Two runners from Florida represented the state at the Foot Locker Nationals this past weekend in Leon High School senior Patrick Koon and Nease High School senior Matt Ryan.
Pre-race interview with Patrick Koon
Koon, coming off a Foot Locker South Regional victory with a 14:48 season best, came to San Diego in with hopes of potentially challenging for the win and at least pushing for a top 5 finish. He had qualified for the national race in 2021 as a sophomore, but was unable to qualify in 2022 due to injury. He was also still recovering from mononucleosis over the past month.
Ryan was coming off his first sub 15 minute race and surprise top 10 finish at the South Regional to qualify for nationals after being unable to repeat as the 4A state champion with best race of the season and some redemption in Charlotte.
On Saturday, Koon attempted to stay up with the leaders but faltered in the second loop to end up finishing 15th with a time of 15:38, which still earned him his first All-American honors in cross country just making the top 15 cutoff.
Ryan in the field of the nation's 40 best runners, ended up coming across the line in 39th place with a time of 16:24.
Two runners from Florida represented the state at the Foot Locker Nationals this past weekend in Leon High School senior Patrick Koon and Nease High School senior Matt Ryan.
Pre-race interview with Patrick Koon
Koon, coming off a Foot Locker South Regional victory with a 14:48 season best, came to San Diego in with hopes of potentially challenging for the win and at least pushing for a top 5 finish. He had qualified for the national race in 2021 as a sophomore, but was unable to qualify in 2022 due to injury. He was also still recovering from mononucleosis over the past month.
