Footlocker Nationals: Lovelace set for meet


Photographs from Friday's course preview on milestat.com/MileSplit.com member.

Mark Blackmon
Chapin junior Luke Lovelace during practice introductions Friday. (Photo credit: John Herzog/milestat.com/MileSplit.com member)
Chapin junior Luke Lovelace is competing in Footlocker Nationals at Balboa Park in San Diego Saturday.

Lovelace qualified with a ninth place finish at Footlocker South on Nov. 25. Lovelace covered the 5,000-meter course in 15:13 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.

Leaving with Lovelace is his mother, Mary, on Thursday. Joining Lovelace in California is Chapin coach Jack LeGrand and father, Oscar, on Friday.

"I have received flight plans and after the race (Footlocker South) they (meet officials) gave us a folder with paperwork to fill out that also had a schedule of events for when were are out there," said Lovelace.

"Probably the biggest preparation is the overwhelming festivities and royal treatment by Footlocker and Nike," said LeGrand. "With only two weeks between qualifier and nationals the training is not radically different. Luke is an awesome ambassador for all of us. We've talked about representing Chapin and S.C. well and we've studied the course and the competition to develop a race day strategy. I feel blessed to be able to be involved."

"My training has been going pretty well I have been doing hills and some speed work like 400's."

Lovelace mentioned when talking to LeGrand about his race, "We have talked about the course and what my goals should be in the race." Lovelace also added he and LeGrand talked about "the course a lot and how it has a lot of hills and down hills and how I should approach them."

Footlocker Nationals will be televised on Fox Sports Net. Check local listings for more details at Foxsports.com.