(Photo by Coach Buonanni)
Florida will be sending two runners to San Diego, with Lyman's Joshua Jacques and Merritt Island's Steven Cross taking eighth and tenth, respectively at the Foot Locker South Regional, to secure their berth to nationals. Jacques finished in 15:21 with Cross finishing only a few seconds behind in 15:24.
(Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)
Watch Boys Seeded Race
After a ninth place finish at the 2015 4A state meet just a few weeks ago (he won the state title in 2014), Jacques rebounded to secure his first trip to Foot Locker national. With the help of training partner and fellow Lyman senior Jordan Armstrong, Jacques improved on last year's 50th place finish and shaving off over 20 seconds.
"The race played out the best this year in my opinion. I got out strong and with the leaders," said Jacques, who stuck in the second pack. "Having all those fantastic runner to my side just makes me feel good because no matter what happens, at that point, I knew I was in the race and I was in for a good time!"
"I wanted that plane ticket and that's what was driving me," Jacques said. "I felt like I had to prove something to myself and I have now so it feels great. As for the trip, I just can't wait for the experience! I get one more big race to finish strong and I'm eager to see what's in store!"
Steven Cross knows Balboa Park well, placing eighth at Foot Locker South last year and advancing to Foot Locker Nationals, where he took 29th.
While the race did not go as well as hoped for Cross, he managed to qualify in what his Coach Bill Bounanni called a "gusty" race.
"Although Steven was 20 seconds slower, he wasn't feeling good and it took all he had to advance to the National Championship. I am absolutely thrilled for him and I will be going with him to San Diego," Bounanni said. "Steven has made Merritt Island High School proud to be the 6th boy from Florida to ever qualify for Foot Locker Nationals twice."
Watch Steven's Post-Race Interview
After Cross' original plan of pacing off Virginia's Drew Hunter for a top three spot fell apart when Hunter distanced himself early en route to a new course record, he had to fight until the end for his spot at nationals. At mile two, he was in 11th place and 30 yards behind, but caught up to tenth place at the two and a half, battling with two other runners (ninth place Micah Pratt of Virginia and 11th place Eric Coston of Louisiana) in the last 100 meters.
Neither Cross nor Coach Bounanni knew he advanced until after he finished the race.
"I was so happy to qualify though, it was just definitely the worst I've ever felt running a 5K, honestly," Cross said. "I was so tired the entire time, I felt like I was having trouble breathing, my legs just felt like I was carrying bricks. It was just not a good time."
4A State Champion Adam Bradtmueller of Sarasota was Florida's third finisher in 15:31, placing 12th and just missing out on qualifying. Unattached senior Brandon Marquez, who was seeded to place in the top ten, put himself in qualifying position up until the 4k, where he dropped out of the race. This was Marquez's second time coming close to qualifying after placing 11th in 2014 and missing nationals by one second.
""I self destructed and DNF'ed," Marquez said. " I'm very disappointed in myself to let down every one again but props to Josh and Steven for making it. I ran out of gas at 4k."
On the girl's side, Florida was shut out for the second year in a row. 2A state champions Alyssa Pujals (pictured below) of Pine Crest was Florida's top finisher in 14th with a new PR of 17:56, followed by Lake Mary's Daniela Urzua in 21st with a 18:07, Chiles' Emma Tucker in 34th with a 18:30 and Fletcher's Kayley DeLay in 55th with a 18:50.
(Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)
Watch Girls Seeded Race
After a course record of 17:32.55 at Apalachee Regional Park en route to the 4A state championship, Riverview's Bailey Hertenstein was in position to make nationals, but, like Marquez DNF'd. Fortunately, Hertenstein, Urzua and DeLay will all be returning next year in hopes of breaking the Foot Locker drought on the girl's side.
"I have no excuses. I just had a bad race," Hertenstein said. "All I can do is learn from it and come back stronger next year. I'm just glad it didn't happen my junior or senior year."
Other Race Highlights
- Tampa Prep's Josie Garba (pictured below) was Florida's top finisher in the freshman race placing 4th in a personal best time of 19:35.00. Key West's Owen Allen was 20th in the boy's race.
(Photo by Coach Sides) - Calvary Christian sophomore Danny Ferro (pictured below) who was 6th at the 2A Cross Country finals won the boy's sophomore race in a new personal best and sub 16 minute time of 15:59.00. Sadie McLaughlin of Rockledge was 11th in the girl's race (19:55.00).
(Photo by Mary Ann Magnant) - Team Florida dominated the boy's junior race with Calum McFeteridge of Buchholz and Haftom Fliegelman of Durant finishing 1-2 in 16:03 and 16:06. Those two posted the fastest junior times of anyone at the Cross Country Finals as well. Evan Babatz of Ft. Myers was 4th with Arye Beck of Estero (13th), and Hunter Chavis (19th) all finishing inside the top 20. Nicolette Worrell of Hagerty and Emily English of George Jenkins finished 11th and 12th respectively while Wakulla's Haleigh Martin (16th) Dominique Covielle (19th) made the top 20.
(Photo by Mary Ann Magnant) - Not all of Florida's top girls were in the seeded race. Several ended their cross country careers in the senior race. Florida placed 9th-13th with a 7 second spread (19:25-19:32) in runners Kaitlin Rocker (Creekside), Simone Vreeland (Pine Crest), Lindsay Tomaini (Community School of Naples), Victora Jung (George Jenkins), and Shannon Grace (Lyman). Jan Figueroa (6th), Rob Leverone (8th), and Stephen Fedec (18th) were the top Florida boys.
- You might be surprised to know that one of the fastest girls races of the day came from the 13-14 year old girls. Boca Raton Christian 8th grader Jasmine Hincapie finished 9th in 19:11 which was the 7th fastest time of the day by any Florida girl in any race at Foot Locker South.Amanda Schwartz of Pine Crest who finished in 26th in THAT RACE, would have had the 25th fastest time of ANY Floridian on the day with her 20:10.
