Tomorrow morning three of North Carolina all-time great cross country runners enter their final high school cross country race in San Diego, California for Foot Locker Nationals. Nevada Mareno took 3rd last year in her first appearance at the meet, and is one of the favorites to win this year. Mareno has ran a laid back season with a major focus on coming into Foot Locker Nationals in peak fitness. Mareno has dominated throughout the season and proved her fitness two weeks ago with a win at McAlpine, host of the Foot Locker South Regional. Mareno's 3rd place finish from last season marks the second best finish in NC history at the meet, behind Ryen Frazier who took 2nd in 2014.
Sara Platek has finally been healthy for the duration of a cross country season and has certainly met her expectations thus far in the season. Platek took 9th at the Foot Locker South Regional to secure her birth to Foot Locker Nationals. Platek was riding an undefeated season leading up the the NCHSAA 4A State Championships where she took second to Mareno. You cannot count Platek out of a top 10 finish last year even though she was 9th of 10 qualifiers from FL South. The South girls have had a very strong showing over the past few seasons at the national meet. Just last year :Logan Morris (SC) went from 9th at the regional to 9th at the national meet proving everyone in the field is a serious contender.
Below is a list from NCPrepTrack.org that list all of the girls NC finishers all-time at Foot Locker Nationals
2nd 2014 Ryen Frazier (12) Ravenscroft School, Raleigh. 17:23 3rd 2015 Nevada Mareno (11) Leesville Road HS, Raleigh. 17:17.6 5th 2001 Laura Stanley (12) Carolina Day School, Fletcher. 17:34.54 (in Orlando) 7th 1992 Karen Godlock (12) Polk County HS, Rutherfordton. 18:06 9th 1996 Sarah Vance-Goodman (11) T.C. Roberson HS, Asheville. 18:19 10th 2009 Wesley Frazier ( 9) Ravenscroft School, Raleigh. 17:44.2 11th 1991 Karen Godlock (11) Polk County HS, Mill Springs. 18:20.5 11th 2000 Laura Stanley (11) Carolina Day School. Fletcher. 17:39 15th 1992 Ami Herrman (12) Providence HS, Charlotte. 18:29.8 16th 1999 Ariel Glassman (12) Hendersonville HS, Hendersonville. 17:44.15 (in Orlando) 21st 1999 Casey McGraw (10) Freedom HS, Morganton. 17:55.99 (in Orlando) 23rd 1982 Kathy Ormsby (12) Richmond County HS, Rockingham. 18:08.5 28th 1987 Cessy Hudson (12) East Burke HS, Connely Springs. 19:16.3 28th 2014 Kathleen Mansure (12) Watauga HS, Boone. 18:37 29th 2011 Samantha George (12) Millbrook HS, Raleigh. 18:19 30th 2001 Carly Matthews (12) Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 18:39.23 (in Orlando) 30th 2002 Kate Merrill (11) Jordan HS, Durham. 19:41.8 34th 2011 Alana Hadley ( 9) Ardrey Kell HS, Charlotte. 18:22 34th 2015 Anna Vess (12) A.C. Reynolds HS, Asheville. 18:32.2 35th 2008 Adrianne Soo (12) Durham Academy, Durham. 18:53 39th 2008 Kimberly Spano (12) North Mecklenburg, Huntersville. 19:07 39th 2010 Wesley Frazier (10) Ravenscroft School, Raleigh. 18:56
Connor Lane had a huge day at Foot Locker South where the win was narrowly stolen from him by Sam Worley who was able to kick past him down the homestretch. After beating Lane, Worley went on to take second at NXN last Saturday, showing that Lane is certainly able to contend with the top boys in the US. Lane took 2nd at Foot Locker South with one of the best NC All-Time performances on the course. Saturday will be a major test for Lane as he should certainly be able to challenge for a top finish.
Lane joins coach Nick Mangum as the only two boys from Cardinal Gibbons to make it to Foot Locker South. This athlete/coach duo is the second in the last two years after Anna Vess (AC Reynolds) joined coach David Honea to become the first athlete coach duo in state history to both make it to the national meet.
Lane has proved throughout the XC season that he is amongst the best in state history, and will challenge names like Matt Debole, Jack Hurysz, and Jack Bolas in becoming the best North Carolina XC runners ever. Only 5 boys have cracked the top 10 from North Carolina, and Lane will look to expand this list tomorrow morning.
Below is a list from NCPrepTrack.org that list all of the girls NC finishers all-time at Foot Locker Nationals
5th 2002 Matt DeBole (12) Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 15:12
6th 2001 Milos Mitric (12) Asheville HS, Asheville 14:59.22 (in Orlando) 6th 2005 Jack Bolas (12) Chapel Hill HS, Chapel Hill. 15:15 6th 2009 Jake Hurysz (12) Eastern Alamance HS, Mebane. 15:31.9 9th 2011 Thomas Graham (12) Cary Academy, Cary. 15:25 11th 1999 Stephen Haas (11) North Mecklenburg HS, Huntersville 15:11.70 (in Orlando) 11th 2002 Bobby Mack (12) North Forsyth HS, Winston-Salem. 15:18.3 11th 2007 Ryan Hill (12) Hickory HS, Hickory. 15:32 14th 1999 Ricky Brookshire (12) Watauga HS, Boone 15:15.43 (in Orlando, FL) 14th 2007 Patrick Campbell (12) Mooresville HS, Mooresville. 15:38 15th 1989 Brant Armentrout Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 15:28.7 15th 2010 Blake Williams (12) Northern Durham HS, Durham. 15:35 16th 1998 Bradsher Wilkins (12) Orange HS, Hillsborough. 16:04.3 (in Orlando) 16th 2001 Matt Debole (11) Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 15:20.52 (in Orlando) 16th 2004 Sandy Roberts (11) Broughton HS, Raleigh. 15:50 17th 1989 Kyle Armentrout Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 15:33.6 19th 2003 Nick Hutchins (12) Millbrook HS, Raleigh. 15:35 19th 2010 Scott Morgan (12) Calvary Baptist Day School, Clemmons. 15:38 20th 1985 Michael Clinebell Watauga HS, Boone. 15:19.7 20th 2009 Blake Williams (11) Northern Durham HS, Durham. 15:44.9 20th 2010 Thomas Graham (11) Cary Academy, Cary. 15:39 22nd 2013 Ben Huffman (12) Providence Day School, Charlotte. 15:49 23rd 1997 Bradsher Wilkins (11) Orange HS, Hillsborough. 16:25.3 (in Orlando) 23rd 2003 Eric Mack (12) North Forsyth HS, Winston-Salem. 15:43 25th 1998 Josh Baker (12) Freedom High, Morganton. 16:27.2 (in Orlando) 25th 2013 Ian Milder (12) Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 15:50 26th 1986 David Honea Enka HS; Enka. 15:48.1 26th 1997 Josh Baker (11) Freedom High, Morganton. 16:31.7 (in Orlando) 26th 2006 Ryan Hill (11) Hickory HS, Hickory. 16:08 27th 1988 Brant Armentrout Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem. 16:08.4 29th 1983 John Erickson Southeast Guilford HS, Greensboro. 16:12.7 30th 1997 Joe Lion (12) Watauga HS, Boone. 16:57.5 (in Orlando) 30th 2013 Patrick Sheehan (12) Lake Norman HS. 15:56 31st 2004 Jack Bolas (11) Chapel Hill HS, Chapel Hill. 16:21 33rd 1998 Nick Mangum (12) Cardinal Gibbons HS, Raleigh. 18:17.2 (in Orlando) DNR 2005 Sandy Roberts (12) Broughton HS, Raleigh. (Withdrew due to illness) DNR 2011 Mark Blackmon (12) West Charlotte, Charlotte. (Unable to make trip)
