More Updates about former Kentucky runners including Joe Buechler (St. X), Mike Horan (Eastern), Devin Wilber (Murray State), and Dean Roberts (Daviess County). (Picture from the 1979 Track Season which includes Joe Buechler)

Five high school cross country runners from Virginia flew out to San Diego today to compete this weekend in the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships. Four of them are rookies to the event and will certainly be overwhelmed and likely distracted with the new experience between their stay at the famous Del Coronado hotel, beautiful SoCal weather, the beach, the ice skating rink, all of the free gear, meeting elite professional and high school runners, and the nerves of racing against the 40 best runners in the country on Saturday at Balboa Park.

Nothing this weekend will be new for Thomas Porter (pictured right by John Herzog) though as a three-time finalist for the Foot Locker Nationals. Porter had fell short on several occassions of winning that first state title until this past November with his victory in the AAA race at Great Meadows. With the pressure of winning his first state championship off his back, he now turns his attention to the Foot Locker finals, where he has been unable to be competitive at in his two past trips due to being a surprise qualifier and just happy to be there as a sophomore then an injured qualifier and unable to race anywhere close to 100% as a junior. The Mountain View senior is one of only four returning finalist among the 40 qualifiers from the four regions, so his experience could be a huge advantage and potentially help him earn All-American honors with a top 15 finish. The state of Virginia has not produced an All-American in the boys race at Foot Locker Nationals since 2002.

 Its amazing how your goals can change in 7 years, from not wanting to lose to the girls to wanting to get top 10. Coming into this cross-country season the goal was top 10. After the horrible track season I had, I knew I had to bounce back. During the summer I basically only did mileage sprinkled with some tempo runs. I peaked at around 72 miles (yes very random number), and held that through the first two meets of the season. All and all the high school season was “ok.” I thought I should have done better in the national meets, but otherwise it was a pretty solid season. I was really thrilled to finally win a state title after two years of Sean hammering me into the ground. (Yes Sean you hammered me.) I also think that was good for me in a way. It taught me how to compete and made me rise to another level, so I thank him for that. 

(12/13/2008: Balboa Park, San Diego, CA) The National Championships have arrived, California provides a preview of what to expect and his pre-race favorites. With the past three Footlocker Girls Champions in attendance and the top boys gone from a year ago, this years final is shaping up to be stellar.

Realizing a dream of a Foot Locker Nationals berth seemed to look bleak for Kyle Satterwhite (pictured right by Ted Plunkett) when he initially learned that he would be missing nearly all of his summer training due to an undiagnosed stress fracture from last spring's track season. Satterwhite, a returning All-South performer and one of the state's top returning cross country runners, aggressively cross trained to maintain his fitness as best as he could to get ready for his final high school cross country season.

The work in the pool paid off as the Western Albemarle senior earned a trip to San Diego for the Foot Locker Nationals with his 7th place finish last weekend at the South regional seeded race in Charlotte. In 11th place with 800 meters to go at Foot Locker South, Satterwhite found another gear despite having already run a hard early pace through two miles to surge up well into top 10 position and as he states, "It would be a very long ride back home if I finished in eleventh place." Always known as a gutsy runner willing to push the pace, Satterwhite will certainly not be afraid to mix it up next Saturday with the 40 best high school cross country runners in the nation for the historic 30th anniversary of the Foot Locker Nationals.

Mann senior Kate Borowicz finished 39th overall in the girls Foot Locker South seeded race Saturday at McAlpine Park in Charlotte. 

Recap of the top Kentucky Performers from Foot Locker South. (Pictured: Maria Frigo, St. Henry)

It was a nasty day in Charlotte for the 30th Foot Locker South Region races, but a beautiful day for the ladies from North Carolina. 2002 was the last year a girl qualified for Nationals, but today two of them did. Kimberly Spano of North Meck finished in 8th place running 17:36 and Adrianne Soo of Durham Academy ran 17:39 for 10th.

Kimberly Spano (left) & Adrianne Soo (right) qualify for San Diego. (photo: Hovis)
Hovis Photo Gallery

Broughton's boys finished 2nd at the Nike Team Regional held at WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary. They finished behind Jamestown High School from Virginia, 115 to 155.

Blake Askin led Broughton with a 10th place finish. (Photo: User BelenXC)

Foot Locker Seeded Results: Seeded Boys | Seeded Girls
NXN Results: Boys Championship | Girls Championship

Former national champion Kathy Kroeger wins again this year at Footlocker South (17:13), while defending national champ Ashley Brasovan recovers from a bloody fall to finish in fourth.  Billy Matthews took care of business in the boys race winning in 14:48.

MileSplit is onsite at each of the big meets post-turkey day... at the four Nike Cross Regionals (Southeast, New York, Northeast and California), and the first three of four Foot Locker Regionals (Northeast, South and Midwest)

Live pre-race coverage starts tonight at 8PM.  Click here to watch live. Inside this article we have some pre-race analysis, list of entries, details of our coverage plans, and other information for tomorrow's race.

Below is the list of the Kentucky entries for the Foot Locker South Regional to be held this Saturday in North Carolina.

Marsico & Wilson willing to accept first defeats of season for tickets to San Diego & Foot Locker Nationals

Virginia runners will be racing for the opportunity to compete in the 30th anniversary of the Foot Locker National cross country championships on Saturday at the South regional in Charlotte, North Carolina. The state of Virginia was well represented last fall in San Diego for the national race with a total of six finalists (four boys, two girls). Can 2009 Foot Locker South turn out to be just as successful for the state which draws the largest participants outside of the homestate North Carolina? With four boys entrants having run faster state meet times than 2007 finalists Thomas Porter and Michael Hammond as well as two girls having went the entire season undefeated so far, the chances of a repeat performance are strong. We shall see though as the South Region expects to have two competitive seeded races. More...

Porter attempting to become 3-time FL nationals qualifier, while a talented class of 2009 runners hopes to live up to early promise to join him with top 10 finishes

Photo by John Herzog

There are 30 WV High School runners entered in the Foot Locker South Regional scheduled for Saturday, November 29 at McAlpine Greenway Park  in Charlotte North Carolina. Click on the article for the list.

 State entries for Nov. 29 meet at McAlpine Park in Charlotte on footlockercc.com. Race day...sc.milesplit.us will be onsite today.

Woodmont junior Aaron Ramirez's title in the Class AAA boys state cross country meet was not only his first, but the school's first in cross country Ramirez said in an e-mail Wednesday to scrunners.com.

With the recent passing of his best friend weighing heavily on his mind, Knoxville West star Matthew Sonnenfeldt persevered to capture the most meaningful of state titles.

Last fall the Foot Locker South girls squad ran strong from start to finish in San Diego, scoring a 1-2 finish up top and tying the Northeast girls for the team trophy. This year eight of the ten female Foot Locker qualifiers return, led by defending national champion Ashley Brasovan (FL) and 2006 national champion Kathy Kroeger (TN) (pictured above by John Herzog). The boys side will follow the lead of '07 Foot Locker qualifiers CJ Brown (TX) and Thomas Porter (VA). These could very well be the strongest boys and girls contingents for the South squad in some time.

We came to San Diego Thursday morning, and spent most of the day hanging out at the hotel. It's kind of funny how all the regions hang out within their team, and I've found myself spending a lot of time around the guys from the South. But they do mix up the regions with room assignments, so I'm rooming with Joe Whelan from New York. It's weird how you read about all these guys on dyestat all year, but everyone's cool and running is about the last thing people are talking about.

 Greatings from San Diego! I am currently writing this blog from the game room at our hotel. Speaking of the hotel. This is the nicest hotel I will probably ever see. Right along the beach, there's an outdoor ice skating rink, outdoor pool and many more. Not to mention its supposively haunted. Room 3227, but that's neither here nor there.

A total of 378 Virginians have registered so far for the Foot Locker South Regional to be held Saturday, November 29th in Charlotte, NC. Check to see who is registered so far!

Four years ago we had over 160 runners from VA wear Footlocker South Regional “TEAM VIRGINIA” racing jerseys. Virginia Cross Country is very strong and on par with many of the top states in the nation..... let’s show our pride!

The Team Virginia jerseys promote Virginia XC and help foster state pride. Runners who wear them are easily identifiable during their Footlocker South Regional race.... making it easy for us to cheer for them. Each year, we will create a new design and offer a different racing top.

This year, we will go with a Black Mizuno racing top with white lettering. Tops cost $20 (includes shipping). If you are interested please detach and mail the order form.

*** The first 100 runners to respond will receive a free Team Virgina Mizuno spike bag courtesy of Mizuno Running & The Running Store, Gainesville. ***