Jacksonville Episcopal Girls Perfect at Katie Caples

The Katie Caples Invitational Cross Country meet was the largest season opener in the state hosting over one thousand runners in varsity and JV boys and girls teams from as far away as Miami.

The nationally ranked Episcopal High School, coached by Michelle Kruger, from Jacksonville dominated the meet by sweeping the girls race with a perfect score of 15.

Susan and David Caples standing with Bob Kennedy

The Katie Caples Foundation was started in 1998 by the family of Katie Caples, a young high school student from Jacksonville who became an organ and tissue donor after not surviving the trauma of an automobile accident. Katie was a member of the Bishop Kenny state champion cross country team. The Caples have used their own experience to establish the Katie Caples Foundation. The foundation provides yearly scholarships and partners with the Life-Quest Organ Recovery Program to educate high school students on organ donation.

Bob Kennedy, the American record holder of the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters in a world-class career that spanned more than a decade, Kennedy made the 1992 and 1996 Olympic teams, competing in the 5,000 meters and placing sixth in 1996. He has won four national titles at the 5,000 meter distance and was the first non-African to break 13:00 for 5,000 meters.

        CLASS

  ID#  PLACE PLACE           FINISHER          TIME

1. Episcopal Girls

  122     1    1  Laura Steel, 11*            19:09  

  120     2    2  Maggie Traylor, 11*         19:10  

  121     3    1  Katie Traylor, 9*           19:13  

  125     4    2  Leslie Blackshear, 9*       19:19  

  123     5    1  Hadley Ferguson, 12*        19:21  

7 Finishers     Time = 1:36:10     Places = 15