In His Own Words - Brandon Marquez - One Last Hurrah

(Photo by Cassie Armstrong)

With regional’s ending this past weekend, November 9th is just around the corner. What an eventful season it has been, but there is still one more race to go.
 

At the 4A Region 1 Championships this past weekend, the weather Friday night was as ideal it could get for a runner, not one drop of rain and cool temperatures. However, Saturday morning proved to be quite different. For hours early in the day, a chilly rain came down. Thankfully it subdued for the most part by the start of the races at 8, but it left a wet mark on the Santa Fe course. The girl’s race started a morning of racing off with freshmen Kayley Delay of Fletcher racing to a regional win in 18:54. Winter Park dominated the team race and qualified to the state meet this week alongside Lake Mary, Winter Springs, Mandarin, Dr. Phillips, and Olympia. The Timber Creek girls finished 12th as a team, but my teammate Briana Burnett qualified as an individual finishing 7th in this tough regional race to clinch her ticket to states. 
 

In the guy’s race, another close team battle seemed to be clear between Colonial, Mandarin, and Timber Creek. I went out with a goal to help the team win our first regional championship in our school’s brief history, and with help from Carlos Ramos (6th), Michael Nazareth (9th), Jared Vasquez, and Matt Nazareth; Timber Creek won 68 to 77 over a tough Colonial team which placed its first five runners in the top twenty five. I am very proud to be a part of Timber Creek, to go from being the last team to qualify out of this “Region of Death” last year to winning this year is a great accomplishment and shows what a difference a year can make. Mandarin, Lyman, Lake Mary, and Winter Park rounded out the remaining state qualifiers. 


(Photo by FLJAYHAWKRUNR)

With the end of the season near, I would like to give a special shout out to my captains/teammates Kim Chiok and Carlos Ramos for representing the senior class of 2014 of Timber Creek XC. What a great two years it has been with you guys and I wish you two the best of luck onwards. 

Here we are in November already everyone, and Tallahassee is only a few days away. Good luck to everyone competing from 1A to 4A. Until next time.