The Edgewater Invitational is in its 42nd year and is one of the longest running meets in the state of Florida. Since 2008, the meet has been run in October and serveed as a tune up for the Metro Conference Championships. Fast forward to this year's event the first week in September. For most teams it will be only their first or second race of the year. No matter what though Trotters Park is a great course and there will be great competition. Let's take a look at some of the athletes and teams to keep an eye on.
On the girls side, expect Olympia's Emily Headley, Lake Nona's Adair Lyden, Cypress Creek junior Kaley Schmick and University's Autumn Bartlett to be out front. Schmick won this event in 2011 as a freshman the same year her brother Brennan took home the boys trophy. She ran 20:03 last weekend at the Deland Invitational to pick up her first win of the season. Seabreeze sophomore Kianna Bonnet was second behind Schmick by just one second and should not be counted out. Lyden's first meet of the season went well as she was runner-up at the Holloway Park Jamboree. Headley was a member of Olympia's 4x800 meter relay team that finished third and has great closing speed. She was scheduled to race last weekend at Trinity Prep, but was washed out due to inclement weather. She finished fourth last year at the state meet and comes in with the fastest 5k pr. How will she kick off her year?
Other names who could make an impact include Ashe Douglas of , Alexa Chen of Seminole, last year's champion Karissa Solorzano from St. Cloud who was 4th in 2011, and East Ridge junior Anita Green who was runner-up in 2012.
Olympia looks to be the favorite for the team title with a slew of teams: Seabreeze, Orange City University, Flagler Palm Coast, Cypress Creek, and Bishop Moore all in the mix for second.
The boys varsity race on the three loop course around Trotter's Lake and the hammerhead portion of Trotters Park will showcase some familiar faces. Connor Ferrentio won last year in 16:29, but that was with a month of racing under the belt. Franco Martins isn't one of the top runners on the virtual meet, but I saw him run last week at Lake Mary and he looks very smooth. He has been working under Gary Cohen and working very hard. Cohen told me on Labor day that Martins was on his own and did his prescribed three repeat miles and managed 5:14, 5:11, 5:09 with a for minute rest in 90 degree heat by himself and also did his gym workout. Teamates Joe Thrailkill and Mark Irons of Edgewater are running on their home course. Last year, Thrailkill whose dad is the coach, finished runner-up, with Irons crossing the line in sixth. Also in the mix will be Rogelio Araiza, the junior from Liberty High School who finished fourth last year. Araiza won the Harmony Invitational last weekend in 17:14.99. For the record, he is Donald Lambs pick to win it. University junior Anthony O'Neill has a personal best of 16:10.9, the best in the field. Coach Rene Placensia lost several of his horses to graduation, but will have Joel Ortiz leading the way for this Grenadiers team. Never count those guys out of a race. Lake Nona's Jean Carlos Peralta had a strong freshman season last year and looks to improve in 2013. Lastly, keep an eye out for Ashton Garrett of FPC who was 7th at the Spikes and Spurs Classic in 17:09.80.
Colonial and Olympia both look strong. Edgewater, FPC, and Lake Nona look strong as well and should round out the top five.