(Photos by FLJayhawkRunr)
Just when you think cross country was just starting, it is already coming to a close. It feels like yesterday it was just August, but turns out it is already October. With that being said, the conference meet and state series is only a few weeks away and the regular season is coming to a close.
This past week, only the Timber Creek varsity teams headed for the Manasota Track Club Invitational hosted by Sarasota Riverview in Sarasota. We ran the course Friday afternoon and then took part in a team dinner before the race the ensuing morning. 
Course conditions were slow, wet, and muddy; but the girls Varsity got off to a quick start. Timber Creek's own freshmen Briana Burnett took the individual title in a new PR, despite the slow conditions. The North Port girls took the team championship with our girls Varsity settling in third.
Course conditions were slow, wet, and muddy; but the girls Varsity got off to a quick start. Timber Creek's own freshmen Briana Burnett took the individual title in a new PR, despite the slow conditions. The North Port girls took the team championship with our girls Varsity settling in third.
In the boy's Varsity, the plan was strictly pacing duties up top, as Michael Nazareth and I tried to pull the next four to a solid time in preparation for our varsity squad traveling up too Tallahassee for Pre-States in a couple of weeks. After a while, I continued to chug away at the mud and conservatively distanced myself till the end of the race. It's a good thing that I had black trainers because some of the kids who have neon spikes on the team, well... let's just say they will never be neon again. Regardless, everyone has got to love some muddy cross country. Despite the course conditions, the team had a good last tune-up together before we enter the final month of the cross country season. Even though it was a conservative run, our usual top three ran well, and more importantly our four and five are showing life as they ran solid times considering the conditions. It's a good sign when our top six this year is faster than our top two were last year at this time. The Varsity squad is looking forward to taking this meet off, and resting up for Pre-States.
However, the Timber Creek JV will be running at Titan Trail (Orange City) at University High School Orange City this weekend. Our top seven JV runners will compete in our place as varsity with an interesting battle between themselves. Even though we only took seven for our first travel meet in Sarasota, whoever runs #1 for the team this meet for the girls and boys will travel with us up to FSU for Pre-States for our second travel meet. Considering on the guys side that our JV spread (1-5) is 10 seconds, it will be close. So if any of them are reading this; run fast, and run hard.
After the race last Saturday, instead of heading back to Orlando immediately, I had the chance to see my sister who is living in Sarasota currently for college. Considering it had been months since it was the last time I saw her prior, it was nice to spend the afternoon with my entire family with her and catch up. (Miss you Melissa!)
Congratulations to everyone who competed around the state, especially those at the flrunners.com Invitational. I look forward to racing soon! Until next time.