Last year's North Port Invitational saw the Fluehr twins dominate the girls race with Kathryn setting a blistering 17:18 course record for the win while Andrew Mendoz edged Alex Lewis in the boys. The Fluehrs, Mendoz and Lewis were seniors leaving their crowns for new challengers to wear this year. For the girls Abby Hagan & Sarah Miller, Sarasota Riverview are the top returners from last year’s tilt. Abigail is fresh off of her first victory of the year at the Venice Invite, but does she have any challengers? On the boys side David Hines is the top returner, having finished 3rd last year. What are his chances to move up to royalty or are there new usurpers sneaking about? Here is the breakdown.
Girls Varsity Individuals
Last week Abby Hagen had to battle it out with Lindsay Tomaini, Community School of Naples for the Venice crown. This week she gets to face Lindsay again as well as some unfamiliar challengers from the north. Lake Braddock HS from northern Virginia comes to town and with them a 2010 Footlocker Nationals finalist Sophie Chase. Sophie brings with her a stellar record but will the heat and humidity level the playing field enough that Abby and / or Lindsay can make a move to snatch the throne. Stay tuned to this one as the course is fast and the Florida runners will be going all out to defend home turf. My dark horse is Araceli Leon, S. Fort Myers. She hasn’t run up to her 2010 standards yet this year but she is a fighter and this will be a fight.
Virtual based PRs
1. 17:31.00 Chase, Sophie Lake Braddock HS
2. 18:47.12 Christen, Hannah Lake Braddock HS
3. 18:55.67 Leon, Araceli South Fort Myers HS
4. 19:10.50 Hagen, Abigail Sarasota Riverview HS
5. 19:20.0 Roche, Katie G Lake Braddock HS
6. 19:33.10 Polendo, Jessica Ida S. Baker HS
7. 19:38.70 Lewis, Patrica Sarasota Riverview HS
8. 19:51.40 Miller, Kayla Sarasota Riverview HS
9. 20:00.50 Dewitt, Megan Sarasota HS
10. 20:03.70 Tubbs, Taylor Sebring HS
Girls Varsity Team
Its Lake Braddock vs. Sarasota Riverview for the team title. Sarasota Riverview looks to have the strongest 4 but Lake Braddock is deep and not going to come all this way to go home with out putting up a fight. Look for Lake Braddock to take this one by a narrow margin over Sarasota Riverview with Ida S. Baker coming on strong for 3rd.
1. Lake Braddock HS
2. Sarasota Riverview HS
3. Ida S. Baker HS
4. Community School of Naples HS
5. North Fort Myers HS
Boys Varsity Individuals
Locally Alan Wise, Baker and Ace Brown, Fort Myers look like they’ll have to battle it out for the top spot on the boy’s side but Lake Braddock also brings a top rated racer to the party. Nick Tuck has the resume to take the locals to task and it will be down to the wire to see who is crowned King of the ball. Wise hasn’t shown what he is capable of yet this year but he is a tough and determined Senior that will want to start to make some noise. Brown is fresh off a 4th place finish in his season opener and looking for his first title. Don’t count out others to sneak up to the top, like David Hinds, Sarasota, Jack Dunn, Sarasota Riverview, Brent Scott, Community School of Naples or my dark horse Brendan Shearman, Fort Myers.
Virtual based on PRs
1. 16:03.10 Wise, Alan Ida S. Baker HS
2. 16:07.00 Tuck, Nick Lake Braddock HS
3. 16:29.20 Brown, Aesop Fort Myers HS
4. 16:38.70 Dunn, Jack Sarasota Riverview HS
5. 16:49.00 Hinds, David Sarasota HS
6. 16:49.30 Scott, Brent Community School of Naples HS
7. 16:50.90 Mocase, Jake Lemon Bay HS
8. 16:51.20 Camacho, Chris Lehigh HS
9. 16:51.50 Kieck, James Lemon Bay HS
10. 16:52.20 Bernard, Courtland Sarasota HS
11. 16:58.00 Ferrell, Nick Lake Braddock HS
12. 16:59.90 Shearman, Brendan Fort Myers HS
13. 16:59.90 Biles, Tanner Freedom HS (Tampa)
14. 17:01.80 Bautista, Alex Fort Myers HS
15. 17:02.5 Whittle, James Fort Myers HS
Boys Varsity Team
Fort Myers is the clear favorite to win the team title this year but will be pushed hard by for a close second followed by Lake Braddock and a charging Ida S. Baker in that order.
1. Fort Myers HS
2. Lake Braddock HS
3. Ida S. Baker HS
4. Lemon Bay HS
5. Sarasota HS
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