2019 Sophia Dudek Ann Arbor, MI 16:45.0 Josh Methner Mount Prospect, IL 15:08.0
In the girls’ 5K race, Sofia Dudek of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Marlee Starliper of Wellsville,
Pennsylvania, battled side-by-side until with just 300 meters to go Dudek dug deep and found the
strength for one final surge to pull away and claim the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship,
winning in a time of 16:45.0 – the fifth-fastest girls’ time ever at the National Finals. Starliper was just one
second back in the runner up spot, and sophomore Abby Vanderkooi came across in third place in
16:55—first time in meet history three girls have broken 17:00 minutes in the same race.
In the boys’ 5K race, senior Josh Methner of Mount Prospect, Illinois, capped off a dream season by
unleashing a brazen move at the half way point in the race, daring a stellar field to try to go with him. No
one could! From that point it seemed as Methner only got stronger, continuing to pull away from the
competition to claim a 15:08 victory.
2018 Sydney Masciarelli Northbridge, MA 17:00.3 Cole Hocker Indianapolis IN 15:13.7
Masciarelli, a sophomore competing in her first year of cross country, bided her time until the
closing uphill and downhill stretch to edge Hart, who had controlled the race from shortly after
the half-mile mark until the final few strides. Hart opened up her biggest lead going up the
course’s hill the first time, cruising past the mile mark in 5:13. This initial surge broke up the lead
pack with only Masciarelli and Taylor Ewert of Beavercreek, Ohio, staying in striking distance of
Hart halfway through the race. Hart continued to lead at the two-mile mark cruising through a
split of 10:50 with Masciarelli still lurking five seconds behind and freshman Abby VanderKooi of
Fremont, Mich., moving into contention.
The last mile turned into a classic two-girl duel, one that included multiple lead changes in the
final 200 meters until Masciarelli ultimately prevailed at the tape. Hart’s runner-up finish
(17:01.0) replicated her last year’s placing at FLCCC National Finals. Freshman VanderKooi
came in third (17:14.0), Ewert in fourth (17:20.1) and Emily Covert of Minneapolis in fifth
(17:29.6).
In a boys’ race, which featured juniors and seniors only, Hocker controlled the early pace then
exchanged front-running duties with Josh Methner of Mount Prospect, Ill., until well past the two-
mile mark. It was anyone’s race at the two-mile mark, with a pack of 13 runners, until Hocker
and a determined Renfree turned the event into a two-runner battle.
In the end, Hocker finished first (15:13.17), followed by Renfree in second (15:19.5) and
Graydon Morris of Aledo, Texas, in third (15:25.1). Last year, Morris finished second and
Renfree finished fifth at National Finals. Rounding out the top five were Carter Solomon of
Canton, Mich. in fourth (15:25.3) and Drew Bosley of Thiensville, Wis. in fifth (15:25.4).
Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2017 Claudia Lane Malibu, CA 17:03.4 Dylan Jacobs Orland Park, IL 15:19.7
For a boys’ race that featured multiple surges and many lead changes, things started somewhat conservatively. With no clear cut favorite, no one wanted to take the lead early. The first mile was paced by a large group of runners at 4:55 before West Regional Champion Kashon Harrison took the lead and made a move to separate from the pack. Northeast Regional Champion Tristan Shelgren took the lead on the downhill with Dalton Hengst making a move at the bottom of the hill to take the lead. Dylan Jacobs, the top returner from the 2016 Championship took the lead at the halfway point and was joined by Midwest Champion Danny Kilrea. Jacobs and Kilrea, who had the better of Jacobs during the regular cross country season, separated from the field heading into the two mile mark, crossing at 9:48. The two exchanged lead changes before Jacobs made a big move to separate heading up the hill the second time. With one half mile to go, Jacobs pounded to a bigger lead and opened up an eight second gap with 400m to go. Meanwhile South runners John Tatter and Graydon Morris challenged Danny Kilrea for the second spot. Dylan Jacobs crossed the line in 15:19.7 to become the second Foot Locker National Champion from Carl Sandburg High School (2009 and 2010 champ Lukas Verzbicas was the other). Morris took second in 15:23.3 but Kilrea (15:27.3) was able to edge out Tatter (15:27.9) for third.
Returning champion Claudia Lane had the course record on her mind when she pushed a hard pace at the start of the girls’ race and ran away from a deep and talented field. She opened a 100 meter lead by the 1000 meter mark in the race and passed the mile mark in 5:17. By that time she had a 13 second advantage over the rest of the field which was led by Northeast Regional Champion Marlee Starliper and Midwest Regional Champion Olivia Theis. Katelynne Hart was also in that mix of fifteen girls at the front of the chase pack. It was a two girl race with 2017 Lane competing against 2016 Lane as she looked to better her previous time and challenge the course record. Starliper, Theis and Hart continued to lead the second group at the halfway point. Lane had opened a 15 second lead by the two mile mark where Theis and Hart began to separate from Starliper. In the end, 2017 Lane beat 2016 Lane by 1.4 seconds to win in 17:03.4. There was a great race for second place as Hart (17:22.5) outkicked Theis (17:22.6) for second place.
Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2016 Claudia Lane 17:04 Reed Brown 15:01
In the boys' race, two-time FLCCC national qualifier Seth Hirsch went out aggressively and continued to pick up the pace, cruising through the mile with a 4:46 split. Reed Brown took his first lead sprinting down the big hill on his way to the halfway point in the race. At the two-mile mark with a 9:44 split, Hirsch and Finn Gessner were side by side with Brown maintaining pace. From there, the trio of Brown, Gessner and Hirsch jockeyed for the lead, but it was Brown's strength on the downhill that brought him victory.
In the girls’ race, Claudia Lane won a gun to tape victory in 17:05. Lane, a first-time FLCCC qualifier took an early lead and strode through the first mile in 5:18. Midwest champ Anne Forsyth was with Lane in the early stages and Nevada Moreno joined the duo in the second mile. Mareno caught Lane on the uphill halfway in the third mile, but Lane responded on the steep downhill to pull away to the finish line.
Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2015 Weini Kelati 17:09 Andrew Hunter 14:55
In the boys' race, Drew Hunter of Purcellville, Va. went out aggressively and continued to pick up the pace after a mile split of 4:32. At the halfway mark, Hunter secured a commanding 15- second edge over Phillip Rocha (Azusa, Calif.) and Ben Veatch (Carmel, Ind.). Hunter never relinquished the lead, but the race for runner-up provided added excitement down the stretch where Rocha out-sprinted Veatch. Rocha placed second in 15:08 and Veatch finished third in 15:10.
In the girls' race, Weini Kelati of Leesburg, Va., a two-time FLCCC national qualifier, took an early lead, cruising to a mile split of 5:13. Maryjeanne Gilbert (Peoria, Ill.) closed the gap and took a brief lead prior to the midway point. Kelati reclaimed the lead quickly, while Nevada Mareno (Leesville, N.C.) and Judy Pendergast (Naperville, Ill.) joined the lead pair. Kelati and Gilbert pulled away in the final stretch with Gilbert finishing second (17:11), Mareno in third (17:18) and Pendergast in fourth (17:20).
Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
The boys' race came down to the last 100 meters when Grant Fisher surged past Johnathan Dressel to win by just three seconds. In what was a back-and-forth affair, the race featured a large group that had modest one and two mile splits of of 4:53 and 9:53. Dressel took the lead at about the 3K mark with Fisher eclipsing him at the bottom of the hill. Dressel fought back and regained the lead with 150m to go. In the girls' race it was all Tessa Barrett after the mile mark. Barrett pushed hard after the mile and no one in the field could stay with her. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2012 Anna Rohrer 17:25 Ed Cheserek 14:59
The boys. race was dominated by a group of runners that included all four regional champions, Edward Cheserek, Sean McGorty, Jake Leingang and Ben Saarel. McGorty led for most of the race until Cheserek made his move when the group reached the hill the second time. He pulled away to repeat as National Champion. In the girls race, the West Champ, Marissa Williams set a fast pace at the start to gain an early lead. After falling down while going around a turn at the 400m mark, Anna Rohrer recovered to join the lead group. The lead group stayed together until the 2 mile mark (11:10) where Rohrer made her move to take the lead and ultimately the title of National Champion. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2011 Molly Seidel 17:22 Edward Cheserek 14:52
2011 Featured two of the most exciting races in the history of the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships as Molly Seidel came from behind in the last half of the race to hold off a battling Erin Finn. In the boys' race, Futsum Zeinesallassie and eventual winner Edward Cheseret traded lead changes throughout the race. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2010 Aisling Cuffe 16:53 Lukas Verzbicas 14:59
In the girls' race, Cuffe, a three-time FLCCC National Finalist and senior at Cornwall Central High School, dominated from the start and powered through the field. Cuffe took an early lead, pushed the pace and opened the gap even further to capture the title in 16:53. Rachel Johnson of Plano, Texas, placed second in 17:27, and Julie Nacouzi of Santa Rosa, Calif., finished third in 17:29. Johnson, a senior at Plano High School and Nacouzi, a senior at Montgomery High School, are two-time FLCCC National Finalists.
In the boys' race, a large chase group of runners led by defending FLCCC National Champion Lukas Verzbicas and Futsum Zeinasellassie of Indianapolis, Ind., set a hard, fast pace hitting the mile-mark in 4:45. The two runners started pulling away from the field coming off the hill and ran neck-and-neck heading toward the two-mile mark, at which point Verzbicas began to push the pace. Zeinasellassie tried to answer the surge, but Verzbicas continued to open the gap to become the FLCCC National Champion for the second consecutive year in 14:59. Verzbicas is the third male runner to capture two consecutive FLCCC National titles in the history of the race (Abdirizak Mohamud '96 & '97; Dathan Ritzenhein '99 & 2000). Zeinasellassie placed second in 15:10, with Tony Smoragiewicz of Rapid City, S.D., finishing third in 15:16. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
In the boys' race, the excitement was intense as it came down to the final seconds between Hall, a senior at Big Bear High School and Steve Murdock of Clifton Park, N.Y. The race opened up with the entire field staying together and several of the top finishers vying for the lead. Northeast Regional Champion Craig Forys of Howell, N.J., took an early lead on the hill just after the first mile, but the pack quickly reconvened on the downhill. Staying together through the halfway point, Murdock attempted a move by breaking away two meters from the pack, but again, the group came back together and continued to battle for the win. In an exciting finish, Hall and Murdock were neck-and-neck through the last 400 meters, until Hall managed to pull away in the final stretch to claim victory in 15:20. Forys pushed it through the final 30 meters to pass Murdock for the second place finish in a time of 15:24. Murdock finished third, just one second behind Forys with a time of 15:25.
The girls' race began with a large group of 20 runners holding close through the first mile. Four-time FLCCC National Finals qualifier Marie Lawrence of Reno, Nev., made a move after the first mile and the rest of the field gave chase. The lead group became more defined through the second mile when Kroeger and Aurora Scott of Chesapeake, Va., set the pace. Kroeger opened up a lead with half a mile remaining and increased her distance from the pack to about 30 meters, finishing in 17:29 to become the South Region's first female national champion since Erin Keogh in 1986. Scott, who pressured Kroeger through the second half of the race, finished second with a time of 17:36, while Emily Sisson of Omaha, Neb., finished third in 17:56. Scott (South) and Sisson (Midwest) are both 2006 FLCCC Regional Champions. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2005 Jordan Hasay 17:05 AJ Acosta 15:02
The boys' race started out fast and hard with a pack of five runners leading the field. AJ Acosta, a senior at El Camino High School, started to pull ahead with a small group at the 400-meter mark. The boys continued their fierce pace hitting the mile mark in 4:33, with Acosta in the lead until Michael Coe of Lompoc, Calif., moved into second place behind Acosta at the halfway point. Ryan Craven, a senior at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Ill., came out of nowhere surgj11g ahead of the chase pack to get behind Coe and Acosta. With 300 meters remaining in the race, Coe started his last kick towards the finish line closing the small gap between him and Acosta. Acosta, cheered on by his hometown crowd, made his final push to take home the Championship title in 15:02, with Coe just behind him. Ryan Craven finished third with a time of 15:12.
The girls' race started with a fast pace set by 2004 FLCCC National Champion Aislinn Ryan attempting to defend her title by taking an early lead ahead of the field. West Regional runner-up Marie Lawrence of Reno, Nev., led the chase pack of girls behind Ryan, who maintained her lead until West Regional Champion Jordan Hasay and three-time FLCCC National Qualifier Lawrence caught up with her at the 1.5- mile mark. Hasay, a freshman at Mission College Prep., broke away from the pack taking the lead as she approached the two-mile mark in 11 :03. Hasay held tight, never relinquishing her lead and went on to become the second female fresh- man in the race's history to take home the FLCCC National title. Hasay finished in 17:05, an amazing 14 seconds ahead of the second place finisher Lawrence, who finished in 17:19. Ryan finished third with a time of 17:36. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2004 Aislinn Ryan 17:31 Kenneth Cormier 15:22
There was no clear front runner in the boys race, with a large pack thundering together through much of the course. Towards the end of the race, Andrew Bumbalough and John McGuire moved to the front and were stride-for- stride, chased by the group. Ken Cormier then appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, to become a player in the constant exchange for lead of this exciting race, that was determined in the final stretch. In the final 200-meter stretch, Cormier moved into the lead, just managing to hold off Bumbalough for the win in 15:22. Bumbalough placed second in 15:24, and Mark Matusak (Torrance, Calif.) placed third in 15:26, pulling ahead of McGuire who placed fourth in 15:27.
The girls course was dominated by a pack of four runners who battled for the lead throughout the race. Aislinn Ryan of Bellvale, N.V., Midwest Regional Champion Ramsey Kavan of Vankton, S.D., West Regional Champion Marie Lawrence of Reno, Nev., and Zoe Nelson of Kalispell, Mont., were at each other's heels from the beginning. At the two- mile point, Aislinn Ryan pulled ahead to gain about a seven- to-eight meter lead over the group. Ryan, who had placed second in the Notheast Regionals, increased her position over the remainder of the course, stretching it out for the win in 17:31. Lawrence, who chased Ryan over the last mile, placed second in 17:39, Kavan placed third in 17:47 and Nelson ended up placing eighth in 18:09. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2003 Katelyn Kaltenbach 17:24 Matthew Withrow 14:55
The boys. race began with an extremely fast pace. hitting 800 meters in 2:15. A string of 12 runners led the field. including Withrow. Galen Rupp of Portland, Ore.. and Shadrack Kiptoo of Albuquerque. N.M. Rupp and Kiptoo were the clear frontrunners. with the lead constantly exchanging hands. Passing two-miles in 9:39. Withrow made a huge move, flying to the front. Rupp and Kiptoo answered by pulling ahead, battling each other for the lead. With only 300 meters remaining, Withrow again made a tremendous kick, claiming a five meter lead and placing first in 14:55. Rupp, a senior at Central Catholic High School, inched ahead of Kiptoo. to place second in 14:57. Kiptoo, a senior at La Cueva High School, was third in 14:58.
This exciting girls race also started with a fast pace, dominated by a pack of 8 runners. With,a quarter-mile left in the race, Marie Lawrence of Reno High School, pulled ahead to claim the lead. At the last 100 meters, Midwest Regional Champion Katelyn Kaltenbach made her move forward until she and Lawrence were side-by-side. Lawrence then flew ahead to claim a 10-meter lead, until the final stretch, when Kaltenbach surged past her to claim the first place position in 17:24. Lawrence, a freshman at Reno High School, took second in 17:25 and Barringer, a junior at Oviedo High School, placed third in 17:35. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2002 Zoe Nelson 17:30 Chris Solinsky 14:40
Ail pack of runners from the Midwest led the boys' race until the two-mile mark, when Chris Solinsky made his move for a substantial lead. Solinsky, the Midwest Regional champion, set a personal record by winning the race in 14:41. He finished the race 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, tying the greatest margin of victory for the boys race established by Oathan Ritzenhein in 2000.
West Regional Champion Zoe Nelson dominated the girls race from the start, followed by a pack of runners from the Northeast Region. At the two- mile mark, she cemented her first place position with a five-second lead, continuing to break away from the field for a victory in 17:30. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2001 Amber Trotter 16:24 Timothy Moore 14:50
A tight pack of runners took control of the boys' race, with the lead exchanging hands many times. In a close finish, Midwest Regional champion Timothy Moore was neck-and-neck with South Regional champion Bobby Lockhart until the final 10 minutes when Moore stretched it out for the win in 14:50. West Regional champion Amber Trotter dominated the course from the start, setting a hard and fast pace. With a 40-second lead at the finish, Trotter won the race in 16:24, shattering the course record by 31 seconds. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
2000 Sara Bei 16:55 Dathan Ritzenhein 14:35
In the boys race, defending champion Dathan Ritzenhein, a senior from Rockford High School, claimed the lead at the one-mile mark and held it for a victory finish of 14:35. His time was 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, the largest margin win in the history of the National Finals. The girls race was dominated by a pack of runners from the West region, with Anita Siraki of Glendale, CA taking the lead halfway through. Sara Bei, a senior from Santa Rosa, CA, was in last place until the mile mark, where she turned up the heat on the other runners and caught up with Siraki. They went head-to-head in the final meters when Bei pushed into first place, finishing in 16:55 and breaking the course record by 10 seconds. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1999 Victoria Chang 17:05 Dathan Ritzenhein 14:29
The boys race was dominated by a close, tight pack until Midwest Regional champion Dathan Ritzenhein, a junior at Rockford High School, broke away in the last half-mile to win the race in 14:29, breaking the course record by 47 seconds. In an unprecedented finish, the top 16 boys in the race beat the course record of 15:16.4 held by 1998 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National champion Jorge Torres of Wheeling, IL. In the girls race, the competition was fierce with the lead changing hands several times throughout the race. Victoria Chang of Honolulu, HI claimed the lead with only 400 meters remaining and went on to win the race in 17:05, 17 seconds faster than the course record which was held by 1998 National champion Erin Sullivan of Jericho, VT. Complete Girls Results
1998 Erin Sullivan 17:35 Jorge Torres 15:17
The boys race was dominated by a tight group of runners until the two-mile mark where Jorge Torres broke away from the pack and went on to win the Championship, setting a new course record. In the 20-year history of the race, Torres became the first boys four-time National qualifier. In the girls race, a close group of runners set a hard and fast pace with the lead changing hands several times up until the 1.5-mile mark where Sullivan took the lead and captured her second consecutive National title. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1997 Erin Sullivan 17:22 Abdirizak Mohamud 15:22
For only the third time in the 19-year history of the race, the National Finals were held in Orlando, FL. Despite the constant downpour of rain, Abdirizak Mohamud returned to defend his National title and become the first boys champion to win two consecutive titles. In a wide open and rain-soaked field, Erin Sullivan, a junior from Vermont, turned skeptics into believers by running hard out of the starting area and claiming the lead early on to become the '97 National champion. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1996 Kristen Gordon 17:34 Abdirizak Mohamud 15:21
In the boys race, the field was wide open with no clear-cut favorite. A tight pack of runners ran together with the lead changing throughout the race. Abdirizak Mohamud took the lead with 75 meters remaining to become the first underclassman to win the coveted National title. In one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the race, Kristen Gordon passed '94 Foot Locker National champion Julia Stamps when Stamps collapsed just 15 meters from the finish line. Gordon, the West Regional champion, chased down Stamps after her large lead diminished over the last half-mile. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1995 Kim Mortensen 17:12 Abdul Alzindani 15:12
Upsets were the name of the game. In the boys race, pre-race favorite Sharif Karie was caught with 100 meters remaining by the strong finishing kick of Abdul Alzindani. Defending champion Julia Stamps brought an unblemished record to Balboa Park, having never lost at the high school level. After equaling her course record in the West Regional, there didn’t appear to be anybody to challenge her for the National title. Suffering from a head cold, Julia collapsed at the 2.5-mile mark and Kim Mortensen charged to the finish line to capture the National title. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1994 Julia Stamps 16:41 Matt Downin 14:58
Breaking away from the pack, the long-time rivalry of friends Matt Downin and John Mortimer climaxed on a glorious day at Balboa Park. The pair dueled toe-to-toe until the three-mile mark, when Matt left no doubt that this course was to be his domain for the day. Right from the sound of the gun, sophomore sensation Julia Stamps showed the entire field that her course record at the West Regional was no fluke and her top billing was worth every stride. Julia, with her shattering speed, missed the long-standing course record by a mere 2.6 seconds. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1993 Erin Davis 17:11 Adam Goucher 14:41
In the boys race, Adam Goucher of Colorado Springs grabbed the National title in his third trip to San Diego. His time of 14:41.7 was just five seconds off the course record. Erin Davis became the first freshman champion in the 15-year history of the race, as she kicked past Melissa Lucas with 150 meters remaining. Previously, the youngest champion had been a junior. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1992 Amanda White 17:34 Brendan Heffernan 15:13
Brendan Heffernan held off a pack from the Midwest Region and state rival Bob Keino to become the first male champion from the Northeast Region. Two other landmarks of the race: it was the first time ESPN dedicated a full hour of coverage, and after 14 years, the sponsorship was transferred from Kinney to Foot Locker. After previous finishers of third and second, Amanda White's goal of a national championship was challenged by local star Milena Glusac (Fallbrook High, CA). The pair dueled step-for-step until the 2.5-mile mark, when White broke contact and opened a big enough lead to hold off a late surge from Glusac. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1991 Liz Mueller 17:21 Corey Ihmels 15:03
Pre-race pundits declared the boys race a toss-up, but Corey Ihmels left no doubt as to who the dominant runner was on this day. Only the second North Dakota qualifier in 13 years, Ihmels posted a 15-second victory, the second largest margin in the boys finals. Liz Mueller and Amanda White pulled away from the pack after the first mile, jockeying the lead back and forth. Mueller opened up on the second hill, becoming the fifth junior to win since 1985. Northeast girls claimed four of the top five slots. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1990 Melody Fairchild 16:39 Louie Quintana 15:07
Louie Quintana refused to let the mid-80 degree temperature affect him, as he became the third California runner to capture the boys title in the last five years. Melody Fairchild put an authoritative stamp on one of the most impressive high school careers to date, surging to a new meet record and leaving the field 300 yards behind. Fairchild eclipsed the 9-year-old record by four seconds. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1989 Melody Fairchild 17:05 Bryan Dameworth 14:49
Bryan Dameworth, at 6.htm'3", stood head and shoulders above the competition, heading into the race as a clear-cut favorite. Once the gun went off, however, he faced serious competition from Andy Maris. Dameworth shifted gears with 1/4 mile remaining, sprinting to victory. For the second consecutive year, the girls returning champion failed to retain her title, as Melody Fairchild charged to a big lead midway through the race to capture her first National Championship. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1988 Celeste Susnis 17:14 Brian Grosso 15:03
In the boys race, three New Jersey competitors finished in the top five, but Michigan's Brian Grosso stormed by Jason DiJoseph 2 1/2 miles into the race and never looked back. The races were highlighted by national network coverage, as NBC covered the event for the first time. Celeste Susnis proved her record-setting performance at the Midwest Regional was no fluke, as she upset hometown favorite Kira Jorgensen. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1987 Kira Jorgensen 17:08 Robert Kennedy 14:59
Bob Kennedy charged out to an early lead and never allowed the pack to reel him in. Kennedy's racing success continued in college, becoming the first American frosh to capture the NCAA crown (1989). No surprises here. The vivacious Kira Jorgensen stole the spotlight. On her third of four trips to the Kinney Finals, Kira led from start to finish under sunny San Diego skies. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1986 Erin Keogh 16:55 Marc Davis 14:38
San Diego's Marc Davis, relishing the role of top dog coming in, ripped through the Balboa Park course in 14:38, less than two seconds off the course record as he defeated future Olympians Todd Williams and Bob Kennedy. Erin Keogh carved her name in the annals of cross country history, dominating the field to become the first to capture two Kinney National Championships. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1985 Erin Keogh 16:43 Reuben Reina 14:36
With first-time national coverage on ESPN, fast times were contagious. Reuben Reina journeyed in from the Lone Star state and stomped to a course record, which still stands, smashing the former mark by more than 13 seconds. Nine boys broke the 15-minute barrier - only four others had ever done so on the 5K Morley Field course. Erin Keogh held off a slew of talented runners, including future NCAA track champion Suzy Favor, finishing 1/10 of a second off the course record. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1984 Cathy Schiro 16:48 Scott Fry 14:50
Midwesterner Scott Fry handled the boys field with relative ease - including twin brothers Eric and Marc Mastalir, both of whom were two-time qualifiers. No photo finishes on this day. The talented Cathy Schiro, who went on to compete in the Olympic marathon in 1988 and 1992, was the runaway winner in the girls race. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1983 Janet Smith 16:43 Matt Giusto 14:54
Matt Giusto, the third place finisher in the Western Regional, ran away from Tracy Garrison and Simon Gutierrez in soggy conditions to score a major upset in the boys race. It was here that Janet Smith put the finishing touches on her reputation as an attacking, aggressive runner, setting a course record (16:43.7) on the San Diego course. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1982 Christine Curtin 16:58 Eric Reynolds 14:35
Florida's flat, fast course provided a meet record; Californian Eric Reynolds raced over the sand and grass to win in 14:35. Christine Curtin became the first non-senior to grab the title, as her 16:58 held off a field that included two other eventual champions. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1981 Connie Robinson 16:40 Charles Alexander 14:51
The Kinney Finals headed east! Orlando, FL was the site of the third Kinney Finals. The boys race saw the lead pack stay together until California's Harold Kuphaldt and Virginia's Charles Alexander surged with a half-mile remaining, with Alexander sprinting away over the final 150 yards. On the girls side, Connie Jo Robinson and Lois Brommer separated from the pack early to make a two-person race. Robinson was the victor, covering the flat 5000 meter course in a meet record of 16:40. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1980 Ceci Hopp 17:12 Jay Marden 14:53
A 70-degree day was to the liking of Californians Jay Marden and Jon Butler, who finished 1-2. For the KCCC's first two years, 35 runners from five regions qualified for the boys and girls races. Regional sites were New York, Georgia, Texas, Kansas and California. Ceci Hopp, a future NCAA Champion, blasted to an early lead and was never challenged, covering the old Balboa Park 5K course in 17:12. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results
1979 Ellen Lyons 17:28 Brent Steiner 15:05
The first Kinney Cross Country Championships (KCCC) National Finals was held before a relatively small crowd of curious onlookers in Balboa Park. There was no uniformity for the runners; competitors wore their own uniforms. Regional races were scattered over the calendar: Houston and New York (October), Chicago (November) and San Francisco and Atlanta (December). Brent Steiner and Ellen Lyons were the inaugural Kinney Champions. Complete Boys Results Complete Girls Results