Billy Nelson (3rd, West)

Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
High School: Taft Union High School
Year of Graduation: 2002

Billy Nelson fell at the start of the 2000 Foot Locker West Regional and did not finish the race. This year, he managed to stay on his feet for a third-place finish and earned one of the coveted spots at the Foot Locker National Finals. Until the Regional, Nelson had gone undefeated this season, including winning his first California State Cross Country title after finishing fourth the two previous years.

Because California divides schools into a variety of sections, Nelson and his Taft Union teammates don't always get to run against the other top runners in the state. He won the Division IV race at the State Meet by 37 seconds, running 15:22. Nelson finally got to race Yong-Sung Leal, who ran the fastest time at the State Meet (15:17 in Division I) at the West Regional. Nelson ran 15:32 for third, Leal ran 15:33 for fourth.

Billy Nelson runs with the pack at the 2001 Foot Locker West Regional. (Photos by Brian J. Myers @PhotoRun, click to enlarge)

In the News:
Nelson third in 12-state West Regional (12/2/01)
Billy Nelson wins Division IV state title [results | photo] (11/24/01)
Nelson wins Grand Masters XC Championship (11/15/01)
Wins Division 4 Central Section Finals (11/8/01)
Wins Buena Vista Invitational (10/25/01)
Wins age group of City to Sea Half-Marathon in 1:20:03, running it as a workout (10/21/01)
Nelson wins Mt. SAC (10/20/01)
Wins Division 4 Sweepstakes Race at Mt. SAC in 12th fastest time ever, until Leal and Davis beat it the next day (10/19/01)
Nelson leads Taft runners to cross country team title (10/14/01)
Wins Cal Poly Cross Country Invitational (10/13/01)
Wins Clovis Invitational in 15:10, defeats some of CA's top runners (10/6/01)
Caltrack.com Billy Nelson piece
Wins his race at the Stanford Invitational (9/29/01)
Wins Cal Poly Cross Country Invitational (10/14/00)