Marquez Shines In Freshman Debut, Blake Picks Up Win Number Two

TrackShack Meet of the Week
Todd Grasley
<div style="width: 100%; height: 108px; background-image: url(http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/1/59581/trackshack-mow-blue-gradient.png); overflow: hidden;"> <div style="float: right; width: 265px; text-align: right; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; color: #fff;"> <p style="margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px"> <strong>Central Florida Meet of the Week<br /> Sponsored by TRACK SHACK</strong></p> <p style="font-size: 9pt"> <em>Thank you to Track Shack for their sponsorship and support of our on-site coverage for this and other meets in Central Florida this fall.</em></p> </div> <a href="http://www.trackshack.com/" target="_new"><img src="http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/1/59581/trackshack-mow.png" style="width: 280px; height: 100px; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

 



On-Site Coverage:

 

You shouldn't always trust what you read. Let's just say my preview was hit or miss in some aspects. I thought some kids might not run and they did. I predicted a team to win, and their top four didn't run. Needless to say, it was a great turnout for the Overbay-Monte Carlo Invitational at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs. Check out tons of meet coverage from the event sponsored by Track Shack. 

 
Before the meet, I usually say my customary hello's to the timing staff, meet officials, coaches, parents, you name it. I would probably talk to the trees in Central Park if they talked back.  When I first arrived I saw Coach Jay Getty of Hagerty and told him it should be a good run for the girls today. He then informed me that senior Bryce Seymour and the rest of his top four would not be running. Looking at the virtual meet, it looked to be a showdown between Seymour and Dr. Phillips senior Bridget Blake, the two time defending state champion in 4A. Blake sat last week out at UF, so I figured she'd do the same this week. Wrong again. Blake and senior teammate Amber Johnson (2nd last week at UF) ran stride for stride pacing each other the whole race and separating from the pack early on. Blake emerged onto the straightaway all by her lonesome finishing in 19:42.46. Johnson was second in 19:44.91.  Cypress Creek sophomore Kaley Schmick hung with the DP girls early on, but faded back after the second mile to finish third in 20:29.75. The team battle was close with only 25 points separating first from fourth place. Lake Brantley with a solid 1-5 pack finished first edging out Dr. Phillips 86-95. Host Winter Springs was third with 106 points.

 
In the boys race there was much speculation of if this would be the debut of highly touted freshman Brandon Marquez of Timber Creek. The past couple of weeks Marquez was sidelined due to a minor injury. He had told me in prior weeks he would probably run so when he told me that this week I still wasn't sure. Lesson learned. His coach told me before the race the game plan was to finish around 16:40 and not go all out. He used a great baseball reference which was that they wanted Brandon to just get a single and not try to do so much and hit a home run. Well, for Marquez's first ever race I would say he hit it out of the park. Marquez battled it out with Justin Schanze of Oviedo a majority of the race and then kicked it into high gear. The Wolves freshman pulled away to a time of 16:31.93 and his first win of the year. He said after the race he felt great and was ready to compete next week at the flrunners.com Invitational. Xavier Walton of Titusville came in second in 16:52.81. Schanze was third in 16:57.22. The addition of Marquez played a large role for Timber Creek as they placed their top five in the top eighteen spots to take home the team title with 55 points. Oviedo (91 points) was second and host Winter Springs (114 points) was third. 

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights

 

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