Dressel and Alcorta: First Fall ’13 NSAF Emerging Elites of the Week

 

This marks the continuation (and fall 2013 debut) of a new NSAF weekly feature on nationalscholastic.org: the Emerging Elites of the Week.  The New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor meets have become known for the ever-expanding and improving competition in the divisions of the same name.  Similarly, the NSAF seeks to give weekly recognition to track and field and cross-country athletes reaching new and exciting competitive levels with their recent performances.

Today, we honor a pair of XC runners from opposite sides of the country who have achieved some national success already, but appear primed to do much more ...

Male – John Dressel, Mt. Spokane HS Class of 2015, Mead, WA

The Evergreen State’s reputation for producing outstanding prep distance talent seems to grow with each passing season.  Consider from the past few years runners like Andrew Gardner, Amy-Eloise Neale, Anthony Armstrong, Katie Knight, Isaiah Yorks and many more.  Still competing as preps are stars like Joe Hardy and Alexa Efraimson.  If you haven’t already had him on your Washington super-elite list, it’s time to add John Dressel.  The Mt. Spokane (Mead, WA) junior started his season on the right note last weekend at the Tracy Walters Invite, beating North Central standouts Kai Wilmot and Tanner Anderson in their own meet, and clocking a very solid 15:00.  Dressel was coming off a sophomore year that saw him last fall take 2nd at his 3A state meet, 6th at Foot Locker West, then 14th at Foot Locker Finals.  Then last spring, he was 2nd in the 3A 3,200 (and 6th in the 1,600), then 6th at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2-mile in 9:02.89.  With two full years to go, Dressel has a great chance to ascend very high among Washington’s all-time greats and make a huge national impact, as well.

A few of John’s thoughts:

On summer training: "My summer training has been going great, actually. I've been able to stay fit, strong, and healthy without really worrying about any nicks on my body. I've focused so much on general strength and it has played such a huge factor. The previous years, I've always experienced injuries here and there, so this summer has been by far the best."

On his Tracy Walters race and competing well against powerful North Central: "I feel confident with my abilities and wasn't nervous at all that day for Tracy Walters. I knew it was gonna be a battle, but I was ready for it. I felt physically and mentally ready and just wanted to go out with a bang. It's always nice obtaining victories here and there. Running against North Central is tough, because they are a powerhouse, but it's one more way to improve my abilities and so I use that to my advantage. I'm excited for the up and coming races with them, that's for sure."

On his goals for this season: "My ultimate goals this fall are to stay healthy, hungry, and go up for grabs for that state title. State should surely be a great one this year with Hardy, Wilmot, Anderson, and Hauger in it. Let alone Oliver Reed and a few others. I definitely want to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals, do the very best that I can there and try to execute what I have in mind. The title is totally up for grabs this year. There really isn't a huge favorite this year like there was last year, due to Edward Cheserek winning it his junior year. I'm just excited to race these guys again that I saw last year at Foot Locker Nationals, and enjoy my time in California in December."

 

Female – Caroline Alcorta, West Springfield HS Class of 2014, Springfield VA

West Springfield (Springfield, VA) senior Caroline Alcorta seems to just keep getting better with each passing season.  Last fall, she was 2nd in the VA AAA state meet, 8th at Foot Locker South, then 16th in San Diego.  This past winter, she claimed her first state title indoors (3,200), then ran a tremendous 4th in the NBNI 2-mile at 10:23.77.  This spring, she was even faster in the NBNO deuce with a 10:19.68 (albeit a spot lower in 5th) and anchored the national championship DMR for her team.  Those performances in Greensboro were a nice bounce-back, given that she had collapsed in the stretch of the VA AAA outdoor 3,200 a few weeks earlier (after leading West Springfield to the 4x8 title).  That brings us to last weekend, when Alcorta showed outstanding early-season form with a 16:58 for 2.98M at the Burke Lake layout used for the region championship and where many of the state’s all-time greats have run.  Her run equaled her own #8 all-time performance for that course, but the latter came much later last fall – showing she’s ahead of the her own pace from a year ago.

A few of Caroline’s thoughts:

On summer training:  "My summer training went well! We eased into training at first, but we gradually started to build our base with longer mileage and did quite a bit of tempos. I suppose it was a wee bit better this year. I think it's really helped me improve and be more prepared for this upcoming season."

On her Monroe-Parker performance and running fast at Burke early in the year:  "I was actually really shocked (but excited, too)! I wasn't expecting to run anywhere near that time until a lot later in the season.  So needless to say, I was happily surprised!"

On her goals for this season:  "I'd like to go through this season with no regrets, knowing that I gave it my all every single race, regardless of what place I finish. Although it would be would be nice to win a few post season races, as many as possible ... or at least states. It'd mean more to me, though, if we could make it back to states as a team and make podium. For nationals, depending on what the team would like to do, whether it’s NXN or Foot Locker, I want to do my best to try and earn All American honors, and try to place as high as possible."

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