Lake Brantley junior Sinclaire Johnson and Coral Reef senior Kurt Convey are our week two athletes of the week. Johnson picked up her third victory in three attempts by winning the Hagerty Invitational in a new personal best time of 18:27.60. Convey captured his first win with a victory at the Katie Caples Invitational, break the sixteen minute mark in 15:56.00.
GIRLS WINNER: Sinclaire Johnson - Junior @ Lake Brantley
Three wins in three races. A perfect start for Lake Brantley junior Sinclaire Johnson. Johnson, a former lacrosse player turned track star, capped off her sophomore track season with two state titles, winning the 800 and 1,600 meters. Over the summer she focused on running a solid progression long run each to build up the volume of her runs coming off a short distance and speed routine. Coach Francis Moxie says incorporating a distance base with that speed has made her a threat on the course.
"Speed is always a huge factor in being able to pull away from competition at the end of the race. Having Sinclaire practice with holding on to race leaders and pace was crucial, since we knew that as long as she held on to the lead, she would be able to finish strong with her speed."
That speed was on display in her first race of the year at the Mike Gibson Summertime Run, when she made a move after two miles and never looked back. Moxie says the game plan was to treat it like a just get out and run competition, and that the expectation for her to win the race was not the primary focus.
"Sinclaire knew that she would be running with Fatema throughout her race and wanted to hang on to her and see if she could finish strong. Having her run the next few races under 18:30 was a surprise, but her consistency in pace was even more surprising. With her splits being no more than seven seconds apart was not something I expected this early in the season, since the pace of her race is still very new to her. "
Johnson followed that up with a huge personal best at the Spikes and Spurs Classic in a time of 18:28.62. While speculation swirled that the course might be short, the junior proved everyone including myself, that both herself and the course were legit with her performance at the Hagerty Invitational the following week. Running comfortably in the front group that consisted of Jaffer (a familiar foe) and Melbourne's Julie Wollrath (3x 1A Cross Country Finals champion), Johnson used her 2:10, 5:01 track speed to seal the deal in the final mile, treating it like a 1,600 meter run on the track.
Moxie describes Johnson as an excellent example of someone who dedicates herself to the goals she sets.
"She comes to practice ready to work and puts her forth her best effort regardless of how she is feeling or what else is going on. In addition to being a standout runner she is also a stellar student maintaining a 4.3 G.P.A. The goal this year is for Sinclaire to earn a state title this season at the Cross Country Finals."
The key will be keeping her healthy and continuing to work on her consistency and Moxie believes there is no doubt she will have a shot at the title.
So what does the future hold for the junior? Moxie says the success of her future accomplishments lies in her hands.
"She is determined to earn a few more state titles before she leaves high school and be a great role model for her teammates, along with future Lake Brantley runners. I can tell you that by what we've all seen so far, we shouldn't expect to see anything less than great things."
BOYS WINNER: Kurt Convey - Senior @ Coral Reef
Mike Becker has been around the sport. When he was a 22 year old coach at Palmer Trinity his teams ran against one of the best South Florida talents in Billy Convey. Fast forward, and now it's Becker who is coaching Convey's son Kurt, one of the top runners in South Florida and the entire state. He says he hadn't seen the Convey's again until Kurt was a middle schooler.
"I was very impressed with his ability and focus. I remember him jumping in a high school training run as a 5th grader and beating many kids. I think right now he is mature, calm, and focused. That's the big difference between this year and last year."
In 2013, Convey was clocking times in the 16 minute range, and then at the flrunners.com he placed 7th in a new personal best of 15:23.12 and regained his focus. He finished second at the district and regional meet, was 7th at the 4A Cross Country Finals and 43rd at Foot Locker South. The senior started the fall with a second place finish at the King of the Hill CC Opener before running his best race of the season at the Katie Caples Invitational in Jacksonville, crossing the line first in 15:56.00. Becker says the game plan was for Convey to take the bull by the horns.
"There will be races where he will have to "react" to other runners' moves.Those races are coming soon, but this early season race was to be one of the races where he could test his strategies without the blazing Miami sun. My philosophy is to treat early season races like early season races not much stress.Train through these meets. He went a long run the next day, no problems.That was more important."
The following week Convey defeated the top talent in South Florida at the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair at Larry and Penny Thompson Park. Becker admitted that nobody except Raposo likes that course, so he was proud that Kurt was able to get up for the course and the meet.
"He was able to take the race against a very strong runner in Ryan Rodriguez, from Belen. It was the first time, Kurt won this race. Again, for now, it was about Kurt dictating rather than being dictated to. He looked very, very relaxed, and obviously can go faster."
Another sub 16 minute performance, 15:58.35, Convey is not only becoming a better runner, but making his teammates better as well. Junior teammate Carlin Berryhill was third at the King of the Hill CC Opener, third at Katie Caples, and second at Miami-Dade County Youth Fair. Becker believes that his dynamic duo are the best pair in the state and make each other better each day in practice.
"They are quite different. Kurt is quiet, Carlin is humble, but louder. Though they have squabbles over how long a warm up should be etc. they respect and like each other, and always push each other in practice. Carlin would undoubtedly like to beat Kurt ( and may) , but is happy for Kurt when Kurt wins. Carlin's turn is coming, not only because he has inner strength. but among other reasons he has been tutored in a work ethic by a great teammate."
Becker says Conveys strengths are a relaxed yet focused approach in practice and a dedication to reaching fixed goals? What are those goals? He adds that he is subtly tone downed early in races to emphasize getting the big enchilada.
"His goals are to run well at the end of the season at state and Foot Locker. He has already proven that he is a great runner. He has nothing to prove there; only to stay healthy, keep training and let the natural maturation process result in an outstanding end of season."