Footlocker Northeast Preview (Updated)

 An update to the Post was needed since Mickey Burke (US#24 from NY) recently signed up for the Footlocker Regional Meet. He has been added to the List and Josef Holt-Andrews was moved up after some deliberation.
 Also, for anyone who did not read the last FL Preview post, these are not my picks for who will win or the order of place, it is my opinion on most likely to make it to the national meet. Guys who are ranked higher have a better % chance of making it. All of the races that these guys have run have been researched. Times, History, Conditions, and who they raced/beaten have been taken into account. These are just short tidbits of the total research that has gone into such picks.


1. Christian Alvarado (Sr, CT)

Alvarado is the top guy on this list for many reasons. 1) He’s the #2 returner from last season (8^th). 2) His coach has sent the most guys to FL from any region in the past 15 years aka he will peak perfectly. 3) He’s an animal on the hills. Every hilly race he has performed well and won. 4) He was 3^rd at Penn Relays 3k last season in 8:26. He’s got a kick as well.

2. Mickey Burke (Sr, NY)

New York runners rarely go out for Footlocker, but NY’s phenom Mickey Burke has decided to attend the Footlocker regional meet, which in my opinion, is a great idea for him. Burke placed 3^rd at both the Manhattan Invitational and New York State Championships. Burke also has some fantastic track credentials with a 9 flat 2-Mile to his name. There is no doubt that he’ll be mixing it up out front for the win. He is currently ranked as US#24.

3. Colin Abert (Jr, PA)

This may come as a surprise to have Abert at number two, but the kid is a gamer. Abert loves to go out hard, but he also closes better than just about anyone I’ve seen. No question he’ll be in the mix (aka top 15) with 800 to go, and on this course you can flat out roll. No question Abert grabs a spot in my mind.

4. Kyle Kroon (Sr, PA)

Kroon placed 5^th last season (top returner) and just placed 4^th in the MoC’s for NJ. Kroon has had some very solid races this season and always mixes it up out front. I think he’s had his eyes on nationals this season after going last year and will be peaking for that, not MoC’s. I have no doubt this will be his best race of the season up until nationals.

5. Paul Hogan (Sr, MA)

Hogan didn’t race very well last year, but he got the experience, making him a better candidate for this season. He was undefeated until All-States where he lost to junior phenom Carleo(will be at NXN). It was a very fast course and only 2.9 miles, which disadvantages the strength of Hogan. He’s that much better over 5k and hills benefit him. No doubt he’ll be in the running to win in the last 800, but may lose some ground. He shouldn’t lose enough to not make the top 10 however.

6. Josiah Hanko (Sr, NJ)

Hanko didn’t have his best race this past weekend, placing 9th at MoC’s. He’s the 3^rd best returner after placing 14^th last season. He’s got a very strong kick which makes him almost a lock to go. I originally had him at #3, but I switched him and Kroon after thinking about it a bit more. He’s ran some awesome times this season, but Kroon’s nationals focus is what gives him an edge. Don’t sleep on Hanko for the win however.

7. Ross Wilson (Sr, PA)

Wilson has had a very solid, but long season. I think this break from racing will show dividents with Wilson running very well. Coach Marrington has sent the second most runners to FL in the past 15 years (behind Alvarado’s Coach) so you know Wilson will peak well. He’s very strong and should be mixing it up with 800 to go. It’s hilly, which helps Wilson out, but the last 800, like Hogan he’ll lose a bit of ground. I don’t think that he’ll fall out of the top 10 however.

8. Louis Corgliano (Sr, NJ)

Another change after the MoC’s, I had Corgliano at #9, but after a superb race for 3^rd at MoC’s I had to move him up. Corgliano has raced very well all season and is peaking at the right time. He just has to carry that peak one more week, which isn’t too hard to do. I think he has a very good shot at sliding into the national meet.

9. Dominic Deluca (Sr, PA)

Deluca isn’t necessarily the 8^th best guy in the field, but he’s got one major advantage over most guys on the starting line: This is his only true test of the season. Most top guys had big state meets coming before this, but Deluca didn’t need to taper at all, giving him extra steady training through October and November. Plus it’s the only race on his mind. I think this mental edge is key, and Deluca will come through to grab that spot. He’s a great hill runner as shown with that 15:43 earlier this season at PTXC.

10. Alex Ostberg (Jr, CT)

Ostberg is the second junior on this list, and usually two to three juniors grab spots to the national meet. He placed 2^nd at New England’s to Hopper and lost to Alverado and Hopper at the CT state meet. He will be mixing it up with this top group and has an excellent chance of making. He runs both flats and hills well.

11. Josef Holt-Andrews (MA, Sr)

After looking more at Holt-Andrews, I’m back on the bandwagon. He ran sub 15 for 5k at New Balance nationals last season and tore up the XC scene in MA this year. He placed 3^rd at New England’s on a fast course and the hills should benefit him. He placed 22^nd last season and knows what it will take to be in the top 10.

12. Stephen Maine (Sr, NJ)

Bit shaky as well with this one, but Maine seems to be peaking very well after a 5^th place performance at MoC’s. He hasn’t had killer meets this season, but peaking well will do it for you, getting into this meet. His running level, in my opinion, is around 13-15 on this list, but if he’s peaking better than those guys, he gets the edge for me.

13. Chris Kazanjian (Sr, PA)

Chris has the talent level of top 7 on this list, no question in my mind. If this were a week after states and a big goal of his, I would say he’s almost a lock for FL, but he’s 11^th on this list and here is why: C. Kazanjian, to my knowledge, didn’t have this as a big goal going into the season. He ran very well at districts and states, but it’s tough to extend ones season an extra month when it wasn’t a goal since the beginning of the season.  I think this puts both Kazanjian’s at a disadvantage mentally, which is why I don’t have him in the top 10.

14. Chase Weaverling (Sr, MD)

Weaverling has put together some really nice wins this season over weak Maryland competition and has only one lost to Louis Colson of Virginia, who just won his state meet by 30 seconds! Weaverling heald with him till the last 800. We haven’t seen a lot from this kid, and this may not be his true place, but Wearverling is my dark horse at number 12.

15. Colin Martin (PA, Sr)

Colin Martin has had a fantastic season so far and I’ve really liked the races he’s put together. I don’t know if he’ll have enough to compete with some of these top tier guys at regionals to make it to Nat’s. He’s lost his training partner again which will have made this past month even tougher for him. That being said, he is a very strong runner and the course should benefit him. He’s got good odds.

16. Owen Gonser – (MA, Sr)

Gonser has really impressed me this season, including a solo’d 15:24 effort at MIAA Eastern’s, but talent wise he’s not at the top of this list. It’s a very talented field and I think he’ll have a tough time making it, that being said he’s still got a good shot going into the race.

--ForrestCRN