Meddles takes 3rd at Foot Locker Nationals

Sierra Lutheran High School senior Wade Meddles wrapped up his high school cross country career in impressive fashion over the weekend, taking third at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals at Morley Field, Balboa Park in San Diego.

Meddles, who will run for Azusa Pacific in Southern California next year, ran the 5K course in 15 minutes, 26 seconds on Saturday despite a steady downpour. He also earned first-team All-American status for his finish.

He became the first Nevada native to finish in the top 10 at nationals since Douglas High's Bryan Carroll did it in 1981. It was also believed to be the highest-ever finish for a Nevada runner. Meddles and Carroll are the only two Northern Nevada athletes to have ever qualified for the national meet in the first place.

The rain pounded the course as the race took off with Meddles, and Regional Champions Brian Shrader (West), Craig Lutz (South), and Lukas Verzbicas (Midwest) setting the early pace hitting the first mile in 4:48.

By the mile-and-a-half mark, Verzbicas pulled away with Lutz, Shrader, and Matthew McElroy of Huntington Beach, Calif., in the chase group.

Verzbicas never relinquished his lead to become the first sophomore boy to earn the FLCCC National Title (15:08). McElroy placed second in 15:23 and Meddles third.

The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships is comprised of four regional 5K races, which took place across the country in the Midwest (Kenosha, Wis.), Northeast (Kings Park, N.Y.), and South (Charlotte, N.C.) on Nov. 28, and the West (Walnut, Calif.) on Dec. 5, culminating in the national finals. The pre-race and race footage can be viewed online at footlockercc.com.

The 2009 USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships were held in Reno over the weekend as well.

Runners battled through a snow-covered course at Rancho San Rafael Park, and a heavy snowfall during the race.

Sierra Lutheran's Nathanael Williams took 23rd in a field of over 180 in the intermediate boys division, posting a 5K time of 16:57. Douglas High's Andrew Cobourn took 43rd with a time of 17:28. He bested his qualifying time on the same course, despite the inclement weather, positioning himself for a strong junior season next year.

Pau-Wa-Lu's Lindsey Adams took 117th in a field of 228th racers in the youth girls division, running a 13:08 in the 3K.