Fisher, Rohrer seek seconds at Foot Locker

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 
SAN DIEGO – For the first time since 2009 and rare for its long history, weather conditions could play a factor at the Foot Locker National Finals.

The city blessed with almost perfect year-round weather is supposed to be soaked by half-inch per hour rain on Friday – it's part of a massive weather system aimed like a fire hose at the West Coast, primarily affecting Northern California.

That could leave things very wet, and possibly slick, on Saturday morning.

Regardless, the boys and girls championship races both feature mature, battle-tested fields and the promise of compelling races.

Despite the presence of a defending champion in Grant Fisher there are at least five other runners in a blockbuster boys field that could take the win if they are having a great day. Nine of the top 16 finishers at last year's finals were juniors, and all of them are back. That includes the top three.

Fisher, by virtue of his consistent record of winning these national-level races, is the favorite for many. And he deserves that label. The Stanford commit from Grand Blanc, Mich. gave up soccer this fall to devote his time and energy to running. And he has been aiming at Foot Locker to be his peak performance of the fall. He repeated as the Foot Locker Midwest champion and handled that race with relative ease. He is trying to become the third consecutive back-to-back champion, joining Lukas Verzbicas and Edward Cheserek.

John Dressel from Mt. Spokane (Spokane, Wash.) was the runner-up last year and waged a stirring final sprint against Fisher in the final straightaway that included an inadvertent exchange of elbows. Dressel is making his third consecutive appearance at the Foot Locker Finals and will undoubtedly come up with a plan to try and win the race.

Matthew Maton of Summit (Bend, Ore.) turned in one of the performances of the year at the Oregon state meet when he ran 10 seconds under Galen Rupp's meet record on Nov. 1. Since then, Maton has been doing everything he can to conserve energy and wait for a chance win Foot Locker. He even went to the unusual step of traveling straight to San Diego after Foot Locker West regionals to begin preparing for the race.

Alex Ostberg of Darien (Conn.), Fisher's future teammate at Stanford, has one of the most impressive ledgers of the season. He joined Cheserek in the sub-12 minute club at the Manhattan Invitational. He broke records on well-worn courses at Thetford in Vermont and Wickham Park in Connecticut, and he dominated Foot Locker Northeast.

Andrew Hunter of Loudoun Valley (Va.) and Austin Tamagno (Brea Olinda, Calif.) are the meet's most notable newcomers. They are the preeminent juniors in the country and both of them have been spectacular this fall. Hunter broke the Virginia state meet record and crushed the field at Foot Locker South. Tamagno broke the meet record at the Mt. SAC Invitational, one of the largest and oldest meets in the U.S.

Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello, Idaho, sixth last year, is coming off a victory in the loaded West regional race where he ran 15:24 and missed the meet record by three seconds.

Seniors Conner Mantz UT (a three-time finalist), Trevor Reinhart CA, Levi Thomet AK, Thomas Pollard IA, Jesse Reiser IL and Ben Barrett OK are all back from last year's race with valuable experience.

This race could follow a variety of different scenarios, but if those making bids to lead this race can't separate before 600 meters to go – and Fisher is still hanging around – don't bet against him. After all, he's a 4:02 miler. Maton, a 4:03 miler, has geared his entire season around this race – like some of the others – and has rehearsed attacking the hill on the second loop.

Rohrer Aiming For Second Foot Locker Title

Like Fisher, Anna Rohrer deserves the respect due to a champion. The senior from Mishawaka, Ind. won this race in 2012 and endured a disheartening two-year slog through injuries in order to get back to San Diego. Rohrer's return is a testament to her persistence and belief. Also, she's running great.

But there are also a handful of other girls who have the credentials necessary to win this race.

Makena Morley, a four-time qualifier from Bigfork, Mont., has never finished higher than eighth but on her best days this season she has been terrific. She broke the course record at the Bob Firman Invitational, at the Montana state meet, and ran the fifth-fastest time ever at the West regional.

Two years ago, Rohrer ran 17:25 to win the Foot Locker title. Last year, Hannah DeBalsi ran 17:26 on the way to a runner-up finish.

Rohrer has come back from surgeries on both feet and was in a wheelchair 13 months ago. She is running at, or better, than she was as a sophomore.

DeBalsi, a junior from Staples (Ct.) delayed the start of her season in order to peak for Foot Locker and has yet to show the quality that took her to 9:55 in the two-mile last June. If she has been waiting to pounce, now is the time.

Another contender is senior Brianna Schwartz of Shaler Area (Pa.). Her season to date is comparable to 2013 champion Tessa Barrett's. She ran just a few seconds off Barrett's winning times at the Pennsylvania AAA championship meet and Foot Locker Northeast. Those results bode well for the potential to run under 17:20 on Saturday. (Barrett won last year's national meet in 17:16). Schwartz was sixth last year.

There are also a few newcomers who could have a big impact. Foot Locker South champion Ryen Frazier of Ravencroft School in Raleigh, N.C. does not have a great deal of cross country experience despite the fact that she's a senior. But she has been running very fast for the past month-plus and nearly broke the regional record at Charlotte two weeks ago.

Paige Hofstad of New Braunfels, Texas is coming off an emotional high at NXN, where she placed second to Allie Ostrander. That boost of confidence could keep Hofstad motivated to keep battling right to the end. She has finished second seven times and first three times in 10 meets this season.

Although they were at least half a minute behind Rohrer at Foot Locker Midwest, Lauren Gregory CO, Maryjeanne Gilbert IL, Audrey Belf MI, Stephanie Jenks IA and Hannah Long MO all have very strong credentials as well. Jenks was ninth and Long was 23rd last year.

Gabriella Karas, a sophomore from Collins KY, was 25th last year and drove the pace early at Foot Locker South before Frazier took over.