On-Site Coverage
- Complete Results & Meet Coverage
- Photo Album by Raul Ramirez (110 Photos)
-
Race Video/Interviews by Todd Grasley, Finish Cam Videos by Chris Kail (Elite Timing)
(TFA photos courtesy of Bryan Crist)
Baldwin Park in Winter Park played host to both 4A District 4 and 1A District 7. The 1A races were the third and fourth of the morning so when the girls race went off at 9:00 a.m. we figured we'd see a small group of runners about six to seven minutes in. Starter Derek Monroe and I were talking when all of a sudden we see a group of seven in blue and yellow. He looked at me and figured it was one of the 4A schools doing a cool down to which I replied, "Nope, I think that might be TFA." It was indeed. The virtual meet predicted an easy victory, but when all seven were running stride by stride it was something special to see. The Royals have the fastest 1-5 spread in ALL of 1A of only 48 seconds and it was certainly on display. Half way in the back began to spread out a little more with Emily Crist taking control. The senior cruised to victory in a time of 20:31.50 followed by the Barker sisters Kendal (20:36.90) and Caitlin (20:46.30). Emily's eighth grade sister Caroline was fourth in 20:49.20. TFA had more than a perfect 1-5 score, they completed the "Royal sweep" going 1-7 with a team average of 20:43 and 1-7 split of 49 seconds!
The boys race was the Franco Martins show. The Windermere Prep junior has been having a spectacular season. Last week, he saw many of the 4A runners at the Metro West Conference Championship/West Orange Invitational and havint that competition on a consistent basis has definitely paid dividends. Martins went out strong from the gun and was never even remotely challenged. He coasted into a respectable time of 16:30.70. Seeded fifth in 1A according to our virtual rankings, Martins realized their are bigger meets in the next two weeks. Drew DeArmas was the runner up and the only runner besides Martins to break 18 minutes with a time of 17:58.50. The biggest surprise might have been in the team rankings where New Dimensions out of Kissimmee placed all five runners in the top ten to edge out Martin's Windermere Prep squad 36-38 for the distict championship. TFA was third with 46 points.
Elite Performances
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Emily Crist (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:31.50; Kendal Barker (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:36.90; Caitlin Barker (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:46.30; Caroline Crist (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:49.20; Natalie Dizney (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:54.90; Anna Kate Horton (First Academy (Orlando)) 21:05.00 SB; Ashlee Newsome (First Academy (Orlando)) 21:20.70;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Franco Martins (Windermere Prep) 16:30.70;
