December 3, 2005

Hilton Girls Cross Country #1 in Nation at NIKE Team Nationals in Portland Dec. 3, 2005

 Congratulations to Hilton Girls Cross Country: 1st in the nation!

Allison Sawyer - 8th: 20:21 Amanda Griggs - 12th: 20:35 Caroline Schultz - 13th: 20:38 Shelby Herman - 19th - 20:56 Ashley Jones - 33rd - 21:12 Caileen Childs - 127th - 23:47  Erin Pratt - 140th - 27:00 Nicole Griffiths - sat out last race due to lack of medical clearance         

Coach Mike Szczepanik - Monroe County Sect. V Coach of the Year Although the times were off due to the mud and water on the track, Hilton Girls Cross Country wiped out the competition scoring "85" with number-one ranked Saratoga coming in second at "112."  [The lower score reflects the fastest finishers.]  "Such a decisive win!" said Cheryl Griggs, Amanda's mother, who is also a runner.  "We wiped them out!"  The race was 5,000 meters [5K].  Runners had microchips in their shoes which was broadcast on an electronic leader board.  "We were the front group, all together for the first 1,000," said Mrs. Griggs. "The team score was ahead all the way through the race."  Twenty of the country's best teams competed in the second annual Nike Team Nationals.   

Hilton Girls Cross Country earned the all-expense-paid trip to Portland, Oregon Nov. 30-Dec. 4 for the Nike Team Nationals  http://www.nike.com/nikerunning/niketeamnationals/index.jhtml for a national cross country race against the best clubs in the nation.  Hilton Girls Cross Country at Nike Team Nationals: http://dyestat.com/#ntn   The 2nd Annual Nike Team Nationals, in Portland, Oregon Dec. 3, 2005, pitted the fastest men's and women's cross country teams in the country.  Teams were selected on the basis of regional rankings which are derived from a combination of competition performances at USA Track & Field events, affiliate high school competitions, and other non-sanctioned events.  The Nike Team Nationals is the only national Cross-Country team championship with USA Track and Field-registered clubs composed of the best high-school-age athletes, and younger, competing in a team setting.  The top two men's teams and the top two women's teams from each region [Northeast, Southeast, South, Midwest, Heartland, Southwest, Northwest and California], plus four at-large selections each for men and women will make up the 20-team fields.  "The race on Dec. 3 was streamed live on http://www.Dyestat.com," said Cross Country Coach Mike Szczepanik.  He was accompanied by Hilton Boys Coach, Jeff Merkel.   Front from left, Shelby Herman, Caileen Childs, Ashley Jones; rear from left, Erin Pratt, Nicole Griffiths, Allison Sawyer, Caroline Schultz and Amanda Griggs, Coach Mike Szczepanik.   For more: Hilton Runnin' Cadets - Girls Varsity Cross Country; Coach Szczepanik: 585-392-1000 ext. 2221; or Hilton Director of Athletics Denney Wilcox at 585-392-1000 ext. 2135.   NIKE presentation in Portland  

In addition to earning a spot to compete for the national title, runners had the opportunity to experience a weekend of events related to the sport both on and off the course including educational seminars and activities.  Athletes will be given the opportunity to learn about career options, speak with NCAA representatives about college opportunities and rules, learn from world renowned coaches and athletes, and interact with other runners from around the country.  Created to celebrate cross country as a team sport, the Nike Team National is a non-for-profit event and collaborative venture between USA Track & Field, Nike of Beaverton, Oregon, Foot Locker and the National Scholastic Sports Foundation.  In 2004, the Nike Team Nationals hosted a crowd of more than 5,000 to the Portland Meadows thoroughbred racetrack to see the Kroy Cross Country Club of Elmhurst, Illinois win the boys race and Kinetic Cross Country Club of Saratoga Springs, NY win the girls race. "The original idea for the Nike Team Nationals grew out of Nike's long passion for running and our commitment to provide the highest platform for team cross country competition," said Joaque Hidalgo, VP of US Marketing.  "As with last year's event, our goal for the invitational is to celebrate cross country as a team sport while recognizing the country's top youth runners."  Following in the tradition of European cross country meets, the event will again feature a multiple loop race course with man-made obstacles built on the inside of the horse race track. Spectators will be able to enjoy a continuous live view of the race from the venue's enclosed 3,000-seat grandstand.  This year the Nike Team National event is providing spectators and coaches handheld computer devices, utilizing FinishLynx tracking technology, to see team scores posted to a live leader board every kilometer.  The technology was first introduced in the races' inaugural year and provides instant feedback on a teams' position in the race allowing coaches to adjust strategy in the midst of the event. In addition to real-time race tracking, event data is then transferred to http://www.niketeamnationals.com following the completion of the race so spectators, participants and coaches can replay the race of select teams and/or individuals.  The Nike Team Nationals is a part of the larger Nike Nationals championship series which includes the Nike Outdoor Nationals and Nike Indoor Nationals.  The series of events was established in 2004 to help strengthen the national circuit for high school cross country and track and field competition.  Twenty girls and twenty boys clubs, comprising 320 runners will be invited to this year's event.