Will Run at Foot Locker Nationals Saturday
Pelliccioni with his "ticket" to San Diego
Foot Locker Nationals Video Pre-Show: South Boys
When Morgantown High senior runner Cody Pelliccioni closes out his decorated high school career Saturday in San Diego, he will be doing something only four other West Virginia runners have done before him.
Pelliccioni will be competing in the National Foot Locker Cross Country Championship. He qualified for the race by virtue of finishing seventh at the Foot Locker South regional meet on November 28.
Pelliccioni around the halfway mark at Footlocker South
Pelliccioni--has earned numerous honors in his illustrious scholastic career including a 2008 state championship individual title, the 2009 and 2010 state runner-up and a three-time regional champion says this is what he’s been waiting for all year.
When I talked to Pelliccioni back in July, the only thing on his mind was qualifying for the race in San Diego. At the time he said, “I’m training for Foot Locker, that’s my main focus. If I can win another individual title it’d be nice, but I want to qualify for Footlocker.”
Pelliccioni racing to the finish of Footlocker South
The four athletes to previously run in Foot Locker is current Richmond cross country coach Steve Taylor, current Concord University cross country coach Mike Cox, Justin Simpson and Brian Redman. Taylor, who ran at St. Mary’s went on to be an all-American as he finished the San Diego course in a time of 14:53, which was good enough for third.
Pelliccioni, who has the fastest time ever for a West Virginian at the regional course at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, will toe the line at 10 a.m. Saturday morning in hopes of becoming the second high school All-American to hail from the Mountain State.
