BOYS WINNER: Tyler Bennett - Junior @ Fort Myers
Each year Fort Myers coach Yancey Palmer instills something new into his runners. For junior, Tyler Bennett it's running more miles at a faster clip. Bennett has seen his easy runs go from around 7:20 last year to near 6:55 this season. It's a drop in time that has impacted his 5k times as well in 2012.
In early August Bennett got his feet with a road race competing in the Estero Fast Cat 5K. He placed second in the event in a time of 15:38.00 behind Palmetto Ridge senior Carlos Miranda. In his next three races he finished first at the Barron Collier Invite, third at the Fort Myers Optimist Invitational, and first at last weekend's Northport Invitational. Coach Palmer says he has been really pleased with how much Bennett has improved as the season has progressed.
"Every year these south Florida teams have to run in the extreme heat for so much longer than our northern competition and every year we south Florida coaches say how much it really is tough. The first meets were on some tough terrain and in some rough environments, so when the weather this past Saturday let up some, we were really excited. We have traditionally run slow at Optimist and fast at North Port, so we will see how that is related to the rest of the season. "
Running well might be an understatement. All Bennett did was break a new course and meet record at the Northport Invitational. His time of 15:27.80 just over took the course record from current Florida Gator and Chamberlain High School alumni Mark Parrish who ran 15:28.16 on the course in 2009. As far as the meet record was concerned he shattered another current Florida Gator and former Charlotte Tarpon star, Tyler Cardillo's time of 15:56.00. The Fort Myers junior by twenty-five seconds over teammate Ace Brown. Coach Palmer says the first five races of the season are for experimenting so the two really didn't talk too much strategy before the race.
"We just work on something different each time we race. For example, one race we might try to get out faster. The next we will try to work really hard from minute six to minute fourteen. The North Port specifically we were working on pulling hard between 1.5mile and 2.5 miles. He did that really well, but it will take putting everything together to be at the top in huge races, like FLrunners and FSU invite."
Bennett told Palmer after the race he was just feeling smooth. It was a fast course on a day with great weather, but it produced the fastest time in Florida for 2012. Palmer realizes that some of the state's best runners have yet to go all or run fast courses. This weekend at the flrunners.com Invitational Bennett and the rest of his Fort Myers teammates will have a chance to showcase their skills against the top runners from across the state in Race of Champions. Palmer describes Bennett has a kid who just likes to run hard.
"Sometimes I have to ask him to run less or slow down. It’s a good problem to have. Also he is great about supporting his teammates. It’s so awesome how these guys will do just about anything for each other. We always talk about everyone getting better, from the top guy to the 50th guy. This sport is so easy, just do more, every day, every week, every month, every year. Tyler is an example of just that. Numbing yourself to the punishment. "
GIRLS WINNER: Julia Montgomery - Freshman @ Pine Crest
Julia Montgomery was used to running on a big stage. As a sixth grader at Falcon Cove Middle School Montgomery finished seventh in the 3000 at the Middle School Outdoor State Championship and ninth at the Middle School Cross Country Championships.
In 2011, she finished fifth in the 3000 improving on her seventh place showing in 2012. She improved in cross country as well placing fourth at the Middle School Cross Country Championships. Montgomery went out on a high note this outdoor season with a new personal best of 10:41.47 for a third place medal at the Middle School Outdoor State Championship.
When Julia and her family visited Pine Crest they knew of the team's success with running, but also learned about the nationally ranked academics as well. Coach Paul Baur says Julia is an excellent student as well as athlete and fits in very well at Pine Crest. Montgomery joined the team this summer and trained hard leading up to the season.
The hard work and drive paid off. She started off the season off by winning her first high school race at the Martin County Invitational in a time of 19:47.35. The freshman beat teammate Ella Wurth by over forty-five seconds and helped Pine Crest to a second place finish in the team standings. This past week Montgomery picked up wins number two and three as she won the Westminster Home Open on Tuesday and then the Fleet Feet Invitational four days later on Saturday. Baur says Fleet Feet was a new experience not just for Montgomery, but for the rest of his team.
"We made the trip with 80 student-athletes so it was a logistical challenge getting everyone a number, racing chip, spikes, etc. We just wanted to make sure that running in the mud would be enjoyable. Every kid loved it, especially Julia. We did not give her a specific strategy. We simply told her to relax and do her best. Her competitiveness is self-motivated."
The Pine Crest freshman ran one of her best races in her young career posting a new personal best time of 19:13.40 in less than ideal conditions and beating out some strong competition from the likes of Sarah Day from West Shore and Courteney Zboyan of Jupiter. Being so competitive and so young can also lead to burnout. It's one of many things Baur says he is concerned with as a coach of a young standout.
"We are most concerned with Julia enjoying herself and avoiding injuries. Cross Country is a team sport and Julia will receive support from her teammates and coaches as she continues to develop as an athlete. Just as Julia must pace herself in a particular race or workout, we are training her to understand the significance of pacing herself for all four years of high school and beyond."