Photos by Chuck Martin, John Roemer, and Steven Pisano
Foot Locker Nationals Boys' Preview
Pennsylvania is sending four boys to Balboa Park this weekend. Carlisle's Noah Affolder won Foot Locker Northeast for a second straight year, and his brother Sam Affolder was second. JP McCaskey's Nathan Henderson and Quaker Valley's Zach Skolnekovich also placed in the top ten at FLNE. They will all toe the line on Saturday in San Diego. Let's meet the qualifiers:
Noah Affolder (Carlisle)
Foot Locker Northeast: 1st place in 15:28
PIAA State Championships: 1st place in 15:33 (AAA)
His Resume: Affolder, a transfer from Carthage, New York, has adjusted to life in Pennsylvania with no hitches. He is undefeated in his senior season winning big races at PTXC 8, Carlisle (in a PR of 14:47), McQuaid, Manhattan, and then winning every race in the postseason at Mid-Penns, District 3, and then a PA state championship. He repeated two weeks ago as Foot Locker Northeast champion.
His Nationals Outlook: He is one of the favorites to take the individual national title in San Diego. The elder Affolder has tailored his training in hopes of peaking for Saturday. He was 15th last year, so he has the experience on the course. He hasn't really been tested this season, though, winning convincingly in every race, so how will he handle being pushed by the likes of Finn Gessner, Seth Hirsch, and Sam Worley among others? Expect Affolder to put himself up with the leaders and look to hang on as long as possible in hopes of bringing home PA's first Foot Locker National title.
Sam Affolder (Carlisle)
Foot Locker Northeast: 2nd place in 15:36
PIAA State Championships: 3rd place in 15:50 (AAA)
His Resume: The sophomore is usually prefaced with "Noah's younger brother," but Sam is making quite the name for himself. He's placed in the top five in every one of his race this season with the exception of Manhattan, where he was tenth. At FLNE, he had his most impressive race, even catching up to Noah in the final mile before being outkicked.
His Nationals Outlook: He has used a conservative race strategy that has benefitted him quite a bit this season. After going out slow at FLNE, he was able to reel in about 15 runners after the mile mark and take second. Nationals, as always, will have a quick early pace and if Sam can sit back, he can certainly pick off some guys in the second half of the race. A top 15 finish or better could be in the cards for Affolder, setting himself up to be one of the favorites next year.
Zach Skolnekovich (Quaker Valley)
Foot Locker Northeast: 8th place in 15:47
PIAA State Championships: 2nd place in 16:13 (AA)
His Resume: Skolnekovich is a three-time WPIAL champ in AA in XC and he was twice runner-up in AA at the PIAA State Championships. The William & Mary signee has had a terrific senior season that included wins at the Red, White & Blue Classic and Sharpsville. At Buhl Park, he dropped a career best 5K of 15:33 for the win. He displayed some great finishing strength to take eighth at FLNE.
Nationals Outlook: TullyRunners lists Skolnekovich as having the 37th best "speed rating" headed into the 40 runner race at Foot Locker Nationals. But after taking second at the PIAA State Championships, Skolnekovich has proved to be a man on a mission. He went from 12th to eighth in home stretch at Van Cortlandt. The senior is talented and has the ability to do much better than that projected finish.
Nathan Henderson (JP McCaskey)
Foot Locker Northeast: 9th place in 15:47
PIAA State Championships: 2nd place in 15:48 (AAA)
His Resume: The senior and Syracuse recruit has been in the midst of an incredible senior season, even if he didn't win the District 3 title like he did as a sophomore and junior with the transfer of Noah Affolder. Henderson has been running great all year and even dropped a sub-15 at the Carlisle Invitational. He was second in the state of Pennsylvania in an effort that would have earned him first in most years.
His Nationals Outlook: Henderson hasn't backed down from any challenges this season. Frequently paired with Noah Affolder on the start line this season, he hasn't been afraid to run up with the regional champ. They saw each other at Carlisle, District 3, and then states, and Henderson has done his best to stay with Affolder for as long as he could. That should bode well headed into Balboa Park where there are a number of runners with similar ability to Affolder. TullyRunners ranks Henderson with the 33rd best "speed rating," but like Skolnekovich, he can prove the computers wrong.