From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

With word coming down Thursday that after 45 years the Kinney / Foot Locker cross country series is ending we thought we’d take a look back at New Jersey’s history at Foot Locker Nationals.

The first national XC championships began as Foot Locker in 1979, with the championship race held at Balboa Park in San Diego. The finals moved to Disney World in Orlando in 1981 and 1982 before moving back to San Diego in 1983. It returned to San Diego from 1997 through 2001. Kinney became Foot Locker in 1993 and for one year – in 2021 – it was known as Eastbay.

Hopefully, this is a complete list of New Jersey Foot Locker finalists, but if someone is missing please let me know!

BOYS
1979
Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 5th [15:27]
Jerry Andrews [DNF, 1979]
1980
Cliff Sheehan [Westfield], 14th [15:36]
1981
Carlos Hanze [Central Reg.], 16th [15:11.3]
Tom Fischer [Manalapan], 24th [15:36.6]
1982
John Carlotti [Bernards], 32nd [16:29.8]
1983
Brad Hudson [North Hunterdon], 7th [15:12.2]
Jim Herdman [Hunterdon Central], 27th [16:02.5]
1984
Bill Babcock [North Hunterdon], 5th [15:19]
Andy Martin [North Hunterdon], 19th [15:45.0]
1985
Ron Faith [Paul VI], 22nd [15:22.6]
Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 23rd [15:22.8]
1986
Carlos Martins [Newark East Side], 10th [15:17.7]
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 18th [15:28.2]
1987
John Coyle [CBA], 15th [15:29.3]
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 21st [15:44.0]
Eric Lorenz [Holy Cross], 25th [15:57.6]
1988
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 2nd [15:10.1]
Mike Mykytok [Bound Brook], 3rd [15:12.7]
John Coyle [CBA], 5th [15:15.7]
1989
None
1990
Bryan Spoonire [Asbury Park], 25th [16:05.2]
1991
Brendan Heffernan [North Hunterdon], 10th [15:36]
Rob Reeder [Northern Highlands], 25th [16:05.5]
1992
Brendan Heffernan [North Hunterdon], 1st [15:13.4]
Bob Keino [Ridgewood], 4th [15:25.7]
1993
Bob Keino [Ridgewood], 5th [15:09.6]
1994
None
1995
None
1996
Steve Slattery [Mount Olive], 9th [15:49.1]
Adam Daniels [Seton Hall Prep], 24th [16:17.7]
Matt Elmuccio [Westfield], 31st [16:51.2]
1997
Steve Slattery [Mount Olive], 4th [15:46.5]
Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 9th [15:52.0]
Ian Hahn [Mancheseter Twp.], 17th [16:10.0]
1998
Jon Fasulo [Hunterdon Central], 10th [15:47.4]
Nate Miller [Highland], 23rd [16:21.3]
1999
None
2000
None
2001
Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 25th [15:57.31]
2002
None
2003
Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 29th [16:07]
2004
Bobby Papazian [Gill St. Bernard], 28th [16:13]
2005
Jeff Perrella [Westfield], 26th [15:45]
2006 
Craig Forys [Colts Neck], 2nd [15:24]
Brandon Jarrett [St. Benedict’s], 12th [15:36]]
2007
Brandon Jarrett [St. Benedict’s], 6th [15:16]
Brian Leung [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 15:41]
2008
George Galasso [Holmdel], 27th [16:01]
Tyler Udland [Millburn], 34th [16:18]
Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 40th [18:41]
2009
Dave Oster [Verona], 15th [15:42]
Tyler Udland [Millburn], 16th [15:43]
2010
Matt McDonald [North Hunterdon], 23rd [15:40]
Patrick Rono [Lyndhurst], 24th [15:42]
Morgan Pearson [Delbarton], 27th [15:48]
2011
Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s], 1st [14:52]
Timothy Ball [Piscataway], 16th [15:33]
Blake Udland [Millburn], 40th [16:54]
2012
Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s Academy], 1st [14:59]
Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 23rd [15:45]
Kyle Kroon [Toms River South], 28th [15:56]
2013
Liam Mullett [Pingry School], 15th [15:36]
Louis Corgliano [Hammonton], 24th [15:50]
Scott Meehan [Pope John XXIII], 36th [16:13]
2014
Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 34th [16:22]
Shawn Hutchison [Bishop Eustace], 39th [16:38]
2015
Joshua Clark [Highland], 26th [15:46.5]
Joe Dragon [High Point], 30th 15:55.5]
Matt Grossman [Millburn], 35th [16:06.8]
2016
Matt Grossman [Millburn], 26th [15:41.1]
Elliott Gindi [Ocean Twp.], 31st [15:46.7]
2017
Devin Hart [Point Pleasant], 10th [15:45.9]
Fahd Nasser [McNair Academic], 18th [15:57.8]
Damien Dilcher [Brick Twp.], 25th [16:10.9]
2018
Jack Stanley [Mendham], 7th [15:30.1]
Devin Hart [Point Pleasant Borough], 24th [16:06.3]
Liam Murphy [Allentown], 33rd [16:20.3]
2019
Kevin Antczak [Mainland Regional], 8th [15:25.0]
Jack Jennings [West Morris Mendham], 9th [15:29.4]
Liam Murphy [Allentown], 25th [15:53.6]
2020
Not held
2021
Shane Brosnan [Union Catholic], 7th [15:27.9]
Marco Langon [Bridgewater-Raritan], 9th [15:28.1]
2022
None
2023
Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 32nd [16:03.9]
2024
None

GIRLS
1979
Ann Gladue [Bayley Ellard], 3rd [17:51]
1980
None
1981
Janet Smith [J.P. Stevens], 5th [17:11.7]
Theresa Gschwind [Summit], 12th [17:31.3]
Meg Waldron [Bernards], 22nd [18:20.2]
1982
Michelle Rowan [Washington Twp.], 2nd [17:02.3]
Janet Smith [J.P. Stevens], 5th [17:13.6]
1983
Janet Smith [J.P. Stevens], 1st [16:43.7]
Missy Duchini [Wayne Valley], 12th [17:57.6]
Stacy Ann Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 24th [18:32.6]
1984
Jen Van Horn [Wayne Valley], 28th [18:53]
1985
Jodi Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 10th [17:25.5]
Anne Marie Letko [North Hunterdon], 19th [18:01.3]
1986
Jodi Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 17th [18:06.8]
Anne Marie Letko [North Hunterdon], 18th [18:07.2]
1987
Christi Constantin [Kittatinny Reg.], 5th [17:34.9]
Jodi Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 22nd [18:27.7]
1988
Christi Constantin [Kittatinny Reg.], 3rd [17:18.4]
Kristen Hall [West Morris Central], 26th [18:44.5]
Catherine Feeney [Wayne Valley], 32nd [20:40.1]
1989
Monal Chokshi [Bridgewater-Raritan], 24th [19:01.6]
1990
Monal Chokshi [Bridgewater-Raritan], 10th [18:08.0]
1991
Monal Chokshi [Bridgewater-Raritan], 24th [19:00.8]
1992
None
1993
None
1994
None
1995
Autumn Fogg [Hunterdon Central], 12th [18:04.6]
1996
Dana Satir [Ramsey], 31st [20:28.0]
1997
None
1998
Cate Guiney [Middletown South], 7th [18:10.00]
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 17th [18:36.91]
Cheryl Bauer [Morris Hills], 32nd [22:05.47]
1999
None
2000
None
2001
Lindsay Van Alstine [Hawthorne Christian], 27th [18:16.79
2002
Katy Trotter [Red Bank Regional], 2nd [17:43.9]
2003
Jen Clausen [Jackson], 21st [18:27]
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 30th [19:23]
2004
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 37th [19:45]
2005
Danielle Tauro [Southern Regional], 6th [17:41]
Briana Jackucewicz [Colts Neck], 37th [18:46]
2006
Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 22nd [18:40]
2007
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 18th [18:04]
Katie McCafferty [Oak Knoll], 28th [18:36]
2008
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 8th [17:49]
Laura Vigilante [West Morris Mendham], 16th [18:14]
Melanie Thompson [Voorhees], 17th [18:18]
Katie Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro], 27th [18:34]
2009
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 7th [17:37]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 18th [18:05]
2010
Megan Venables [Highland Regional], 5th [17:35]
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 24th [18:17]
Caroline Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 37th [18:39]
2011
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 28th [18:18]
Caroline Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 36th [18:33]
2012
Megan Curham [Villa Walsh Academy], 14th [17:56]
Marisa Ruskan [Bridgewater-Raritan], 18th [18:04]
Mackenzie Barry [West Morris Mendham], 27th [18:21]
2013
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 13th [17:52]
2014
Eve Glassergreen [North Hunterdon], 34th [19:07]
2015
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg,], 23rd [18:20.5]
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 29th [18:25.5]
2016
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 13th [17:55.2]
2017
Abby Loveys [Randolph], 33rd [18:59.7]
2018
Abby Loveys [Randolph], 11th [17:48.4]
Nicole Vanasse [Pingry], 32nd [18:54.5]
2019
Nicole Vanasse [Pingry], 27th [18:20.5]
2020
None
2021
Angelina Perez [Lakeland], 2nd [17:19.7]
Lilly Shapiro [Colts Neck], 19th [17:58.0]
2022
Emma Zawatski [Freehold Twp.], 23rd [18:11.4]
Olivia Murray [Pingry], 31st [18:36.1]
2023
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 33rd [18:49.8]
2024
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 23^rd [18:33.5]
Alliusn Lee [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 29^th [18:50.3]