Chiles HS had the possibility of making history on Saturday morning, by being the first team ever to win both individual titles and team titles. It was up to the Chiles girls to take care of business first in the 3A Girls race.
The first mile was pretty close and compact, but separation started shortly after the mile, when Chiles High Ana Wallace and Mater Academy's Valerie Lastra took the lead and stayed together for a little bit. About the two-mile mark though, Wallace made the charge that would lead to a finishing mark of 17:43.42 and she was crowned the 3A Girls Individual State Champ. She would not have to wait too long to see how her team finished, as Emily Culley and Creekside's Claire Openshaw were in a full-fledged kick battle for second place. It would be Culley who barely nudged Openshaw, to allow Chiles to finish first and second in the race.
The team race for the 3A girls was decided extremely quick, as Chiles was able to put all five point scorers in the top 11, as they cruised to a huge state championship victory. The Chiles Girls scored 30 points, and they were followed by Creekside, Niceville, and Ponte Vedra; which all four schools were from Region 1-3A.
Next up was the boy's turn as Chiles High was the favorite to win the boy's title and Senior Michael Phillips's turn to win the individual title. Around the mile, there was a strong pack of four guys leading the race, and the pack consisted of Michael Phillips, his teammate Matthew Newland, Belen Jesuit senior Joshua Collins, and Ocala Vanguard's Joseph Fitzpatrick. By the two mile Phillips had pulled away from the field and Collins was solidly sitting in second place. And by the end of the race Chiles High Senior Michael Phillips was the 3A State Champion in a time of 15:14.69, followed by Belen Jesuit's Joshua Collins (15:39.32).
So with three of the four state championships heading back to Chiles High School, it was up to the team performance to see if history was to be made. Chiles had a strong 1-2 as they finished first and fourth, but it was the historical juggernaut from South Florida that squashed those dreams as Belen Jesuit put all five point scorers in the top 21 and all five scorers were in before Chiles's #3 runner crossed the line. Coach Frankie Ruiz's squad felt they were overlooked and not being given enough credit, so they silenced their critics by having a phenomenal race and completely running away with the 3A Boys Team Championship.
Chiles boys finished in second to secure a 3A State Runner-Up trophy, as they were followed by Vanguard, who was led by third place finished Joseph Fitzpatrick (15:57.30). Bartram Trail and Creekside rounded out the top five.
Chiles HS had the possibility of making history on Saturday morning, by being the first team ever to win both individual titles and team titles. It was up to the Chiles girls to take care of business first in the 3A Girls race.
The first mile was pretty close and compact, but separation started shortly after the mile, when Chiles High Ana Wallace and Mater Academy's Valerie Lastra took the lead and stayed together for a little bit. About the two-mile mark though, Wallace made the charge that would lead to a finishing mark of 17:43.42 and she was crowned the 3A Girls Individual State Champ. She would not have to wait too long to see how her team finished, as Emily Culley and Creekside's Claire Openshaw were in a full-fledged kick battle for second place. It would be Culley who barely nudged Openshaw, to allow Chiles to finish first and second in the race.
