Smith Will Bookend His High School Career With Appearances In San Diego; Leachman Overcomes Injury and Illness To Be Able To Defend Her Title; Cheeseman Earns Fourth Trip To Nationals

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

RunnerSpace photos

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Keegan Smith set himself up for lofty expectations when he made the national finals in San Diego as a freshman in 2021. 

But then he finished 13th at the South regional in 2022 and was 18th last year. 

The senior from Knoxville, Tenn. is going back to the Foot Locker Championships after leaving no doubt and winning the South regional on Saturday at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C., running a time of 14:58.1.

When he made it in 2021, the finals were called Eastbay Cross Country Championships. 

"It's not easy to make Foot Locker. I've obviously missed it the past two years but, but the race was about taking it as easy as possible and doing what you have to do to qualify," Smith said. 

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Leachman will get a chance to defend her national title after winning the South regional in a time of 16:55.5. The junior from San Antonio has endured injury and illness and all of her recent decisions to race, going back to the Texas state meet, have been uncertain until days before each race.

"The main goal was to stay relaxed and feel like I had something to give it the last stretch," Leachman said. 

Both of the South champions are double booked. They will race at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland next week before concluding their seasons in San Diego. 

Joining Smith on the boys side are nine runners who all finished within 10 seconds, and surprisingly none from Texas or North Carolina. 

Jack Bowen from Chattanooga, Tenn. was second and dipped under 15 minutes with 14:59.9. He bounced back in a big way from 58th place last weekend in Cary, N.C. 

Tristan Yoder from Broadway, Va. was third in 15:00.4. He is Virginia's Class 3A champion. 

Malachi Burnett from Canton, Ga., who was fourth in 15:01.4, was 41st in this race last year. He was Georgia's Class 5A champion this fall. 

Fifth in 15:02.0 was Asher Oates of Franklin, Tenn., who was 38th last year. He is Tennessee's Div 1-AAA state champion. 

Riku Sugie of Bardstown, Ky., a returning national finalist, was sixth, also in 15:02. He is Kentucky' Class 2A champion. 

Jackson Hogsed from Suwanee, Ga. was seventh in 15:03.1 and missed NXN by two spots last week. He is the Georgia 6A champion. 

Teammates from Bentonville, Ark., Owen Kelley and Matthew Shelly, finished together in eighth (15:04.2) and ninth (15:08.6). 

Parker Adams, the Florida 2A champion from Jacksonville, was the final qualifier in 15:08.8.

Behind Leachman, Caroline Barton of Asheville, N.C. also dipped under 17 minutes with 16:59.4. She finished 17th in the race a year ago and is North Carolina's 3A state champion. 

Lilly Beshears of Springdale, Ark., who won the NXR South title ahead of Leachman last week, is also double booked for nationals. She was third in 17:01.3. 

Sophia Bendet of Universal City, Texas, the state 3A champion, is also headed to both national championships after taking fourth in 17:08.0.

Kerrigan Chaney of Roanoke, Va., 43rd in the South regional last year, placed fifth in 17:13.0. She is the VISAA Division 2 champion. 

Sixth and seventh were teammates from Knoxville, Tenn. (Webb School), Carolina Areheart (17:14.5) and Jazzlyn Garner (17:16.4). Areheart was second at NXR Southeast last week. 

Texas 6A champion Macy Wingard from Aubrey, Texas finished eighth in 17:16.7. The junior will make her first Foot Locker appearance and her third at NXN. 

Kate Loescher of Stafford, Va., the Virginia Class 6 champion, got ninth place in 17:21.9. 

And 10th, Abby Faith Cheeseman of Keller, Texas (The Webb-Bell Buckle TN) made history by earning her fourth consecutive appearance at nationals. Cheeseman has been reportedly been ill in recent weeks but still managed to pull out the final spot.