Results | anatomy of the race |

Zoe Nelson 10:25.06

Foot Locker cross country champion refuses to lose

This was Zoe Nelson's first venture in a national class race since she won the Foot Locker cross country national title in San Diego last December. The Kalispell MT soph showed she also belongs among the nation's elite on the track, but not before prevailing in a fierce struggle with another sophomore, Texan Rachel Collins. First, both had to pass California Claire Rethmeier, who had a slight lead at the bell. Then, Nelson and Collins surged back and forth throughout the last lap, which was ripped in 69 seconds after a series of 80-second tours. Little Zoe surged last and crossed the finish line with her trademark smile beaming both joy and relief to onlookers.

Minnesota 2A champion Lisa Waananen, a junior, set the pace through the halfway mark in 5:14. Nelson then took the lead for two laps, but did not shake everyone.

left, end lap 1 - Waananen leads. below, end lap 6 - Nelson, Waananen, Rethmeier, Geissler

Zoe with dad, Bill Nelson, after the race.

anatomy of the race

Results

Women 3200 Meter Run
================================================================
    GWI Meet: # 10:03.35  2002        Megan Kaltenbach, Smoky Hill (Aurora, CO)
 US National: $  9:48.59  1996        Kim Mortenson, Thousand Oaks (CA)        
    Name                    Year School                  Finals 
================================================================
  1 Zoe Nelson                10 Flathead (Kalisp      10:25.06  
  2 Rachel Collins            10 Granbury (Granbu      10:26.20  
  3 Claire Rethmeier          11 San Pasqual (Esc      10:32.20  
  4 Lisa Waananen             11 Maple Grove (Mpl      10:36.39  
  5 Jamie Geisler             12 Mead (Spokane, W      10:38.31  
  6 Brittany Alamguer         11 Elko (Elko, Nv)       10:53.62  
  7 Danielle Jordan           11 North (Medford,       10:57.12  
  8 Jesse Mizzone             12 Passaic Vlly (Li      11:08.85  
  9 Collier Lawrence          11 Reno (Reno, Nv)       11:15.55  
 10 Morgan Ekemo              12 Chugiak (Eagle R      11:29.10