McAlpine Park, N.C. –  Saturday morning brought a chilly morning accompanied by sunshine in North Carolina. Melbourne Central Catholic senior and Duke University signee Amanda Beach, Riverview junior and 2 time 4A State Champion Bailey Hertenstein along with super sophomore, Bolles  Charles Hicks all competed at the Foot Locker South Regional Championships, and have qualified for Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego. 

Beach led the way for the Florida girls, finishing in a very strong fifth place, running a FL #1 17:31. Just 10 seconds back in seventh place was Hertenstein, who punched her ticket after she finished in 17:41.

“I just came out here and just ran as hard as I could,” Beach said afterwards.. “I felt good and it worked out.”

For Beach, it was about it being the first time for everything. For Hertenstein, it was a flashback to last year’s race, which had a very different and very bleak outcome. While in the middle of the championship race, she was running up one of the hills when her legs gave out, resulting in her falling to the ground and being carted off of the course, unable to finish the race. At that particular point, she was in the top 10.

“I was scared of a repeat of last year,” she said.

However, today wasn’t the day for repeats and proved just how strong she’s become. After a call-back at the start, the race was taken out by 2015 Foot Locker South runner-up Nevada Mareno from North Carolina at around 5:40-5:45 for the first mile. With the exception of Mareno’s 15 to 20-meter gap, the race for San Diego was on.

It came down to the final stretch, and the two girls who warmed up together and raced together, are now Foot Locker Finalists together. 

Charles Hicks was the lone boy competitor to qualify for nationals, finishing ninth overall, running a new personal-best and FL #1 15:07.50.

“It’s unbelievable,” Hicks said. “My dad and my teammates were all screaming at me as I finished and it’s just a really great feeling.”

Running alongside the likes of Caleb Pottorff, Joshua Collins, and Matthew Clark, Hicks kept his head down and moved with the pack. Through the mile, the lead pack was around 4:40, and continued to move. This year’s race was slightly different than usual because there wasn’t a moment when you could say that one individual or another would win it outright.. This race was open to anyone. Hicks saw the opportunity, gave it everything he had, and it paid off with a punched ticket to "America’s Finest City”.

For any athlete, crossing the line and realizing that you’re on your way to a national championship meet is something you’ll never forget. But for these three athletes from the Sunshine State, San Diego will truly be a dream come true.