Who Wins? Florida's Greatest Boys State Champions in a Fantasy Race

The Race

The start and the 1st 1000m

The gun goes off, and nearly 250 of Florida's greatest champions surge across the starting line at once. For the first several hundred meters, the field races forward in mass across ARP's wide-open grass start, aiming for just left of the large tree that marks the start of the downhill. There is plenty of room to run, but with all of this talent packed into one race, everyone wants to get out fast, and nobody is willing to surrender position. As is typical, a slight V has formed as they move downhill with the finish on their left and the crowd lining the fence rail to their right. 

Keith Brantley moves to the lead and confidently toward the front as they pass under the bridge on the slight uphill for the first time. Ted Mitchell is close behind, and Kenneth Clark is settling comfortably into the lead group. Even with Brantley, Mitchell, and Clark leading the pack, the group remains a single mass of runners. There is no real separation. Marcelo Mantecon is nowhere near the lead. He is tucked into the pack around tenth place, content to let others dictate the early pace. Patrick Koon and Brian Jaeger are further back, but are well aware of where Mantecon, in his yellow jersey, is. No one seems concerned, and for all the talent assembled at the front, there is a noticeable restraint to the opening kilometer. Everyone knows what awaits deeper into the course, and nobody wants to spend energy winning the first five minutes of a race that will be decided much later. They have all been coached well and know that in a championship race, nothing really happens until the two-mile mark. 

1000-2000m

The character of the race changes as the field leaves the open grass and funnels into the winding pine forest, then turns and heads to the back section of the course on the crushed shell. The crowd noise fades a little behind them. The course narrows. The footing changes. Small rises and turns start to interrupt the rhythm of the long opening start, and straightaway. The runners have now settled in, trying to be comfortable.

Up front are Mitchell, Jager, Brantley, and Clark with the pack, just a few meters back. It is beginning to stretch out a little, but staying in contact, not letting anyone break away, and patience is in everyone's mind. In this race and at this time, it's not about perfect splits; it's about the experience of not running in a race, but racing in one. More about surviving whatever the course and competition demand in this race. Racing on how you feel and using your experience. Watching the runners around you, always aware of the feel of the race.

As they approach the one Mile, gaps appear for the first time up front with a few runners drifting backward. A few start to fight to maintain contact.  No one wants to let any significant gap open. 

The Hill (Wall) for the first time

They reach the hill called the Wall for the first time. It's treated with respect. There is no dramatic surge. Just digging down and attacking the rise. It's the first real defining moment in the race. Mantecon smoothly passes a few runners, moving from around 10th to fourth. His move is effortless, and it's almost as though the race is coming backward to him rather than him charging forward.

Mantecon's presence in the race is felt. Eyes are on him. Patrick Koon, comfortable on his home course, sees Mantecon moving up, recognizes the move by Mantecon, and begins to work his way up as well.

Now past the hill and along the back side of the start, heading to the left turn and the long straightway and downhill to the two-mile mark, Brian Atkinson is beginning to move up through the thinning field, not wanting to lose contact. Rheinhardt Harrison recognizes the surge and the increasing pace and refuses to fall back. The leaders use the downhill to increase their rhythms as they head under the bridge right before the two-mile mark. The race is now starting to take on its championship character.

Two-Mile Mark

At the two-mile mark, there are only seven in the lead pack. Marcelo Mantecon, Ted Mitchell, Patrick Koon, Brian Jaeger, Keith Brantley, William Clark, and Rheinhardt Harrison. Behind them, runners are starting to feel the race's pace and are dropping back. The race is now on, and the winning move will come from someone in this group. Everyone knows it. 

Suddenly, Mitchell makes the first definitive move, pressing the pace with a surge fast enough to open several meters of daylight. None of the others panics, however. They were expecting a move and waiting patiently for it. They feel the pressure, but slowly close the gap on the backside of the course as they approach the hill for the second time. 

The Wall for the 2nd Time and the Finish

As they attack the hill for the second time, the group is still together. As they crest the hill and make the turn toward the downhill finish, Mantcon begins to accelerate. Mitchell and Koon respond immediately, but Jaeger, Brantley, Clark, and Harrison's legs are heavy from the climb, and they can't respond. The sprint is on, and the group breaks apart with every stride. With 250m to go, Mantecon commits to his kick. His cadence quickens, his arms drive harder as he uses his speed. Mitchell fights to stay with Mantecon, but is clearly struggling. Koon is closing furiously and giving everything he has as he starts to pull away from Mitchell, but Mantecon is in charge as the finish line approaches, and he pulls away for the win.

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