After the introductions of the State Champions and the returning top ten, the girls race took off toward the air strip.  Jordan Hasay (CA), who jumped out in front and hit the first mile at the California State Meet in 5:15, took the race out slower and crossed the mile mark in 5:45.  Heading up the switchbacks at the one mile mark, freshman Rolonda Jumbo (AZ) took the lead with Hasay, Alex Dunne (CA), Danielle Menlove(UT) and Jessica Tonn (AZ) following close behind.  Hasay, Dunne, Tonn, Jumbo and Shalaya Kipp (UT) were in the lead pack coming across the air strip and heading up poop-out hill.  Once up the hill Hasay took the lead and continued at a comfortable pace as she entered the track for the final 200 meters.  Dunne entered the track ten seconds later with Menlove and Tonn following.  Jumbo looked as though she was in 9th or 10th place but faded to 12th in the final 200 meters.  Jessica Rydberg (AZ) had a great run and finished in 13th place.  Both Jumbo and Rydberg made the Footlocker All-West Regional second team. Tonn finished in fourth place gaining her third berth on the National team.  

Arizona girls finished 3rd as a team behind California and Utah.

Boys Seeded Race

In the boys race four Arizona runners were on the front line for the seeded race.  At the 800 loop, Chris Schwartz (CA) was in second with Trevor Dunbar (AK) in third, Jorge Martinez (AZ) in seventh, Tim Freriks (AZ) in 14th, Brian Shrader (AZ) in 22nd and Sherod Hardt (AZ)  around 100th.  Most of he runners were still in a tight pack at the one mile mark as they headed up the switchbacks.  Crossing the air strip and moving toward poop-out hill,  Shrader was in first with Schwartz a very close second, Dunbar in third, Tyre Johnson (CA) in 4th, James Cameron (CA) in 5th, Zachary Torres (CA) in 6th, Freriks in 11th, Cody Helbling (ID) in 16th, Steve Magnuson (AZ) around 3oth and Hardt had moved to 45th.  Shrader held the lead coming down from reservoir hill but was passed by Schwartz in the gauntlet right before entering the stadium.  Shrader made a move to catch Schwartz but Schwartz surged ahead for the win.  Shrader came in second with Dunbar in 3rd.  Magnuson came onto the track in 11th place and gave everything he had to pass Wade Meddles from Nevada, therefore securing the tenth and final spot on the West Team.

Freriks and Hardt came very close finishing 13th and 14th place respectively.   Both made the All-West Second Team along with Magnuson.  Shrader made the All-West 1st Team.

Arizona boys finished second as a team behind California.

Milesplit Arizona talked to the Footlocker finalist about their season, their race and their goals.  All three finalist were asked the same four questions.  Steve Magnuson was given an extra question.

Jessica Tonn

(Xavier College Prep)

4th place finish at Footlocker West Regionals

3rd time Footlocker finalist

AZ Milesplit: How did you prepare for Footlocker West Regionals? 

Tonn: I prepared for Footlocker West by doing a lot of longer runs this season. I would run all the way up to 100 minutes, and I really think that helped me this season. I also did a lot more strengthening work; like weights, hurdle drills, and core work. I was really happy with my race at Nike Region a couple weeks ago and I think that really prepared me for West because there was great competition! I didn't really race the way I wish I did at Great American, in Alabama. I really wasn't as aggressive as I would have liked to be but I feel that I improved throughout my entire season which was my main goal!

AZ Milesplit: Go through your race strategy before and during the race.  Did you alter the race while running or stick to a plan?

 Tonn: I pretty much stuck to the plan that Coach Messer and I had talked about for the previous week. I wanted to come out of Footlocker West feeling that I hadn't put all of my effort out there on the Mt. Sac course. I always come off of that course feeling sore and tired for the next week just because it is so challenging, so I really wanted to race smart and conserve as much energy as I could!

AZ Milesplit:  How are you feeling about making the top ten? 

 Tonn:  I am feeling great about making top 10! This meet is my favorite out of all the cross country and track meets. I know that I am one step closer to making it all four years in highschool which is a great accomplishment, and that really keeps me motivated throughout my long seasons. I'm also excited because the girls on the West team are so much fun and I am looking forward to getting to know all of them!

AZ Milesplit:  What are your goals for Footlocker Nationals?

Tonn: My goals for Footlocker Nationals are to make the top 15, which is All American. I really feel that I can be tough out there and compete well. I've rested up a lot this week and I know I'm ready for this race to go!! My other goal is to just have fun! I've been really nervous going into this meet my last two years, but now that I am a junior and i've been through it all before I am really excited and I can't wait to spend some time with Ashley, Kathy, and Jordan before they go off to college, as well as all the other girls and boys!! I am excited to race, and add a bunch more Footlocker memories to the list!

Brian Shrader

(Sinagua)

2nd place finish at  Footlocker West Regionals

AZ Milesplit: How did you prepare for Footlocker West Regionals? 

Shrader: After the state meet I gained a ton of confidence. I had a tough decission to make to run Nike, Foot Locker, or both. But my coach and I decided that with me getting a late start to the season, it would be best to skip Nike and focus on getting good training in and I'd give my best shot at Foot Locker. The training I got in after state was phenomenal and a huge confidence builder. I knew after those workouts that I was ready to run well at Foot Locker.

AZ Milesplit: Go through your race strategy before and during the race.  Did you alter the race while running or stick to a plan?

Shrader: Going into Foot Locker I had the confidence to run with anyone. I hadn't raced the course before but I knew that the first mile was going to be tactical and after that I just had to race the course, not the competition. I ran the first mile really relaxed in around 20th place I would guess. I was in about 10th or 15th at the top of the switchbacks and I ran the downhill really well. It put myself into great position leading the race. Then I ran with the pack for poop out hill and locked onto them after they passed me. Going down reservoir was a big move for me and I started going for the win. Chris caught up to me and we were even at the track but then he out me for the win. But for the most part I stuck to my plan and didn't have to do anything I was not ready to do.

AZ Milesplit:  How are you feeling about making the top ten? 

Shrader: Making top ten was such a major goal for me this season. I was thinking about it for such a long time. Now after making it it was almost surreal. After the race, in the top ten tent it was awesome. Those other 9 guys and I were about the happiest group of guys I've ever seen. When I saw Steve walk in I was so happy for him. I'm glad I'll have a fellow Arizonian guy there with me. I've heard nothing but terrific stuff about nationals and I am just so stoked to have this opportunity to be a part of it. With all the tradition that Foot Locker has and all the great runners that have been there before, it's pretty cool to think I'll be following in their foot steps.

AZ Milesplit:  What are your goals for Footlocker Nationals?

Shrader: Honestly making nationals was such a big goal for me that I haven't really thought about my goals for that race yet. So I couldn't exactly give you a number but I'll definitely want to go home knowing that I left everything on that course and I couldn't of given an ounce more. The competition there will be incredible so I'm excited just to see where I'll be in it. It should be fun!

Steve Magnuson

(Ironwood Ridge)

10th place finish at Footlocker West

Due to AIA transfer rules, has not been able to race in Arizona for 1 year

AZ Milesplit: How did you prepare for Footlocker West Regionals? 

Magnuson: Not racing throughout the high school season gave me the opportunity to get in many consecutive weeks of solid training, without having to deal with the usual racing interruptions most high school runners do. My first cross country 5k was at Nike Southwest and not getting any races under my belt all season definitely showed when I went out a little too fast and faded from 2nd to 23rd in the last half mile. After Nike I lost all confidence in everything I had been working for the past 12 months and was definitely at a running low going into Footlocker this past weekend.

AZ Milesplit: Go through your race strategy before and during the race.  Did you alter the race while running or stick to a plan?

Magnuson:  Going into the race Saturday I definitely had no intention of qualifying. My plan was just to go out conservatively with a 5 minute first mile, have fun, and try to run a solid race to finish up this shortened season. It wasn't until poop out hill that I noticed kids were coming back to me fairly easily, and that my position in the race was not too bad. By the 2 mile mark had moved up to 18th place and felt really good. Right before heading up reservoir I moved up to 11th, and although I contemplated laying off 10th place to avoid a race at the end, I remembered that Grandma and Grandpa had made the trip up with a couple of friends and I didn't want to disappoint them.

AZ Milesplit:  How are you feeling about making the top ten?

Magnuson: Qualifying for Footlocker Nationals has been a dream of mine for a very long time. This is the dream that has kept me from cheating myself on all those long runs, and pushed me during every workout. It feels great to be able to check this off my goal sheet, but I also realize I still have a lot of work to do and that this isn't the end of the road.

AZ Milesplit:  What are your goals for Footlocker Nationals?

Magnuson: I think the "just have fun" approach this weekend really helped me relax, and realize that I need to run my own race. I've run this course twice before at the Mt. Carmel Invitational, so I think I have a pretty good feel for the course and what I can do. Ultimately this weekend, I'd like to get the experience so hopefully I can do some damage next year.

AZ Milesplit:  How has it been for you to sit out from high school racing in Arizona for a year?

Magnuson: Taking the year off was definitely tougher than I thought it would be. Track was tough because I made the mistake of not really preparing myself for one specific race. In hindsight I feel like I wasn't quite ready to compete out of state, and I think it would have been really good  for me to be able to focus on the state meet. Without that one race on my mind, I could feel myself just waiting for cross country, which I think kept me from running the times I knew I could have.

 By the time cross country came around I had gotten pretty close with some of the guys on the team and I would have liked to help them out. Unfortunately this was limited to pushing them in practice, and offering encouragement. And as far as races go, I had footlocker on my mind which kept me focused and on track throughout the season.

Live Feed