Holt-Andrews All-American @ Footlocker nationals, Curts & Sandreuter strong efforts

Foot Locker Nationals
Derek Veilleux

Footlocker Nationals XC Championships

Meet Page  | History of Maine Runners at Footlocker | SB Report Meet Preview

 

Boys Results | Girls Results | Interview with Josef Holt | Interview with Kirstin Sandreuter | Interview with Dan Curts | Photos (Margot Kelly)

It was a strong day in San Diego for the Maine contigent. Leading the way in the boys race was Josef Holt-Andrews who was with the lead pack until 800m to go up as high as top 4. Andrews ran a strong race and the result was a top 10 finish. Andrews crossed in 10th, covering the 5k course in 15:30. The 10th pace finish earns Holt All-America status. He joins a select group of Maine boys to have earned the disctinction since 1978.

Dan Curts of Ellsworth who finished 6th in the Northeast regional had a strong showing in his first FL national race. Curts would go on to finish 19th overall, his time was 15:44.

The boys race was an exciting one as the finish came down to an all out sprint finish between Grant Fisher of Michigan and John Dressel of Washington. Dressel had the lead as the turned for home but Fisher wasn't to be denied as he dug deep to pull away over the last 100m. Both runners are juniors so they will have another chance to battle it out next year if all goes according to plan. Fisher's time for the 5k course was 15:07 with Dressel finishing in 15:10.

On the girls side, Greely's Kirstin Sandreuter had one of her best races of the year as the senior covered the 5k course in 18:08 to finish 20th. The 20th place finish is impressive considering Kirstin was the final qualifier out of the northeast regional two weeks ago in 10th place.

 

In the girls race Tessa Barrett of Pennsylvania held off a strong challenge from Hannah DeBalsi of Coonecticut to pull away over the last 500m to claim the first Foot Locker win for a girl from Pennslyvania. Barrett was a front runner always up near the front the entire race as she clocked one of the fastest times in the meet history with a 17:16, DeBalsi who closed fast over the last mile was 10 seconds back with a 17:26.

 

Missed the race check out the replay of the Boys Race

Missed the race check out the replay of the Girls Race

 

Preview

Maine will be well represented at tomorrow's Footlocker National XC Championship in San Diego at the famed Balboa Park. For the first time in meet history Maine will have three athlete's stepping to the starting line, 2 had been previously the most individuals from the state to compete in the same year. Each race will feature 40 of the top runners from around the country, to qualify for the race each athlete had to finish in the top in their respective Footlocker Regional race held two weeks.

In the Northeast Regional Telstar's Josef Holt-Andrews the Class C state champion finished 5th while the Class B State Champion Dan Curts of Ellsworth was one spot behind in 6th. On the girls side Class B State Champion Kirstin Sandreuter nabbed the final qualifying spot in the girls race.

It will be each of the athletes first run in the prestigous meet, the top 15 finishers will earn All-American honors. Stay tuned for meet coverage and post meet coverage from our Milesplit team on location

 

Watch the race live tomorrow

Schedule (EST)
12:00pm: Introduction of girl participants
12:15pm: Girls Championship Race
12:45pm: Introduction for boy participants
1:00pm: Boys Championship Race

 

Pre-Meet Coverage

Josef during the pre-meet introduction practice

Josef & Dan on the course run through with former professional runner Jorge Torres

Kirstin poses with the 9 other runners from the Northeast Region

Kirstin doing her pre-meet introduction practice, can you tell she's enjoy the weather :)

  Dan & Josef doing course run through along with Dan's coach Louie Luchini, 2nd pace in 1998 race, and Josef's coach Dan Crooker