Foot Locker confirms protocol remains athletes must qualify for nationals through regional meets, thus no "golden tickets" offered

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was confirmed Monday by Foot Locker Director of Events and Publicity Gabriella Citrin that there was no "Golden Ticket" offered to North Rockland NY sophomore Katelyn Tuohy to run Saturday at the 39th Foot Locker Cross Country Championships at Balboa Park's Morley Field in San Diego, Calif.

"With nearly 40 years of history and heritage in running, Foot Locker and the athletes who run our races each year pride themselves on earning their spot on the starting line by placing top 10 in one of our four Regional Qualifiers," Citrin said. "To be clear, Foot Locker did not offer any runner a spot at Nationals who did not qualify as part of the current qualifying procedure."

Tuohy became the first New York female runner to win Nike Cross Nationals in the meet's 14-year history, setting the 5-kilometer course record by running 16 minutes, 44.7 seconds Saturday at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore. She was the first New York champion at the event since Saratoga Springs' Steve Murdock won the boys individual title in 2006.

Tuohy was asked in Oregon about the possibility of racing reigning Foot Locker girls national champion Claudia Lane of Malibu, Calif.

North Rockland coach Brian Diglio said he was contacted in October by a Foot Locker representative at the regional level to inquire about Tuohy's interest in competing at an additional national championship. During the conversation, the idea of a "Golden Ticket" was expressed for her to gain entry. Diglio stated Tuohy's focus remained on finishing at NXN.

"It was a quick conversation, probably five minutes and the idea was just kind of floated out there. It 100 percent wasn't a formal offer and even if it was, we would have politely declined because since August, we had set up her season schedule to end Dec. 2 at NXN," Diglio said. "It was not a definite offer. It was just to gauge our interest if such a thing were to occur."

Diglio wanted the focus to remain on Tuohy's accomplishments on the course, along with those of Lane in her pursuit of repeating at Foot Locker.

"Claudia is a fantastic runner and she is deserving of all of the attention she has been given, just like Katelyn," Diglio said. "This is the last thing I wanted for Katelyn to get caught up in."

Lane repeated as West Regional champion Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., as the final 10 boys and 10 girls qualifiers for the national finals were determined.

"Given recent headlines, we felt it necessary to dispel any rumors regarding entry or qualification for Foot Locker Cross Country Championships," Citrin said.