Hasay Wins Second National Title and Haile Completes Perfect Season at the – Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals

SAN DIEGO, December 13, 2008 –  Jordan Hasay of Arroyo Grande, Calif., and Solomon Haile of Silver Spring, Md., won the 2008 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals at Morley Field, Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif., today.  The runners competed under cloudy conditions with a slight drizzle and a temperature of 59 degrees.

      In the girls’ race, Allie McLaughlin of Colorado Springs, Colo., quickly took a commanding lead with three former FLCC National Champions – Kathy Kroeger (2006), Jordan Hasay (2005) and Ashley Brasovan (2007) – leading a chase group of eight runners.  McLaughlin maintained her lead through the two-mile mark, when Hasay made her move to close the gap on the leader.  Brasovan quickly passed Hasay and McLaughlin for the lead with 400 meters remaining.  In an exciting finish, Hasay surged ahead to claim the national title in 17:22.  Brasovan placed second in 17:25 and Midwest Regional Champion Megan Goethals placed third in 17:30.

      Hasay became the only runner in the history of the FLCC race to win the regional title four consecutive years.  Today’s win also makes her the fourth two-time FLCC National Champion in the girls’ race.  McLaughlin finished fifth in 17:34, with South Regional Champion Kathy Kroeger placing sixth in 17:42.

      The boys’ race began with Evan Appel of Littleton, Colo., leading a tight pack of runners including three Regional Champions – Solomon Haile (Northeast), Jakub Zivec (Midwest), and Chris Schwartz (West).   Just before the first mile, Haile took the lead from Appel, with Schwartz and Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak, Alaska, following close behind.  At the two-mile mark, Haile had taken a commanding lead creating a 30 meter gap, with Dunbar and Thomas Porter fighting for second.  Haile crossed the finish line in 15:15, followed by Dunbar second in 15:22, and Porter third in 15:26.  Zivec placed fifth in 15:29 and Schwartz placed eighth in 15:41.

The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships is comprised of four regional 5K races, which took place across the country in the Midwest (Kenosha, Wis.), Northeast (Bronx, N.Y.) and South (Charlotte, N.C.) on Nov. 29, and the West (Walnut, Calif.) on Dec. 6, culminating in the National Finals here today.  FSN will air an hour-long special of the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals on Monday, December 22. Check your local listings.