RUDLOFF RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE
Mainland's Chris Rudloff removed any doubts as to whether he could recover from last spring's knee injury by winning the Boys Small School race in the fastest 5K time of the day. Sprinting off the starting line and charging up The Hill, he led almost from start to finish, claiming an emphatic 17:27.44 win on one of Florida's most challenging courses.
Rudloff obliterated his 2007 time of 17:59.9.
"I didn't plan on being able to beat that," he remarked afterwards. "What, with all the things going on this summer, I was just hoping to be in the top three. The guy from Trinity Prep (Gousse Ranley, second in 17:29.89) was awesome! He was pushing me the whole way."
Rudloff had a breakout sophomore season in 2007, winning several meets, including the 5 Star Championship (16:55.96) on October 23rd. However, when he was quite conspicuously absent during the track season, rumors circulated about the location, and severity, of his injury.
"The day before track season was supposed to start, I tore my PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), the one right across from the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). For a while I stayed off it. I went to different doctors. Physical therapy was the best. After that, I started looking at cross training."
During the summer, Chris became quite familiar with the seat of a bike, but came into the season with very little actual running behind him, and that didn't leave him with much confidence about the outcome of this, his first, meet.
"I had no clue where I was. I hadnt raced since last year. I was actually pretty scared."
It didn't show, especially from behind, which proved to be the perspective of everyone else that ran in his race. In fact, physically, he seemed vastly improved over last season. His upper body seems to have matured and become stronger, and his stride lost some of the awkwardness that set him apart from most of the other top regional runners.
"Right now, Im feeling great." Amen to that.
TEAM RESULTS: Rudloff ruined their shutout, but Trinity Prep finished 2-3-4-5-6-9-10 to win with 20 points.
DOOM AND GLOOM IN THE BOYS SMALL SCHOOL FINISH
Warner's 14-year-old freshman sensation, Kyler Kathman, ran an incredible race. He was in control of himself, the pace, and for most of his race, the entire field.
"I took them right after the sand. I opened it up and we started going down hill by the mud (behind the baseball field). I lost them going up The Hill," he remembered.
It was an inspiring moment. Headlines were forming in sportswriters minds: The Kid Does Good. By the time he went past the bulk of the spectators at the end of the second loop, it appeared as if no one could touch him. Off he went into the distance, 100 yards ahead of lesser humans, for one last trip through The Sand Box.
Sure enough, several minutes later--during which, no doubt, Warner coaches, parents and supporters were collectively holding their breath--the lead cart came into sight with Kathman right behind. By now, however, the next race was lining up parallel to the first base side of the baseball field, and at right angles to the finishers path. Whole teams of runners were doing stride outs, coaches were shouting last minute instructions and spectators were gathering in big bunches. And here comes Kyler, right into that mass of humanity.
"There was this big crowd of people, and I saw an empty space--a gap--and I went toward it. I thought it was where the turn was, but it was really another five yards ahead."
Kathman turned, the other runners didn't. By the time his coach was able to draw his attention to the fact that he was off course, three runners--Justin Bartusek of West Shore, Jan Michael Albritton and Bartosz Kostur of Matanzas--had passed him.
To give him credit, he fought the good fight, and his welling emotions, but the scene unfolded like one of those dreams. Even the spectators felt that they were part of it. To Kathman, it must have seemed like his legs were moving in slow motion, and everyone around him was running in real time. He could not catch the aforementioned trio, and in the chute Kirckstein Torres of Matanzas joined them in out kicking the unlucky freshman, who, by now was within sight of the other half of Warner Christians dynamic freshman duo, Billy Young (sixth in 19:13.37).
Afterwards, he showed a maturity that will serve him well in the months to come, when he stoically said "It was my fault. It happens."
None of this, however, implies that Bartusek ran anything less than a spectacular race. In the end, he was there to win, and without the wrong turn by Kathman, it still would have been an exciting finish.
"He passed us at a mile and a half and built a huge lead, reflected Bartusek. We slowly picked it up in the last mile and then that incident happened. I guess he missed the turn. His coach told him and he turned around. We began to pass each other just when we noticed that it had happened."
Justin Bartusek (West Side) was the official winner in 18:46.76, Jan Michael Albritton (Matanzas) was second in 18:47.93, Bartosz Kostur (Matanzas) third in 18:48.75 and Kirckstein Torres (Matanzas) fourth in 18:52.43. For Warner, Kyler Kathman (18:54.73) was fifth. Although it was, indeed, a very close footrace, Bartusek easily won the sportsmanship trophy when he said "Tell him, man, I'm sorry about what happened. He'll get it next year."
TEAM RESULTS: Matanzas (2-3-4-7-9-10-31) totaled 25 points to win easily.
WHEN THE LAST RUNNER COUNTS MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE
It was probably inevitable that Kristen Hansen breezed to her first win in her very first high school cross country race, since she runs for SeaBREEZE High School. Sorry; I couldnt help myself. And yet, it is still quite a breath of fresh air--oh no, not again!--to interview someone who is equal parts enthusiasm, humility and confidence.
"I had no idea. I never imagined I could win this."
Although she ran track last spring, her very first experience at running a 5000 meter race was the previous weekends Halifax Hospice 5K. Her time of 23:20--obviously a PR--was good enough to win the 15 to 19 age group, despite the fact that, at 15, she was the youngest finisher in that category. (See Hospice story elsewhere on this website.)
"I didn't have a plan. I was just going to go out there and go as fast as I can, hold the lead if I could."
And what a lead it turned out to be. The minute she had (23:46.7) over Merritt Island High Schools Leah Harpoole (24:50.01) went a long way towards setting the stage for Breezes sixth runner, Amanda Sunblad (20th in 29:38.01), to become the deciding factor in what would have been a 34-34 tie, had she not outrun MIHSs sixth, and last runner.
"I had a watch. I was running with the clock. The (lead) cart pretty much paced me. I wanted to get in the 23s. People told me that it would be good to run in the 24s because it was going to be a difficult race, and I probably wouldnt PR."
She wasn't far off, though. Her finish time was only a shade over 26 seconds from a her previous time on a faster, flatter road course.
TEAM RESULTS: Seabreeze by a place (1-4-8-9-12-20-22) for 34, over Merritt Island
(2-3-6-7-16-26), also 34.
Girls Small Schools: A New Kid on the Block
At the outset of each season, sportswriters, coaches and more than a few hopeful athletes brave a peek at who is left from the class of the previous seasons field of runners. And of course, they can't help but speculate how their favorite runner(s) will fit into the mix. Unfortunately, like the parent who says No peaking, a handful of those 1000 moving vans a day that rumble southward into Florida include a few boxes of running gear that, when unpacked, will totally screw up everyones predictions.
Such is the case of one containing the gear of Fernandina Beach's Stephanie Strasser.
"I moved from St. Charles, Illinois; a huge running capital. Within our town theres at least five All-State athletes," she explained. The Midwest is really big on running: Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois. and of course so is the Strasser household, home of twin sisters, Stephanie and Christina.
Stephanie, in particular, was an early Christmas present to the Fernandina running program.
I've been All-State in track and cross country every year since my freshman year, she replied to a question about past performances. Strasser, now a junior, ran a 2:16 for the 800 as a freshman, a 4:59 mile (5th in the state) and 10:54 two mile (6th in the state). Her PR in cross country is a 17:19 5K. Merry Christmas, indeed.
According to Stephanie, with the addition of the Strasser twins, this will be the first year that her high school will have a full girls team. Were new, and trying to our best, to build our program. We have fun together, and encourage each other.
Stephanie's idea of fun was to run 5:58 and 12:30 splits en route to a faster time--20:05--than the winner of both this years and last years Girls Large School race, and easily win the individual title of the Small School Girls race. It also eclipses Mandy Perkins 2007 winning time of 20:07, coincidentally also her junior year. That's running in some pretty elite company.
"Running is a big part of my life," admits Strasser. "I want to go to the (Florida) states in cross country, and go on to run in college."
In a way she has already done that. Her time was fast enough to win the meets College Womens race.
TEAM RESULTS: Trinity Prep (3-4-6-16-17-18-25) just beat West Shore High School
(7-8-9-10-13-30-34), 46 to 47.
EMBRY RIDDLE RETAINS ITS WOMENS TITLE
Although they think of themselves as an aeronautical school, Embry Riddle does a pretty good imitation of an army at cross country meets. Although there were some strong, talented schools entered in this meet, both Men's and Women's teams swarmed over the competition.
Eagles Senior Beth McCubbin ran a smart, tactical race, while leading her team to victory.
"I wanted to take it slow going up The Hill the first time, and then go hard down the hill," she explained. (I was still with the major in Engineering Physics at this point.)
"The second time, I attacked the hill."
I asked her, Is that aeronautical engineering, or physics?
"My coach's recommendation", was her reply.
"Flo (Silva, third in 20:32.21), Alex (Salinas, fourth in 20:37.29), Kasey (Kluge, sixth in 20:58.58) and I led up the hill the first time. We ran through the mile in 6:17 and two in 12:50-something. I knew that there was going to be one person that Id be battling it out with(Nicole Clarke) from Florida Tech. I raced against her last week and didnt do well because I was sick."
Indications are that she has recovered quite nicely. Her 20:26.44 was pretty much out there, although Techs Clarke (20:27.53) never gave up.
TEAM RESULTS: ERAU had 19 (1-3-4-5-6-7-9), to FITs 45. Clarke spoiled a shutout.
And Lastly, A Familiar Name is Firstly in the 8K
Does the name Sam Vasquez ring a bell? Graduated from Flagler-Palm coast in 2003? Led FPC to the team State XC Championship in 2002 and 2003? In track, ran 1:51/1:50 and 4:09/4:12 in the 800 and 1600, respectively to be the individual champion at those distances in his junior and senior year? Yes, THAT Sam Vasquez. Well, he's baaack.
It took Sam exactly one meet (UCF, two weeks earlier) to shake out the cobwebs (finished second). The next week he won the F.I.T. meet in 25:21, and despite running 26:49.55 on a much tougher home course, he is probably well on his way to a national class race by seasons end.
"I wanted to run an easy race today, because next week is FSU, a much more competitive race," he explained.
In describing Embry Riddle's home course, he said "It's one of the toughest courses around. With The Hill and all that sand, by the third lap, it really gets to you."
On this day, it would get to Florida Tech's Myles Garza (third in 27:34.16) first.
"I went out with the guy (Garza) who finished third. After the first lap, I took the lead and I was hurting. But I knew everyone else was hurting."
Vasquez gives much of the credit for his level of training to teammate Nick Gehlsen (last years winner in 27:21.93, and second in almost the exact same time this year: 27:21.02).
"Nick is the strongest runner on the team and he works out really well. He has great endurance."
TEAM RESULTS: ERAU had five in the top ten (1-2-6-8-10-13-14) to win with 27.
FOOTNOTES: For those of us who missed it, congratulations are in order for Sammy and his bride, former FPC runner and (along with Sam) freshman business major Florence (Flo) Silva. They were wed on May 23rd, 2007). If you visited the Asics tent and talked to the sales rep, stay tuned to flrunners.com for a future quiz. Like a sneaky teacher, however, I will allow a little time for your memories to fade before I pop the query, but stay tuned to your favorite website. I want to congratulate coaches Mike Rosolino and Peter Hopfe, and the dozens of ERAU students who contributed towards making this a first-class event.