FLR 10: Race of Champions Preview

The flrunners.com Invitational 10 Presented by Nike has 17 races starting Friday afternoon and concluding Saturday at about 11:15.  The most well-known and anticipated races through are our two top-tier elite races on Saturday morning:  THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS! This year's version is going to be absolutely phenomonal... here is what to look for...

Note:  This is part of what is included in the meet program.  You can download and print the full version of that program by clicking here.  One will also be included with each team packet.

COVERAGE INFO:  We will have "live" results posted during the event, plenty of coverage after each night, and Robert "Doctor Bob" Cooke will be doing a LIVE VIDEO FEED on both days for all races. Look for links to all of that on the front page.  Addtionally, if all goes well technically, we will have not only complete results done quickly but also complete mile splits for every runner.  We will publish that this weekend if there are no unforseen glitches.   That is due in thanks to our sponsors at IPICO SPORTS, the makers of the slick timing system we'll be using.

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BOYS RACE OF CHAMPIONS

Sponsored by WARR10R™ Running Camps

This may be the most competitive boys race in meet history and a meet record feels almost certain. Columbus, lead by Armando del Valle, will enter as the race favorite having defeated Bishop Kenny at home at Katie Caples two weeks ago. BK has an amazing 1-2 in Colin Barker and Michael Wallace, who on a good daycould finish 1-2 overall.  Columbus though wins with strength in the middle, something that will be crucial in the the ROC!  Del Valle too has not yet ran at the same level, he was last year when he finished in second place at FLR 9 15:33.  If he has a big race that could almost put the Explorers out of reach.

Lead by Elliot Clemente, Belen Jesuit has a shot at an upset.  They have a solid team and are known to be aconstant talent factory, churning out new previouslly unknown star runners when it really counts. Dr. Phillips is another team who many expect to take a trophy, they are lead by Alex Mund and Novian Middleton.

Leon is the darkhorse.  Based on times from last year their returners put them as the #7 team in the state; however, scuttlebutt says that they might just be the best.  A very big might... they graduated their 4-7 runners from last year leaving a huge hole.  It helps that they have arguably the best 1-2 in the state in Matt Mizereck and Will Stanford (only BK could argue) and Riley Doherty is looking strong as their #3 man.  Can they find two more? 

Update: Leon has been battling some pretty bad flu bugs, like a lot of other teams, so that could really impact the team... and even their top 2 runners.  It will be a factor this year.

Also look for Plant, Ft. Walton Beach, Ferguson, Ransom Everglades, Tampa Jesuit, Trinity Prep, or WiregrassRanch trying to sneak into the top three to five positions. Notice not Melbourne?  They’ve been looking great but will be sending their top two (Brian Atkinson and Erik Fagan) to North Carolina to race instead.

Individually, it could easily be either duo from Leon or BK taking the tape.  Likewise, the previously mentioned Del Valle (Columbus) or Clemente (Belen) could surprise. Nor would anyone be shocked to see some of the dominant faces from last year challenge:  Erik Montoya (Estero), Mark Parrish (Chamberlain), or the lesser known Ryan Pickering (John I Leonard).  A bright new star has emerged this year in Tyler Davison (Cocoa Beach).  He is yet undefeated this year, and we are on the edge of our seats to see what he can do against this elite field.

Team Entries:

1. Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
2. Bishop Kenny HS
3. Charlotte HS
4. Christopher Columbus HS
5. Countryside HS
6. Cypress Lake HS
7. Dr. Phillips HS
8. Fort Walton Beach HS
9. HB Plant HS
10. John A. Ferguson HS
11. John I. Leonard HS
12. Lake Braddock
13. Leon HS
14. Melbourne HS
15. Norcross High School
16. Okeechobee HS
17. Olympia HS
18. Ransom Everglades HS
19. Robinson HS
20. Spruce Creek HS
21. Tampa Jesuit HS
22. Trinity Prep
23. Winter Park HS
24. Wiregrass Ranch HS
25. Woodstock High School

Individuals:  Tyler Davidson (Cocoa Beach), Mark Parrish (Chamberlain), Erick Montoya (Estero), Seth Rosonina (Astronaut),  Argeo Cruz (Immokalee), Bruce Federico (Nature Coast Tech), Will Bridges (Edgewater), Sean Rynning (Lyman), Phil Duncan (Boone), Nick Groome (St. Edwards), Chris Rudloff (Mainland), Steven Fernandez (Colonial), Diego Blanton (Lake Mary), Connor Bauer (Sebring), Nick Arjoon (Bayside).

Girls Race of Champions

Sponsored by IPICO Sports

The Fluehr sisters (Kathryn and Erika) of Community School of Naples have sure come a long way in a year! Last year at FLR 9, they finished 6th and 12th, respectively in 18:13 and 18:29.  This year though most are just asking how much they’ll win by. The two girls now find themselves ranked nationally after opening with times of 17:11 and 17:29 for Kathryn and 17:26 and 17:56 for Erika.  To many, one fast time equals a suspect course... but two fast times equals legitimacy.

One athlete hoping to prove that assumption wrong is Nicole Carpio (Ransom) who would like to remind everyone that SHE is the top returner in this race!  Last year she finished in fourth place, behind three Footlocker finalists, with the fifth fastest time ever on this course (behind four Footlocker finalists) in 17:50 as a freshman.

Stephanie Strasser (Fernandina Beach) and Stephanie Schappert (Pope John Paul) are likely the only others with a chance to steal the top prize.  However, plenty of others like Grace Thomas (Vero Beach), Shelby Hayes (Winter Park), Alyssa Burkert (Ocoee), Mallory White (Lakeland Christian), Carie Davis (Gulliver), and Mary Ann Brown (Orange Park) are hoping to swipe a top five position from the favorites.

Team-wise, Winter Park is favored though they have not been clicking yet this year. They are a potent squad, lead by Hayes and Olivia Papa. Melbourne, Our Lady of Lourdes, or Ft. Walton Beach could easily upset though.  And CSN, Lake Highland, Ransom Everglades, Vero Beach, or Lakeland Christian could pull it out in a hail mary play.

Update:  Originally forgot to mention... The real wild card in the race will be Lake Braddock, Virginia.  They might just become the first-ever out-of-state team to win the Girls ROC.

 Team Entries:

1. Cocoa Beach
2. Community School of Naples
3. Cypress Lake HS
4. Fort Myers HS
5. Fort Walton Beach HS
6. Hagerty HS
7. HB Plant HS
8. Lake Braddock
9. Lake Highland Prep HS
10 .Lakeland Christian School
11. Lakewood Ranch HS
12. Melbourne HS
13. Olympia HS
14. Our Lady of Lourdes
15. Ransom Everglades HS
16. Sarasota Riverview HS
17. The Geneva School
18. Trinity Prep
19. Vero Beach HS
20. Wharton HS
21. Winter Park HS

Individuals: Alyssa Burkert (Ocoee), Mary Ann Brown (Orange Park), Stephanie Strasser (Fernandina Beach), Joanna McCoy (Coral Shores), Hannah Howell (St. Stephens), Camille Jackson (Providence), Brittney Olinger (Oak Hall), Natalie Concepcion (Ferguson), Emily Edwards (Canterbury), Carrie Davis (Gulliver), Stephanie Schappert (Pope John Paul), Olivia Fay (Pope John Paul), Isabelle Amaro (West Broward), Katelyn Greenleaf (Northside Christian).