Winter Park Proves Why They Are 4A Favorite, Marquez & Timber Creek Keep Rolling

FHSAA 4A Region 1
Todd Grasley

On-Site Coverage


(Photo by Cassie Armstrong)

A large pack of girls came through the first mile. In that group was Kayley Delay of Fletcher, the Winter Park trio of Katie Kuhn, Charlotte Stephens,and Emily Nix, Emily Headley of Olympia, and about eight others. Delay and University's Autumn Bartlett emerged through the pine trees 1-2 and continued to push the pace of the race. Winter Park Coach Kristin McWilliams says that her girls came through the mile slower than usual. With about 2.5 miles left Delay had about a ten meter lead on Kuhn and and Hagerty's Kerstin Sosa. Coming down the final 100 meters, it was a sprint to the finish, and the Fletcher freshman took the win with a new personal best time of 18:54.30. Sosa and Kuhn would finish second and third and also break the 19 minute barrier in 18:58.10 and 18:59.90.

The team race was no contest. Winter Park placed all five runners in the top fifteen, with a 50 second 1-5 split, and a team average of 19:26.00. They will be the favorite for the 4A title next week in Tallahassee. Lake Mary claimed the runner-up trophy with Winter Springs (162), Mandarin (166), Dr. Phillips (180), and Olympia (189) sneaking in the sixth and final spot.


(Photo by Cassie Armstrong)

At the district meet last week, Brandon Marquez called himself somewhat of a coach out there on the course. Marquez, a sophomore, and the 4A runner-up in 2012 scored another impressive victory this weekend. Much like the district meet it was a close battle with Connor Ferrentino of Freedom at the beginning of the race with Ken Pineiro of Deland leading the chase pack. Marquez distanced himself and cruised to the easy win in 15:40.00. Ferrentino easing up on the gas in the final meters with a time of 16:04.00. Pineiro was third in 16:05.20. A sprint for the finish occured after that with Sam Mack, Ryan DeGale, and Carlos Ramos going four, five, and six  in a span of three tenths of a second!

The Wolves won their first regional championship with Marquez Ramos, and Nazareth at the top. The team scored 68 points placing all five runners in the top thirty, with a team average of 16:25. Colonial was second with 77 points with Mandarin (93), Lyman (138), Lake Mary (143), and Winter Park (147) advancing to state.

Race Video/Interviews By Dean Headley

 

 

 

 

 

 

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