By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Football season is fast upon us in 2024 and much of the country can hardly wait. We came across this old standup comedy routine by what was then a 24-year-old Andy Griffith, first written and produced in 1953. For those who haven’t heard it before, it is a fun way to get into the spirit of the upcoming season.
Andy Griffith was born and raised in Mt. Airy, N.C., and passed away in 2012, in Manteo, N.C. In between, he had a storied career as an actor, musician and comedian.
He starred in two long-running TV productions, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-68) and Matlock (1986-95), also appearing in numerous other television productions and feature films. For a full understanding of his life, legacy and influences, please visit his Wikipedia page HERE.
The following was provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — A 3-entry “jump-off” decided the winner. When the sawdust settled, a horse named Corleano — owned by a Wellington, Fla. stable, with a Wellford, S.C. trainer and ridden by a young woman from Austin, Texas — emerged triumphant in the Russell Hall Memorial Classic, a feature event of the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show on July 28.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click on any image to activate Slide Show mode for best viewing)
A field of seven horses and riders negotiated the twists, turns and hurdles of the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve’s inside arena for the Russell Hall Memorial, with scores of patrons, other riders, owners, trainers and support personnel lining the fences, jamming the box seats, and watching intently under overcast skies (but otherwise dry conditions).
Quinn Larimer on Bronson CR picked up second place in the Russell Hall Memorial Classic on July 28 at the 2024 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The first four horse and rider duos knocked off at least one rail but the last three all had clean runs, thus forcing the 3-way jump-off.
The last rider in Round 1, Nick Stewart riding Jaspar (owned by Across Town Farm, LLC; trained by Emma Fogler) opted to immediately make his jump-off run but knocked down a rail. Next up was Quinn Larimer on Bronson CR (owned by Nestledown Equine Services LLC and trained by Lauren Kissel) — and he also failed to make a clean run.
Nick Stewart on Jaspar, glances ahead to the next fence, placing third in the Russell Hall Memorial Classic during the 102nd running of the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The faults of the first two entries may have been miniscule but they left open the door for Corleano and Texas rider Grace Loughlin. As soon as they had traversed the circuit without a hiccup and within the allowed time, the public address declared what everyone already knew: “And there’s your Russell Hall Memorial champion.”
The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Foundation hosts three equestrian events each summer, a Saddlebred competition in mid-June and two separate Hunter-Jumper competitions in consecutive weeks at the end of July, with the second week overlapping into early August.
The first Blowing Rock show was staged in 1923 on Green Hill Road, near what is the Green Park Inn. Now the longest, continuous running equestrian competition in the nation, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is in its 102nd year, with one week to go, from Tuesday July 30 to Sunday, August 4.
A popular show especially among high-level equestrians across the South and East, the event features competitors of all ages, from the very youngest amateurs to the most veteran professionals. The Hunter Jumper competition attracts more than 500 horses each year and well over 2,000 event participants to town from all over the U.S.
BONUS SCENES FROM THE CHILDREN’S “LEAD LINE” EVENT ON JULY 28
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
BOONE, N.C. – App State outfielder Banks Tolley has signed his first professional contract with the Missoula PaddleHeads.
The PaddleHeads are a member of the Pioneer League, an independent professional baseball league that operates as one of Major League Baseball’s partner leagues.
Named a second-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings and a third-team selection by D1Baseball, Tolley put together one of the best seasons in App State history in 2024.
Editor’s Note: Missoula is the second most populous city (approx. 80,000) in Montana, near the state boundary with Idaho.
The senior center fielder led the Sun Belt Conference in home runs (26), slugging percentage (.781) and OPS (1.265) while ranking second in batting average (.379) and RBIs (77), fourth in on-base (.484), fifth in runs scored (70) and tied for seventh in hits (85) on his way to being named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection.
Banks Tolley launches a ‘missile’ in the 6-run 8th inning for App State vs. Marshall on March 29. Photographic image by David Rogers
Tolley, Georgia’s Charlie Condon and Austin Peay’s Lyle Miller-Green were the only Division I players in the country with at least a .375 batting average, 25-plus home runs and 75-plus RBIs. Tolley tied for 13th nationally in home runs and 17th nationally in RBIs while also ranking in the top 50 for highest batting average.
The Ole Miss transfer set the single-season program record with 26 home runs, blowing past the previous record of 17.
Tolley tallied five multi-homer games and registered the second three-homer game in program history, culminating with a walk-off blast in the 10th inning for a win over Georgia Southern on May 16 to secure the Mountaineers a top-six seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.
In Montgomery, Ala., Tolley went 5-for-16 with a double, a homer and six RBIs in four games and was selected to the Sun Belt All-Tournament team.
He also posted 27 multi-hit games and 21 multi-RBI games, hitting safely in 29 of his final 35 contests. Tolley set the App State single-season record for home runs (26), RBIs (77) and total bases (175). He ranks second in single-season history for runs scored (70) and slugging (.781).
Tolley joins Austin St. Laurent (Seattle Mariners), Drew Holderbach (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Florence Y’alls) and Dante Chirico (Florence Y’alls) as members of the 2024 squad to sign professional contracts.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Looking for a new dojo may be the order of the day for the Boone Bigfoots. The local Coastal Plain League franchise got schooled, 20-6, by the visiting High Point-Thomasville HiToms on July 24 at Smith Stadium, on an entertaining “Cobra Kai Night” for the more than 1,100 fans in attendance.
The night started out with a bang for fans, quite literally, as a stunt demonstration team from the Cobra Kai TV show performed, breaking blocks of wood and demonstrating various fighting skills and assorted other weapons.
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Pushing across a run in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second, Boone led 4-2 after three full innings of play, but a 6-run explosion by the HiToms in the fourth inning erased the deficit and gave the visitors a lead they would never relinquish. Although the Bigfoots added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, the HiToms piled on in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, scoring 12 unanswered runs to trigger the CPL’s “mercy rule.”
Actor Martin Kove plays the ‘villain’ in the Cobra Kai TV show but on July 24, he was the good guy who threw out the first pitch for the Boone Bigfoots game vs. the High Point-Thomasville HitToms and patiently took scores of photos with players and signed autographs for fans. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
HPT’s middle reliever Royce Aurderhar, a Lexington, N.C. native playing collegiately for Catawba College, was credited as the winning pitcher while giving up two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings. Boone’s middle reliever, Ian Squires, picked up the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings of work.
Altogether, three Bigfoots pitchers (Jacob Lauderdale, Squires and Evan Long) gave up 17 earned runs on 17 hits in their combined seven innings of work. Will Papciak started on the mount for the HiToms, but was pulled after 2.2 innings. The Davidson College righthander threw 85 pitches in just 2.2 innings of work, facing 19 batters over that span. Dylan Christensen closed out the game for HPT, giving up one hit while shutting out the Bigfoots over the final two innings.
Zan Von Schlegell (26) is off and running July 24 on a pitch by High Point-Thomasville’s Will Papciak at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
(all photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports)
Actor Martin Kove plays the ‘villain’ in the Cobra Kai TV show but on July 24, he was the good guy who threw out the first pitch for the Boone Bigfoots game vs. the High Point-Thomasville HitToms and patiently took scores of photos with players and signed autographs for fans. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country SportsPhotographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. CANTON, Ohio — It is summertime in Canton, Ohio, but the NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement was still 19 days in the future. All the attention on July 13 was about the 22 elite women’s runners competing in the USA Track & Field (USATF) Women’s 6k Championship — and Blowing Rock’s ZAP Endurance was well represented.
USATF 6k Championship course. Graphic courtesy of Women’s 6k Festival. Click on image to enlarge.
Closing out her first remarkable year as a professional runner, ZAP Endurance member Amanda Vestri completed the 3.73-miles course (with 13 twists and turns from Malone University to downtown Canton) in 18 minutes, 16 seconds (18:16), finishing No. 2. She was just 13 seconds behind first place Annie Rodenfels, a 27-yearold athlete from Newton, Mass., representing the Boston Athletic Association/adidas. Rodenfels is one of the nation’s top 3,000-meters Steeplechase performers, qualifying for the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials in the event where she finished No. 8. Similarly, Vestri also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, in the 10k, where she finished No. 5.
Vestri went out strong in the Women’s 6k Championship event (held in conjunction with the larger, Women’s 6k Festival, with almost 300 athletes competing), leading the race as they neared the first mile marker.
The official scorer has Vestri in third place at the end of the first mile, with Rodenfels at No. 5. The Blowing Rock runner finished the first mile in a blistering 4:49 in near 90-degree heat.
Blowing Rock’s Amanda Vestri approaches the finish at No. 2 in the USATF Women’s 6k Championship on July 13 in Canton, Ohio. Photo courtesy of ZAP Endurance
Rachel Smith, of Flagstaff, Ariz., was credited with the No. 1 finish of the first mile, with an identical time as Vestri, in 4:49. With Rodenfels’ first mile also recorded as 4:49, it would be accurate to say that the early leaders were tightly bunched.
At some point during the second mile, Rodenfels took command of the race, surging to the lead for good and crossing the second mile marker in 9:41. The field was still bunched, however, as Vestri completed the second mile in 9:42, recorded to be in the No. 5 position, with Emma Grace Hurley of Zionsville, Ind., listed at No. 2 but with the same time as Vestri. Abby Nichols of Flagstaff, Ariz. was also in the 9:42 group, as was Smith.
Photo courtesy of ZAP Endurance
In the last 1.73 miles, Rodenfels expanded her advantage over the rest of the group, while second-place Vestri finished four seconds ahead of No. 3, Hurley.
In addition to Rodenfels (3000 Steeplechase) and Vestri (10k), Nichols (5k), Allie Ostrander (3000 Steeplechase) and Natosha Rogers (5k and 10k) competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The top eight finishers collected prize money, including Rodenfels ($6,000) and Vestri ($4,000). The top three finishers, including Vestri, also picked up a $2,500 bonus for running under 18:30.
Afterward, ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea had high praise for his newest team member.
“Amanda had an excellent first year as a pro,” said Rea. “She improved exponentially on both the track and in road racing. On the track, she improved her 10,000 meters time by a full minute (placing No. 5 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June) and on the roads as well. She was No. 10 at the U.S. 20k last September, No. 7 at the U.S. Road 5k, No. 4 at the Road 10k and now runner-up in the 6k to close out her year. She is young, just 24, so I believe she’ll see international success in the coming years.”
TOP 10 FINISHERS IN USA TRACK & FIELD WOMEN’S 6K CHAMPIONSHIP
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Dominating play for much of the first half but unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Appalachian FC’s 2024 season came to an end on July 13 in “The Valley” (Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium), falling to Hickory FC, 3-0.
In front of the season’s largest crowd filling the grandstands and on the surrounding ridges, with drums banging and chants echoing across the playing field relentlessly, the first half was scoreless until the 39th minute when Hickory’s John Osadolor capitalized on an Appalachian defender’s miscue and zipped the ball past the Sasquatch goalkeeper to take a still nervous, 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Hickory striker John Osadolor (18), a native of Madrid, Spain who plays collegiately for Francis Marion College, helps thwart an Appalachian FC attack in the first half by heading the ball out after a corner kick. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports.
The second half was more of the same until Hickory was awarded a penalty kick in the 80th minute. The PK was blocked, but Hickory’s Ivan Rubio alertly jumped on the rebound and punched it forward into the net.
Appalachian — which came into the game as the Conference tournament’s No. 1 seed and ranked as high as No. 4 overall in the National Premier Soccer League (comprised of more than 90 teams across the United States) — never gave up after going down 2-0 with just over 10 minutes to play. Unfortunately, the High Country’s favorite Sasquatchers were unable to convert while No. 2 seeded Hickory found the net yet again in the waning moments of stoppage time with a goal by Bjarne Renner.
After the match, Hickory head coach Carlos Rubio, who is also the men’s soccer head coach for Lenoir-Rhyne University, was understandably enthusiastic about his team’s upset win over the No. 1 seeded Appalachian FC.
Appalachian FC on counterattack, July 13 against Hickory in the conference playoff finals at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium. Hickory prevailed, 3-0, against the No. 1 seeded Appalachian team. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“This was a fantastic night,” said Rubio. “The guys have (bought into) our method, our way. They succeeded today and did a fantastic job.
If anyone is going to beat us make sure it is them that beating us and not us losing the game, that we don’t beat ourselves.
“We did exactly what we wanted to do,” Rubio added. “We wanted to take the ball away from them. (Appalachian is) a really good team. We made a few adjustments. It was a really good game of soccer and I am proud of our defensive effort.”
If there was a common thread of attributes for both teams in the match, it was counterattacking, quickly stymying the opponent’s attack and just as quickly reversing the momentum of the game, going on attack back up the field.
“Yes,” said Rubio. “Both teams have fantastic players.”
Hickory goalkeeper Humberto Tapia disrupts an Appalachian FC attack on July 13, to preserve an eventual, 3-0 shutout for the No. 2-seeded visitors. Photographic image by David Rogers
On the other side of the outcome, Appalachian head coach Dale Parker was more sanguine.
“Of course we are disappointed,” said Parker, “as I try to wrap my head around what just happened. The way we conceded the first goal was very disappointing. From that point on, we were pushing too hard almost to try and find an equalizer and ended up giving up the second goal (on a penalty kick). At that point, well…
“The 3-nil score flatters them a little bit but you have to credit Hickory. They came in with a game plan and when they got their opportunity, they took it and we were not able to bring them down tonight, unfortunately.”
In the first half, Appalachian seemed to dominate the game on the offensive end but unable to convert.
Hickory had a large, enthusiastic and loud legion of supporters for the July 13 match against top-seeded Appalachian FC. Photographic image by David Rogers
“The chances we created were enough to win the game for us,” said Parker, “if we had converted. But when you give the opponent a goal like we did and shift the momentum… It is something we spoke about before the game: if anyone is going to beat us make sure it is them that is beating us and not us losing the game, that we don’t beat ourselves.”
Unfortunately, we want to still be playing at this point in the season and now we are not.
Reflecting on the entire season, Parker said, “In the moment, I am really proud of our season. We had a team here that could go on and do good things in the national tournament but, unfortunately, in these knockout games you have to be prepared for the unexpected. So I am really pleased with the team that we built and really please with our performance (8-0-2) to this point. Unfortunately, we want to still be playing and we are not now.”
Sasqiatch (at bottom), leads the Appalachian FC faithful on July 13 in the conference playoff finals vs. Hickory FC. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Parker was especially complimentary of the community’s embrace of high quality soccer in the High Country, including the ongoing partnerships of the business community as well as those of Appalachian FC, App State Athletics, High Country United Soccer Association and Watauga High School.
“Soccer has not always been so popular in these parts,” said Parker, “… the growth of the game in the last four years has been really amazing. On a night like tonight, you wish we could have given our community a little bit more than we did. It is disappointing that we didn’t see it through.”
With the win, Hickory advances to the NPSL Regionals, opponent yet to be named.
BONUS PHOTOS (For best viewing on laptop or PC, click on any image for Slide Show mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Hickory had a large, enthusiastic and loud legion of supporters for the July 13 match against top-seeded Appalachian FC. Photographic image by David RogersSasqiatch (at bottom), leads the Appalachian FC faithful on July 13 in the conference playoff finals vs. Hickory FC. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A 4-RBI night for Watauga alum Tristan Salinas, including a 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, helped power the Boone Bigfoots to an 11-5 win over the Asheboro Zookeepers on July 13, at App State’s Smith Field.
In taking the win, the Bigfoots leveraged six strong innings by starting pitcher Jacob Lauderdale, who limited the Zookeepers to just two runs on four hits and throwing 53 strikes in his 95 pitches of work.
Bigfoots starting pitcher Jacob Lauderdale threw six strong innings on July 12 against the Asheboro Zookeepers in an 11-5 win. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The Bigfoots’ designated hitter, Cameron Benson, put the finishing touches on the home team’s 6-run explosion in the bottom of the second inning with a 2-run home run, hammering the ball over the fence on a 2-0 count. Previous to Benson’s blast, an array of Bigfoot batters manufactured four, “small-ball” runs by beating out infield singles, patiently waiting for walks, taking advantage of passed balls allowed by Asheboro starting pitcher Noah Samol and catcher Alex LaCoste, and a 2-RBI single to right field by Boone catcher Kory Klingenbeck.
With the win, the Bigfoots are 6-6 in the second half of the Coastal Plain League season. They face league leader Martinsville (8-3) at Smith Stadium on Saturday, July 13, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Right-handed pitcher Dante Chirico and first baseman Drew Holderbach from App State have signed professional baseball contracts with the Florence Y’alls.
The Y’alls compete in Florence, Ky., and are a member of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league that operates as one of Major League Baseball’s partner leagues.
“I’m thrilled for Dante and Drew,” head coach Kermit Smith said. “They are two guys who love the game and have an opportunity to continue their career. They will make the most of this opportunity and will no doubt continue to give their all. It’s a great day to be a Mountaineer.”
Chirico pitched in 36 games for the Mountaineers across two seasons and was a member of the Mountaineers’ weekend rotation in 2024. The righty went 4-2 with a 6.25 ERA this past season, striking out 59 batters in 67.2 innings of work while holding opponents to a .240 batting average.
A native of Chapin, S.C., Chirico’s season was highlighted by tossing seven innings in a combined one-hitter against South Alabama on May 2. Two weeks later, Chirico fired a career-high eight innings in App State’s win over Old Dominion. In his final outing in a Black and Gold uniform, Chirico retired the first 12 batters he faced, including seven strikeouts, in the Sun Belt Tournament against Troy on May 22.
“It means the world to me to have the opportunity to be able to come and compete with the Y’alls,” Chirico said.
Dante Chirico, pitching for the Boone Bigfoots. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Holderbach started all 55 games at first base for the Mountaineers in 2024, in his lone season in the High Country. The Fairfield, Ohio, native slashed .321/.465/.550 with 19 doubles, nine home runs and 48 RBIs. Holderbach reached base safely in each of the first 43 games of the season, the second-longest on-base streak in program history. He finished the season tied for fifth in the Sun Belt in doubles (19), sixth in runs scored (64), and fourth in hit by pitch (19). He also finished eighth in single-season program history for runs scored and tied for 10th in single-season doubles.
Holderbach registered 19 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games. In the power department, the Rice transfer hit a go-ahead, two-run home run at Texas State on March 17 for the longest App State home run in the TrackMan era, traveling 465 feet. He also blasted a go-ahead, three-run home run in seventh inning of an elimination game against Coastal Carolina on May 23 to help the Mountaineers advance in the Sun Belt Tournament. Defensively, Holderbach committed just three errors in 395 chances for a team-best .993 fielding percentage.
“I couldn’t be more excited to start my professional career,” Holderbach said. It is great to be able to play at the next level.”
The duo joins Jeffrey Springs (Tampa Bay Rays), Chandler Seagle (Padres, Triple-A), Kaleb Bowman (Brewers, Double-A), Jack Hartman (Rays, High-A), Xander Hamilton (Twins, Single-A) and Jaylin Davis (American Association) as former Mountaineers playing professional baseball.
By David Rogers. EUGENE, Ore. — Most mere mortals are challenged to run 800 meters in under two minutes, much less doing so after a fast-paced 4,200 meters. But that is exactly what 10 runners did on June 27 to advance to the 5,000-meter semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Trials — including Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance’s Eric van der Els.
van der Els, now in his second year training with the High Country’s professional distance running team of elite athletes, covered the last 800 meters in 1:55.
“He ran unreal,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea after the race.
The former University of Connecticut star at 1500 meters and 5000 meters on the track, as well as in cross country, now advances to the U.S. Olympic Trials’ final on Sunday, June 30, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
ZAP Endurance has one other athlete still in the mix for the U.S. Olympic Team. Amanda Vestri runs in the 10,000-meter final on Saturday, June 29, slated for 9:09 p.m. EDT.
The U.S. Olympic Trials are televised on NBC, USA and Peacock channels. Check local listings for exact broadcast schedules.
By David Rogers. EUGENE, Ore. — With under six laps to go in the Men’s 10,000 Meters final at the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 21, Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance’s Andrew Colley decided the pace was much too slow. His long, flowing locks sweeping back and forth behind him, the veteran marathoner and cross-country runner surged to the front of the star-studded field of U.S. athletes, pushing the pace faster.
Grant Fisher, the pre-race favorite from Michigan, the veteran and 2-time national champion Woody Kincaid, and the 21-yearold NCAA champion at 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, Nico Young, went with Colley, eventually overtaking him and finishing 1-2-3 to secure positions on the U.S. Olympic Team going to Paris. While the slow early pace meant that none of the runners crossed the finish line under the Olympic standard of 27 minutes, all three of the top runners had already beaten that mark in earlier races this season.
For his part, Colley faded to a No. 8 finish but still established a personal best for the 10,000 meters distance. Of interest: Colley was the only runner in the field to record a pers
ZAP Endurance had two of the top 10 U.S. runners in the 10,000 Meters finals, including Andrew Colley’s personal best.
For much of the early half of the race, the field broke into two groups, with Colley coasting at the back of the 6-man lead group and ZAP Endurance teammate Ryan Ford positioned near the rear of the second group.
Ford, however, was among the second pack runners who helped reel in the lead pack to form what amounted to a “peloton,” if put in cycling terms. At one point, Ford rallied to run among the top three athletes on the track before tucking in behind Colley in about sixth place.
But with six laps to go, Colley pushed to the front, perhaps hoping to run away from the field and take away any last lap finishing kick opportunities harbored by the pre-race favorites. Fisher and Kincaid, both running under the NIKE banner, as well as Young (Northern Arizona University) and adidas athlete Drew Hunter were up to the challenge.
“In a field featuring 24 of the nation’s best runners at the 10,000 meters distance, for ZAP Endurance to have two athletes in the top 10 is pretty special,” ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea said after the race. “I am really proud of our guys, especially Andrew’s personal best. Both of them continue to get better and better.”
ZAP Endurance still has three opportunities to send a High Country athlete to the Paris Olympics as a member of the U.S. team. Colley and Eric van der Els compete in the first round of the Men’s 5,000 Meters on Thursday, June 27, with the Final set for Sunday, June 30, and Amanda Vestri toes the line in the Women’s 10,000 Meters Final on Saturday, June 29.
Also of High Country interest among the events run on June 21 at the Olympic Trials, Boone’s Abby Cooper just missed advancing to the semifinals of the Women’s 5,000 Meters, finishing No. 7 in a slow-paced Heat 2. The top six finishers of each heat advanced, plus the three fastest of the other runners. All three of the auto-qualifiers came from the faster-paced Heat 1.
Elle St. Pierre (New Balance Boston) ran away with Heat 1, challenged by veteran Karissa Schweizer (NIKE/Bowerman Track Club) and recent NCAA champion Parker Valby (University of Florida). Elise Cranny took top honors in Heat 2, which also featured former NC State runner Katelyn Tuohy, now running for adidas. Heat 2 was also a debut of sorts for Elizabeth Leachman, who just completed her sophomore year at Boerne Champion High School, a suburb of San Antonio, Texas. Leachman finished No. 13 in the heat but the 16-yearold gave notice that the running world may be hearing more from her in the future.
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