Profiles of some of the leading teams in the 2003 Great American Cross Country Festival Nike Girls Race of Champions

 

(Researched and written by Ricky Quintana of the National Scholastic Sports Foundation.  www.nationalscholastic.org  )

 

Desert Vista (AZ)
The two time state champions lost a close one to Mountain Pointe at last year’s state xc champs. They are led by the Sammons sisters; sophomore, Keara, the 5A state xc runner-up and 5A state 3200m champ, 11:15.95, and senior Katie, 4th at the 5A state xc and 3rd in the 3200m last year. They will have added strength up front with 5A state 1600m champ, 5:08.46, sophomore Haley Paul.

Flagstaff (AZ)
Flagstaff earned their third straight and 5th state championship title in school history last year with a convincing win. State xc champion, and 3200m runner-up, senior Annie Falor returns along with senior teammates Marie Jean Loverich, Merry Placer, and Amber Gordon. That’s possibly 4 under 19:15.

Canyon Country (CA)
The former high school of lone 2003 5k World Champ member, NCAA 5K Champion, and now graduated Stanford standout, Lauren Fleshman, Canyon Country is looking east to compete in the prestigious ROC. Last year’s 6th place CIF Div. I championship team enters the season ranked a lofty #2 by DyestatCal.  They return last year’s front runner, sophomore Jessi Locke, senior Alysia Johnson, CIF 6th place 800m runner, 2:12.27 and will get help from another sophomore, Courtney Granger, 5:11.57 at CIF Div SS Champs. In all 6 return making for great possibilities.

Bishop Kenny (FL)
Seven time state champions, Bishop Kenny, lost one from last year’s state runner-up team, but added a transfer. Seniors, Courtney Hall, two time state champ in the 1600m, 4:59.95, and Kelly Marshall, 3rd at state in 3200m, along with junior Mallory Wellman, state-runner-up in 3200m, 11:28.13, form a tough trio up front. Junior Sarah Till, a member of their 4x800m state 3A champion team that ran 9:19.37, also returns.

Spanish River (FL)
The Sharks walked away with their fourth consecutive and sixth overall state title last year and were the overwhelming number one in Florida. They return to the ROC eyeing an improvement on their 18th place finish last year. Their top returnee is senior state 1600m runner-up, 5:03.23, Danielle Almeida. Sophomore 19:35 transfer Lauren Muntz and senior Chelsea Jefferson, back after a one-year absence, will complement sub 19:30 performers Kelley Mitchell, and Gabrielle Mae Polhemus.

Sacred Heart (KY)
Sacred Heart collected their third straight class 3A state team championship on the strength of Footlocker finalist and individual state xc champion, senior, Maddie Schueler. Sophomore Leah Ryan, 1600m champ, 5:07.13, will give them a potent one-two punch. Two others return with experience and the entire team is projected to be under 20:00 for 5k.

Amherst (MA)
The defending Div 1 All State champs return 3 from last year and a super soph who will try to capitalize on a great freshman track season. State 3200m champion, 10:45.15, state xc runner-up and the 7th fastest returnee from the Footlocker northeast region, Amber Sayer will contend for top honors in the ROC. She is followed by sophomore Allyson Rinderle who posted a 5:03.54 1600m at track regionals before finishing 4th at state in the 1600m. Junior Spring Greeney and sophomore Niina Heikkinen will provide added depth for a team that should certainly improve on last’s 17th place in the ROC.

Bay Shore (NY)
Bayshore made steady progress nationally after finishing third at the NYSPHSAA Class A state championship and 5th at the NY Federation champs last year. In the winter, they challenged for the NIKE Indoor Championship DMR title finishing 2nd and at the Adidas Outdoor champs they won the 4x800m title. They are led by surprise Footlocker All-American and NYSPHSAA state Class A xc champion, junior Laura Cummings and vastly improved state 1500m runner-up, 4:34.56, junior Mary Liz McCurdy.  Four others veterans return to make this team very tough.

Columbia (NY)
This up and coming team finished 14th in the ROC and 11th at the NY Federation championship last year on the strength of three eighth graders. Freshman Ashley Ferriero and junior Julie Carr will be strong front runners with one more year’s training under their belts. With entire team returning for the next two years, this team should be one to watch.

Saratoga Springs (NY)
Saratoga returns after their third consecutive Great American Festival Race of Champions (ROC) title. They extended their record setting number of NYSPHSAA state titles to 11 and claimed their 13th New York Federation after last year’s wins. They return all 7 plus junior Adidas Outdoor 4 x mile team member and 4th place 1500m state placer, 4:39.14, junior, Ruby Solomon. Last year’s ROC winner and Footlocker All-American, Nicole Blood will look for her second consecutive title in just her sophomore year. Adidas Outdoor 4x mile team champion members sophomore Lindsey Ferguson, and sophomore Cameron Vahanian will provide awesome support for a team which has only one senior on it’s varsity roster.

Warwick Valley (NY)
Warwick Valley returns six from last year’s team which placed 6th overall at the NY Federation championship. The winners of the combined three invitational races at last year’s Great American will be vying for a top ten performance in the ROC. They are led by promising sophomore, Aislinn Ryan. The remaining members should be under 20:00.

Colerain (OH)
4 time state champs, Colerain, returns 5 veterans and five promising newcomers. Junior Brittany Detzel leads the way after last year’s 9th place Div I state xc finish, 18:15, 5:04 clocking personal best in the 1600m and 2:14.1 5th place state Div I finish in the 800m. Sub 11:50 3200m teammates, junior Meggie Schmidt and sophomore Bryn Winters should bolster them up front. After a strong summer of training, this team should be able to improve on their 11th place showing in last year’s ROC.

Hilliard Davidson (OH)
Hilliard captured their own Midwest Meet of Champions and then went on to claim their first Div I state title last year. They return 6 of 7. Senior Mia Feigelist is the top returnee from state with her 17th place 18:56 performance and is closely followed by junior Melissa Hornor who placed 9th in the 1600m at state. The spread between their top five is less than 45 second so expect a sea of blue finishing near the top quarter of the field.

Turpin (OH)
Coach Steve Nester’s Aug.14th resignation as girl’s coach came as a surprise to his 2002 state runner-up team. Boy’s coach, Jim Gossett, was immediately tapped to replace the outgoing coach who leaves on good terms and will handle the men’s and women’s programs at Xavier University. The team returns only three from last year’s 4th place ROC team including state xc runner-up and two sport athlete, senior, Carolyn Rauen.

Wyomissing (PA)
Wyomissing collected their fourth straight Class AA team state championship last year on the strength of now graduated blue chippers, twins, Debbie and Amy Huss. Senior Ashley Iwanowski is their top returnee and will look to capitalize on her successful spring track season that saw her finish 14th in the 3200m at state in a time of 11:35.68. Two other veterans return, but will need help to repeat their 5th place finish in last year’s ROC.

Cedar Park (TX)
Seniors Cassie Hostick and Halie Bullin are two top guns who should challenge for the top spot in any race this year. State xc runner-up, Hostick recorded a best of 4:55.49 and placed third at the Texas 5A 1600m championships in the spring. Bullin posted bests of 5:03 for 1600m and 10:57 for 3200m. These two should be well up front. It’s up to the rest to support them.

Kingwood (TX)
Kingwood collected their second consecutive and fifth overall class 5A state championship last year. They return four from a team that placed 8th in the 2002 ROC. Class 5A state 3200m finalist and 11:04, 5:10 performer, sophomore, Danielle Selner leads a closely packed group which includes junior Ali Ray, senior, Kirby West and sophomore Mackenzie Phillips. With a total of eight girls under 5:30, this team could go a long way.

Davis (UT)
Davis returns 4 from last year’s team that placed 2nd in the class 5A state championships and placed first in the seeded invitational at Great American. Corrine Smith, Lynette Purdy and Wendy Wilson are all proven sub 20 runners and should provide a force at the front. They will have to have some help to contend for a top ten finish.

Mt. View (UT)
The 13 time state champions were edge out by a mere 3 points at last year’s class 4A state championship by Orem. Footlocker All-American, Heid Magill returns for her final year of a most impressive 4 year stint that has seen her claim 4 state track records and 10 state track championships.  Closely behind her will be junior Heidi Houle, an outstanding 800m runner and xc runner in her own right. These two could be the best one-two punch of any team in the field. Seniors Melynne King and Ann Marie Thomas are the other two veterans of this tradition rich team that placed 7th in last year’s ROC.

Orem (UT)
Orem ended a ten year dry spell to claim their second state title in school history with a three point win over state power Mt. View last year. They lost their number one, Footlocker All-American Amber Harper, number two and number 7. Junior Heather Mella is their top returnee. She’ll need some help if they are to duplicate their top ten finish in the ROC from last year.

Douglas (WY)
Douglas dominated the Class 3A state xc championships by taking the first three places and scoring just 25 points last year. Using their middle and long distance strength, they were also able to capture the track and field championship title. State xc champ, 3200m champion, 11:54.05, and 1600m state runner-up, 5:25.32, junior, Jenne Dilts is the top returnee. 800m, 2:18.11,1600m, 5:22.44, 3A state champ, and xc runner-up, junior Marissa Saunders is followed by state xc 3rd placer, sophomore Kelsey Shatto. With those three under 20 minutes, they should be able to place in the top ten.