Meester-Kitterman Dominates The Inaugural IMG Academy Cross Country Invitational

Athletes and fans alike were greeted to a beautiful, cool Florida morning as the world famous IMG Academy in Bradenton opened the doors of its new stadium for the Inaugural IMG Academy Cross Country Invitational. The course, which features one of the state’s largest hills, has the potential to become one of the area’s premier cross country venues. 


 

The girls race started off as a battle between three indivduals coming into the first of three encounters with the hill.  Lauren Csubak of St. Stephens Episcopal, Julia Ortiz, and Andrea McDonald of Lakewood Ranch jockied for position, but it was Csubak pulling away in the second half of the race. The senior crossed the line in a new season best time of 20:38.20 with Ortiz and McDonald rounding out the group in 20:47.60 and 21:35.30 respectively. Lakewood Ranch  won the team with five runners in the top thirty-four spots edging out Braden River 46-48. 

 

 

Canaan Meester-Kitterman of nearby Bayshore High School crushed the rest of the boys field, leading a majority of the race, and finishing well ahead of the pack with an impressive 16:59.30. Venice High School's trio of John Cokley, Collin, Naaman, and Dylan Stover stuck together as a pack, until breaking on their own at the two mile mark. Cokley crossed the line 25 seconds after Meester-Kitterman in 17:25.00 followed by his two teammates who also broke 18 minutes. They won the team title with a very impressive 27 points after placing their top five in the top eleven spots. Lakewood Ranch was second with Palmetto Senior High School in third.

In the girls JV race, Bridget Ambrose lead Lakewood Ranch to a near perfect score of 17 points. Venice junior Max Simeoni won the boys JV race edging outkicking teammate Nick Lloyd on the track by eight tenths of a seconds; 19:56.10 to 19:56.90. Venice won the team title with 36 points ahead of Palmetto Senior High School who tallied 54 points.
 

Elite Performances

Girls Highlights

• 5,000 Meter Run - Lauren Csubak (St. Stephens Episcopal School) 20:38.20 SB; Julia Ortiz (Lakewood Ranch HS) 20:47.60;

Boys Highlights

• 5,000 Meter Run - Canaan Meester-Kitterman (Bayshore HS) 16:59.30; John Cokley (Venice HS) 17:25.00; Collin Naaman (Venice HS) 17:44.00;