High school cross country fans and athletes were crushed to learn August 21 that Foot Locker had ended its nearly half-century championships at Balboa Park.

Also sorry: running companies.

“A lot of brands didn’t want to see this go away,” said Julia Stamps of Santa Rosa, who won the girls race in 1994. “They didn’t care how — they just didn’t want to see it go away.”

So with Jorge Torres of Boston — the 1998 boys winner — and a team of others, including Santee’s Tracy Sundlun, the gun sounded on finding a sponsor.

A week later, Seattle shoe-maker Brooks took the title.

“There (were) definitely talks with other companies,” Torres told Times of San Diego, adding that Brooks was the first “to step to the line and say: ‘We’re here with you.'”

The meet, set for Dec. 13, will formally be c

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