(Photo by Raul Ramirez)
On-Site Coverage
- Complete Results & Meet Coverage
- Photo Album by Raul Ramirez - 523 Photos
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Race Video & Interviews by Todd Grasley, Awards Videys by Scott Grippo
Meet Summary
(Photo by Donald Lamb)
Lake Nona freshman Adair Lyden had been to state her seventh and eighth grade years at Westminster Academy, but now at a new school, she was trying to make it number three. Lyden took the race out strong and separated from the pack early. She was on pace to beat her district time of 19:12.00 until she suffered a cramp around the two mile mark. Not wanting to risk anything with a comfortable lead Lyden coasted to victory in a time of 19:30.50. Gulf junior Kari Grippo and Lake Highland Prep sophomore Rachel Stockton went back and forth in a battle for second for a majority of the race, but Grippo distanced her self the last 800 meters to become regional runner-up in 20:16.50. She said after the race that the moment really boosted her confidence and was a turning point in what she called a disappointing season. Stockton was third in 20:31.90 with sixth grade teammate Caroline Cooper in fourth.
Lake Highland Prep had a great day, but sophomore Alexa Lacy led Nature Coast Tech to the team title. NTC placed their top five runners in the top sixteen to edge out LHP 54-56. Crystal River, Gulf, Bishop Moore, and host Lake Nona advanced to the state finals. It was the first time ever in Lake Nona school history the team has competed in the state meet.
(Photo by Donald Lamb)
The quest for the boys individual championship wasn't as easy. At the district meet it was a shootout between George Velez and Jean Carlos Peralta of Lake Nona and Payton Bailey of Lake Highland Prep. Regionals was the same way. The three stuck together for most of the race until Velez and Bailey held a 20 to 30 meter lead over Peralta. The two went back and forth waiting for the other to make their final moves. The chess match finally played out when Velez went with 800 meters to go. Bailey was unable to outkick him in the end. The Lake Nona senior crossed the line in 16:34.90 to be crowned regional champion. Bailey was second in 16:36.58. Peralta rounded out the top three in 16:58.00
Lake Nona placed guys in first, third, and fifth to win easily with 47 points. Lake Highland Prep was regional runner-up with 80 points. Nature Coast, Gulf, Bishop Moore, and The Villages also advance to next week's Cross Country Finals in Tallahassee.
Elite Performances
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Adair Lyden (Lake Nona HS) 19:30.50; Kari Grippo (Gulf HS) 20:16.50; Rachel Stockton (Lake Highland Prep HS) 20:31.90; Caroline Cooper (Lake Highland Prep HS) 20:38.60 SB; Alexa Lacy (Nature Coast Tech) 20:45.70; Elizabeth Bruty (Crystal River HS) 20:47.70 SB; Brielle Perlingieri (Nature Coast Tech) 20:50.10 SB; Ashley Heitling (Mount Dora HS) 20:56.10; Chloe Lane (Crystal River HS) 21:00.60; Sarah Northup (Tavares HS) 21:01.50; Madison Larabee (Lake Highland Prep HS) 21:01.50; Alyssa Hatton (Bishop Moore HS) 21:03.00; Clarissa Consol (Crystal River HS) 21:09.90; Mary Thomson (Nature Coast Tech) 21:14.10; Alyssa Deligio (Nature Coast Tech) 21:24.80 SB; Summer March (Nature Coast Tech) 21:26.40; Eliza Gazda (Gulf HS) 21:26.80;Crystal Burchhardt (Nature Coast Tech) 21:29.90;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - George Velez (Lake Nona HS) 16:34.90; Payton Bailey (Lake Highland Prep HS) 16:36.50; Jean Carlos Peralta (Lake Nona HS) 16:58.00; Christian Ramos (Poinciana HS) 17:17.20 SB; Antoine Miller (Lake Nona HS) 17:22.40; Nick Buliga (Gulf HS) 17:25.10; Kevin Ciccone (Nature Coast Tech) 17:26.40; John Eckles (Ridgewood HS) 17:27.70; Victor Chicas-aguilar (Dunnellon HS) 17:37.70; Frankie Kucera (Bishop Moore HS) 17:39.30; Brandon Harris (Crystal River HS) 17:41.70; James Harkless (Nature Coast Tech) 17:44.50;
