Foot Locker Northeast Regional 2008

  (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.

Even in the one bright spots for Pennsylvania runners at this year's Foot Locker Northeast Regional there was some disappointment. And high expectations met reality as other PA runners experienced set-backs.

Ben Furcht and Neal Berman ran stride-for-stride with each other in training, in meets, and very nearly, to a berth in Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego on December 13th. But one is going and one is staying home after finishing 10th and 11th at the Northeast Regonal.

If cold weather bothers Solomon Haile, it didn't appear to affect him yesterday in New York City and should bode well for his chances in San Diego.

Emily Jones wins in 17:31, Shelby Greany 2nd in 17:37, 3rd was Aislinng Cuffe in 17:39. In the boys race Solomon Haile won in 15:21,Tyler Udland 2nd in 15:36, and 3rd was Joe Whelan in 15:38.

Shelby Greany (Suffern) qualifies for her 4th straight Foot Locker Nationals with 2nd place finish in 17:37. Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) is 3rd in 17:39, Erin Cawley (Newark Valley) is 8th in 18:14 and Emily Lipari (Roslyn) 9th in 18:15. Joe Whelan (Fairport) placed 3rd in the boys race in 15:39 to qualify.

All that separated three close friends from finishing 1-2-3 in the Footlocker Northeast Regional meet was a rookie barely old enough to drive.

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)

A look at the 11 New Yorkers with the best chance to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego, CA.

Lower Merion SR Ben Furcht qualifies for Foot Locker Nats, holding on for the 10th and final spot. Teammate Neal Berman was just 6 seconds off. North Penn's Brad Miles earned an individual trip to Nike Cross Nationals as did Emmaus SR Lindsey Graybill. North Allegheny got word of an at-large invite to NXN after getting 3rd.

Maine entries at Footlocker Northeast Regional See what Mainers are competing at Van Cortlandt Park on November 29th   Will Maine send someone to Nationals this year?   check out how Mainers have done in the past   ( pictured above Abbey Leonardi & Emily Durgin finish 1-2 at the New England Championship, look to move on to Nationals- photo by Dave Flewelling)     Updated as of 10/15

Natalie Bower, Sophia Ziemian and the North Allegheny boys had higher goals than their state meets delivered. They dealt with their days in different ways. But all are now focused on new goals - this season.

Suffern co-head coach Lou Hall will tell you that he can’t ask anymore of senior Shelby Greany than what she’s given since she started on the varsity as a seventh-grader. She's only missing one thing.

Every year the Northeast puts out some incredible distance talent, but this fall may be the greatest collection of distance talent seen in some time. Between Doug Smith, Brett Johnson and Solomon Haile, the boys have strong front runners, while the girls follow the lead of Foot Locker veterans Emily Lipari, Emily Jones and Shelby Greany. Come late-November and early-December the Northeast may be looking at national champions at Nike Cross Nationals and Foot Locker Nationals.