Local Middle-Schooler Wins Foot Locker South Event

By Paul Finch

George Finch capped off an undefeated season of middle school cross country Saturday by winning the 13-14 year old boy's event at Foot Locker South in Charlotte, North Carolina. His time of 9:43 on the 3000-meter course is a Georgia state record for McAlpine Park for middle school kids. 

States competing in this event are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as all U.S. citizens in Overseas Military Installations.

http://www.footlockercc.com/2013/results/south/Boys13-14.pdf

"Foot Locker South is arguably the highest level a middle school runner can achieve without going international. It is certainly the most prestigious event for scholastic cross country" explained George's father and coach. "This is the same course that made Alan Webb and Andrew Bumbalow famous." Both of those runners would go on to represent the United States in Olympic Games' distance events.

During a post-race interview with Runnerspace.com, George had this to say: "I almost lost it. It felt like a professional race. In front of me were two dark-skinned runners that reminded me of Kenyans. They were fast and intimidating. I made a hard move with 100 meters to go and stole the race."

George is also an 8th grader at Carver Middle School who competes for Gratis Distance Project. Below is a list of the races he won this year in respective order:

• Paideia Python Invitational
• Battle of Atlanta
• Mountain Invitational
• Georgia Middle School State Championship
• Foot Locker South