The stars came out Saturday night. Not the typical Orion and Big Dipper that we are accustomed to seeing, but the sort that we usually only get to see on hot Florida mornings. This type burns so much brighter for us Florida cross country enthusiasts: Hassen, Kabboord, Vazquez, Bowerman, Leary, and so many others. Under the lights at Tampa's Ed Radice Park the show began.
The night's elite races started with a BANG (literally). Fireworks lit up the night time sky just after the wonderfully patriotic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. And then the real fireworks began.
Florida's top girls wasted no time getting to the front, but the furious pack refused to dissipate. Lavera Morris took the early initiative, which was possibly her downfall, the remainder of the contenders sat back and waited on their chance. Through the mile mark there was little separation or a clear lead pack; the front bunch included Morris, Laura Bowerman, Elly Kabboord, Courtney Hall, Devin Gapstur, and others (with two more BK girls frighteningly close).
During the second mile, the lead changed a dozen times and it started to become evident that the early surge by the fast-twiched Morris (defending 4A 800m champion) had taken its toll as she began to steadily sink into the pack. Bowerman started to assert herself as the leader and slowly gained a little padding, but it was not over yet!
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Kabboord hung on tight but didn't seem to be inspired to push the pace. At mile two, Bowerman got some pressure as sophomore sensation Mallory Wellman closed the gap and took over the lead. She would hold that lead, two steps in front of Bowerman for another half mile with Gapstur, Kabboord, and then BK's Hall and Kelly Marshall staring hard at their backs.
Bowerman seemed to have enough of being led and Wellman's adrenaline began to wear down and exhaustion began to spring up. Bowerman stepped back into the driver's seat and decided to determine her own fate as she hit another gear going into the final 600 meters. Gapstur was up to go along for the ride and labored to mount an attack to challenge for the lead, with Kabboord hanging on just behind. In the end it was futile, there was no stopping the determined junior from King High.
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Laura took the title by a comfortable margin, as Gapstur pulled off the upset over Queen Kabboord to finish second. Wellman fought off fatigue valiantly, finishing in an imposing three-pack along with Hall and Marshall. What a race!
PART TWO: Boys Elite Summary, Coming Soon!