Edgewater Invitational: Boys Race To Crazy Finish, Lyden Looks Good Despite Sloppy Conditions

Sep 07, 2013

On-Site Coverage

Sloppy conditions is an understatement to describe the 42nd Annual Edgewater Invitational. Pouring down rain and intermittent lightning strikes, postponed the start of the meet over an hour. The rain slowed and the lightning halted, but there was one more obstacle, daylight. As time was of the essence, they decided to run all athletes together: junior varsity, boys, and girls varsity which made for one bunched up start. Coach Pauly of Liberty predicted before the race his pupil Rogelio Araiza would win the race and if he did, he would shave his head and get a mohawk.

Once the race got underway there was a lead group of about runners, separating themselves from the rest. Jean Carlos Peralta, Rogelio Araiza, Jean D'Haiti, Christian Arroyo, and Joel Ortiz, and Adam Lawrence. Lawrence came through the mile mark at 5:15 with the others just seconds behind. Coming down the hill at about the mile and a half mark Araiza from Liberty, D'Haiti of Dr. Phillips, and Arroyo and Ortiz from Colonial were the one's to beat. The group came through the two mile mark around 11:00, a slow pace, given the conditions. Now, the drama comes at the end of this race. Araiza and D'Haiti were the frontrunners coming out of the three mile mark, but both ran down a parallel stretch of course to the finish, not the correct way. The Colonial duo comes down the finish and with about 40 meters before they cross the line Araiza pops out (think peek-a-boo) right at the finish. Arroyo and Ortiz cross the line and moments later D'Haiti comes in what would be 7th place. However, after talking with the coaches and meet official it was ruled as Araiza the winner in 17:26.00, D'Haiti in second (although results say 7th), and Arroyo and Ortiz bumped down to third and fourth. Colonial won the meet over Dr. Phillips 50-42.

Adair Lyden, the Lake Nona standout, who is small and stature, but a big competitor finished second at the Holloway Park Jamboree Park last week and wanted more on this soggy evening. Lyden said her gameplan was to get out and just sneak in between people and not let anyone see her. She quickly took the lead and hung with the guys. As a matter of fact, on the race video you will see her coming down the chute, out of nowhere sneaking past some guys. It wasn't the ideal race she said afterwards, but none the less a win is a win. She crossed the line in 20:05.80, 34 seconds faster than her nearest competitor, runner-up Kaley Schmick of Cypress Creek. Dr. Phillips placed all seven in the top 22 spots to claim the team title easily with 55 points. St. Cloud was second with 81 points.