Hill, Rocha headline Foot Locker West Regionals

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Annie Hill won the Nike Cross Nationals Northwest Regional, but the sophomore standout from Glacier High in Kalispell (Montana) decided to pursue a Foot Locker national title instead.

Phillip Rocha has already won a Nike Cross Nationals team championship in his Arcadia High career, in addition to being an All-American in Oregon last year, but the senior star is motivated to achieve similar recognition in his home state.

The two undefeated state champions headline the 37^th Foot Locker West Regionals on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College, with the top 10 boys and girls from the 5-kilometer seeded races advancing to race at the national championships Dec. 12 at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego.

The girls seeded race is scheduled for 9:50 a.m., followed by the boys seeded race at 10:30 a.m.

SEEDED ENTRIES

Hill, who won the NXN Northwest Regional on Nov. 14 after repeating as Montana Class AA champion, is the top returning female after finishing fourth last year in 18:10.6. She earned All-America honors by placing eighth overall after being the fastest freshman at the national finals.

Rocha, who has competed at NXN the past three years, is making his Foot Locker West debut. The two-time California Division I state champ is tied for the second-fastest time on the 2.93-mile Mt. SAC course when he clocked 14:24 on Oct. 24 at the 68^th Mt. SAC Invitational.

The top returning male athlete from last year’s regional is Utah talent Garek Bielaczyc of Salt Lake City East. Bielaczyc, who placed eighth Nov. 21 at the NXN Southwest Regional in Arizona, was ninth in last year’s Foot Locker West seeded race on his way to a 27^th-place finish at nationals.

San Luis Obispo’s Callum Bolger, 15^th at last year’s regionals, returns along with 16^th-place finisher Talon Hull, the Utah 5A state runner-up from Weber High in Ogden.

California Division 4 state champion Andrew Burkhardt, 38^th last year, and Division 5 winner Cooper Teare of St. Joseph Notre Dame and runner-up Jack Van Scoter of Flintridge Prep, who placed 19^th last season, are also scheduled to compete.

Washington 3A state champion Justin Janke of North Central in Spokane, who competed at NXN the past three years, makes his Foot Locker West debut. Oregon standout Jackson Mestler of Sheldon High in Eugene, who placed second Nov. 22 to Janke at Nike Border Clash, is also scheduled to race along with Utah talent Dallin Leatham of Viewmont, who placed seventh at the NXN Southwest Regional.

Hill is one of three returning national finalists competing in the girls seeded race.

Citrus Valley junior Claire Graves was seventh in last season’s regionals and Bella Vista senior Kendall Derry placed eighth. Graves placed 29^th and Derry finished 38^th last year at Foot Locker nationals. Derry finished fourth Nov. 28 in the California Division 2 state final and Graves placed eighth.

Jordan Oakes of Holy Names Academy in Seattle, the Washington 3A state champion, returns after finishing 11^th in last year’s regionals, missing a trip to nationals by less than five seconds. Oakes will be joined by teammate Erin Ripple, who placed 20^th in the seeded race last season.

Brittany Aquino, the Washington 2A state champion from East Valley High in Spokane, returns following a 13^th-place finish last year. Central Valley Christian’s Gabby Satterlee is back after placing 16^th last season.

California Division 3 state champion Stefani Gaskell of Sultana – 22^nd at last year’s regionals – and runner-up Cassy Hakell of Miramonte are also entered, along with Las Lomas’ Chloe Hansel, who raced at NXN last season. Tesoro’s Amanda Gehrich, who raced at NXN last year, was scheduled to compete in the girls seeded race, but withdrew on the eve of the event because of illness.