Elizabeth Leachman, Drew Griffith win 2023 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships

Sophomore Elizabeth Leachman and Notre Dame commit Drew Griffith took home the gold at the 2023. Foot Locker Cross Country Championships

On Saturday, the 2023 Foot Locker Cross Country champions won their races with a similar tactic: Boerne Champion High School (San Antonio, Texas) sophomore Elizabeth Leachman and Butler (Pa.) High School senior Drew Griffith watched a leader jump ahead, waited for them to tire, and then made their move to the finish line, where they crossed the finish line in first place.

Leachman, just the seventh sophomore to win this race and first since 2018, finished in 16:50.7, while Griffith finished in 15:06.9.

In the first race of the day, Leachman used the disappointment from her race the week before to plan her strategy. On Dec. 2, she finished 15th in the Nike Cross Country Nationals in Portland after starting fast but wearing down over the final 1,000 meters. She focused on that experience as she saw two dozen girls pull ahead of her on Saturday at the start of the race.

Stay patient. Keep pace. Don’t go on a surge that’ll wear her out later.

It didn’t take long before she overtook the majority of the girls, and around the one-mile mark, she was behind only Michigan State commit Rachel Forsyth, who finished her first mile in 5:00.

“I tried to focus on not doing too many hard surges because sometimes it’s really hard for me to recover from those. So I let myself just slowly creep up to her,” Leachman said. “When she made those surges to try to pass me back, I just let her do it until she was tired enough out that I could kind of go and take it.”

The strategy paid off, as Leachman crossed the finish line without a competitor in sight. She finished 13.8 seconds ahead of the second-place Allie Zealand and 17.6 seconds ahead of Forsyth.

It was a remarkable finish, not only because of Leachman’s age, but because just a year ago, she was dealing with hip and hamstring issues, including tendonitis and bursitis. With cross-training activities like elliptical machines and aqua-jogs, as well as joining her school swim team and a club swim team, she regained form in a blazing-fast period of time.

She ran with support from her friends and family and wrote Jeremiah 29:11 on her arm to remind her of the plan set before her.

“Having them behind me helps me know that I’m not defined by my running, but it also gives me the power and the ability to go run for a greater purpose,” Leachman said.

While Leachman won as a sophomore, boys champion Griffith didn’t start competing in high school cross country until he was a sophomore.

He was the top runner on the seventh grade team in junior high, but a growth spurt in eighth grade caused knee pains that forced him off the track until his sophomore year. Nevertheless, after swimming competitively for a decade, he had the aerobic fitness to jump right back in.

Griffith needed all that strength this year as a group of runners worked to catch up to leader Ty Steorts in the second half of the race. On the final hill, a group of five boys clustered with the chance for a single runner to pull away.

“I just saw the guys kind of start to stutter up the top of the hill. That was when I was like, ‘Alright, these guys are fading, I’m ready to make my move,’” Griffith said. “I just knew that all these guys were hurting as much as I am. On the hill, I knew maybe I’m feeling a little bit better than these guys, and it was time to go.” 

Griffith felt himself cramping but surged forward, guiding himself with the experience on the hill he gained last year when he competed in this championship race as a junior.

He pulled ahead of the group alongside Berkley Nance, who challenged Griffith as the finish line approached. A little more than 500 meters out, Nance fell back, and Griffith pulled ahead, beating second-place finisher Ryan Pajak by 5.2 seconds and Tamrat Gavenas by 9.7 seconds. Nance finished fourth and Steorts sixth, sandwiching fifth-place finisher Brayden Marshall.

Griffith is committed to run at Notre Dame. He credited the coach and the team for creating an environment that felt like home when he visited.

Until then, he has a few more months to finish high school as the Foot Locker Boys National Champion.

“I’m super pumped to come here and perform at the highest stage, and to be able to come away with the win is just the greatest feeling ever,” Griffith said.

Stanford commit Irene Riggs named Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year

After winning the Nike nationals and inserting her name into the record book with the second-fastest 5K time for a prep girl, Irene Riggs has been named the Gatorade National Girls XC Player of the Year.

After being named the Gatorade West Virginia Cross Country Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior, Irene Riggs capped her high school career not just with the state distinction but that of the country.

On Wednesday, Riggs was named the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year.

Courtesy of Gatorade

The Morgantown High School (W.V.) senior dominated the track this season, winning the Nike Cross Nationals championship with a time of 16:40.9, which was the second-fastest time run at Glendoveer Golf Course. She also won an individual Group 3A championship and helped her team win the state title.

She etched her name into the record books at the Team Southeast Regional in November, recording the second-fastest 5K time in girls cross country history with a time of 16:02.1. To further put that time in perspective, only five times had a girls cross country runner reached even 16:20.0 in a 5K, according to MileSplit. Riggs’ time was 20 seconds faster than the WakeMed record, which was previously held by three-time Gatorade National Player of the Year Katelyn Tuohy.

Gatorade also takes education and community service into account when deciding the award. Riggs, the student body vice president, had a 4.22 unweighted GPA, according to Gatorade. She also has served as the social media coordinator for Mohigan Idol, a talent competition that raises money for WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.

Riggs is committed to Stanford, where she will run for the Cardinal.

Watch the full announcement video below:

Colorado runs Champs Sports XC national championships as two commits win title

The University of Colorado ran the field on Saturday with commits Karrie Baloga and Kole Mathison winning the Champs Sports National title.

The University of Colorado cross country team is feeling the holiday joy this season as a pair of future Buffaloes won the 43rd Champs Sports Cross Country National Championships on Saturday.

Cornwall Central High School (Orange County, N.Y.) senior Karrie Baloga finished the girls race with a winning time of 16:49.2, cutting 40 seconds off her time in last year’s run. On the boys side, Carmel High School (Ind.) senior Kole Mathison broke the 15-minute mark in his victory, finishing in 14:56.6.

Both used their experience running this course last year, at which time it was called the Eastbay championships, to their advantage on this run.

“It’s tough to come out here without any knowledge of it because there are some places where you can make some mistakes. To have that first year, to come out here and race at the highest level, and to learn from my mistakes made last year was definitely a big advantage coming in,” Mathison said.

Kole Mathison, PhotoRun for Champs Sports Cross Country

Mathison said he started his run last year too fast and used too much energy, causing him to slow down on the second loop. He finished in fifth place.

Baloga, who finished in fourth last year, said that in addition to knowing the course layout, the experience helped her deal with the time difference between New York and San Diego and eat better coming into the event.

Karrie Baloga, PhotoRun for Champs Sports Cross Country

She felt good from the gun on Saturday, pushing herself to the front through the first 800 meters and then pushing her pace on the first hill. She maintained her speed as challengers approached throughout the run and made another move at the bottom of the second hill.

“This wasn’t a race where I was going to be able to sit back and just work my way up,” Baloga said. “I knew that if I was to push the pace a little bit to where I felt my body was comfortable, other girls were going to struggle.”

Mathison took a different tactic based on last year’s run. He was patient before attacking and took the lead on the hill midway through the race.

“The plan was to take the lead at some point in the race and then after that, never give it back,” he said.

Mathison finished first in seven races with Carmel High School this season and placed fourth last week at the NXN Nike Cross Nationals with a time of 14:55.5. He overcame an inflamed peroneal tendon in his right foot that nagged him while training in recent weeks, an injury he said felt fine on Saturday.

Baloga tied a bow on her season that started in August at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. As the second-youngest competitor, she finished 11th in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She said that racing against older runners helped her this season.

“I was able to meet a lot of new people and get to experience racing on the world level,” she said. “That was really an eye-opening because it shows what I’m capable of.”

Each racer thanked their friends, family and coaches for their support along their journeys. Baloga’s parents raced at the University of Delaware and provided a strong support system alongside her brothers, Michael and Jack. Mathison said that having his family cheer him on was important to him.

“I thank God for all the amazing people he’s put in my life to get me to this point,” Mathison said.

Now, Colorado gets not just one but two national champions in its incoming class. Mathison pointed to the familial environment and renowned training facilities, and Baloga added that the location in Boulder and the high altitude played a role in her decision. She said that associate head coach Heather Burroughs was at the championship race, watching her future runners compete.

At the conclusion of the interview with Baloga and following a final congratulations, she paused and said she had one more thing to say. “Can you add Sko Buffs to the bottom?”

Sko Buffs.

Natalie Cook, Riley Hough win 2021 Eastbay Cross Country Championships

Oklahoma State commit Natalie Cook and Michigan State commit Riley Hough won the 2021 Eastbay National Cross Country Championships.

As Flower Mound (Texas) High School senior Natalie Cook ran the final hill of the Eastbay National Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, she heard her dad yelling toward her that competitors were closing in.

Cook had dominated her last several races, but this wasn’t just a motivational push from her father; the competitors were nearing. In retrospect, Cook had been too aggressive on the first hill and was feeling the effects now.

She pushed herself forward and won with a time of 17:15.0, beating second-place finisher Angelina Perez by almost five seconds and ending her high school career at the top of the prestigious national race.

“I just had to give all I had left in me to try to finish it. It was hard but I’m really happy on how I finished,” Cook said. “The second loop was really hard and I gave it all I had in me. I’m really happy for my last cross country race.”

Photo: Bruce Wodder @ PhotoRun.net for East Bay Cross Country

The boys winner, Hartland High School (Fenton, Mich.) senior Riley Hough, had similar issues on that hill.

“Going up it the second time was, all of us in the front were basically so tired from it, we were like crawling up the hill,” he said.

Hough had observed patiently from behind the pack before slingshotting ahead on the downhill.

“This course is hard. I wanted to see what these people were going to do, because we’re all near each other’s skill level. Anyone can do almost anything,” Hough said.

He grabbed a lead on that downhill burst and would not relinquish it, winning with a time of 15:11.4.

Photo: Bruce Wodder @ PhotoRun.net for East Bay Cross Country

This ties a bow on a pair of dominant seasons from Hough and Cook. Hough won 15 5Ks with Hartland, a stretch that included a personal record of 14:37.1 in the Portage Cross Country Invitational in October.

He is now headed to Michigan State. Hough said that even after he narrowed down his top two schools to in-state MSU and Michigan, the choice was extremely difficult to make.

“It basically just came down to which team I liked more,” he said. “I ended up liking Michigan State a little more, I blended in with them a little more.”

Cook’s finish was a proclamation of her return from a navicular stress fracture in her foot. The injury cost her a year of running after her sophomore season, according to the Dallas News, but she bounced back this season by winning six of the seven 5Ks she participated in, including one in each of these last three weekends. Just one week before the Eastbay Championships, she set a personal record of 16:04.0.

Cook, who became the first Texas girls runner to win the national title, is Oklahoma State-bound.

“They’re building a great team and I love Coach Dave (Smith) and Coach Anna (Boyert-Thorp) so much,” Cook said. “They want to win nationals and I want to be a part of it.”

Here are the top 10 finishers for the boys and girls races:

Girls Eastbay Championship Results

  1. Natalie Cook, 17:15.0
  2. Angelina Perez, 17.19.7
  3. Jenna Mulhern, 17:20.8
  4. Karrie Baloga, 17:29.1
  5. Riley Stewart, 17:30.3
  6. Kate Peters, 17:34.0
  7. Sophia Kennedy: 17:34.7
  8. Mia Cochran: 17:35.1
  9. Sophia Nordenholz, 17:36.7
  10. Caroline Wells, 17:38.4

Full results here.

Boys Eastbay Championship Results

  1. Riley Hough, 15:11.4
  2. Kenan Pala, 15:14.8
  3. Gavin Sherry, 15:17.3
  4. Zane Bergen, 15:20.2
  5. Kole Mathison, 15:22.3
  6. Tyrone Gorze, 15:26.4
  7. Shane Brosnan, 15:27.9
  8. Izaiah Steury, 15:27.9
  9. Marco Langon, 15:28.1
  10. Emmanuel Sgouros, 15:29.4

Full results here.

USA TODAY High School Sports Awards: Atlanta girls cross country finalists

USA TODAY High School Sports Awards reveals its nominees for Atlanta Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. The event is May 11, 2020.

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards are coming to Atlanta.

On May 11, 2020, top high school athletes from around the Atlanta area will be honored at Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Here are the eight finalists for Atlanta Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

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Sarah Burwell, Walton (Photo: Walter Shaffer)

Sarah Burwell

School: Walton 
Year
: Junior
Noteworthy: After running 20:04 to finish second at the Darlington Cross Country Festival, Burwell bounded into the state meet and came in fourth at 19:31.4.

Madelynne Cadeau, South Forsyth (Photo: David McGregor)

Madelynne Cadeau

School: South Forsyth
Year
: Senior
Noteworthy: Twice a winner in the fall – Darlington Cross Country Festival (19:26.9) and GHSA State Championship (18:46.4) – Cadeau proved to be one of the most consistent runners on any course.

Erin Fegans, Landmark Christian (Photo: Dan McCauley)

Erin Fegans

School: Landmark Christian
Year
: Senior
Noteworthy: At the Alexander Asics Invitational, Fegans ran her PR of 17:40. Her most important race was her 19:11.83 run for the Class 1A Private state championship.

Hannah Miniutti, Blessed Trinity (Photo: Craig Wade)

Hannah Miniutti

School: Blessed Trinity
Year
: Junior
Noteworthy: No one had a better close to the season as Miniutti won her last three meets: region 7 (19:21.4), Class 4A state championship (18:51.49) and the Meet of Champions (18:03.1).

June Mwaniki, Marietta (Photo: Matt McNeil)

June Mwaniki

School: Marietta
Year
: Senior
Noteworthy: The Blue Devil clocked in at 19:15.49 to claim second place in the GHSA Class 7A state championship concluded her in-state runs with an 18:34.5 at the Meet of Champions.

Kelly Ann Sutterfield, Blessed Trinity (Photo: Craig Wade)

Kelly Ann Sutterfield

School: Blessed Trinity
Year
: Sophomore
Noteworthy: She was the second part of Blessed Trinity’s 1-2 punch in the state meet. Her PR of 18:57.90 put her six seconds behind teammate Hannah Miniutti, who won the Class 4A state meet.

McKenna Trapheagan, Woodland (Photo: Paul Vaupel)

McKenna Trapheagan

School: Woodland
Year
: Senior
Noteworthy: Trapheagen defended her Class 5A individual state title by finishing 40 seconds faster than she did in the 2018 state meet and more than 28 seconds ahead of the runner-up this time around the Carrolton course. She is on pace to be the valedictorian of her graduating class.

Morgan Vaden, St. Pius X (Photo: Rich von Biberstein / https://richvonb.smugmug.com)

Morgan Vaden

School: St. Pius X
Year
: Senior
Noteworthy: Vaden raced out early in the season to finish second (17:56.7) at Wingfoot XC Classic and closed out strong with a fourth-place finish in Class 4A in the GHSA meet.

For more information on the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards event in Atlanta, visit sportsawardsatlanta.com. Answers to frequently asked questions about the event can be found here.