by Larry Eder
The South Regional has an excellent reputation for some speedy racers and great course conditions. Thirty-five degrees is cold for North Carolina, but the athletes were prepared. Watch for the South top ten boys and girls to battle in San Diego!
Elizabeth Leachman and Keegan Smith Capture First Place Titles in the
45th Annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships South Regional;
Top 10 Boys and Girls Qualify for National Finals
RACE HIGHLIGHTS:
Elizabeth Leachman of San Antonio, TX, and Keegan Smith of Kingston, TN, won the Foot
Locker Cross Country Championships South Regional today. Leachman, a junior at
Boerne Champion High School claimed the title in the girls’ championship race in 16:55.5.
Caroline Barton, a senior from Asheville, NC, finished second in 16:59.4, and Lily
Beshears, a junior from Springdale, AR, placed third in 17:01.3. Leachman, last year’s
national champion, and today’s 10th-place finisher Abby Faith Cheeseman of Bell Buckle,
TN participated in last year’s national championship event in San Diego, CA.
Keegan Smith, a senior at Knoxville Catholic High School, claimed the title in the boys’
championship race in 14:58.1. Jack Bowen, a senior from Chattanooga, TN, finished
second in 14:59.9, and Tristan Yoder, a senior from Broadway, VA, finished third in
15:00.4. Sixth-place finisher in today’s race, Riku Sugie of Bardstown, KY, is the only
national returnee having competed at the national championships last year.
WHEN/WHERE:
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Larry McAfee Course At McAlpine Park in Charlotte, NC
COURSE/WEATHER:
5,000-meter course; good course conditions; 35 degrees; slight winds; sunny skies.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
The top 10 boys and the top 10 girls in the championship races qualify to compete against
runners from the Midwest, Northeast, and West Regional meets in the Foot Locker Cross
Country Championships National Finals, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Morley Field,
Balboa Park in San Diego, CA.
2024 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships – South Regional Results
Larry McAfee Course At McAlpine Park in Charlotte, NC
Girls
Place Name Hometown High School (Year) Time
1) Elizabeth Leachman San Antonio, TX Boerne Champion High
School (11)
16:55.5
2) Caroline Barton Asheville, NC Carolina Day School (12) 16:59.4
3) Lily Beshears Springdale, AR Rogers High School (11) 17:01.3
4) Sophia Bendet Universal City, TX Randolph High School (12) 17:08.0
5) Kerrigan Chaney Roanoke, VA North Cross School (12) 17:13.0
6) Carolina Areheart Knoxville, TN Webb School of Knoxville (11) 17:14.5
7) Jazzlyn Garmer Knoxville, TN Webb School of Knoxville (11) 17:16.4
8) Macy Wingard Aubrey, TX Denton Braswell High School (11) 17:16.7
9) Kate Loescher Stafford, VA Colonial Forge High School (12) 17:21.9
10) Abby Faith Cheeseman Bell Buckle, TN Webb School of Bell Buckle (12) 17:27.2
Boys
Place Name Hometown High School Time
1) Keegan Smith Kingston, TN Knoxville Catholic High School (12) 14:58.1
2) Jack Bowen Chattanooga, TN McCallie School (12) 14:59.9
3) Tristan Yoder Broadway, VA Broadway High School (12) 15:00.4
4) Malachi Burnett Canton, GA Creekview High School (11) 15:01.4
5) Asher Oates Franklin, TN Independence High School (11) 15:02.0
6) Riku Sugie Bardstown, KY Thomas Nelson HighSchool (10)15:02.0
7) Jackson Hogsed Suwanee, GA Lambert High School (12) 15:03.1
8) Owen Kelley Bentonville, AR Bentonville High School (12) 15:04.2
9) Parker Adams Jacksonville, FL Bolles School (12) 15:08.6
10) Matthew Shelly Bentonville, AR Bentonville High School (12) 15:09.5
