Defending national champ Ashley Brasovan beat out former national champion Kathy Kroeger at Great American with a great time of 17:16. Michael Wallace was the top Florida boy with a third place 16:00 on the hilly course in Hoover, Alabama.
Lake O Lakes Gator Invitational
Erick Montoya beats out home team's Felix Soto for the victory. While on the girls side, Sydney Devore wins easily again this week.
Mandy Perkins wins Elite Girls race (18:28), in a small but competitive field of maily out-of-staters. But Mariana Lucena puts up the best time out of the Girls Invitational race in 18:20. Joanne Pierre was second in 19:10 in that one.
Connor Bauer was the fastest Florida boy of the weekend at Disney. He is a relative unknown from Sebring High (my alma mater!), and doesn't see much competition since the Blue Streaks seldom travel to big meets. His time on Friday of 16:13 for second place in the small school boys is no joke though! And will surely get him some attention.
Lourdes doesn't make it close. 26 points. Second place is interesting battle between Gulliver, Ferguson, and Killian--all within 7 points of each other. Nicole Carpio, of course, won the girls race with a time of 18:53.
On the boys side, Belen Jesuit scores even less: 22 points. Ferguson takes second place though with 55 points in front of Miami Columbus, who ran without their A squad. Freshman Elliote Clemente won the individual title in 16:11.
Olympian Jenny Barringer stopped by her hometown and visited the meet put on by her high shcool coach (Jay Getty).
Astronaut boys continued to march down the comeback trail, beating out Oviedo and Hagerty for the team win. And the Bishop Moore girls edged out Hagerty.
- Meet Summary by Ralph Epifanio
- Photo Album by Ralph Epifanio (Coming)
Westminster wins the girls title and Archbishop McCarthy takes the boys.
Manasota Track Club Invitational
The Sarasota boys, lead by Jon Lanning in 16:48 (1st place), wins big over potent Newsome and Charlotte squads. The Newsome girls win big over second place Lakewood Ranch 64-110. Hannah Howell was the individual girls winner in 20:36. Based on the times of some very good runners, looks like it was a tough or long course!
Ridgeview "Bob Hans" Invitational
Eduardo Garcia (16:38) won the boys title, helping his Mandarin squad to score just 49 points for a dominating win over Flagler Palm Coast, Buchholz, and 22 other teams.
Stephanie Strasser (Fernandina Beach) had an impressive 19:06 win over Creekside's Kaitlin Rodriguez (19:31). Rodriguez though helped her girls to a big upset win over a weakened but still formidable Episcopal--the traditional girls powerhouse for much of this decade. Episcopal has been battling injury and illness problems, while brand new school Creekside has been excelling and quickly becoming another Jacksonville powerhouse. Jacksonville is looking like the distance runner's capital of Florida now more than ever.
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