Footlocker South Pre-Race Coverage

270 athletes are entered in tomorrow's Footlocker South meet at the famous McAlpine Park in North Carolina.  Last year Florida qualified four girls to Footlocker Nationals in San Diego.  This year three of those four return, with only Emilie Amaro graduating.  Brittany Koziara, Kayla Hale, and defending national champion Ashley Brasovan are back.  While Koziara's participation is questionable with an injury, Florida's girls have stepped it up and may be able to still qualify as many as three or four.

The boys from the Sunshine State, meanwhile, have been living in the wake behind the stellar girls for the last few years.  That is starting to change though with an exciting influx of national-level talent giving us a legitimate chance of qualifying two for San Diego.  Matt Mizereck, Michael Wallace, and Will Stanford are the favorites to do so--Brian Atkinson will be competing a couple of hours away at NXN Southeast.

MileSplit US will be at the meet in force, bringing you create coverage including photos, videos, interviews, and analysis. 

Live tonight starting at 8PM we will be broadcasting the athlete forum.  They will be bringing in all of the returning national qualifiers (including our three Floridians) and open the floor to questions from training, to the nationals experience, etc.  Click here to watch that coverage.  Bob Cooke and Kyle Butler may be doing some complimentary coverage afterwards including race analsyis of who may qualify for nationals and interviews with whoever they can round up.  All live tonight.

Official Meet Homepage

GIRLS

Nationals:  Who has a shot? 

Ashley Brasovan

Favored by most diehards in the nation to repeat as national champion, one would think that it's a no-brainer that Brasovan would make it through Footlocker South.  And it probably is, but it's easy to forget that the two years prior Brasovan as struggled at this meet.  Despite having otherwise dominant freshman and sophomore seasons she failed to qualify those two years.  Last year though Brasovan broke her McAlpine Park curse,  finishing sixth before going on to beat everyone in San Diego, and has gained loads more national meet experience.  Look for her to move to the front early (likely joined by Kathy Kroeger) and not let up.

Counting our chickens now and looking forward to national she will be up against two former national champions:  Kathy Kroeger of Tennessee (who she will face tomorrow and beat earlier in the year at Great American) and Jordan Hassay of California.

Odds:  97%

Kayla Hale

The two-time Footlocker Nationals veteran just wrapped up her fourth 1A state championship, joining an elite group of four time champs including Brasovan and Betty Jo Springs.  Kayla has done very well at this race in the past, finishing second last year in an exciting, contact-sport push to the finish side-by-side with then defending national champ Kathy Kroeger.  She ran a 16:56 last year! 

Kayla hasn't put up quite the times this year as we've seen from her in year's past, but no doubt she is peaking her season right and really wants to make it three trips to San Diego in her high school career!

Odds:  70%

Nicole Carpio

Determined young lady who showed her guts and fitness by going stride-for-stride with 2007 Footlocker Nationals qualifiers Kayla Hale and Brittany Koziara at the flrunners.com Invitational this fall.  She finished second to Kayla Hale at the 1A state meet with a time of 17:58.  She has a shot, but needs a breakthrough day.

Odds:  15%

Ashley Shiver

Who would have thought last week that Ashley Shiver would have the second fastest time of the day at the state meet?  She shocked most by winning the 3A state championship in front of a stacked 3A field which included her teammate Juliana Stern who was favored to win.  While she wont he title the previous year, meet results during the season did indicate she had the same level of fitness in 2008.  Boy did she prove that wrong!  Ashley's time of 17:34 says she has a legitimiate shot if she can come back with another race at that level. 

If she wants it as bad as she wanted that state championship, she'll be on the plane to San Diego.

Odds:  40%

Juliana Stern

After looking like the girl to beat all year including a big win at Prestate, she gets upset by Shiver.  Maybe she wants some revenge this week!  She's had a fantastic season and looks to do much better than her 62nd place, 18:50 performance from last year.  She ran a 17:41 at state, and Little Everglades typically runs much slower than speedy McAlpine Park.

Odds: 30%

Brittany Koziara

She ran a 16:59 at McAlpine Park last year to qualify for Nationals.  Koziara looked so-so this year with her shining moment of the season being her performance at the flrunners.com Invitational of 17:46.  Although she's listed as being entered in the meet, I do not believe that we'll see her run.  She ran district, regional, and state with a nagging injury--finishing in 6th place 18:41 at state.

Maybe she'll recover and run, but even so can we really expect the kind of performance it takes to be in the top ten?  Probably not, but have to give her a chance after her great performance last year to be a surprise qualifier.

Odds: 3%

Alyssa Burkert

Before the season, it looked like Alyssa may be the one to plug the hole left by Amaro to keep Florida with four qualifiers at Nationals.  After sitting out most of the year with injuries and not particpating in the state series, Alyssa probably is not running despite being entered.  But hey you never know!

Odds: 1%

Stephanie Schappert

Stephanie did it!  She broke the curse and won her first state championship.  This girl is the real deal!  She's got the genes and she's got more toughness than a pit bull.  She has the tendency to out-perform and defy odds.  Can she do it again?

Odds: 10%

Amanda Perkins

Mandy was another one who before the season (along with Burkert) I thought might be in contention for a top ten spot.  She has had a solid season so far this year, but is not really on anyone's radar for Nationals at this point.  She has hit solid times in the mid 18s all year, but it will take something in the vacinity of 17:30 to move on.  After her third place finish at the 4A State Meet in 18:28, it would take a big big day.

But Perkins had a big day last year at Footlocker South, finishing in 21st in 18:01 as Florida's top finisher outside the four who qualified.  Can she come through big?

Odds: 5%

Stephanie Strasser

Moved in from Illinois this year and has made her mark.  The junior ran a third place 18:17 at the 2A state meet.--7 seconds behind Schappert.  This tall blonde starlet has a small but chance at moving on.

Odds:  2%

Others to Watch

Sarah Davis

Ran an 18:24 at district and shown great progression this year.

Sydney Devore

Confident and determined, has cut about a minute off of her time this year.  She capped her senior season last week at state with a 4th place 18:10.  She wants it.

Mariana Lucena

Second place at the state meet behind Brasovan in 18:15.   She kind of flies under the radar for some reason, but she is for real.  She ran behind Emilie Amaro last year who showed her how to be a winner!

Jana Stolting

Junior had a great season this year including big days at FSU, Prestate, and the State Meet, dipping under 18:30 4 times this year.

Others:

Nathalie Anaya, Lauren Lapointe, Mallory White, Maggie Emons, Meredith Anderson, Natalie Conception, Alyssa Franks, Hannah Howell, Mollie Jones, Melanie Novack, Olivia Papa, Meghan Roberts, Katie Russo, Alaina Perez.

List of All Florida Girls Entered

53 Anaya, Nathalie Windermere FL  
54 Anderson, Meredith North Palm Beach FL  
55 Bailey, Erin Tampa FL  
56 Barlow, Caroline Naples FL  
57 Bary, Megan Jacksonville FL  
58 Batchelor, Sarah Pensacola FL  
59 Bonilla, Katie Fort Lauderdale FL  
60 Brasovan, Ashley Wellington FL  
61 Brown, Morgan Gainesville FL  
62 Burkert, Alyssa Winter Garden FL  
63 Carpio, Nicole Culter Bay FL  
64 Cassario, Corin Melbourne FL  
65 Cobb, Ali Merritt Island FL  
66 Concepcion, Natalie Miami FL  
67 Cooper, Callie Orangedale FL  
68 Crowley, Kate Melbourne FL  
69 D'angelo, Olivia Tampa FL  
70 Davis, Jessica Hollywood FL  
71 Davis, Sarah Jacksonville FL  
72 Davison, Taylor Port Orange FL  
73 Devore, Sydney Fort Meade FL  
74 Dummer, Mackenzie Melbourne FL  
75 Dunn, Kelsey Daytona Beach FL  
76 Dunn, Kelsie Palm Bay FL  
77 Emons, Meggie Winter Park FL  
78 Farr, Amanda Pensacola FL  
79 Foster, Tammy Culter Bay FL  
80 Fraga, Alyssa Miami FL  
81 Franks, Alyssa Lutz FL  
82 Fricke, Macy Pensacola FL  
83 Gallagher, Elizabeth Fort Walton Beach FL  
84 Gallagher, Erin Fort Walton Beach FL  
85 Gardberg, Mason Englewood FL  
86 Gil, Jillian Miami FL  
87 Grossman, Kathleen Vero Beach FL  
88 Hale, Kayla Indialantic FL  
89 Hardington, Brooke Jacksonville FL  
90 Hoskens, Emily West Palm Beach FL  
91 Howell, Hannah Bradenton FL  
92 Huff, Teresa Titusville FL  
93 Jefferson, Franci Palm Beach Gardens FL  
94 Jones, Allyson Rockledge FL  
95 Jones, Melissa Rockledge FL  
96 Jones, Mollie Casselberry FL  
97 Keel, Morgan Niceville FL  
98 Keel, Morgan Niceville FL  
99 Koziara, Brittany Orlando FL  
100 Lansberry, Kelsey Daytona Beach FL  
101 LaPointe, Gabriela Vero Beach FL  
102 LaPointe, Lauren Vero Beach FL  
103 Lesnik, Ashley Weston FL  
104 Lewis, Hayley Lake City FL  
105 Lewis, Mary Melbourne FL  
106 Little, Lynzee Lake City FL  
107 Lucena, Mariana Weston FL  
108 Michael, Justine Gainesville FL  
109 Morningsun, Christine Palm Coast FL  
110 Mumford, Leigh Jacksonville FL  
111 Murphy, Morgan Bokeelia FL  
112 Nabong, Emily Winter Haven FL  
113 Nelson, Laura Niceville FL  
114 Norris, Katie Titusville FL  
115 Novack, Kristin St Augustine FL  
116 Novack, Melanie St Augustine FL  
117 O'Boyle, Megan West Palm Beach FL  
118 O'Malley, Sue Port Orange FL  
119 Olcott, Haley Vero Beach FL  
120 Papa, Olivia Winter Park FL  
121 Perez, Alaina Jacksonville FL  
122 Perkins, Amanda Ormond Beach FL  
123 Ramirez, Andrea Eagle Lake FL  
124 Ristow, Teresa Melbourne FL  
125 Ritarro, Meagan Crestview FL  
126 Robbins, Sharlea Satellite Beach FL  
127 Roberts, Meghan Micanopy FL  
128 Russo, Katie Fort Myers FL  
129 Saavedra, Elena Mims FL  
130 Scaffidi, Danielle North Port FL  
131 Scavo, Arielle Miami FL  
132 Schappert, Stephanie Delray Beach FL  
133 Seymour, Ashley Oviedo FL  
134 Seymour, Bryce Oviedo FL  
135 Stern, Jessica Melbourne FL  
136 Stern, Juliana Melbourne FL  
137 Stolting, Jana Tallahassee FL  
138 Strasser, Stephanie Fernandina Beach FL  
139 Thomas, Carly Tallahassee FL  
140 Volenec, Zoe Ormond Beach FL  
141 Wachob, Crystal Pensacola FL  
142 Wahy, Brianna-Rose Melbourne FL  
143 Walker, Rachel St Johns FL  
144 Westlake, Emily Gainesville FL  
145 White, Mallory Lakeland FL  
146 Williams, Abby Lake City FL  
147 Williams, Ciera Eatonville FL  
148 Williams, Lily Tallahassee FL  
149 Wolf, Megan Navarre FL  
150 Woodruff, Chelsi Winter Park FL

BOYS

Nationals:  Who has a shot? 

Matt Mizereck

Matt has torn it up all year long and hasn't backed down from any competition.  He hasn't lost since September and has faced off against stiff competition week in and week out.  Mizereck looks to be Florida's toughest competitor and best hope at a National birth.

Last year he had a bad day at this meet, finishing a baffling 228th in 17:23 after winning his first state championship a couple of weeks before.  Don't count on that happening again, top ten is clearly in his sights.

Odds: 80%

Michael Wallace

Besides one disappointing race at Bartram Trail this year, Michael Wallace had one heck of a season.  Great American was perhaps his best race of the year.  In that race he faced off against many of the guys he will see tomorrow and gained a lot of confidence.  He has put up huge perforamance at Pre-State and the State Meet.

Wallce is also the top returner for Florida in this race, finishing in 40th last year (15:41).  Brian Atkinson is actually the top non-graduating Floridian from that race (30th, 15:34), but he will be at NXN Southeast.  That puts him as the 12th place returner overall.

Look for his new found confidence and national big meet experience to help him and put him squarely in the hunt to grab one of the top ten spots. 

Odds: 60%

Will Stanford

He beat his teammate, Mizereck, the first meet of the season (Lincoln Invitational) and since then has raced largely in his shadow... literally, he's been just 5-10 seconds back almost every race.  He is for real and legitimiate and if Mizereck is running at 15:00 or just below at McAlpine, 5-10 seconds back would put Stanford in contention for one of the coveted 10 spots going to San Diego.  Stanford's chances should be considered somewhat of a long shot but definitely a shot.

Odds: 30%

Derek Wehunt

Derek has had huge ups and downs this season.  He's either looked stellar or lacking.  Unfortunately for him, as the season has dragged on the stellar is fleeting and the lacking is more common.  Remember though early in the year he dusted everyone in a stacked field at FSU and then a week later set a new course record winning the flrunners.com Invitational in 15:25.

At Prestate and several other late season meets he has lead the majority of the race and then for whatever reason ran out of steam and faded in the last mile.  If he can break that funk then who knows he could be up there and in the hunt.  Or he could find himself back around 70th or so... all just depends on what kind of day he has.

Odds: 10%

Armando Del Valle

Armando has had a really good season actually, but he hasn't been grabbing the headlines just because he hasn't WON any big races.  But his resume this season includes a second place finish at the flrunners.com Invitational in 15:33 and 4A runner-up at State in 15:24--9 second behind Brian Atkinson.

If he has a decent day he is likely to finish in the top thirty.  The sophomore has a slim shot at Nationals if he has a great day, slim but a shot none the less.

Odds: 7%

Others to Watch

Ryan Pickering

He has flown far under the radar all year because frankly his team, John I. Leonard, doesn't travel anywhere.  But he definitely made himself known at the state meet where he finished in 3rd place in the 4A race in 15:27.

Colin Barker

Like Will Stanford, Barker has spent the season playing second-gun to Michael Wallace.  The junior though is a stud in his own right.  He finished fourth in the 2A in 15:42 and 8th at Prestate in 15:47.

John Mitchell

I think I am definitely biased because I am a fan of John Mitchell.  I just think he's tough and one of these day's he's going to have a breakout. 

Others:

Eduardo Garcia, Zak Boston, Mark Allen, Nick Arjoon, Kevin Bonilla, Bret Butler, Joseph Elsakr, Ranley Gousse, Tyler Truitt, Joey Castagnaro, Chris Dendor, Robert Figueroa-Downing, Tyler Greathouse, Nick Groome, David Kilgore, Seth Rosonina, James Stern.

List of All Florida Boys Entered

151 Alexander, Brandon Tallahassee FL  
152 Allen, Mark Culter Bay FL  
153 Anguish, Billy Winter Park FL  
154 Arjoon, Nicholas Palm Bay FL  
155 Barker, Colin Atlantic Beach FL  
156 Bartusek, Justin Palm Bay FL  
157 Becker, Daniel Miami FL  
158 Best, John West Palm Beach FL  
159 Bishop, Justin Palm Bay FL  
160 Bolser, Derek Gainesville FL  
161 Bonilla, Kevin Fort Lauderdale FL  
162 Bosson, Cole Winter Park FL  
163 Boston, Zak Navarre FL  
164 Bridges, Travis Titusville FL  
165 Bridges, Tyler Titusville FL  
166 Brown, Alex Melbourne FL  
167 Brown, Jonathan Merritt Island FL  
168 Brown, Jordan Gainesville FL  
169 Burton, Kyle Oviedo FL  
170 Butler, Bret Rockledge FL  
171 Butler, Kyle Melbourne FL  
172 Castagnaro, Joey Melbourne FL  
173 Charles, Anderson West Palm Beach FL  
174 Chase, Whitner Windermere FL  
175 Chastain, Benjamin Fort Walton Beach FL  
176 Clark, Dylan Melbourne FL  
177 Coleman, Isaiah Jacksonville FL  
178 Concepcion, John Miami FL  
179 Cronin, Terry Melbourne Beach FL  
180 Cuevas, Jake Milton FL  
181 Dalton, Dominic Pensacola FL  
182 Dansky, Eric Fort Lauderdale FL  
183 Darling, David Lake Worth FL  
184 Daugherty, Sean Bradenton FL  
185 Davidson, Tyler Melbourne FL  
186 Davis, Ryan Hollywood FL  
187 Davis Iii, Donald Pensacola FL  
188 Dejute, Marc Tampa FL  
189 Del Valle, Armando Miami FL  
190 Delay, Danny Daytona Beach FL  
191 Dendor, Chris Jacksonville FL  
192 Diaz, Joshua Cutler Bay FL  
193 Dickerson, Cameron Jacksonville FL  
194 Dominguez, Ricci Vero Beach FL  
195 Duclos, Dieumy Tallahassee FL  
196 Dughi, Brian Jacksonville FL  
197 Duncan, Matthew Jacksonville FL  
198 Dunn, Dave Daytona Beach FL  
199 Echavarria, Juan Daytona Beach FL  
200 Elsakr, Joseph Daytona Beach Shores FL  
201 Estevez, Jose Miami FL  
202 Estrada, Joshua Miami FL  
203 Evans, Daniel Neptune Beach FL  
204 Figueroa-Downing, Robert Coral Gables FL  
205 Forero, Julian West Palm Beach FL  
206 Gagnier, Chad Winter Park FL  
207 Garcia, Eduardo Jacksonville FL  
208 Garcia, Francisco Jacksonville FL  
209 Gates, Buddy Naples FL  
210 Giello, Brandon Pensacola FL  
211 Gines, Julian Tampa FL  
212 Gousse, Ranley Apopka FL  
213 Gousse, Ryan Apopka FL  
214 Greathouse, Tyler Palm Harbor FL  
215 Grellner, John Tampa FL  
216 Groome, Nick Vero Beach FL  
217 Hall, Daniel Boynton Beach FL  
218 Hames, Ian Ormond Beach FL  
219 Harding, Rashad Hawthorne FL  
220 Hart, Brian Jacksonville FL  
221 Hay, Deniz Lake Worth FL  
222 Heikkinen, Thomas Panama City FL  
223 Helguero-Kelley, Evan Coral Gables FL  
224 Holloway, Dan Atlantic Beach FL  
225 Howell, Henry Bradenton FL  
226 Howell, Toby Bradenton FL  
227 Humphreys, Jr, Kenneth Milton FL  
228 Ibarra, Josh Evans FL  
229 Irigoyen, Bert Miami FL  
230 Jaworski, Griffin Maitland FL  
231 Jernigan, Ben Micanopy FL  
232 Kathman, Kyler Port Orange FL  
233 Kathman, Mark Port Orange FL  
234 Kearney, Troy Gainesville FL  
235 Kelly, Ryan Vero Beach FL  
236 Kilgore, David Palm Bay FL  
237 Koelker, Aaron Ormond Beach FL  
238 Lee, Christopher Vero Beach FL  
239 Licea, Reinel Miami FL  
240 Lockwood, Taylor Vero Beach FL  
241 Lyons, Milton Lakeland FL  
242 Maren, Jordan Gainesville FL  
243 Martin, James Hobe Sound FL  
244 Martinez, Carlos Lake Worth FL  
245 Mason, Jerry Pensacola FL  
246 Matthews, Kendall Tallahassee FL  
247 McCann, Ryan Pompano Beach FL  
248 McLeod, Jason Ocoee FL  
249 McWilliams, Andrew Tallahassee FL  
250 Mitchell, John Valrico FL  
251 Mitchell, Payton Gainesville FL  
252 Mizereck, Matthew Tallahassee FL  
253 Monks, Joe Deerfield Beach FL  
254 Montoya, Raul Miami FL  
255 Moore, Daniel Melbourne FL  
256 Moore, Hardy Lake Worth FL  
257 Murbach, Cole Windermere FL  
258 Mussat, David Boynton Beach FL  
259 Nabong, Edward Winter Haven FL  
260 Nelson, Devon Pensacola FL  
261 Nelson, Eric Pensacola FL  
262 Ochoa, Eric St. Johns FL  
263 Oliver, Cole Indialantic FL  
264 Oliver, Jeff Pensacola FL  
265 Ortega, Alan Miami FL  
266 Page, Earl Pensacola FL  
267 Page, Jonathan Pensacola FL  
268 Palermo, Nicholas Coconut Creek FL  
269 Papa, Nicholas Winter Park FL  
270 Pheneger, Alexander Vero Beach FL  
271 Pickering, Ryan West Palm Beach FL  
272 Posada, Nicholas Winter Park FL  
273 Pulver, Sean Pompano Beach FL  
274 Reynolds, Bryan Saint Petersburg FL  
275 Ricketts, Anthony Pensacola FL  
276 Ritarro, Christian Crestview FL  
277 Robertson, Carter Gainesville FL  
278 Robeson, Brad Parkland FL  
279 Rojas, Joe West Palm Beach FL  
280 Rosenbach, Michael Tampa FL  
281 Rosete, Omar Miami FL  
282 Rosonina, Seth Mims FL  
283 Rowe, Robert Coral Gables FL  
284 Salas, Daniel Winter Park FL  
285 Salas, Patrick Winter Park FL  
286 Salis, Matthew Vero Beach FL  
287 Scott, Brent Naples FL  
288 Scott, Keith Naples FL  
289 Smith, Michael Jacksonville FL  
290 Spector, Daniel Cooper City FL  
291 Sperando, Coleman Melbourne FL  
292 Stanford, Will Tallahassee FL  
293 Stern, James Melbourne FL  
294 Stich, Brogan New Smyrna Beach FL  
295 Taskett, Herbert Jacksonville FL  
296 Taurusi, Tommy Titusville FL  
297 Taylor, Aaron Tampa FL  
298 Thomas, Cameron Niceville FL  
299 Thompson, James Mims FL  
300 Toledo, Ryan Plantation FL  
301 Truitt, Tyler Satellite Beach FL  
302 Vazquez, Gilbert Tampa FL  
303 Vazquez, Gilberto Tampa FL  
304 Visi-Clark, Josh Lake Worth FL  
305 Wadford, Matthew Lake Worth FL  
306 Walker, Harry Pensacola FL  
307 Wallace, Michael Jacksonville FL  
308 Walz, Caleb West Palm Beach FL  
309 Weatherspoon, Justin Miami FL  
310 Wegener, Jeremy Jacksonville FL  
311 Wehunt, Daniel Odessa FL  
312 Wehunt, Derek Odessa FL  
313 Westlake, Garrett Gainesville FL  
314 Young, Billy Daytona Beach FL  
315 Zilka, Christopher Parkland FL  
2093 Modaff, Katie St. Augustine FL  
2097 Abrante, Daniela Miami FL  
2104 Dolan, David Gainesville FL  
2148 Bolser, Patricia Gainesville FL  
2151 Rynning, Sean Longwood FL  
2152 Mollenhour, Jimmy Jacksonville FL  
2155 Rankin-Springhart, Justin Oviedo FL