The Top 25
Athlete
Last Year: Finals/Reg.
Returning Finals/Region
Comments
1. Bobby Nicolls, 2009
Regis Jesuit HS, CO
Foot Locker
18th/9th MW
Foot Locker
1st/2nd MW
Nicolls, who started the season with a solid win over Appel, has good range of creds as top FL Finals returnee, a 9:03 2-miler, and a 30:19 10k runner this summer. His progression has been steady.
2. Chris Schwartz, 2009
Foothill HS, CA
Foot Locker
37th /7th W
Foot Locker
5th /1st W
Although last fall ended with a tough run in San Diego, the defending Cal state champ has otherwise become a consistent runner and had the top US 3200 this past spring (8:58) among non-seniors.
3. Evan Appel, 2009
Dakota Ridge HS, CO
Foot Locker
21st/10th MW Foot Locker
2nd/3rd MW One of three 2-time FL qualifiers, Appel has known how to peak for Kenosha. With a 9:09 in track, he was solid, but not quite with some of his peers. He's motivated to take it to a new level this fall.
4. Doug Smith, 2009
Gill-St. Bernards HS, NJ
Foot Locker
DNC/15th NE
Foot Locker
DNC/1st NE
Smith has been considered the most, or close to the most talented runner in the Class of 09, but has had ups and downs on the national level and he knows it. At his best, he can beat anyone in the country.
5. Joseph Manilafasha, 2009
Denver North HS, CO
Foot Locker
22nd/7th MW
Foot Locker
3rd/1st MW After super soph XC season, Joseph didn't impress in track or XC last fall, but made it back and improved in San Diego. In track last spring, again, his PRs were down the list. But don't bet against him.
6. Steve Sulkin, 2009
York HS, IL
NXN
4th/6th MW
NXN
1st/2nd MW Sulkin appears poised to become the next great York runner. He's the top returnee in IL, as well as NXN Finals. Reports are that super workouts this summer could elevate him to this level and beyond.
7. CJ Brown, 2009
Southlake Carroll HS, TX
NTN
5th/2nd S
Foot Locker
24th/3rd S
NTN
2nd/1st S
Foot Locker
4th/1st S
CJ has played Robin to Colby Lowe's Batman at SLC, and in Texas overall, for what seems like forever. It will be fun to see how he does now. Track times not super, though he led off that 9:56 DMR at NON.
8. Wes Rickman, 2009
Falcon HS, CO
Foot Locker
DNC/17th MW
Foot Locker
DNC/5th MW
Rickman is as high as 8th on this list for 1 reason, 1 very big reason - an unlooked for 9:00.38y for 4th at NIN last winter. It was a huge breakthrough that injuries have kept him from getting close to since.
9. Zach Ornelas, 2009
Vista Ridge HS, TX
Foot Locker
DNC/39th S
Foot Locker DNC/12th S
It's a long way from 39th at FL South to 9th in the country, but Ornelas came far in the winter and spring, with solid big meet doubles and an NON steeple title. A bigger base is paying dividends.
10. Solomon Haile, 2009
Sherwood HS, MD
did not run US high school last fall
did not run US high school last fall Solomon loves the track 5k, that was clear as he swept the NIN and NON at that distance. His other track times weren't quite as fast, so will be interesting to see how he does in 1st US XC season.
11. Thomas Porter, 2009
Mountain View HS, VA
Foot Locker
40th/8th S
Foot Locker
6th/2nd S
He hasn't dazzled in San Diego, nor really torn it up on the track, but it's hard to discount a 2-time FL Finalist. He's really shown up at McAlpine the last two years - can he make it closer to the top now?
12. Brett Johnson, 2009
Ocean City HS, NJ
Foot Locker
DNC/25th NE
Foot Locker
DNC/3rd NE
After a great breakout spring that produced a 4:08.51y PR, it's easy for non-New Jersey fans to forget that a miler like Johnson also did pretty well in XC last fall and is the #3 FL NE returnee.
13. Drew Shields, 2009
Fishers HS, IN
NTN
DNC/4th MW
Foot Locker
DNC/16th MW
NTN
DNC/1st MW
Foot Locker
DNC/4th MW
The 4:09.64 mile Shields finished up with last spring should propel him nicely into this echelon of runners. Will have to decide if he wants to try the NXN/Foot Locker double again.
14. Trevor Dunbar, 2009
Kodiak HS, AK
NTN
DNC/3rd NW
Foot Locker
DNC/52nd W NTN
DNC/2nd NW
Foot Locker
DNC/16th W Dunbar's otherwise great junior XC season ended with a 52nd at FL West. But he confirmed his talent with 9:06.41 at Golden West and should be ready to do damage at a national XC meet this fall.
15. Robby Andrews, 2009
Manalapan HS, NJ
DNC/DNC
DNC/DNC
Of all the great NJ runners this fall, this 800/1600 star is the top returnee from the NJ MOC - beating Johnson, Udland, Molke, etc. Will he decide to take his season beyond that point this time?
16. Tyler Udland, 2010
Millburn HS, NJ
Foot Locker
DNC/4th NE
(soph race)
Foot Locker
DNC/14th NE
(overall)
Udland was 26th at NJ MOC as a soph last fall and 4th in FL NE soph race ... then he leads NJ's stunning youth movement with 9:04.80 to win MOC in track, the nation's best soph 3200. Sky's the limit.
17. Graham Bazell, 2009
Atholton HS, MD
Foot Locker
DNC/114th NE Foot Locker DNC/35th NE
Bazell's way more talented than his FL NE finish would indicate - like 9:04.55y (MWD Gala) talent. Reportedly has asthma problems in cold, though, hurting late fall efforts. 9:13 3200 runner as soph.
18. Dominick Robinson, 2009
Campbell County HS, WY
NXN
DNC/3rd HL
NXN
DNC/2nd HL
Robinson's kind of flown under the radar, but won't be able to much longer after 9:07.79 3200 PR at Golden West. Went NXN route last fall as individual with 3rd in Heartland race.
19. Reed Conner, 2009
The Woodlands HS, TX
NXN
24th/DNC S
NXN
11th/DNC S
If Conner gets a long string of healthy training, watch out. His 24th at NXN last fall was with little training after issues sidelined him at the region meet. 9:08 3200 in spring showed more of potential.
20. Joash Osoro, 2009
Bismarck HS, ND
NXN
DNC/1st HL
Foot Locker
DNC/18th MW
NXN
DNC/1st HL
Foot Locker
DNC/6th MW
Though his track times were not nationally impressive, Osoro has gone far to prove XC chops already, with NXN Heartland win last fall and solid follow-up at FL Midwest. Ready for next level.
21. David Wilson, 2009
Brookline HS, MA
NXN
7th/3rd NE
NXN
3rd/1st NE
After an amazing fall 07 that saw him backup top teammate Robert Gibson and finally surpass him with his 7th at NXN, Wilson had to fight injuries in track. If healthy, he goes to near top of NE heap.
22. Donny Roys, 2009
Medina HS, OH
NXN
10th/21st MW
NXN
4th/13th MW
Roys followed a disappointing 21st in NTN MW last fall with a super 10th at the Finals. A fall at state capped a less-than-hoped-for track season, but a fast start this fall has him near top of MW contenders.
23. Robert Molke, 2009
Don Bosco HS, NJ
NXN
21st/6th NE
NXN
8th/2nd NE
After leading his Don Bosco teammates to their breakout NTN bid, Molke showed his track talent in the spring with a 9:10 3200. He's right in the thick of top group in one of deepest states in US.
24. Elliot Jantzer, 2009
Phoenix HS, OR
Foot Locker
DNC/18th W
Foot Locker
DNC/2nd W
18th at FL West last fall, Jantzer enter's his senior year as #2 returnee from that region. Solid track season yielded 8:39 3k performance. Had best time overall at OR state meet last fall out of 4A.
25. Bryan Tibaduiza, 2009
Galena HS, NV
NXN
DNC/4th SW
Foot Locker
DNC/22nd W
NXN
DNC/1st SW
Foot Locker
DNC/4th W
Tibaduiza set new standards for excellence in Nevada last fall and competed well in both NXN and Foot Locker West. A fast start already this fall should have him thinking national contention.