The Spokane contingent at the West Regional meet—one of four Foot Locker competitions held across the country—is led by Gracie Ledwith of Lewis & Clark and Andrew Gardner of Mead. The top ten boys and girls will advance to the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego on December 8, joining top qualifiers from the Northeast, South and Midwest. Last year two Spokane runners—Nathan Weitz and Andrew Gardner—qualified for the meet, with Weitz finishing third and Gardner sixth. Gardner also competed in the 2010 Foot Locker Nationals, where he finished fourth.

2011 Foot Locker Group

The North Central Boys Cross Country team, meanwhile—a senior dominated team competing as North Spokane at National Cross Nationals—is led by Kai Wilmot and Tanner Anderson. The team seeks to add further laurels to their fall campaign, which included a seventh consecutive state 3A title and a sixth straight Northwest Regional championship. North Central senior and future University of Washington Husky Katie Knight will also be toeing the line in Portland in an attempt to better her 3rd place individual finish of 2011.

For the twentieth straight year, over 30 Spokane-area runners had their airline tickets to the Foot Locker meet donated by the Lilac Bloomsday Association. The Bloomsday Association provides airline tickets and ground transportation to runners based on times at regional cross-country meets held in the fall.

"We are always impressed with the quality of talent coming from Spokane area high schools,” said Lilac Bloomsday Association president Carol Hunter. "Bloomsday is proud to be able to help these runners realize their dreams."

More information on the Foot Locker Regionals and Nationals may be obtained by logging on to www.footlockercc.com/west. Information on Nike Team Nationals is available at www.runnerspace.com/nxn.

Runners sponsored to Foot Locker Meet by the Lilac Bloomsday Association:

Girls

Boys

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