Runner among 10 fastest in Midwest
Julia Bos, a junior at Grand Rapids Christian High School, and Taylor Manett, a senior at Rockford High School, participated in the Foot Locker National High School XC Championship Meet on Coronado Island in San Diego on Saturday, Dec. 10. Bos and Manett qualified for the national championship meet by placing in the top 10 at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional Meet on Saturday, Nov. 26 at University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
The United States is divided into four regions, and each held its own regional meet to determine its top 10 to send to the national meet. The Midwest Regional Meet was comprised of 263 runners from 13 states. These top 10 then became the Midwest XC Team to compete at the national championship meet against the other three regions.
Racing against the fastest 40 runners in the country, the Midwest team, with the help of Bos and Manett, claimed the national team championship by beating out the other three regions. They were awarded the national championship team medals.
Individually, Bos claimed 10th place and, although Manett would have been top 10 as well, she accidentally was tripped in a tight pack and went down, causing her to finish further back.
“Everyone has a bad race, and unfortunately that was mine,” Manett said.
Performing well enough to qualify for the national championship is an amazing feat in itself, and it proved to be a wonderful three-day experience for both Bos and Manett in California. They were still able to come back national champions being part of the winning Midwest team of 10.
Manett will continue her cross-country career at the Division I level next fall, entertaining offers from some great schools, but is still undecided. Bos still has one more year. High school cross country has officially come to a close, and the girls are now looking forward to track season. Could another national championship be looming?
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