Preview: Top Boys in the FLRunners.com Invitational

NOTE:  Coaches and parents.  Due to Helene and some subsequent heavy rains, the backside of the course is under water.  We will be running a loop course do to the conditions.  It is a measured 5K and is actually more viewer-friendly.  It has been used before.  The Middle School and Elementary school races are not affected. Also, please be aware that the Tent area is wet so choose your location carefully.   With the loop course, the starting line has been moved forward so that area can be used for tents for tents on Saturday.  On Friday, the 2000m and 3000m races use the standard starting line.

PLEASE pay attention to the direction and instructions of the parking attendants.  This area can be wet.  Please do not randomly park in open areas.  Thank you.  We are looking forward to a great event. 

Map of Loop Course see below

Naples, Christopher Columbus, and Hagerty are the #3, 6 and 10-ranked teams in Florida.  Add to the mix, the #3 ranked Georgia team, Cambridge out of Milton, Ga. (near Atlanta), and it should be a very competitive boy's team race.  Naples is led by Jr. Reece Lolly who has run 15:45.80 this year.  All five of their scorers have run under 17:00.  They have an Average time of 16:19.08 and a 1-5 split of 1:00.10. Lolly is joined by Sr. Jack Marshall 16:10.60 61, Jr. Jonathan Rosas Santiago 16:20.30, Michael Brewer 16:32.80 and Jr. Cooper Kummer 16:45.90.

Christopher Columbus is led by Jr. Diego Eseverri who has run 16:07.70.  While their average time is 7 seconds slower than that of Naples, they have a 1-5 split of just 45.07 seconds.  along with Eseverri, the squad is:  Sr. Anthony Scarcello, Jr. Alexander Lopez, Federico Llaguno, and Christian Someillan.

Hagerty has an Average Time just 10 seconds back of Naples and has a 1-5 split of 54.20 seconds.  Their lead runner is sr. Jacob Leon who has run 15:56.30. The other 4 scorers for Hagerty are: Jr. Noah Mott, Sr. Connor Stromberg, Jr. Alexavier Davis-Medina, and Jr. Ricardo Hernandez.

14 boys come in with sub-16:00 times including the two runners from Georgia.  The top-seeded runner is Sr. Blake Young of Indian Rocks. Young was 2nd to Sr. Liam Jordan of Berkeley Prep at North Port running a 15:31.10.  He is ranked #7 in Florida and was the runner-up in the 1A state meet last year with a 15.48.70.   Blake will have a group of challengers chasing him and this will be a very competitive race.  See the list below of the top entrants who are all ranked within the Top 50 of their respective states.  Just 27 seconds separate all of the top-ranked boys.   Watch for a large group still in it at the 2-mile.  Who will make the move and start pressing, but it will be interesting to see who takes command on Saturday over the last 800m.

GEORGIA RANKINGS (Top 50)