Martins, Armstrong Clock US#1 & US#3 4:18.65 4:19.81 At Rainy Lake Brantley Invitational

Lake Brantley Invitational
Todd Grasley


(Photos by Cassie Armstrong)

Mother nature greeted the three dozen teams at the Lake Brantley Invitational with rain showers and wind throughout the day. However, the rain subdued just in time for the boys 1,600m that featured some of the top distance talent in the area. Franco Martins the defending 1A state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200m (also 2013 and 2014 1A Cross Country Finals champion) headed toward the front along with Lyman's Jordan Armstrong and Lake Mary's Christian Aman.

Martins lead the race with Armstrong and Aman following suit and hanging out on each other's shoulders. On the third lap, Armstrong decided to turn it up a notch, but Martins wasn't budging. The Windermere Prep guided the group to three of the top ten fastest times in the country crossing the line in a US#1 mark of 4:18.65, just three tenths off of a personal best. Armstrong's 4:19.81 was the third fastest time in the country and a personal best by two and a half seconds. Aman fell off the pace in the final lap, but still managed to turn out a very impressive US#7 4:23.27, also a personal best. The race marked the first of the 2015 outdoor season for all three runners so the coming months should be very exciting!

Martins had this to say after the race.

"Jordan kind of made a move with around 600m to go and pulled up next to me which sparked something that made me go for it in the last lap. I was able to hold him off but really excited it was a great raceRunning a US#1 this early in the season isn't really a good indication as to where I'll be by May, as for many of the northern states are still competing indoors. However, I am very excited to have run so fast so early and motivated to keep improving just as I did last year."

For Armstrong, he was relatively surprised at the outcome. The Lyman junior wasn't expecting to run so fast so early and came into the race with a time goal of sub 4:25. The third seed behind Martins and Aman he says his main goal was to just race smart and see what happened.

"I knew those two guys would make it a fun race as they always do. So I started right off of Franco's shoulder and sat in rider 1 position, as Finke likes us to do, for a majority of the race. It really felt great to run well against some high caliber competition. It was definitely a large confidence booster closing like that hard, running a 2.5 second pr this early, but most importantly just racing smart. Now it's back to training even harder because your times in February mean nothing come May."

Armstrong credits Martins for setting a pace capable of producing those incredible early season times. However, he isn't the only person getting credit. The Greyhounds standout also says his success is in part to teammate and training partner Josh Jacques.

"I could never run like I do without him and I could never thank him enough for how much he pushes me and challenges me in practice. We definitely get the best out of each other. Plus, he got the win in the 3200 with 9:29, only two seconds off his personal best. It's going to be an exciting year for the Lyman track squad. We've got a strong, talented group."

The Dr. Phillip's boys continued their hot streak winning the meet with 117 points, almost twice as many as runner-up Colonial who tallied 62 points. Alvin Bryant had another big day running a season best 10.71 in the 100m and also winning the 200, and playing a key part in the winning 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams. The 4x100m relay team posted a new state leading mark of 42.06. Vernon Walker also picked up two individual golds winning the 110 and 300m hurdles. Jamari Smith won the 400 while the boys 4x800 team kicked off the meet with a "W" and ten points. The only two running events the Panthers didn't win, the 1,600 and 3,200m.

In a battle of cross country state champions, Joshua Jacques of Lyman who won the 4A crown beat out Martins in a rainy 3,200m that at points of the meet was off, then on, then off, then back on again as they debated whether to run in the less than desirable conditions. Jacques wasn't the only Greyhound with an impressive showing. For the second straight week, Sean Clarke was victorious in the pole vault going 15'0 after going 15'6" at the Lake Brantley Open. Adam Shuler tossed the discus 160'8" one of the top throws this year in Florida.

Another field event performer that had success on Saturday was Colonial senior Armani Wallace. Wallace cleared 6'6" to win the high jump and also added a title in the triple jump with a mark of 47'09".

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights