Full 2011 Florida State Meet Results & Coverage
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Standing Ovation for Vanessa Valentine
No disrespect to the champ—and I’ll get to her—but standing freggin’ ovation for Vanessa Valentine. I mean when you talk about fierce it’s hard not to think about this one. She embraces the competition, wants more of it, and lays her heart on the line for it.
Going into the race, really most looked at it as an Olivia Ortiz versus Lily Williams thing. Vanessa knew that. She’s super-talented, but knew on paper it was going to take something huge to upset those two. So what does she do? She says alright if they want this championship, I’m going to make them work for it and I’m going to lay every bit of myself into winning it.
In an interview with Todd Grasley after the race she said that she knew she could be content to race for third or fourth, lay down a better time, and just settle for that. But settling isn’t something that is in her vocabulary.
The senior from Melbourne took the lead when the early pace was lagging and grabbed on to it. She she lead through the mile in 5:40. Did not surrender that lead despite some good advances by the favorites coming up past the halfway point. She continued to lead into and out of the infield. Not until about 800 meters to go did that hardcore race pace finally force her to relinquish the lead to a surge lead by Ortiz and followed by Williams and Nikita Shah. Vanessa hung on for 7th place 18:11 in the toughest classification in the state. Leading me to one final classic quote in that interview where she talks about whether she’d choose to go to less competitive 4A (where her team was classified last year) to get a probable silver medal or stay here in the deep-as-the-Marianas-Trench 3A girls… she says ten out of of ten times she would choose the thicker competition. Fierce.
Congratulations to you Vanessa! Very impressive and inspiring race that so wonderfully illustrates your character and tenacity!
Interview with Vanessa Valentine
Now Hail to the Champ!
Olivia Ortiz. Olive. The soft-spoken harrier with long legs, long pony-tail, and near perfect running form.
Prior to this season, she was a steady yet somewhat chase pack level runner. Most probably pegged her for a top three threat going into the year—in fact, she was ranked fifth in the 3A in the preseason rankings.
She opened the season by almost kicking down then #1 ranked and defending state champ Kacy Smith at Déjà vu. She was given Warrior of the Week that week by flrunners.com, as it was obvious she had come many miles from last season and was ready for big things. And boy was she!
She proved she was ready for prime time beyond a shadow of a doubt after beating the likes of Shelby Davidson, Bridget Blake, Smith and others at flrunners.com and then doing it again (adding in Lily Williams) at Pre-State. The junior would certainly be flying under no one’s radar again in Florida!
So coming into this week’s state championship, she had a lot to live up to. And she had to do it in the deepest race of the day and against probably the next best runner in the state (with the possible argument from Bridget Blake) in Lily Williams.
As Vanessa Valentine charged out strong basically from the gun, Olivia hung tightly on to the girl in green. She challenged her from around 400 meters in to about 800 meters. Almost coming up on Vanessa’s shoulder several times during that stretch. Then the race-smart leader from Lakewood Ranch backed off a bit, but kept careful contact with the leader.
A few surges here, a few surges there… but Valentine held her off. Shortly after the mile mark, Lily Williams emerged from her signature timid first mile (deep in the chase pack position) to push along with Olivia around the half-way point. But again Valentine maintained and the chasers backed off.
Not to be deterred, Ortiz showed the patience of a seasoned veteran. Even as they crossed the two mile mark, Ortiz (and Williams) kept their composure and waited for the right time.
A light switch flicked with around 800 meters to go. Perhaps carefully orchestrated for weeks or perhaps merely listening to her body, she saw her chance around the final curve and over-took Valentine’s position. Right with her came the defending 3A state champion in the 1600 and 3200, Lily Williams. And surprisingly right with her came Wiregrass Ranch junior Nikita Shah.
As they came off the final turn and back by the original starting line, those three pushed and surged and clawed. Ortiz set the tone, but at that point it looked like it was totally up for grabs and Shah and Williams looked stellar.
But as they approached the base of the hill affectionately known as the Green Monster, something happened. Olive’s stride opened up wide. As her pony tail followed behind her, she pumped her arms with pronounced intention against the backdrop of the fountain. She ate up ground headed up the hill seemingly one stride per one and a half of her rivals.
And then she had done it! She was finally a state champion with a 17:39, the fastest on the day. What a great cap to her breakout year!
The Team Battle
The Chiles versus Estero team competition is always a great one.
Behind Lily Williams' second place finish of 17:48 it was a killer day for the top three from Tallahassee. Carly Thomas showed her speed workouts had paid off by picking off Nikita Shah by a sliver 17:53.77 to 17:53.96. And then just one more place back was #3 girl Rachel Givens at 18:08.
It may have been all over then, but Estero fought back with the depth they are known for. Kacy Smith was the first across for what she considered an off day at 8th place 18:15. Bethany Jenkins and Katy G. Solis came in just under 19 minutes… and Maria Frank (19:15) and Katherine Slater (19:44) had at or near season best days to seal the deal.
Estero gets by their rivals this round 69 to 87.
Lily Williams/Carly Thomas Interview
Race Video
Top 25
