Virginians Scott & White earn All-American honors at Foot Locker Nationals

SAN DIEGO, CA - Virginia sent its largest delegation to Foot Locker Nationals Saturday since 2001 when three Virginian boys qualified in Bobby Lockhart, Fleet Hower, and Matt Keally. This year\'s Virginia delegation of three included Oaktree Academy sophomore Aurora Scott, Northside junior Catherine White, and Chantilly senior Brad Siragusa. Just like in Virginia\'s group of three in 2001, two Virginians earned All-American honors as Scott (9th, 17:49) and White (11th, 17:53) finished in the top 14 places, while Siragusa struggled with a 38th place performance of 16:43. Scott and White were also the top two finishers for the South region after finishing third and sixth respectively at the regional meet in Charlotte two weeks ago. While a disappointing finish for Siragusa after running two of the best races of his high school career at the state meet and Foot Locker South, the Northern Arizona University bound senior can not hang his head low on what has been a great final season of high school cross country. Fellow MileSplit Network webmaster Don Rich of penntrackxc.com was on-site with coverage at Foot Locker Nationals and has provided photos of the Virginians in action and also will be providing interviews conducted with White and Scott hopefully in the next day or two.

Virginians @ Foot Locker Nationals Photos from Don Rich @ penntrackxc.com

Aurora Scott

It\'s a lot better than last year. I was a lot more focused. The experience helped me big time. I had no questions about the race.

(Strategy): Just to hang in the back of the front pack, and stay in the top ten. I was a little sore after the first loop. That is something to work on for the next time... how to take the hills better. I was doing more hills than I did last year, but evidently it wasn\'t enough.

I was in 5th at the start of the 2nd loop, but I got behind going up the hill, and then when I came down, I caught a couple of people and sprinted past two people at the finish.

(Was this year\'s goal top ten?): I wanted to win it, because I knew I had the capability. I need more hills, and I\'ll figure out what else I have to do.

Brad Siragusa

Catherine White

I was definitely nervous, but I was hoping to get in the top 20. My plan was to stay in the pack and not start off too fast, and to race like I always do. I think I did a pretty good job of that. I usually go through the mile in 5:20, which is kind of fast, but that\'s what I usually do, so the pace didn\'t surprise me. And I liked having the hills there. It\'s pretty hilly in Virginia, so that was to my advantage, too.