Summary
I hate having to say it every year for every meet at Mt. Dora Bible... but I have to preface for anyone who doesn't know: they don't call it MOUNT Dora for nothing. At one hundred and forty-four feet above sea level, Mout Dora is about as high as you get in Central Florida. And there are some pretty good hills by any standard. In short, it's one of the hardest courses in the state and times run easily 45 seconds to a minute slower than your average flat course.
So while it might not sound like much, that makes Olympia's 18:20 team average a pretty impressive early season time. Of course that number, as well as their points total, (43 points over 63 from Flagler Palm Coast) was greatly helped by Olympia senior Mitchelle Moore's 17:04 victory over David Drumm of Matanzas in 17:17.
The Olympia Titans weren't content with one title though.... their girls came back and completed the sweep in dominant form with 48 points and a 21:26 team average. They were lead by a great 1-2 punch from Emily Headley and Kaitlyn Campo who placed second (19:53) and fourth (20:03). Campo was third in team scoring as Mount Dora HS's Ashley Heitling finished in third place with a 20:00, but her team only fielded four.
But the performance of the meet was Melbourne High School senior Vanessa Valentine who won the race in a course record 19:08! Compare that to the 19:58 she ran to win the race last year and you'll see just how good and fit she already is. Certainly she does not want to settle this year for anything short of state championship and NXN!
Vanessa loves racing on this difficult course. Her team comes every year and it's a great contrast to the rest of their schedule. "It was awesome! It's one of my favorite courses and I was happy to win my final year running it," Vanessa said Saturday morning shortly after getting home from the race.
Complete results and coverage index...
Girls Race Video
BY DEAN HEADLEY
Boys Race Video
BY DEAN HEADLEY
Photo Album (885 Photos)
BY BARBARA MOORE
