Foot Locker Cross Country Championships

The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships are a series of annual cross country running

Cross country running

Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...

races held in various regions of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

to determine the premier cross country runner in various age groups, but mainly serves to find the best prep (high school) cross country athlete in the country. The FLCCC were previously known as the Kinney Cross Country Championships, which was started by Woolworth

F. W. Woolworth Company

The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...

's Kinney Shoes division in 1979 in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. Finally in 1993, this elite series of cross country races became known as the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, as it still is today, for Woolworth's sporting goods company. For most people associated with the sport, the name is just shortened to Foot Locker or even abbreviated in agate results as FL.

Regional championships

Annually there are a total of four regional championship races (usually in late November), that lead up to the national championship in San Diego.

Northeast Regional

The Northeast Region comprises most of the states in New England (MA, CT, NH, ME, RI, and VT) plus PA, NY, MD, DE, NJ, and the District of Columbia. After being held at Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park is a park located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the fourth largest park in New York City, behind Pelham Bay Park, Flushing Meadows Park and Staten Island Greenbelt....

in the Bronx, New York for its first 30 years, in 2009 it moved to Sunken Meadow State Park

Sunken Meadow State Park

Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park and Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park Beach are located in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York in the USA on the North Shore of Long Island...

in Kings Park, Long Island.

Midwest Regional

The Midwest Region comprises the heartland states and is by far the largest region in the FLCCC series, which has states including: MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL, CO, KS, OH, IN, MO, MI. This event is held at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside yearly.

South Regional

The South Region is made up of states in the southern and southeastern United States including: FL, TX, KY, SC, NC, AL, GA, OK, TN, VA, AR, WV, LA. The South Region event is held at McAlpine Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina annually.

West Regional

The West Region is considered by many to be the most potent region with the most runners appearing in the national championship. States included in the west: CA, WA, UT, ID, AZ, NM, NV, AK, HI, OR, WY, and Overseas Military. This regional race is generally conducted at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California and is generally a week later than the other three regional races.

National Championship

The Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship is held annually in San Diego's Balboa Park (though it has been held in Orlando, Florida on 7 occasions), just as it started in 1979. A total of 40 elite cross country runners race 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), for superiority in both individual and regional standings. The top ten runners from each region are invited to the national championship in San Diego, with each region also sending two alternates. From 1981-2004, the race had 32 runners, with each region sending 8. In 1979-1980, there were 35 runners from 5 regions.

Race divisions

The number of divisions vastly differs on the region, however there are races set aside for specific age groups and one or two open events sponsored by Nike for athletes not in high school (parents, fans, supporters) to compete in.

Common regional divisions

Seeded Girls
Seeded Boys
Freshman Girls
Freshman Boys
Sophomore Girls
Sophomore Boys
Junior Girls
Junior Boys
Senior Girls

Additional regional divisions

The West Regional contains the following additional divisions:

7th and 8th grade

The South Regional contains the following additional divisions:

Nike Masters for both men and women
Ages 10 and under
Ages 11 and 12
Ages 13 and 14

Courses

The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, then referred to as the Kinney Cross Country Championships started off as a small event in San Diego, California in 1979. The races moved to Orlando for the 1981 and 1982 national championships, but quickly was moved back to Balboa Park in San Diego in 1983. Additional races run in Orlando were held in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

Orlando, Florida

The Orlando course was extremely flat, but deceivingly slow in terms of runners' times. Patches of grass and sand were scattered throughout the flat, 5,000m course.

All-Time Orlando Kinney/FL Cross Country Championships Record -- Boys: Dathan Ritzenhein, 14:29, 1999

All-Time Orlando Kinney/FL Cross Country Championships Record -- Girls: Amber Trotter, 16:24, 2001

San Diego, California

Balboa Park in San Diego has served as the venue for the national championships in 1979 and from 1983 to present day. The course is winded in a figure-8 fashion through the Morley Field portion of the nearly 5.0 km² park. There is no shortage of hills and mounds making this course the definitive cross country course. (Although the San Diego venue has always been Balboa Park, the Championships in 1979 and 1980 were run on a course other than Morley Field--a course on the western edge of Balboa Park.)

All-Time Balboa Park Kinney/FL Cross Country Championships Record -- Boys: Reuben Reina, 14:36, 1985

All-Time Balboa Park Kinney/FL Cross Country Championships Record -- Girls: Melody Fairchild, 16:39, 1990

Past results

In addition to a national champion being crowned in each gender division, the top 15 finishers in each gender division receive All-American honors and an overall team champion is declared based on which region had won the meet.

Footlocker National Champions
	Boys					Girls
Year	Athlete	Time	Grade	Region	State	Athlete	Time	Grade	Region	State	Course
2010	Lukas Verzbicas Lukas Verzbicas Lukas Verzbicas is a Lithuanian long-distance runner and triathlete. He won the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 2009 and in 2010 , and the Nike Cross Nationals invitational in 2010 , becoming the first runner to win both FLCC and NXN in the same year, and only the third to win FLCC...	14:59	12	Midwest	IL	Aisling Cuffe	16:53	12	Northeast	NY	San Diego
2009	Lukas Verzbicas Lukas Verzbicas Lukas Verzbicas is a Lithuanian long-distance runner and triathlete. He won the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 2009 and in 2010 , and the Nike Cross Nationals invitational in 2010 , becoming the first runner to win both FLCC and NXN in the same year, and only the third to win FLCC...	15:07	10	Midwest	IL	Megan Goethals	17:06	12	Midwest	MI	San Diego
2008	Solomon Haile	15:15	12	Northeast	MD	Jordan Hasay Jordan Hasay Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...	17:22	12	West	CA	San Diego
2007	Michael Fout	14:50	12	Midwest	IN	Ashley Brasovan	17:20	11	South	FL	San Diego
2006	Chad Hall	15:20	12	West	CA	Kathy Kroeger	17:29	10	South	TN	San Diego
2005	AJ Acosta	15:02	12	West	CA	Jordan Hasay Jordan Hasay Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...	17:05	9	West	CA	San Diego
2004	Kenneth Cormier	15:22	12	West	AZ	Aislinn Ryan	17:31	11	Northeast	NY	San Diego
2003	Matthew Withrow	14:55	12	Midwest	IL	Katelyn Kaltenbach	17:24	11	Midwest	CO	San Diego
2002	Chris Solinsky Chris Solinsky Chris Solinsky is an American distance runner. Among his more notable achievements, he won eight state championships in high school and five NCAA Division I championships at the University of Wisconsin...	14:41	12	Midwest	WI	Zoe Nelson	17:30	10	West	MT	San Diego
2001	Timothy Moore	14:50	12	Midwest	MI	Amber Trotter	16:24	12	West	CA	Orlando
2000	Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...	14:35	12	Midwest	MI	Sara Bei	16:55	12	West	CA	Orlando
1999	Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...	14:29	11	Midwest	MI	Victoria Chang	17:05	12	West	HI	Orlando
1998	Jorge Torres	15:17	12	Midwest	IL	Erin Sullivan	17:35	12	Northeast	VT	Orlando
1997	Abdirizak Mohamud	15:22	12	Northeast	MA	Erin Sullivan	17:22	11	Northeast	VT	Orlando
1996	Abdirizak Mohamud	15:21	11	Northeast	MA	Kristen Gordon	17:34	12	West	CA	San Diego
1995	Abdul Alzindani	15:11	12	Midwest	MI	Kim Mortensen Kim Mortensen Kim Mortensen is the NFHS record holder in the 3200 meter run. Her 9:48.59, run at Cerritos College In Norwalk, California on May 24, 1996 has stood since, including surviving the four year close assault by Jordan Hasay...	17:12	12	West	CA	San Diego
1994	Matt Downin	14:58	12	Northeast	NH	Julia Stamps	16:41	10	West	CA	San Diego
1993	Adam Goucher Adam Goucher Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...	14:41	12	Midwest	CO	Erin Davis	17:11	9	Northeast	NY	San Diego
1992	Brendan Heffernan	15:13	12	Northeast	NJ	Amanda White	17:34	12	Northeast	MD	San Diego
1991	Corey Ihmels	15:03	12	Midwest	ND	Liz Mueller	17:21	11	Northeast	CT	San Diego
1990	Louie Quintana	15:07	12	West	CA	Melody Fairchild	16:39	12	Midwest	CO	San Diego
1989	Bryan Dameworth	14:49	12	West	CA	Melody Fairchild	17:05	11	Midwest	CO	San Diego
1988	Brian Grosso	15:03	12	Midwest	MI	Celeste Susnis	17:14	11	Midwest	IN	San Diego
1987	Bob Kennedy	14:59	12	Midwest	OH	Kira Jorgensen	17:08	11	West	CA	San Diego
1986	Marc Davis Marc Davis (athlete) Marc Davis is a retired American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in distance races like the men's 3.000 metres steeplechase and 5.000 metres...	14:38	12	West	CA	Erin Keogh	16:55	12	South	VA	San Diego
1985	Reuben Reina	14:36	12	South	TX	Erin Keogh	16:43	11	South	VA	San Diego
1984	Scott Fry	14:50	12	Midwest	OH	Cathy Schiro	16:48	12	Northeast	NH	San Diego
1983	Matt Giusto	14:54	12	West	CA	Janet Smith	16:43	12	Northeast	NJ	San Diego
1982	Eric Reynolds	14:35	12	West	CA	Christine Curtin	16:58	11	Northeast	NY	Orlando
1981	Charles Alexander	14:51	12	South	VA	Connie Robinson	16:40	12	Midwest	OH	Orlando
1980	Jay Marden	14:53	12	West	CA	Ceci Hopp	17:12	12	Northeast	CT	San Diego
1979	Brent Steiner	15:05	12	Midwest	KS	Ellen Lyons	17:28	12	West	ID	San Diego

Repeat national champions

There have only been a total of seven runners that have repeated as national champions. Zero have been national champions three times at the Kinney/FL Cross Country Championships.

Boys with two National Championships

Lukas Verzbicas won in 2009 and 2010.
Dathan Ritzenhein won in 1999 and 2000.
Abdirizak Mohamud won in 1996 and 1997.

Girls with two National Championships

Jordan Hasay won in 2005 and 2008.
Erin Sullivan won in 1997 and 1998.
Melody Fairchild won in 1989 and 1990.
Erin Keogh won in 1985 and 1986.

Foot Locker Champions to win NCAA titles

There have been a total of ten Foot Locker Champions to win NCAA Titles in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field, or Outdoor Track and Field, including eight men and two women.

Footlocker National Champions and NCAA Champions
			NCAA Outdoor				NCAA Indoor
Athlete	Footlocker	NCAA XC	1500	3000	5000	3000SC	Mile	3000	University
Chris Solinsky Chris Solinsky Chris Solinsky is an American distance runner. Among his more notable achievements, he won eight state championships in high school and five NCAA Division I championships at the University of Wisconsin...	2002				2006-07			2005-06	Wisconsin
Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...	1999,2000	2003							Colorado
Jorge Torres	1998	2002							Colorado
Adam Goucher Adam Goucher Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...	1993	1998			1998			1997-98	Colorado
Melody Fairchild	1989,1990							1996	Colorado
Bob Kennedy	1987	1988,1992	1990				1991		Indiana
Marc Davis Marc Davis (athlete) Marc Davis is a retired American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in distance races like the men's 3.000 metres steeplechase and 5.000 metres...	1986				1989	1992			Arizona
Reuben Reina	1985							1990-91	Arkansas
Matt Giusto	1983				1988				Arizona
Ceci Hopp	1980			1982					Stanford

Alumni

Jen Rhines,
Deena Kastor

Deena Kastor

Deena Michelle Kastor is an American long-distance runner. She holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances. She won the bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece...

(née Drossin),
Amy Rudolph,
Milena Glusac,
Dathan Ritzenhein

Dathan Ritzenhein

Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...

,
Alan Webb

Alan Webb (athlete)

Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...

,
Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall (runner)

Ryan Hall is an American long distance runner. He won the marathon at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials and placed tenth in the Olympic marathon in Beijing. He holds the U.S. record in the half marathon . With his half marathon record time, he became the first U.S...

,
Alan Culpepper

Alan Culpepper

Alan Culpepper is an American distance runner and two time United States Olympian. Along with competing on four World Championship Teams, his accomplishments include finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon in 2005, winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and finishing 12th at the 2004...

,
Chris Derrick

Chris Derrick

Chris Derrick is an American distance runner at Stanford University and former American junior record holder in the 5000 meters.-High school:...

,
Adam Goucher

Adam Goucher

Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...

,
Kara Goucher

Kara Goucher

Kara Goucher is an American long-distance runner.-Personal life:Goucher was born in Queens, New York. When she was 4 years old her family moved to Duluth, Minnesota after her father was killed by a drunk driver on the Harlem River Drive...

(née Wheeler),
Jordan Hasay

Jordan Hasay

Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...

,
Sara Slattery

Sara Slattery

Sara Elizabeth Slattery is an American middle- and long-distance runner who mainly competes in track races...

(née Gorton),
Steve Slattery,
Suzy Favor Hamilton,
Lauren Fleshman

Lauren Fleshman

Lauren Fleshman is an American track and field athlete. She was the U.S. 5000 meters champion in 2006 and 2010, and has competed at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2003, 2005, and 2011...

,
Chris Solinsky

Chris Solinsky

Chris Solinsky is an American distance runner. Among his more notable achievements, he won eight state championships in high school and five NCAA Division I championships at the University of Wisconsin...

,
Molly Huddle

Molly Huddle

Molly Huddle in is an American athlete who competes in long distance track events. Huddle set the American record in the 5000m at the 2010 Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium ....

,
Sara Hall (née Bei),
Cheri Goddard-Kenah,
Meb Keflezighi and
Marc Davis

Marc Davis (athlete)

Marc Davis is a retired American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in distance races like the men's 3.000 metres steeplechase and 5.000 metres...

External links

Foot Locker Cross Country Championships – Official website
NCAA Division I Championships (Men)
NCAA Division I Championships (Women)

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