Photo left: Julia Foster & Chelsea Orr at US Junior Nationals in February in San Diego
Julia Foster and Sarah Fakler placed second and third on the US team, which competed in Port Of Spain in Trinidad on Saturday February 19, 2011. The team, which was selected, as part of the USATF Junior National Cross Country Championships held in San Diego earlier this month, competed in the NACAC (North America, Central America & Caribbean Athletic Championships).
Chelsea Orr, a freshman from the University of Washington, won the race in a time of 13:54. Julia Foster, a senior at Albuquerque Academy, finished seventh overall with a time of 14:13 for the 4K course. Julia, a 2010 Foot Locker National Finalist, competed for Wings of America in the US Junior Meet. Sarah Fakler of Xavier Prep in Phoenix placed tenth with her time of 14:43. The last scorer for the team was Alexis Goldsmith of Illinois, a freshman at Northwestern University, who completed the US scoring with her 12th place effort of 14:52. The Canadian team led by Fiona Benson of Surrey, BC, who runs for Grand Prairie Regional College, placed second in the race, while leading her team to the Gold Medal over the US. The Canadians had to place first or second to earn a trip to Spain for the World’s Championship in March & certainly took care of business with their low total of 15 points. The US had 30 for second & Puerto Rico earned 61 points to claim third.
The US Junior men’s team was dominated by young men in college & like the girls earned a Silver Medal. Clint McKelvey of Duke led the way with a time of 18:38 for the 6K course, which was good for fourth place. Jacob Sineko of Columbia University placed 8th (19:03) & David Perry of the University of Portland garnered tenth with his 19:06 clocking. Jacob Benn of Oklahoma State rounded out the scoring for the US by placing 15th in 19:34. The Canadians again had the low score but this time with twelve points, while the US secured second with 37 points to best Puerto Rico’s total of 35 points.
Next up for US juniors will be the World Championships in Spain to be held on March 20th. Prep stars Aisling Cuffe, Molly Grabill plus Hannah Valenzuela & Julie Nacouzi will lead the US Junior Women, when they take on the best in the world. The Junior men will have three prep harriers on the team: Craig Lutz, Justin Vilhaeuer and Ammar Moussa.