The 34th annual Spanish River Invitational was back again this year and with a huge field of runners. There were 80 teams that showed up bright and early to compete this past Saturday morning. With a few times under 16 minutes for boys, several talented freshmen girls running the top times, and a defending state champion team winning their race, it was definitely a great cross country day.
Coverage
Lincoln Park Academy senior Caleb Pottorff made his 2016 debut at the Spanish River Invitational and set a new personal best of 15:43.06 in the process. Pottorff's time on the South County Regional Park course was nearly 15 seconds faster than any other male runner on the day. We combined the 1A/2A, 3A/4A and JV results to see what would happen in one big race. Where would you and your team finish?
The defending 4A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas boys opened up their season at the Spanish River Invitational and picked up a statement win. Bill Lenahan was on-site and caught this photo of the Raiders in action as well as over 650 more photos from all six races at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton.
Freshman Ali Del Re of Jupiter proved she isn't just of the best athletes of South Florida, but in the whole Sunshine State and a real threat at the 4A title after winning the Spanish River Invitational 3A/4A race in a FL#4 time of 18:11.05. Our South Florida correspondent Eddie Romero was on-site and has all the race video and interview coverage.
Freshman Rylee Pustilnik of host Spanish River will go head to head with fellow class of 2020 standout Valerie Lastra of Mater Academy in the girls 3A/4A race at the 34th Annual Spanish River Invitational. The meet will be divided into four varsity according to classification and two JV all classification races with awards at the conclusion of the event. South Florida correspondent Eddie Romero will have you covered with all the race videos, interviews, recaps, and social media, while Bill Lenahan is making the 2.5 hour drive from Naples to capture tons of photos! See how our virtual meet has this one playing out.
The Spanish River Invitational will hold its 34th running this weekend. Over 50 schools are scheduled to make the trip to South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. Cypress Bay's Emilie Amaro holds the meet record at 17:20.00 from back in 2006 with Ashley Brasovan of Wellington behind her with her 17:58.00 winning time from 2008. It's doubtful anyone will break 18 minutes, but who will put their name on the All-Time list? We look at the top 500 girls times according to our database.
The Spanish River Invitational has been a South Florida staple for over three decades. During that time we've seen some of Florida's best runners compete in Boca Raton including the likes of Ryan Pickering (pictured above), Armando Delvalle, and Elliot Clemente in recent years. Pickering, the 2010 4A cross country state champion, and Foot Locker finalist owns the meet record at 14:57.67, the only person ever to break 15 minutes in meet history. We look at the top 500 boys all-time according to our database.