The King is Dead, Long Live the King: Foot Locker Becomes Brooks XC
For 45 years, “making it to San Diego” was the ultimate resume builder for a high school distance runner. The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships weren’t just a race; they were an institution. So when the news dropped in August 2025 that Foot Locker was discontinuing the event, it was a gut punch to the collective XC running community.
But as with all things in distance running, when one door closes, another one opens—usually with better swag. This Saturday, history continues at Balboa Park, but under a new banner. If you’re a coach, an athlete, or just a fan of the sport, here is everything you need to know about the transition from Foot Locker to the Brooks XC Championships.
Same Hallowed Ground, New Title Sponsor
The most important detail is that the “Super Bowl of High School XC” has been saved. After Foot Locker stepped away, Brooks Running and Fleet Feet immediately partnered to ensure the legacy didn’t die.
- Official Name: Brooks XC Championships presented by Fleet Feet.
- The Location: Crucially, the race is staying at Balboa Park in San Diego. The course remains the same—the steep downhills, the tight turns, and the history are all preserved. Race time comparison will remain “apples to apples.”
- The Date: The inaugural finals are this Saturday, December 13, 2025.
As Brooks put it in their press release, they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they are trying to “crown the toughest of the toughest.” By keeping the location, they’ve ensured that times run this weekend can still be compared to the legends of the past 40 years.
The “Golden Ticket” Era
While the course is traditional, the qualifying path has received a modern facelift. Brooks kept the four classic regional qualifiers (Northeast, South, Midwest, West), but they introduced a “wildcard” element that changes the recruiting game: The Golden Ticket.
Borrowing from the success of their “Brooks PR” track meets, organizers reserved a set number of auto-bids for top athletes.
- The Change: Previously, it was a brutal “top 10 or go home” system at Regionals. If you fell, got sick, or had a bad day, your season was over. Now, Brooks has reserved tickets for elite athletes who might have had an off day or a scheduling conflict.
- Why it matters: It removes some of the “fluke” factor from qualifying, ensuring the actual best runners in the nation are on the starting line in San Diego.
A Ticket to the World Stage
If the new gear and the San Diego trip weren’t enough, the stakes on the course are arguably higher this year than ever before.
The winners of the Brooks XC Championships on Saturday will automatically earn a spot on Team USA for the U20 World Cross Country Championships.
This is a massive. In the past, earning a Team USA singlet usually required a separate trip to the USATF Cross Country Championships. By linking the high school championship directly to the World team, Brooks has legitimized this race as the pipeline for future Olympians.
New Hampshire Cross Country Connection
You can’t coach cross country in the Granite State without knowing the story of the 1994 Footlocker Championship race. That was the year two kids from rival towns just 15 miles apart—Matt Downin from Pinkerton and John Mortimer from Londonderry—flew across the country and absolutely shocked the nation. They turned the biggest national stage into a New Hampshire dual meet, battling shoulder-to-shoulder away from the pack. Downin won, Mortimer got second.
A 1-2 finish for little New Hampshire. That race set a standard for grit and excellence that every NH runner since has subconsciously chased. The idea of that stage disappearing was heartbreaking.
This weekend, that legacy becomes tangible again for New Hampshire. We are incredibly proud to have Lexi Paterna, the talented junior out of Exeter High School, representing the Granite State in San Diego. Lexi punched her ticket with a gritty performance at the Northeast Regional in Boston, proving she belongs among the nation’s elite.
For those wanting to watch the best high school runners in the country race for a national title (and a spot on Team USA) this weekend, here is the info for the Brooks XC Championships.
- When: This Saturday, Dec 13
- Girls Race: 12:15 PM ET
- Boys Race: 1:00 PM ET
- Where to Watch: FloTrack.org
Important Note: The livestream is behind a paywall (subscription required). If you don’t have a subscription, check the running news sites (like Milesplit or RunnerSpace) on Saturday afternoon for race replays and highlights which are usually posted shortly after.
Enjoy the race!
