Mauldin Maverick Eric Lawson and team compete at Great American Festival in Alabama
Tinette Burger returned to action for McNeese State on Saturday and finished second in the women's division of the Great American Race in Birmingham, AL while the Cowboys placed third as a team.
Ashley Brasovan (Wellington) proved why she is ranked #2 in the nation. Against some of the finest competition in the nation including defending national champion Kathy Kroeger, Floridians Emilie Amaro and Kayla Hale, and several other 2006 Footlocker finalists Brasovan closed the race with a fine last mile to extend her lead and win the Nike Race of Champions at Great American. In fact, she didn't just win: she destoryed the field. Kroeger, coming back from some issues that kept her sidelined during the spring, was the second place finisher--over 30 seconds behind Brasovan. Brasovan's time was 17:05.6. Emilie Amaro (Cypress Bay) looked very impressive though, defeating nationally ranked Emily Reese of Georgia, for a 18:00.7 third place performance. Kayla Hale (Holy Trinity), who reportedly was fighting off illness this week, was 28 second back from Amaro in sixth place. Episcopal girls had a decent but disappointing showing for a fifth place finish. Eric Larson of Penscaola Washington had a good day as the top Florida boy. Read full summary....
Easley senior Erin Barker placed first in the Girls Invitational Seeded race in 19:38.9 at the Great American Festival in Hoover, Ala.
Photo: awards ceremony at the 2007 WNC CC Carnival Great American isn't what it used to be, but that doesn't take anything away from the TC Roberson girls. The last two years they have competed in the Race of Champions while in Hoover, AL and done well. In 2006 they were 11th and Saturday they finished 6th.
Can Ashley Brasovan (Jr., Wellington, FL) run much faster than she has been? An incredible 17:06 5k effort, beat one of the best fields assembled in the country this year, earned Brasovan the individual title at the Great American XC Festival in Alabama. Brasovan ran a monster last mile to beat defending national champion Kathy Kroeger (Jr., Independence, TN) by well over half a minute. In the boys race, Sean Keveren (Sr., Brentwood, TN) ran strong and even, taking the boys title in commanding fashion.
#1 Ranked Assumption finishes 3rd in the Race of Champions at the Great American XC Festival.
While overall the entry numbers are at their lowest levels ever for Great American, the competition--especially on the individual girls level--is looking pretty amazing. For the first time this year all of Florida's "big three" will race each other (ironically at a meet in Alabama). Ashley Brasovan, Kayla Hale, and Emilie Amaro are all ranked in the MileSplit South Rankings and favored to be Footlocker Finalists. Brasovan is currently ranked #2 in the nation and will face off against defending Footlocker national champion Kathy Kroeger of TN. Emily Reese (US#7 from GA) will also be vying for the individual victory, along with several other Footlocker hopefuls. This race will be the best individual battle of the regular season in the South this fall.Team-wise Episcopal, coming off its win over nationally ranked Eleanor Roosevelt at flrunners 8 last week, will test its strength against Mountain Brook AL (who is favored to win), Oak Ridge TN, Collins Hill GA, and others.We have the full list of Florida teams entered in the race and links to the entire entry list.
Great American has changed quite a bit since it left North Carolina. The meet started here in Charlotte, spent a year in nearby Rock Hill, back to Charlotte, and then went to Cary. This is the 2nd year it has been held in Hoover, Alabama. Last year a number of NC teams and individuals made the trek to see what Hoover would be like . . . it was hot and miserable. Don't get me wrong, the course was unique and spectator friendly, but it wasn't North Carolina. (insert smile and wink here)
For nearly a decade, the Great American Cross Country Festival has hosted many of the top teams and individuals from around the country, in a series of races that are meant to be some of the best in the land. This year, Great American highlights many of the best teams in the South and Southeast. The top race, the Nike Race of Champions - Girls 5k, brings together over a half dozen Foot Locker hopefuls, and four teams hoping to qualify for Nike Team Nationals. The weekend once again is a major national meet.
Results Needed: Fayette Ct. Coaches Meet 10/11 and IPSL Champs 10/13 Manhattan Invite: Carly Seymour entered this season intent on returning to the Footlocker Nationals, and after her impressive run this weekend she just may be a favorite to win it all. Seymour beat 3 returning Footlocker Finalists en route to her course record run of 13:55.7 on the 2.5 mile layout. The previous course record was 13:57 by Nicole Blood, Saratoga Springs. Central Cambria finished 9th as a team with 306 points against some very tough competition. Emmaus girls ran tough in the meet despite having Homecoming activities that created tired legs. Don't count them out however, as they will have fresh legs for Districts and States.In the boys Varsity D race North Penn took home the win with 44 points. They also achieved the fastest team average of all the races with a 12:57.1. In the Varsity C race Dan Lowry, Lasalle, earned the individual victory with a time of 12:36.01. In Varsity E race action Germantown Friend's Max Kaulbach outkicked Henderson's Chris Aldrich for the victory. Kaulbach was the fastest PA guy with a time of 12:27.92. Midwestern Athletic Conference: Kacey Gibson wins in 18:58; West Allegheny wins boys and girls. Mingo Classic: David Adley wins in 15:52. DELCO Champs: Nick Bonaventure, 15:57, Melissa Frick, 18:31, Penncrest boys and Strath Haven girls win. Tennent Invite: Nick Crits wins in 15:59, Marie Thompson wins in 19:05.
For the second year in a row, the Great American Cross Country festival will be held in Hoover, Alabama. The meet directors have worked hard to put together a course map packet that virtually covers each bump in the ground! This is a must for any team that has never run on the course. Interactive Course Map - 5mb. Click on the map below to be taken to the course maps.
Senior Maverick finishes two seconds ahead of Mann's Borowicz for win, Lovelace runs fastest time of day at Disney Classic in Orlando, Frank Shorter speaking Friday at Furman University as part of Blue Shoes 5k and Furman Invitational weekend