Complete Results & Coverage
Photo Album by Ralph Epifanio - Over 450 Photos
Race Footage by Dean Headley
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“What’s in a name?” asks Shakespeare’s Juliet. “A river by any name is just as wet…unless it is not!” answers Ralpheo.
The name Santa Fe is found in many places in northern Florida, all of which can be traced back to (circa) 1610, and the mission of Santa Fe’ de Toloca. Its original site—chosen by Father Martin Prieto—was probably close to a pre-Columbian Timucua village. Here, the Franciscan mission was established to convert, and thereby “save,” the souls of the (estimated) 200,000 Timucua Indians that inhabited this general area. The mission’s emissaries from God, however, inadvertently provided a “shortcut” to heaven. Epidemics, in the form of measles, smallpox, yellow fever, and bubonic plagues--to which Native Americans had no resistance--resulted in “an ethnic cleansing,” and within (roughly) a century, only about 1% (2,000) of the original Timucua society remained.
Named for the mission, the Santa Fe River bubbles up at Lake Santa Fe and flows west for 75 miles through parts of Columbia, Suwannee, Bradford, Baker, Union, Gilchrist, and Alachua counties, before emptying into the Suwannee River, no doubt within sight of Stephen C. Foster’s lyrical—but fictitious—“Old Folks Home” upon the Suwannee (Swanee) River.
Like its far-western namesake, Florida’s Santa Fe River is unusual in that it “disappears” underground for a time. This occurs at O’Leno State Park, where a sinkhole claims its waters. It returns to the surface just under five kilometers away, at—where else but--River Rise State Park. The resultant gap—which you can see on geology maps--is why it is classified as an “intermittent stream,” or “wash.”
Which brings us to the meet. (Sorry, but mine is, as always, a meandering stream of thought.)
BOYS VARSITY
Whether speaking of water ways or running ways, Andres Arroyo, whose last name can be roughly translated as “dry gulch”*, or “gap,” lives up to just that. Running against the best the region has to offer, he won by a gap of 16.3 seconds, which seems like a lot more when you’re trying to close it.
The Colonial High School junior, who is currently running faster than anyone else, was thrust into the XC spotlight at the September 14th University of Florida Mt. Dew Invitational. Whether it was his (overall) second place finish, his time there (15:37.81), or that now-famous photo of the stare (referring to his penetrating gaze at the back of Belen’s Elliot Clemente),from that meet on he has justifiably gained the reputation of being the baddest hombre in central Florida running. In winning the Pre-State Meet on October 15th, he has since lowered that time to 14:59.18, which was done on the same course he will be running in a week’s time.
“I’ve seen improvement in every race I’ve run this season,” Andres told me, “even though we’ve been on tough courses. Although the times haven’t always been what I wanted, I realize they’re not like the state course.”
Competing against him on the Santa Fe College cross country course—not all that far from the place that his name describes--didn’t make anyone else’s work easier. After the gun went off, Andres took an almost immediate lead, went through the mile in 4:41—he went 9:51 for two--and stayed well out of reach from then on.
“I didn’t have a goal, as far as splits go,” Andres explained. “I knew I was going to have Billy Anguish (to compete against), so my mindset was to push it as hard as I could. I was looking to do what I want to do at States; going out to lead by myself, and pushing it. I’ve never run on this course before, so I guess I did well. With all the hills and turns, I think I had a great time (15:20.3). It was a good course…”
One that he readily compares to that of Little Everglades, in Dade City?
“It’s an incredible course,” Arroyo said of Little Everglades. “I love it. We’ve run it so many times, that I can close my eyes and picture the whole course. I know every curve and hill. And it’s a fast course.”
Which it has proven to be, time after time.
“My strategy next week is to lead it. I’m going to run a race like I did today. My main competition will be anyone who is in second.”
If that plays out as Arroyo sees it—a similar course and perhaps a continuation of cooler weather—his “second” might just be Buchholz senior Chris Godwin…who also has a second.
“I’m his best friend,” explained Andre—without the s--Daniels.
“We’ve been friends since middle school,” confirmed Godwin.
Along with Arroyo and Winter Park’s Billy Anguish (third in 15:41.70), Godwin was one of three runners to run in the 15s, finishing second in 15:36.60.
“I knew he’d (Arroyo) run low 15s—even under 15—but that’s what I’m shooting for at States and Footlocker.”
“He’s very dedicated to his running,” said Daniels.
“So today, I ran smart and consistent,” he explained. “I was looking for second place, but once I got close to first, I went for it…but he (Arroyo) took off.”
Godwin suspects the state meet might be a replay of this regional.
“(Besides Arroyo) I’ve got Billy Anguish, Mitchell Moore from Olympia (fourth today in 16:02.90), and Logan Kruse (Dr. Phillips; 11th in 16:22.90). Even though he’s (Kruse) been injured, he can pull through and drop a really good time, so I have to worry about him. I really want to shoot for second at state.”
When asked about the root of his running success, Godwin points to his coach, Ron Norris.
“I started out as a sophomore, and he’s helped me for the two and one half years that I’ve run. He always knows how to help us. He’s taught me a lot, and I’m thankful that he’s been my coach.”
“Our coach is never one to push us beyond our limits,” added Andre. “He understands us completely. He never shows much emotion, except through his stories. He has really good stories.”
“Amazing stories,” Chris agreed. “It’s like he led a double life. He’s been there and done that.”
*Unless you’re in Mexico, where I’ve been told that it means slow lane…wait, that can’t be right!
BOYS’ TEAM RACE
Although competition was pretty evenly spread out among the first eight teams—eight of the top ten finishers represented those eight teams—Colonial, with Arroyo and company’s 51 points (1-7-12-15-16-20-40) was never seriously threatened. Winter Park (98; 3-9-13-25-48-61-63), Olympia (104; 4-17-22-29-32-53-65), Mandarin (121; 14-21-23-24-39-43-52), Spruce Creek (144; 18-28-30-33-35-41-59), and Lyman (188-8-27-31-54-68-76-88) advance. 109 runners and 15 teams made the results sheets.
GIRLS’ RACE
The Girls’ race unfolded pretty much like that of the boys’. Bridget Blake took a lead that seemed to scream, “Catch me if you can,” but nobody could. Blake finished first in 18:20.92; Ponder finished second in 18:27.69. That isn’t much of a difference, or is it?
“It was an awkward position,” explained Mandarin’s Mary Kate Ponder, who finished within sight of Blake, the eventual winner. “If you look at it one way, it was only seven seconds. But it wasn’t where I wanted it to be.
“I wanted to try to win, but I’m not disappointed, because I still have next week. In a way—like the hills—things are similar. I think I do really well at Dade City because there’s variety. It’s not totally flat. And I definitely feel that the downhills are to my advantage, because I have an open stride, so I can make up time there.”
Blake also maintains that her best is yet to come.
“I wasn’t really holding back,” she said, “but it wasn’t my best race. I wanted to go out at a comfortable pace and run a good time. (But) it was a little cold, and my legs froze up. I knew that I had to keep pushing it so I didn’t have to ‘kill’ myself at the end.
“I just wanted to see who was here, and to win. This was my first time on this course. I think Dade City is probably a tougher course, but because of the environment, it is faster too. Next week I’ll be ready to roll when the gun goes off, to really push it.”
The foundation of Bridget Blake’s confidence is apparent to her Dr. Phillips teammates, as explained by Amber Johnson (tenth in this race, in 19:12.18).
“She is very focused and well grounded, so it kind of takes the pressure off us and we can focus on the team race. Our goal at the state meet is for the team to place in the top five. For us, individually—Annais (Pena, ninth in 19:11.24), Bridget and me—it is to “get podium,” to place in the top ten.”
GIRLS’ TEAM RACE
A few places behind the Blake/Ponder show, Olympia and Hagerty were clawing it out for the team title. The Titans placed their first four in the top 11 (3-6-10-11), and then held their collective breaths, all eyes on the shadows of a cave-like opening in the trees where the course turned back toward the chutes.
The Huskies came thundering in with #s 4-15-17-21-22-26-32, issuing their challenge with 79 points.
Finally—it no doubt seemed like an eternity to the Olympia entourage--here came the last three Titans: #s 40-56-60. But with a number of runners competing as individual qualifiers, complicating matters somewhat, the final results rested with the timers and their all-important computer program.
This drama is well-represented in two photos. The first is of the two timers, peering thoughtfully into their computer. And the second one is of the assembled coaches, waiting in anticipation. (You can tell from their body language that they’re all trying to be good boys and girls, hoping their team made the cut, thereby earning a ticket to the FHSAA Express.)
“Ralph, you go look,” suggested one of them. “Take a peek at that sheet of paper sticking out from under the printer. Just copy down the first four names.”
Sure, send me. I’m expendable.
The day, it turned out, belonged to Olympia. With 70 points, they won the meet. Next came Hagerty (79), then Dr. Phillips (1-8-9-37-46-99 for 101 points), Spruce Creek (12-16-20-24-30-43-51 for 102), Boone (5-19-29-36-44-48-70 for 133 points), and Oviedo (18-23-25-54-55-58-64 for 175 points). 110 runners and 15 scoring teams competed.
Footnotes: Besides winning the girls’ race…“Our boys got third,” said fourth year coach, and geometry teacher, Stacey Williams. (“Run those tangents!”) “It’s the first time that we’ll be going to states,” she said. “We missed by three points last year, so we didn’t want to be that close to the line this time. We’re making progress.”…When studying results, I like to look down the list of finishers and find the first non-junior/senior. Last year it was Arroyo (5th in 15:41.02 at the November 12th, 2010 4A Region 2 meet). This time—although the member schools in each region have been, once again, re-shuffled--it is Deland’s Keneth Pineiro. Only a sophomore, he finished seventh in 16:12.90. Hmmm, where did I put that thesaurus?
