While few top individuals lost this past weekend, a few did, thus lifting a few fresh faces into the MileSplit Foot Locker Power Rankings - National. Three new faces grace the rankings this week in: Rob Finnerty (Sr., Burnsville, MN), Georgia Griffin (Sr., Hanover, NH) and Kathy Kroeger (Jr., Independence, TN). Also, a new girls US #1 is crowned.
MileSplit Foot Locker Power Rankings - National (Oct. 16)
Boys
1. German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA) - Fernandez seems to be getting faster and faster each week. Will he slow down at any point?
2. Luke Puskedra (Sr., Judge Memorial, UT) - After winning his regional meet, Puskedra's last goal of the regular season points to winning the state title.
3. Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) - Setting his sixth course record of the season, Derrick continues to roll, winning his conference championship in 13:57 over the 2.95 course.
4. Colby Lowe (Sr., Southlake Carroll, TX) - Lowe took apart the competition at the University of Arkansas Saturday at the Chile Pepper Invitational. Winning in 14:53, he won by 27 seconds, keeping his undefeated streak alive.
5. Ben Johnson (Sr., Albuquerque Academy, NM) - Johnson easily won the Highland Invitational, moving up one spot in the rankings.
6. Vince McNally (Sr., Conestoga Valley, PA) - Idle from weekend competition.
7. Kevin Williams (Sr., D'Evelyn, CO) - Williams easily won his league championship. Regionals are up next.
8. Doug Smith (Jr., Gill-St. Bernard's, NJ) - Smith proved just how strong he is, as he won the A race at the Manhattan Invitational in one of the fastest times of the day.
9. Rob Finnerty (Sr., Burnsville, MN) - The senior from Minnesota consistently dominates the competition in-state. With state a few weeks away, Finnerty focuses in on winning his first state cross country title.
10. Brandon Jarrett (Sr., St. Benedict's, NJ) - Hopefully a DNF at Manhattan does not knock out Jarrett from being one of the nation's best. He needs a solid rebound race now.
Girls
1. Ashley Brasovan (Jr., Wellington, FL) - A monster 42 second win over the defending national champion bodes well for Brasovan. She beat a stellar field at the Great American XC Festival, adding another notch to her win total. Her time of 17:05 earned her the course record.
2. Jordan Hasay (Jr., Mission Prep, CA) - Hasay won by over two minutes at a small meet in California. She won the 5k race in 17:21 despite being under the weather.
3. Neely Spence (Sr., Shippensburg, PA) - Idle from weekend competition.
4. Carly Seymour (Sr., Central Cambria, PA) - Seymour set the course record at the Manhattan Invitational by two seconds, beating the previous record set by Nicole Blood. Seymour's 13:55 beat runner-up US #9 Georgia Griffin by 15 seconds, as Seymour elevated herself to another level of running.
5. Katie Flood (So., Dowling Catholic, IA) - Winning her conference meet on Tuesday, Flood beat her teammate for the win by 36 seconds, coasting to the win.
6. Christine Babcock (Sr., Woodridge, CA) - Running 14:59 at the Orange County Championships, Babcock won the race by an outstanding 58 seconds.
7. Aurora Scott (Sr., Home Schooled, VA) - Scott continues to run at a very low-key level.
8. Emily Infeld (Sr., Clev. Heights Beaumont, OH) - Infeld beat a solid field in Ohio by 30 seconds, running 17:36 for 5k.
9. Georgia Griffin (Sr., Hanover, NH) - Griffin proved just how good she is at the Manhattan Invitational. Her second place finish was a bit behind race winner US #4 Seymour, but beat a slew of very talented individuals.
10. Kathy Kroeger (Jr., Independence, TN) - Kroeger is starting to show signs of her form from her national title last year. While she lost to US #1 Brasovan by 42 seconds at the Great American XC Festival, Kroeger beat many top regionally ranked runners, including prior US ranked Emily Reese.