a blazing time of 17:27 over the 5k course. Her time beat the field by over a minute.
8. Kathy Kroeger (Sr., Independence, TN) - Kroeger won the Girls AAA individual title for the third time in three years, running 17:57. Her time beat runner-up Virginia Hine by over 40 seconds.
9. Aurora Scott (Sr., Home Schooled, VA) - Results Pending.
10. Emily Sisson (So., Millard North, NE) - Season Complete.