LaPorte senior’s lay-back strategy earns him Indiana’s first crown

By Colin Altevogt
Girls Running Sports Coordinator

Perhaps patience is the greatest virtue.

LaPorte’s Michael Fout won the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship boys title Dec. 8, waiting for many of the pre-race favorites to wear themselves out with a blazing opening pace before taking the lead around two miles. Surging hard over the final 1000 meters of the race, Fout defeated runner-up Chris Derrick of Nequa Valley (IL) by seven seconds in a time of 14:57.

For Fout, the patience was not just about biding his time in the race. One of the greatest talents that Hoosier distance running has ever seen, Fout has not had quite the same prolific career as former Indiana greats.

Injuries have taken their toll, namely in the 2006 cross country season. That’s when the Slicer senior defeated eventual champion De’Sean Turner at the New Prairie Invitational but did not race at the state meet after finishing eighth in his semistate.

Fout rebounded from those setbacks, however, winning the 3200 at the track & field state finals in 9:03 before running under nine minutes for a full two miles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Entering as the consensus favorite to take the 2007 boys cross title, Fout did not disappoint. The Florida State recruit swept through the regular season and tournament, his only loss in an all-out race coming to Derrick at the prestigious Culver Invitational in late September.

Fout got revenge on Derrick at the Midwest Regional, however, to qualify for the national race in San Diego. The pair duplicated that 1-2 finish in the championship race Saturday at Balboa Park after Derrick used a late-race surge to catch some of the fading early pacesetters.

Fout’s time of 14:50 on a wet and sloppy course is the best since Chris Solinsky’s 14:41 effort in 2002. Fout becomes the first Indiana representative to win a Foot Locker national title. Hoosier-born Bob Kennedy won in 1987, but he had moved to Ohio for most of his schooling.

Also representing Indiana was Lafayette Jefferson’s Tito Medrano, who finished 30th in 15:59 after stunning most of the Indiana cross country community with his eighth-place finish to qualify out of the regional.

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BXC: Fout wins Foot Locker Nationals

LaPorte senior’s lay-back strategy earns him Indiana’s first crown

Published: 12/11/2007

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BXC: Fout wins Foot Locker Nationals LaPorte senior’s lay-back strategy earns him Indiana’s first crown Published: 12/11/2007 By Colin Altevogt Girls Running Sports Coordinator Perhaps patience is the greatest virtue. LaPorte’s Michael Fout won the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship boys title Dec. 8, waiting for many of the pre-race favorites to wear themselves out with a blazing opening pace before taking the lead around two miles. Surging hard over the final 1000 meters of the race, Fout defeated runner-up Chris Derrick of Nequa Valley (IL) by seven seconds in a time of 14:57. For Fout, the patience was not just about biding his time in the race. One of the greatest talents that Hoosier distance running has ever seen, Fout has not had quite the same prolific career as former Indiana greats. Injuries have taken their toll, namely in the 2006 cross country season. That’s when the Slicer senior defeated eventual champion De’Sean Turner at the New Prairie Invitational but did not race at the state meet after finishing eighth in his semistate. Fout rebounded from those setbacks, however, winning the 3200 at the track & field state finals in 9:03 before running under nine minutes for a full two miles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Entering as the consensus favorite to take the 2007 boys cross title, Fout did not disappoint. The Florida State recruit swept through the regular season and tournament, his only loss in an all-out race coming to Derrick at the prestigious Culver Invitational in late September. Fout got revenge on Derrick at the Midwest Regional, however, to qualify for the national race in San Diego. The pair duplicated that 1-2 finish in the championship race Saturday at Balboa Park after Derrick used a late-race surge to catch some of the fading early pacesetters. Fout’s time of 14:50 on a wet and sloppy course is the best since Chris Solinsky’s 14:41 effort in 2002. Fout becomes the first Indiana representative to win a Foot Locker national title. Hoosier-born Bob Kennedy won in 1987, but he had moved to Ohio for most of his schooling. Also representing Indiana was Lafayette Jefferson’s Tito Medrano, who finished 30th in 15:59 after stunning most of the Indiana cross country community with his eighth-place finish to qualify out of the regional. WE WANT FEEDBACK!!! Share your opinions on our Boys Cross Country message board!