Footlocker and Nike

When it gets to be the Thanksgiving season, it is nice to have things to be thankful for. I could sit here on the laptop and blather on to you sentimentally about what I am thankful for and all that stuff but I think that most people just want me to get back to talking about PA XC. And I'm thankful that I've got fans like that out there (I got asked for my autograph the other day, it was pretty awesome, don't get that opportunity that much). But this isn't about me, this is about what everybody out there has to be thankful for. And honestly, looking down the roster of PA entries at Footlocker and NXN I think PA has quite a lot to be thankful for.

Let's start at Bowdoin Park in New York for the NXNE championships. The top 2 teams automatically qualify and the odds are that this means CBA and one other team will make it through. I've seen Henderson beat Don Bosco twice now and I think they have only gotten better since then. It's hard for me to imagine Henderson won't beat Don Bosco again. That being said, PA is at a serious disadvantage: their championship season was practically a month ago. I've seen Henderson underwhelm me slightly at this meet in the past, but I am optimistic that this is a different team.

O'Hara is interesting to me as well. Clearly, like Henderson, they are also in great shape. Belfatto running like he did at the 2 mile time trial is very encouraging because they will need 5 solid guys without the front runner(s) that Henderson has. Kevin James is a bit of an X factor here for O'Hara. They need a tight top 3 pack and a solid 5 guy spread. I am confident if they get 3rd and are reasonably close to 2nd than they will get an at large bid to nationals. They have been just as good as Henderson all season, tying them at states puts them as just as likely to place second at regionals as Henderson. They just don't have the front runner that Russell is and that is huge in a race like this. But if you look at NA in 2008 they got by very nicely with a tight pack and no front runner.

Germantown Friend's will be in attendance as well but I don't see any signs to indicate they will be able to pull of the stunner that they did a few years back and mix it up for nationals. Sami Aziz, however, has shown signs that he is in the mix for a nationals bid as an individual. Lyle Wistar has also shown that he is a top 20 type guy in this meet. Russell, I assume, will be the top PA guy across the line but Aziz and Wistar will be among the guys trying to chase down the next PA spot. If Henderson does miss out on the chance at Nats, Russell should still get through to Portland.

I expect both Henderson and O'Hara to go through taking #2 and #3 in that order. I hope they are still hungry to run hard and run fast. Both sides are still motivated and I am sure O'Hara still has quite a bitter taste in their mouth that only a trip to nationals will strip. Henderson won the big battle, but O'Hara hasn't waved the white flag. I wish NA was running in the meet, although most likely my prediction for them to finish as the top PA team would probably be proven to be a tad too bold.

At Footlocker, here are the names I picked off the entry list that I found worth noting:
Colin Abert
Brendan Shearn
Curt Jewett
Sam Williams
Cole Nissley
Brent Kennedy
Connor Harriman
Sam Webb
Austin Pondel
Jacob Fetterman
Ryan Smathers
Rico Galassi
Luke Jones
Alec Kunzweiler
Jeff Groh
Dan Jaskowak
Ross Wilson
Max Norris
James Zingarini
Ben Ritz
Sam Ritz
Aaron Valoroso
Conner Quinn

And many more


For me Jaskowak is my most likely guy to get through to Nationals. He ran great at this race last year and he is a front runner with a kick. He will benefit from a fast pace and a deep field. He won't be afraid to mix it up out front. Shearn is also a top notch guy in this field. I'm sure losing the state championship stung hardest for him out of all the 2nd place finishers there were. He ran better than I expected at this meet last year. Both guys would be the first AA guys to qualify in a while. I think Jeff Weiss was the last guy to get the spot.

Kennedy and Pondel are also in the mix. Pondel will benefit from the slew of new front runners in the race, Kennedy has been Mr. Consistent this year in the top group of every race. The Ritz bros have the benefit of peaking for this meet. This is their states, not at Hershey so they can peak differently. That makes a big difference and they will hope to use it to their advantage.

Luke Jones, Connor Harriman, Max Norris and the Northeast Bradford boys are also in the mix for a top spot. I'd say Jeff Groh and Conner Quinn are deep sleepers here as well. Ross Wilson is a name worth keeping an eye on, perhaps for next year more than anything.

Ultimately, it comes down to who is ready for track season, and who is still pissed from states. That's how you run well at a meet like this. Should be fun to watch.