On-Site Coverage
(Photo of Brittney Olinger and Denae Chapman courtesy of Britney Olinger)
Oak Hall junior Brittney Olinger and Christina McKinney of Mt. Dora Bible were out front early in the race, with Denae Chapman of Circle Christian and a pack of Oak Hall runners following behind. The First Academy showing their incredble 1-5 second spread solidifying themselves in the top twenty spots. Olinger began to push the pace midway through the race and distanced herself from the rest of the field winning in a time of 18:48.00. Chapman was second in 19:21.70 and McKinney third in 19:32.30.
The Eagle won easily with Olinger finishing first individually and teammates Talia Carlson, Grace Blair, Grace Blair and Lindsey Rosenberg going 4,5, 6, and 7. Nadira Evans was 9th for Oak Hall as they scored 23 points. The First Academy had a meager 29 second 1-5 split to finish as the regional runner-up. Circle Christian, Father Lopez, Lakeland Christian, and Mount Dora Bible also advanced to the state meet.
(Photo of Troy Clark and Christina McKinney courtesy of Troy Clark)
Mount Dora Bible's lone entrant in the meet, Troy Clark, was the leader from the gun with a group of three; Franco Martins of Windermere Prep, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Joseph Janson close behind. Clark crossed the line first in a time of 16:07.00. Martins and Janson followed shortly thereafter in 16:16.80 and 16:19.00. Gonzalez looked like he would finish fourth easily, but as he entered the final straight away he began to falter. Teammate Isak Davis and a member of the training staff walked Gonzalez through the finish. Both runners were disqualified by a jury of judges, but in the end it didn't matter for Geneva.
Despite, their top two runners missing from the results the team had still won by 20 points over Circle Christian. Kola Katynski ended up fourth and Austin Rader also finished in the top ten to give them 72 points with their five runners that scored placing in the top 27. P.K. Yonge was third with 96 points. Father Lopez's depth carried then to a tie break win (115 pts.) over Windermere Prep while Oak Hall claimed the final spot with 119 points.
Race Video/Interviews by Dean Headley
Elite Performances
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Brittney Olinger (Oak Hall School) 18:48.40; Denae Chapman (Circle Christian School) 19:21.70; Christina McKinney (Mount Dora Bible School) 19:32.30; Talia Carlson (Oak Hall School) 19:41.00; Grace Blair (Oak Hall School) 19:44.10; Lauren Perry (Oak Hall School) 19:49.10; Lindsay Rosenberg (Oak Hall School) 19:49.60; Rebecca Clark (Mount Dora Bible School) 19:54.10 SB; Nadiria Evans (Oak Hall School) 19:57.40; Devin Bos (Circle Christian School) 20:00.80; Paige Ward (Father Lopez Catholic HS) 20:19.60 SB; Emily Crist (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:32.70;Shelley Downward (The Geneva School) 20:34.30 SB; Marcella Perez (St. Francis Catholic HS) 20:36.70 SB; Kendal Barker (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:42.00; Caitlin Barker (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:46.50; Caroline Crist (First Academy (Orlando)) 20:57.40; Ashley Gallinaro (St. John Lutheran) 20:59.30; Ashlee Newsome (First Academy (Orlando)) 21:02.30 SB; Natalie Dizney (First Academy (Orlando)) 21:11.40; Anna Kate Horton (First Academy (Orlando)) 21:11.50; Adrienne Yaryan (Father Lopez Catholic HS) 21:16.90 SB; Valerie Villafane (Father Lopez Catholic HS) 21:21.20;Kennedy Lewis (Lakeland Christian School) 21:22.70; Jaden Ault (Circle Christian School) 21:23.20;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Troy Clark (Mount Dora Bible School) 16:07.00; Franco Martins (Windermere Prep) 16:16.80; Joseph Janson (P.K. Yonge School) 16:19.00; Kola Katynski (The Geneva School) 17:21.80; Austin Perry (Oak Hall School) 17:27.10; Jerod Fuller (Lakeland Christian School) 17:35.90; Joseph Ault (Circle Christian School) 17:43.20; Austin Rader (The Geneva School) 17:43.20 SB;