Gallery of Finalists:
South
Girls

1.  Laura Stanley NC

Laura says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had won and were going back to Orlando? Was it a surprise to win, or something you were shooting for all year?

The South Regional was amazing this year and it is an honor to have won a race of so many talented runners. I was initially shocked when I crossed the finish line and realized that I had won. I had just taken the lead with about 500 meters to go and couldn't believe that I had just broken the tape. We had been working hard towards the South Regional all season, and my coach and I knew that I had a chance of winning, but it was just a dream come true. Most especially, I was so happy to be able to go back to Orlando, regardless of the win.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

The Regional was definitely the best overall race of my season. We have been training with it as our goal all season, so I was well prepared and tapered for the race. I was ready to run fast and I trusted my training. The course was great, the weather was decent, and I had lots of family and friends in Charlotte for the race. However, the most important aspect of this successful race was the competition. I was so excited and ready to race against top competition since I had very little throughout the season. I knew that I could run faster with people beside and ahead of me. I felt good throughout the whole race (until, of course, the pain of the kick at the end!)

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

My coach, Mr. Bob Walters, is truly amazing. The thing that makes him so special is the time that he puts into his athletes. He has dedicated so much time and energy to helping me succeed, and it is this commitment that has made all the difference. Our mutual trust in each other has been the key. Training wise, he developed a program for the season that incorporated speed, strength, and endurance into the weekly workouts. I believe that a strong mileage base and intense interval training has really helped my overall speed and sense of pace and helped me get back to Orlando.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get in the top 5 or win?

My goals for Saturday are to run confidently and not hold anything back. I think that it is going to take a lot of guts and heart and a very smart race to finish in the top 5. The competition will be incredible this year. I want to run well and have no regrets after I cross the finish line.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My family is the most important part of my life and my running as they offer constant love, support, and encouragement. They are the ones to whom I can come home to after a hard workout and complain about the pain! I love them more than anything. My coach is also plays a huge part in my life as he sees me at my lowest and highest points each day. He has been an incredible motivator. My teammates and school community are also very important to me. My favorite elite runner is probably Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

I love to read and am also very interested in sports medicine. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing soccer and basketball, taking long walks, and jumping on trampolines (even though my parents don't let me!) I also love watching college basketball.

2. Carly Matthews NC

3. Kara Scanlin FL

Kara says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized how you had finished and were going to Orlando? Was the placing a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

I was really relieved after the race was over and I was just glad to have made it. I had been shooting for it all year.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

I think it was. It was the first race where I had a lot of competition all year.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

I like my coach a lot and have a lot of confidence in her.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American (or win, whatever your goal is)?

My goals are just to have fun and run my best.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My coach and my team are big influences in my running life. Their encouragement and help has been a big part of my success.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

I enjoy spending time with my friends

4. Valerie Lauver TX

Valerie says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top four and were going back to Orlando? Was it a surprise at all, or something you were shooting for all year?

When I crossed the finish line I was just so thankful that I had made it. The week before I had gotten a cold and I knew it was going to be a close race so it was a big relief for it to have not really affected me too much and to make it. This is something I had made my goal at the beginning of the season and for it to actually come true was great.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

It was my best race in terms of time and the benefits from it. My favorite race though was Great American. I just had one of those days that you go fast without it being a huge struggle and it was a real surprise to find myself in second. Foot Locker was more of a struggle to keep up there, but it was certainly the most exciting race with at times 10 of us running side by side. I guess I really can't decide between the two!

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

In Dallas, we have a really good running club coach in the area- Terry Jessup. I've been running with him since the summer before my sophmore year and it has really made all the difference for me. At the time when my school was having a different long distance coach each semester, he gave me a workout plan that has helped me improve each year and stay injury-free. He keeps running fun for me and has taught me what running is all about. Also, my cross-country coach from school is Coach Weaver. He has really helped our team improve and become better every year. He has been a big source of encouragement for me and works together with Terry for my training. This season we did the same type of training program I've been doing which is phased type training that starts with tempos, hills, then intervals. Lately I've gone back to more steady states to get ready for the 5k in footlocker. Without my coaches, I certainly wouldn't be in Orlando this weekend.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get top 10 or better?

My goal is to definitely be in the top 15 to be All-American. To be in the top 10 or better, I think it would take just having a great day and maybe a time around the 17:20's. I hope to get up there in the race and just see what happens.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite HS, college or pro) runner?

My most important influence for my running and life in general is really God. I run to use my talent he's given me hopefully for his glory and he gives me joy in it. I know that no matter what happens, even if I have to stop running, he's there and I'll be all right. Also my dad and family have given me the biggests upport and their unconditional love. I admire Renee Metiever (2nd NCAA). I knew her in high school (she's from around here) and she has improved so much, its an inspiration. Also Marla Runyon for overcoming so much and achieving excellence in what she does.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

Involvement with my church is by biggest outside influence along with school, friends, and working with children.

5. Mindy Sullivan TX

Mindy says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top five and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise at all, or something you were shooting for all year?

After the race I felt really good, I was really, really excited and almost could not believe it. It was not a huge surprise because I felt like I had the ability to do it; I just knew that I would have to hurt. I had been shooting for it all year because I felt like I had something to prove in cross country, I wanted to prove that I can run more than just an 800.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

I think our Texas state cross country race was my best race all year. I was very relaxed and patient throughout the entire race. I felt very strong and I was happy that I was able to handle the pace that the other girls had set.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

My coaches are really great guys; they really know what they are doing in track and they are great role models. A lot of the training I did was to work on my endurance and the ability to surge in the middle of a race. Towards the end of the school season we started to concentrate on more precise elements of training, like being able to run fast when you are tired and being able to mentally focus to do that.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American or better?

For Saturday, my main goal is to place in the top ten; to do that I am really not sure what kind of a race it will take. I have found that I do my best when I let someone else lead.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My coaches and my mom are probably the most important influences in my running life. They are always there to support me and bring me up when I am feeling down, and they are there when I am feeling good and if I ever need to talk, they are there to listen. I am not sure who my favorite runner is, but perhaps Marla Runyan.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

My biggest interest outside running might be Frisbee, but school work is in a close second.

6. Jessica Hellender FL

Jessica says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top eight and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

I can't even explain what a great feeling it was to finish and to know that I made it. It was one of my goals to qualify this year, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

I considered my season to be successful before I ran Foot Locker, but this has made it all the more rewarding. I think that it was my best race, but also my hardest race. I had not had a race as competitive and demanding as Foot Locker all season, and it forced me to respond. I was excited to qualify, but I was just as thrilled to be in a competitive race.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

My new coach, Jim Richardson, really helped me by creating workouts that helped me improve on my speed and leg turnover. I also ran about 500 miles this summer (50 miles a week) and lifted weights three times a week.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American or better?

I don't like to discuss my race plans or goals before hand, but if I just run a smart race similar to South Regionals, then I should have a successful race.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

One of my biggest influences would have to be Coach Steve Yerks, who is the main reason why I started running, and why I am still running today. His confidence in my abilities has encouraged me to strive to achieve my goals in running. My favorite professional runner is Marla Runyan. She is a truly amazing woman who has overcome so much to achieve her goals. My favorite college runner is Brian Sharbono from UCF (he's my boyfriend) :)

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

I like to relax and hangout with my teammates and friends from school. I watch a lot of movies, go shopping, etc. My family takes our boat out to go snorkeling, or water skiing a lot also.

7. Julia Cathcart MS

Julia says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top eight and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise at all, or something you were shooting for all year (first ever from Mississippi!)?

Crossing the Foot Locker finish line and being shepherded into the tent to fill out paperwork was one of the best feelings in the world. Though I have been anticipating running in the Foot Locker South all season, nothing quite prepared me for the relief I felt after the race. Going into the race, I was confident that I could be in the top eight, but I knew that it would not be easy. I was not at all nervous about being the first Mississippi girl to qualify for nationals. In fact, it was not till two days before the race that I found out that information.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

Because of some disappointing shows earlier this year (due to weather and/or injury), I was thrilled to run when all the conditions were ideal. The Foot Locker Regional was one of my best races this season since I felt I ran a smart race and nothing went too far wrong.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

I have trained myself all by myself this entire season. Since I had to keep my mileage low (under 20 miles per week), I made workouts on the track that will wear me out without getting re-injured. However, I am very grateful to my school coach who allowed me and trusted me to make my own workouts and fulfill them.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get top 10 or better?

On Saturday, I just want to run the fastest race of my life which is not so much to ask. I do not like the course being flat, but I will make the best of it. Since this is my first time at Foot Locker Championships, I do not know what I will have to do to make the top 10. As long as I run smart and up to my ability, I will be satisfied with the outcome.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My family has been extremely supportive of my running, and they have inspired me to work hard. Sule Alli, my former trainer and my favorite RETIRED runner, helped both renew my love of running and took me to the next level of competition. Alli is my favorite elite runner because he is 45 and can still beat most college 800 runners.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

My favorite sport, besides running, is soccer, which I will return to following this weekend. Likewise, I enjoy swimming, cycling, and playing tennis. I am very active at my church and at the local humane society. My primary academic interest is biology with art as a close second. I love to dance, watch movies, and party with friends.

8. Brooke Stewart TX

9. Keira Carlstrom VA