Third A Year Ago, Harvard Commit Gavenas Solved The Puzzle Of Winning Foot Locker With A Tremendous Move On The Hill At Foot Locker

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

DyeStat PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS | RESULTS | RACE REPLAY

SAN DIEGO -- Tamrat Gavenas made a promise to himself after finishing third in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships a year ago.  

Gavenas, of Andover, Mass. and a senior at the prestigious Andover Phillips Academy, was determined to come back to San Diego and win the title on his third try. 

"I promised myself this summer I'd do whatever it takes," he said. 

The route was not smooth. Plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation under the heel, flared midway through the fall. 

"Middle of the season I was having some questions and thoughts creeping in. I was a little scared," he said. "What shape am I going to be in?"

With his foot taped and the pain level manageable, Gavenas made good on his promise. He mastered the ascent of the hill on the second loop around Morley Field at Balboa Park and gained the separation he needed to win the Foot Locker title in a time of 15:23.9. 

Juan Gonzalez, the Midwest regional champion from Fremont, Neb., was second after trying to chase after Gavenas in the final 300, in 15:27.4. 

Jack Graffeo from Westford, Mass. caught Sam Quagliaroli in the final 30 meters to grab third place in 15:34.5. Quagliaroli, of Fishers, Ind., was fourth. 

Keegan Smith, who made it to Foot Locker (it was called Eastbay then) as a freshman in 2021, ran well enough to place fifth in 15:41.6. 

Gavenas, who competes in the New England Private School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), announced that he will be attending Harvard, where he will attempt to fill the shoes of departed two-time NCAA champion Graham Blanks. 

Because he competes in the NEPSAC, Gavenas' results in small dual private school dual meets are sometimes a bit obscure. But he did compete in the Manchester Invitational in September and broke the course record at Derryfield Park. And the fourth place finisher in that meet, Matthew Giardina from Bishop Guertin NH, was seventh on Saturday at Balboa Park. 

All along, Gavenas' primary goal was returning to San Diego and putting his best effort together in the national meet. 

He knew, after two previous trips, that the race is often won by handing the steep uphill climb on the second ascent that peaks at Upas Street. 

"Jorge (Torres) told me, coach (Patrick Rielly) me, and I have seen the previous race videos over the years," Gavenas said. "People were making moves. Kole Mathison. Drew Griffith made his move on the second hill (last year). That's my chance. I just need to execute it."

Gavenas was side by side with Quagliaroli entering the second hill. After the steepest climb of the course, Gavenas surged. That was the move that gained separation from Quagliaroli and everybody else. 

Phillips Academy is located on a hilltop in Andover, Mass. Gavenas has run on the slopes around campus many times. 

"Any route we do (at school) you've got to go up the hill to get back home," Rielly said. "Hills, he eats them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and he loves this hill."

Gonzalez, Quagliaroli and early leader Ben Crane of Wilmette, Ill. led the Midwest boys to the team title and bragging rights as the top region. The Midwest scored 31 points and the Northeast, with Gavenas and Graffeo both in the top three, was second with 50 points.