Foot Locker Speed Rating Preview 2017

I compiled the following lists to familiarize myself with runners competing in Foot Locker 2017 ... I wanted a general idea of what the runners have accomplished in terms of speed ratings with a look towards handicapping the race ... Knowing something about the runners and contenders make the races more interesting when watching the races.

The tables below include:
 ... Overall Rating - an approximated overall speed rating for betting purposes
 ... FL Region Rating - speed rating from the Foot Locker regional
 ... State Meet Rating - speed rating from the State Meet
 ... Other Ratings - other selected speed ratings from the season (Note - 1 speed rating point = 3 seconds)

Some brief comments about selected runners are given following the tables ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

General Comment ... I suspect the speed ratings for the top finishers at Foot Locker Nationals may be higher than those shown in table above (that's typically the case) ... To finish in top places at Foot Locker Nationals typically requires exceptional performances, usually season-best performances ... Foot Locker is unique because it has a small field of select runners coming to the race expecting to run fast (knowing they have to run fast to place well) ... Top national competition on a fast course under good weather conditions yields top performances (usually season-best performances).

Five of twelve underclassmen from last year's Foot Locker return this year ... The returning runners include (with their finishes last year): Dylan Jacobs (11th), Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau (19th), Dalton Hengst (21st), Graydon Morris (34th) and Drew Thompson (35th)  ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

Five runners competed at NXN Nationals 2017 ... Daniel Kilrea (5th), Drew Bosley (7th),  Dylan Jacobs (13th), Clayton Mendez (18th) and Carter Cheeseman (36th).

The Top Speed Ratings at NXN Nationals were:
1 - Aidan Troutner - 201 ** ... (previous best 195)
2 - Brodey Hasty - 200 ** ... (previous best 199)
3 - Liam Anderson - 199 ** ... (previous best 190)
4 - James Mwaura - 198 ** ... (previous best 196)
5 - Danny Kilrea - 197 == ... (previous best 197)
6 - Dustin Horter - 195  ... (previous best 196)
7 - Drew Bosley - 194 ** ... (previous best 192)
8 - Conant Smith - 194 == ... (previous best 194)
9 - Charles Hicks - 193 ** ... (previous best 189)
10- Khalid Hussein - 193 ** ... (previous best 190)
 ... (**: best of season, ==: equaled best of season)

Seven of the top ten at NXN had their best speed rating of the season ... Danny Kilrea equaled his best (197), and is the top-rated runner in this Foot Locker field ... I expect some of the top finishers at Foot Locker will set speed rating PRs.

This race is wide open ... Danny Kilrea is the slight morning-line favorite.

Based on the speed ratings, as many as 10-15 guys have a legitimate shot at winning this race depending on who's feeling good ... and that makes the race competitive and interesting.

General Comment ... Claudia Lane is the odds-on favorite based on exceptional seasonal performances.

Ten underclassmen return this year from last year's Foot Locker ... The returning runners include (with their finishes last year): Claudia Lane (1st), Rebecca Story (3rd), Jacqueline Gaughan (11th), Olivia Theis (14th), Bailey Hertenstein (20th), Abigail Green (21st), Heather Holt (27th), Page Lester (32nd), Katie Thronson (33rd) and Tayrn Parks (40th)  ... (Link to Speed Rating History at Foot Locker Finals)

Three runners competed at NXN Nationals 2017 ... Katelynn Hart (4th), Sarah Schmitt (8th) and Tierney Wolfgram (27th)

The Top Speed Ratings at NXN Nationals were:
1 - Katelyn Tuohy - 172 == ... (previous best 172)
2 - Kelsey Chmiel - 159 ** ... (previous best 158)
3 - Mariah Castillo - 155 ** ... (previous best 150)
4 - Katelynne Hart - 153 ** ... (previous best 151)
5 - Claire Walters - 149 ... (previous best 151)
6 - Brooke Rauber - 148 ... (previous best 149)
7 - Sadie Sargent - 148 ** ... (previous best 143)
8 - Sarah Schmitt - 147 ** ... (previous best 146)
9 - Sydney Thorvaldson - 147 ... (previous best 148)
10- Anna Fenske - 147 ** ... (previous best 146)
 ... (**: best of season, ==: equaled best of season)

Six of the top ten at NXN had their best speed rating of the season ... Katelynne Hart had her season's best at NXN (153), and is the 3rd or 4th top-rated runner in this Foot Locker field (Rebecca Story ran a 9:59 3200 meter race, and was 3rd at Foot Locker last year off similar (and had a 153 rating at FLN)) ... I expect some of the top finishers at Foot Locker will set speed rating PRs.

Selected Individual Runners

Claudia Lane ... Claudia Lane is the defending Foot Locker Champion ... she is running faster this XC season than last year, and that makes her the odds-on favorite to win again.

Claudia Lane and Katelyn Tuohy (the NXN Champion) are exceptional talents ... It is rare that talents of this magnitude occur in the same season and both are at their peak at this point of the season ... It would likely be a great race if these two were in the same race at this time, but it will not happen.

Olivia Theis ... Olivia Theis is undefeated this season ... she has posted two speed ratings of 157 this season which is exceptionally good, and I don't think she has been challenged all season ... she may have more speed to show, and she will be tested here ...Maybe Olivia Theis can contend with Claudia Lane ... To Be Determined on Saturday Dec 9th ... Olivia Theis is the Foot Locker Midwest winner.

Rebecca Story ... Rebecca Story finished a very good 3rd at Foot Locker last year (153 speed rating) ... Last year, Rebecca ran 9:59.85 at the Hoka One One Postal Nationals 3200 Meters which was an omen for her Foot Locker performance ... This year (on Nov 17th) she ran 9:59.80 ... so I think she is a definite contender for a top three spot at Foot Locker Nationals  ... Rebecca Story is the Foot Locker South winner.

Katelynne Hart ... Katelynne Hart finished a very game 4th at NXN Nationals after going out very fast in the early part of the race.

Marlee Starliper ...  Marlee Starliper is the Foot Locker Northeast winner and she is undefeated this season ... A definite threat for big improvement with this competition.

Katherine Lee ... Katherine Lee finished a very nice 2nd at Foot Locker Northeast in her best performance of the season, and I know she can run faster.