Jack and Alice Ilea are two of the FUTURE STARS of Florida distance running. Jack is a 5th-grader and Alice a 7th-grader and they run for the Red Sea Running Club (Tavares). Both were recent winners at the FLRUNNERS.COM INVITATIONAL. Jack took the Elementary School boys 2K with a time of 7:33.51. Alice won the Middle School girls 3K race with an 11:04.30.
Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts
Jack Ilea started running in 2024. This year, he has two firsts in his 2K races, winning at the 26th FLRUNNERS.COM INVITATIONAL in 7:33.51 and at the Running on the Range Under the Lights presented by Fleet Feet with a 7:14.95. He was second in the 3K at the 17th Jim Ryun FCA Invitational with a 7:49.90. He was 26th in the 5K at the Lake Mary Summertime Run with a 20:03.70. In the 2024 XC season for comparison, in the 2K, he was 5th at the Florida Horse Park Invitational with a 8:09.70, 16th at the FLRUNNERS.COM INVITATIONAL with a 8:23.79. He was 24th with an 8:06.65 in the FLYRA MS State Cross Country Championships.
Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts
Alice Ilea started in 2023. This season, she is undefeated in middle school 3K's in four outings. She won at 17th Annual Jim Ryun FCA Invitational with an 11:25.50, at the Florida Horse Park Invitational Presented by B3R, 12th Annual with a 10:46.00, at the Running on the Range Under the Lights presented by Fleet Feet with a 10:56.95, and at the 26th FLRUNNERS.COM INVITATIONAL with an 11:04.30. She has run one 5K, winning at the Lake Mary Summertime Run in 19:50.70. She continues to improve her 2023 season where she had 2023 PR's of 7:49.76 for the 2K and 13:04.36 for the 3K.