Runners from across Collier County including Barron Collier, Naples, Lely, CSN, Golden Gate, and Gulf Coast competed in the John Clay 5k on the streets of Naples. The course, just a tad over 5k (3.16 miles), served as a tune up for many area runners, despite being run entirely on the road. The course winds through a neighborhood and has one bridge with a slight incline to cover.
Class of 2014 Golden Gate standout Alejandro Pedraza dominated the boys race with a sub 16 minute, 15:58.70. According to Gulf Coast coach Paul Barlow, it is hard to see much of the course, but when Pedraza emerged he was alone and was flying! He was 11th at last year's 3A Cross Country Finals and did not sign with a school out of high school. It is believed he is still working on grades/test scores and hopes to enroll at a school soon, possibly nearby FGCU.
Sophomore Devin Molloy, one of the top class of 2017 runners in the state, hung with the boys in the combined race, and was the first girl to cross the line. Barlow says she looked completely comfortable and was just cruising with her patented smiled poached upon her face! Molloy, who was 11th at last year's 3A Cross Country Finals, as a freshman, came across the line in 18:33.10. CSN's Lindsay Tomaini used a late surge to pass Lely's Rosie Poling to finish second amongst the girls.
Check out this video of the start of the race as well as ten minutes of finish line footage!
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