Palm Beach County Championships: Medrano, Snider Earn Individual Honors, Guide Teams To Trophy

Todd Grasley

On-Site Coverage


Meet Recap

It was a beautiful day for cross country in South Florida as Palm Beach'Countys best runners headed to South County Regional Park in Boca Raton for the County Championships. Six races took place on the afternoon inlcuding two middle school, two  junior varsity, and the two varsity races. The course consisted of mostly flat surfaces, one loop around a lake, and the second lap moving runners closer to the finish line and over a slight hill in the process. 


(Photo by John Calderon)

The second time was a charm in the varsity girls race, after the first attempt got called back.  That didn't effect Spanish River senior Ellyn Snider running on her home course.  Snider who was looking for her fourth win in five weeks didn't disappoint.  She took the lead from the gun and never looked back winning the race in a new personal best time of 19:16.09. Teammate Catherine Vianale was in second place for most of the race, but Boca Raton's Olivia Nicholson said not so fast. literally. Nicholson speeded past Vianale in the final seconds to finish as runner-up in a new personal best of 19:38.39. Vianale was third in a new personal best time of 19:41.29. The points from Snider and Vianale were vital to Spanish River''s 68-69 win over Boca Raton in the team standings. 


(Photo by John Calderon)

In the boys varsity race it was the Lincoln Park duo of Salvador Medrano and Charles Bengston who stole the show. The two led the race from the beginning and ran together for most of the race until Medrano pulled away in the final mile crossing the line in a very impressive time of 16:11.61. Bengston was second in 16:18.24 followed by Scott Simpson of Kings Academy in third with a time of 16:33.94. John I. Leonard placed their top five runners in the top thirty eight spots to win with 67 points. Park Vista was second with 76 points while Spanish River rounded out the top three with 91 points.

Brian Michaelson of Park Vista won the boys junior varsity race in 18:53.90. Mauricio Henao of John I. Leonard finished second and helped his school squeak out a two point victory over Park Vista 36-38. The Dwyer pair of Gabrielle Martini and Lilly Rucci helped the Panthers claim the conference title over Boca Raton 28-64.

Lastly, congratulations to Carlos Acosta of Loggers Run MIddle School and Shannon Hourigan of Don Estridge Middle School for winning their respective middle school races.


Elite Performances

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights