All regional results are now in! There were some fantastic team battles and individual times from around the state. We are working on getting up meet summaries and photos. If you have any photos or videos please send them in.
1A Region 1 - Results | Photos
1A Region 2 - Results
1A Region 3 - Results | Photos
1A Region 4 - Results | Photos
2A Region 1 - Results | Photos
2A Region 2 - Results
2A Region 3 - Results
2A Region 4 - Results
3A Region 1 - Results | Photos
3A Region 2 - Results
3A Region 3 - Results
3A Region 4 - Results
4A Region 1 - Results | Photos
4A Region 2 - Results
4A Region 3 - Results
4A Region 4 - Results | Photos
1A REGION 1
The men from Maclay are peaking at the right time. They have come on strong for the post-season and won by a hefty 50 point margin over PK Yonge with 41 points and a 17:05 team average. It was Patrick Swain leading the way for the Mauraders, the freshman finished second overall with a fantastic time of 16:22. Your 1A-1 individual champion was Whitney Strickland from North Florida Christian, a junior who has been relatively quiet this year. But he's not so quiet anymore after a 13 second PR of at 16:10, he is clearly on the map as a contender at state.
Maclay's girls took care of business as well, scoring only 27 points--43 points over PK Yonge. The girls averaged 20:05 to PKY's 21:07. Maclay sophomore Alicia Fenley won the race by over 30 seconds in 19:12.
1A REGION 2
Kyle Cooke looking GREAT with almost 45 second margin of victory with a time of 15:32. Kyle has had an up and down season, so it's good to see him running so well when it really matters! Ranley Gousse (Trinity Prep) and Josh Wolfe (Leesburg First, with a big PR), and Patrick Groome were next in line. I took some flack for calling Holy Trinity the favorite over Trinity Prep in the 1A in a meet summary article earlier this year. It could swing one way or the other depend on who is off and who is on that day--but at of right now looks like I made a good call. Holy Trinity over Trinity Prep 36-43 in this one... everyone else a mile behind.
Okay, this one was a no brainer... Kayla Hale wins. But she did so in fine fashion--with a new PR of 17:13.44. She is phenomonal and I'm looking forward to seeing her run out in San Diego! Grace Thomas of St. Edwards was a minute and 15 back--but that's a great new PR for her as well. The freshman finished in 18:31. Another freshman, Mollie Jones of the Geneva School was 3rd in 19:17. Holy Trinity wins easily with 31 points, which is about as surprising as Kayla winning the individual title.
1A REGION 3
Community School of Naples!!! They were certainly expected to win the girls region title--especially after their stellar performance last week at district--and they did. They did big time with just 30 points. But their boys got the job done too, defeating Berkeley Prep--who certainly are no slouches--by just one point, 62-63. I think they may have a tough time doing it again next week though, Tyler Greathouse (#2 man) was well off his normal pace and may have been pacing the others. Berkeley's Richard Blake too the individual title in 16:22, with Community School's Keyl Carufe in second 16:34.
So I already told you CSN's girls won, and they did so with an impressive 2-5-7-9-11, 19:21 team average, and 38 second 1-5 split. Lakeland Christian and Canterbury were a distant second and third, 90-91. Lakeland Christian was anchored by the first place finish Rebecca "Spookie" Eaves who finished in 18:51. Mallory White is competing again, coming back off of an injury that sidelined her much of the season, but she's clearly not back in the kind of shape she was pre-injury. She finished in 16th place, 20:18, as the #2 runner for LCS.
1A REGION 4
On the boys side, it is Palmer Trinity over Upperroom Christian, 44-61. Stefon Napier wins in 17:04. Dade Christian girls won over Miami Country Day, 54-97. Naomi Valerdi, a seventh grader at Marathon Jr/Sr High (great name for a running team!) won in 21:05.
2A REGION 1
No surprises here. It was BK boys all over the rest of the field, with a 16:43 team average and 35 points. The surprise is it might have actually been a closer team battle than expected, and the second place team was little-known Gulf Breeze with an impressive 17:19 team average. The edged out Bolles and their 17:19 team average, 78-84.
State championship favorite Joe Franklin (Godby) did his thing, with a 35 second victory over Michael Wallace (BK). Joe crossed in 15:37. Wallace and teammate Thomas Heekin were next in 16:12 adn 16:19, respectively.
Episcopal's girls also did their thing, surprising no one with their 24 point victory over Bishop Kenny. Episcopal scored 25, BK 49, and Bolles was third in 84 points. Episcopal looked absolutely great with Katie Traylor winning overall with a time of 18:38. Their team average of 19:11, I believe is their best average of the year. They are shaping up nicely for a post-season NTN qualifying attempt.
Bishop Kenny's 19:38 team average cannot be ignored though, they were led by Sarah Davis (2nd, 18:47) and Jamie Heekin (4th, 19:16). Bolles' game is pack. They lack the power to attack you from the front, but their 1-5 average of just 30 seconds (20:06-20:36) makes them tough. They are probably a top four team next week, although Gulliver may have something to say about that.
2A REGION 2
Crystal River won easily on the boys side in 61 points. But Nature Coast has really had a great season, starting to form itself into a solid squad from no where, they defeated hometown rival Hernando for second place 102-115. Tyler Maier of Hernando was first over the line in 16:19.
Lake Highland Prep walked all over the girls field, scoring just 27 points. It looks like they've finally got everyone healthy. Their top three went 2-3-4. They'll need to close up the gap between 3 and 4 and 4 and 5 if they are hoping to have a shot at a top two finish at state. Team average of 19:43 today. Astronaut was the second place finisher with 91 points. Devin Spoerle of Astronat was the individual winner in 18:44.
2A REGION 3
I didn't see this one coming. Naples defeated Tampa Jesuit 49-65. The times were off all around on this one, and I think this is one of those "true cross country" courses with mud and hills and such. Knock about 30-45 seconds off and the times start to make sense again. Naples ran well with a 40 second 1-5 split. Something seemed off with Jesuit though. Their top seven were all out of order, so not sure if there was more to this story or if that's just how the chips fell today.
Naples also took the girls title, but that was less of a surprise! They scored 71 points with a 21:28 team average. Immokalee was next with 102. Joane Pierre of Immokalee was first in 19:40, with the McHugh twins from Bartow in 2nd and 3rd, 5 second apart. Those two freshman twins will be headed to state alone next week, as their team just missed qualifying.
2A REGION 4
Belen Jesuit nearly swept this one--19 points. The boys of Belen had a 16:11 team average. Let me type that again just so that I believe it 16:11--my finger did not slip, that is correct. 15:28, 16:11, 16:13, 16:28, 16:39. Wow!!! The top three there were Guillermo Echarte, Joseph Dorfman, and Larry Duran. I'll give props to Chris Baker of Pine Crest as well for interupting the Belen Jesuit party with a 4th place 16:16.
Gulliver Prep girls took first with 55 points over a trio of teams just 30 points back--Ransom Everglades (80), Cardinal Gibbons (81), and Lincoln Park (86). Gulliver's team average was 19:20, which also seems rather fast. I don't mean to always call things into question--but hey you gotta ask questions! It's how you find things out! Nicole Carpio was way out front in 17:55.
Okay, so let's look into these fast times. So I looked back at some previous results from this course and it does not seem to run fast. Last week Chris Baker won at this venue in 16:51--and 40 seconds faster this week. But then again Sean Pulver, second here last week at district with 16:59 was 16:54 this week. Several weeks ago Sebastian Castillo ran this couse at the Broward County Champs in 16:51. But let's look on the girls side as well... ther were just flat out a whole lot of PRs.... big PRs. Like 45-60 second PRs. So is everyone peaking like crazy or was something amiss distance wise? Just asking--it's what I do!
3A REGION 1
Eric Larson ran the fastest time in the state this season with a time of 15:18. Doing so at Miccosukee Greenway, which is not a blazing fast course, really makes a statement. At one point it was Joe Franklin considered the unchallenged top runner in the state, now perhaps it is not so certain. It will be great to see what happens at Footlocker South in a couple of weeks. Maybe Florida can have a couple of boys qualifiers--which would be a huge surprise to most! So congrats to both Eric and Joe who ran great on this Greenway course today (in different races).
In second place in this 3A-1 boys race was Matt Mizereck of Leon. Matt lead the charge for Leon's regional championship here. That is not exactly a surprise at this point in the season, but in a pre-season North Florida outlook article it was suggested that Leon "might challenge Chiles" for the top team in the Big Bend Region. Well how things change during the season! Because that might has become a definitive "Leon is the best team in the northern half of the state". In fact, Leon just might be the best team in the entire state. Scoring just 37 points against the likes of chiles, Washington, and Navarre.... WOW! Running a to 16:21 team average on this course.... WOW! Great job, Leon!
Chiles' boys beat out Pensacola Washington on the sixth runner; they scored 91 points a piece and the 6th runners were 38th and 40th, to show you just how close it came even to 6. Navarre was also in contention with 101 points. Great team battle for 2-4!
While Chiles may have been (at least for this year) supplanted as the top team in Tally on the boys side, the Chiles girls showed that they are still firmly on top. They scored just 42 points to Leon's 79, with a 19:55 team average. Lauren Day of Crestview took home individual honors with a time of 19:28, followed by Kara Taylor and Maria Harper (both of Chiles).
3A REGION 2
Mike Boza in his first year at Plant, lead his boys to victory over George Jenkins. Close battle here 68-74, 17:25-17:35. Felex Soto of Land O Lakes had a cushy margin of victory with a time of 16:28, over Trenor Wilkins of Plant in 16:48.
Tori Lawson (Ocala Vanguard) two years ago was a freshman sensation and one of the top girls in the state. She had a tough bout with injuries and missed the entire last season. It's been a long road back, but she looks like she's in top form heading into state. She was your individual girls regional champion here, coming through in 19:10. Katrina Skinner of Wharton was next in 19:35.
Teams were closely matched, but Newsome's girls came out with the win. They scored 75 points over Wharton (93) and Plant (86). For those who might have been eyeing Plant results this year on Brigithe Watch... maybe in track!
3A REGION 3
Seminole's boys had it easy, scoring just 43 points. They were lead by Christian homme, who won by a stunning margin of victory with over 40 seconds between himself (16:32) and Jacob Brooks (17:13). This Estero course is tough, but Jake was cosnidered the likely favorite in this one. Great race for Christian!
Christian's sister Katelyn kept it in the family. Sophomore Katie Homme helped give Seminole four regional titles on the day--both boys and girls individual and team titles. Her time of 19:41 and 1 point was much needed for her team to defeat hard-charging Ft. Myers. Seminole finished 4 points ahead, 62-66.
3A REGION 4
Michael Burke hasn't been a name you've heard a ton about this fall. He's been solid all year but without the big meet victories or times to grab a lot of attention. Bryan Suarez on the other hand has had a huge year and made himself known statewide with victories at many great meets. Although I didn't get to see this race, I'd have liked to, from reports it was a fantanstic battle. In the end it was Burke surging to victory over Suarez, 16:05 to 16:09. It's safe to say this match up will replay itself next week with what should be a fantastic battle for second place in the 3A (assuming Eric Larson has it that easy!). Burke went into the race raced 7th to Suarez's 2nd in the 3A--so congrats to Burke on the upset victory.
Okeechobee's boys, lead by Suarez, managed to pull ou the victory over Satellite 76-94 with a 17:12 team average.
On the girl's side, on the other hand, it was the Satellite show! Ashley Shiver and Juliana Stern gave the 1-2 punch to secure the Scorpion victory... 18:46, 19:16, respectively. In third place it was Nicole Suarez with a time of 19:28, which lead her St. Thomas Aquinas team to second place. Satellite scored 33 to St. Thomas' 75.
SORRY 4A! I RAN OUT OF TIME! GOOD LUCK AT STATE!
