The iconic Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships – “literally lifted the sport of running in American high schools,” said long-distance runner Jorge Torres when he was highlighting how Foot Locker paved the way for “making future Olympians.” Well, Foot Locker indeed gave many Olympians to the country by giving a platform to the high schoolers to start their journey in sprinting. And, Grant Fisher is one of the examples who kicked off his voyage through the cross-country championships. But, unfortunately the decades old event came to a rather sad end.

“After thoughtful and careful consideration, Foot Locker has made the difficult decision to conclude the annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships (FLXC),” the company announced, bringing down the curtain on an era.

So, what actually happened? Interest and sponsorship for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships have been declining over the years. After switching title sponsors from Eastbay in 2021 to HOKA in 2023, the event still faced higher costs as well as logistical challenges, which include airfare, luxury lodging, and race production. All of these expenses made it difficult for them to sustain, especially after the recent merger.

Adding to the shift, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the nation’s largest sporting goods retailer, acquired Foot Locker in a $2.4 billion deal on May 15, 2025. While the acquisition boosted brand value, it also prompted strategic reassessment. In their statement, Foot Locker emphasized, “As we look to the future, this strategic decision reflects our ongoing commitment to evaluating where we can make the most meaningful impact for our business, our customers, and the communities we serve, including the running community.”

The championship started way back in 1979 as Kinney Cross-Country Championships before rebranding to the Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships in 1993. The series featured four regional meets: the Northwest, Midwest, South, and West. Balboa Park in San Diego hosted nearly every edition. Since 2004, the top 10 boys and girls from each region have advanced to the finals to compete against each other for the final prize.

Along similar lines, at the age of 17, Grant Fisher became just the second American boy to win Foot Lockers as an 11th grader. In the same year, he also clocked the fifth fastest time ever by using a 58-second last lap at the Adidas High School Boys’ Dream Mile in New York.

Despite its legacy, the event soon started losing relevance after the Nike Cross Nationals grew in popularity, attracting more talent and attention. Their success overshadowed Foot Locker to the point that it had no choice but to bid adieu to the event. The sudden closure caught the public by surprise. Let’s have a look at what the fans have to say.

Fans react in unison as Footlocker announces the closure of decade-old tradition

Fans have expressed a mix of shock, sadness, and humor at the news. One social media user lamented, “Holy s–t this is so sad. So many legendary races. Why throw it away?” In fact, the Foot Locker Cross Country champions as some of the biggest names in the sport. Some of them are, Bob Kennedy (1987), Adam Goucher (1993), Dathan Ritzenhein (1999 and 2000), Sara Hall (2000), Jordan Hasay (2005), Molly Seidel (2011), Edward Cheserek (2011 and 2012), Grant Fisher (2013 and 2014), Weini Kelati (2015), Cole Hocker (2018), and Elizabeth Leachman (2023 and 2024).

Reflecting on the closure, some fans speculated the decision came down to money, citing the longstanding rivalry with Nike as a contributing factor. One of the fans emphasized that they did not give any reason for their closure. However, a closer look at their rivalry with Nike Cross Nationals reveals that the championship dwindled over time.“They don’t indicate a reason, which kinda tells me it’s because of money.”

Unlike Nike, which leveraged its event as a direct gateway to drive product sales, Foot Locker failed to craft a sustainable strategy aimed at its core retail audience. The result? A poor return on investment and no clear long-term vision. Over time, the prestige faded. Nike strategically scheduled its final race just a week ahead of Foot Locker’s, effectively stealing the spotlight and diminishing the stakes for its rival. Looking at this, a fan wrote, “This is messed up.” 

Last but not least, a fan brought up a question: ‘Can’t the championships continue without Foot Locker?’ To answer it, yes, it can run without Foot Locker; however, someone is needed to manage all the expenses of the event.

At the end of their statement, Foot Locker expressed that while they might be closing one chapter, it paves the way for new beginnings, and they will remain committed to the sport.