Midwest runners dominate Foot Locker Nationals

What is in the air, in the water, in the food of cross country runners from the Midwest?

For the second straight year, competitors from the Midwest dominated in the 41st Foot Locker National Championships over Morley Field’s 3.1-mile course contested under ideal running conditions.

A year ago it was the teams. Saturday it was the individuals with Michigan’s Zofia Dudek capturing the girls race in 16:45.0 and Illinois’ Josh Methner finishing first for the boys in 15:08.8.

Only seven girls runners had ever broken 17 minutes, but this race saw the first three crack that barrier, with Pennsylvania’s Marlee Starliper second in 16:46.8 and another Michigan runner, Abby Vanderkooi, third in 16:55.2.

Dudek and Starliper traded the lead several times before Dudek was able to match her opponent’s last-ditch sprint for the victory.

“It’s an advantage to be part of the Midwest team because we race each other so much and that makes us all better,” said Dudek. “It’s a little sad to think this is my last high school race, but my strategy was to stay with the leaders and to make a move up the second hill.

“I knew (Starliper) had speed so I wanted to get the lead. When she charged that last time, I still had enough left.”

Starliper was well back at the halfway point when she started a long, steady surge that put her in the lead coming down the Upas Street hill for the last time. But Dudek proved stronger.

“I wanted to be patient, to save as much as possible for the finish,” said Starliper, who ran at the Nike Nationals last weekend.

Methner broke away from the pack coming out of the Balboa Park course’s dog loop, picking up the pace that no one attempted to match until it was too late. He won by eight seconds over Michigan’s Carter Solomon, another Midwest runner.

“I wanted to make the move early,” said Methner, who will attend Notre Dame next fall. “I’ve had a great year, but this is the icing on the cake.”

Sage Creek High’s Skyler Wallace got off to a slow start but rallied to finish 26th out of 40 competitors in what for all the California runners was at least their fourth consecutive major race.

“Finishing 26th in the nation isn’t that bad,” said the Northern Arizona University-bound Bobcat, who was the first California finisher. “I’m looking forward to two weeks of rest and eating chocolate. That’s happiness — eating chocolate.”

Brand is a freelance writer.