Defending national champion Ashley Brasovan had a lot of pressure on her shoulders. Coming back as the champion at this meet, of course she had a big target on her back. The girls race was hyped as one of the greatest fields ever, as it featured three national champions: Brasovan, Jordan Hasay of California, and Kathy Kroeger of Tennessee.
Hasay was considered by most experts to be the pre-race favorite. Afterall, she competed in the Olympic Trials over the summer in the 1500 and even made the finals. That showed that she had gained additional experience to compliment her speed and could compete even against the highest levels.
Last year it was Hasay leading the way with a big lead for the first two and a half miles of the race. Brasovan made a move going up the hill and then glided down the downhill to make up all of the ground and finally pass Hasay. That was then. Jordan knew her mistake well and had learned from it. Earlier in the week she vowed not to repeat that same failed strategy, telling MileSplit national editor Fran McLaughlin that she didn't know who would be leading at the mile but it would not be her.
Many people were not surprised to find the leader at the mile to be Colorado's Ali McLaughlin. The spunky little senior was well known for taking it out hard. That's the way she raced. It wasn't a bad race strategy. Many felt that the only way that Jordan and Ashley might be beat is if someone pushed the pace early and got enough separation that they didn't come back to them.
McLaughlin did get a lot of separation, leading by 30 meters or more for much of the first two miles. But after the two mile mark that lead began to errode. Coming up the hill the final time, Brasovan lead a chase pack that was reeling McLaughlin in. And coming down the hill, Brasovan opened it up and charged past. It looked like a replay of last year, with McLaughlin playing Hasay's role. And it looked like it might just pay off again for Brasovan.
At first Hasay did not respond and Brasovan started to get some separation as she glided in her familiar gazelle-like strides down the hill and around some curves toward the final straightaway to the finish.
Crossing the road with about 300 meters to go Brasovan held on to the lead, but in her shadow was the figure of the hometown favorite and Olympic Trials competitor Jordan Hasay. Most knew at that point that it was over. Hasay has dominant speed, having run a 4:14.5 1500 meters.
Hasay charged ahead and pulled away in the last 200 meters. Jordan, the senior, crossed the finish line with her second national championship--the first three years ago as a freshman--with a time of 17:21. Four second back was our Florida girl and defending national champion Ashley Brasovan with a time of 17:25.
After the race, Ashley did not hang her head. Sure she was disappointed, but she knew she ran her race and did what she needed to do. Many afterwards said that Ashley ran the perfect race for her today and did exactly what she needed to do. She showed patience when it was needed--hanging with the chase pack of race favorites--and made her move when a little aggression was required. Jordan for her part executed equally as well, and at least for now Jordan's superior speed is the difference between these two amazing atheltes--both clearly in a league of their own today.
Fellow Floridian and senior Kayla Hale did not have the race she was hoping for, but ran valiantly in her third visit to Footlocker Nationals. She ended up in 32nd place after taking it out conservatively with a time of 18:25 on the hilly Balboa Park Course.
Closing her high school cross country career, Kayla found herself toward the back-end of the pack relatively early and was never able to mentally recover. Kayla acknowledged the mental aspect of racing is something she knows she needs to work on. Physically Kayla can match up with the best of the best--remember her 16:56 at Footlocker South in 2006? There will be more time this spring for the homecoming queen to test her mental toughness and sharpen her skills before heading to college.
Brasovan has already committed to Duke. Hale meanwhile is entertaining also becoming a Blue Devil, along with Georgetown and possibly Villanova.
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