JACKSONVILLE -- Forgive the guy on the PA whose voice is projecting
inadvertant mispronunications of Robyn DeBenedet\'s name.
Announcers have had plenty of practice saying words like \"Meet Champion\" and \"Episcopal High School\", but those phrases are usually followed by \"Kara\" and \"Scanlin\".
DeBenedet (pronounced D-BEN-a-dit) is now making a name for herself.
The junior rose among the ranks, specializing in the 1600 and 800, amid a breakout track season in 2002, where she went 5:05, 2:17 and ran a 3:43 1200 leg on the Eagle\'s state-record breaking Distance Medley.
Now, she\'s proving that cross country can be her game, too.
With an unleashing of her patented and powerful kick, DeBenedet claimed her first overall cross country title last Saturday, storming past upstart Clay freshman Ashley Hopkins in the final 100 meters to win the Ridgeview Invitational in 19 minutes, 46 seconds. It\'s that effort that has earned her this week\'s honor of Track Shack Athlete of the Week.
The Orange Park race may prove to be a turning point for DeBenedet - a way to separate herself from the shadow of Scanlin, one of Florida\'s all-time greats. A key, but often overlooked, cog in the Episcopal machine that has placed no lower than second during DeBenedet\'s three-year tenure, the pint-sized speedster is now a leader on a team comprised mostly of middle-schoolers (Episcopal\'s 20-girl roster shows no seniors).
It\'s been a role that DeBenedet has realished, and thrived in.
She\'s already running times near her personal-best for three miles, and if her final mile at Ridgeview - a 6:05 split - is any indication, she can go much faster.
DeBenedet (currently ranked No. 2 in Class 1A) is expected to be amid the leaders in the flrunners.com Race of Champions this Saturday. A matchup against current No. 1 Melissa Kotchman (Indian Rocks), No. 3 Chelsey Joiner (Holy Trinity), and No. 4 Fisher, should determine the early season favorite for the 1A girls crown.