Friday, October 30, 2020

Lillian Holtery and Niceville, Nathan Reffitt and Chiles claim 4A District 1 cross-country crowns

Lillian Holtery raced a 19:03 5K on a 5K cross-country course at Twin Oaks Park in Niceville, Florida, winning the FHSAA 4A District 1 girls' cross-country championship on 30 October 2020. The Niceville High senior's performance led her school to first place in the team standings with a mathematically unbeatable score of nineteen points. Chiles High was similarly dominant in the boys' race, scoring a winning seventeen points behind senior Nathan Reffitt and sophomore Wyatt Townsend, who went one-two in 16:47 and 16:48.

Nathan Reffitt
Nathan Reffitt

2019 was Chiles High's first cross-country season in class 4A. The Timberwolf girls had marked that debut by winning the District 1 title. Lillian Holtery had been in that 2019 race, placing eighth behind three Chiles girls. That was history. In 2020 Holtery showed no respect for history, placing first in 19:03 and finishing nearly 200 meters ahead of the next runner. Chiles junior Kelly Davis took second, running 19:37. The next six places belonged to Niceville, though, with frosh Lauryn Cooper third in 20:42, junior Erika Bobek fourth in 20:44, senior Paige Kelly fifth in 20:46, sophomore Riley Johnston sixth in 20:47, frosh Victoria Roberts seventh in 21:04, and frosh Hailey Holtery eighth in 21:04. With only Davis keeping the Eagles from a perfect score, Niceville scored nineteen points, claiming the District title.


Chiles, the defending champions, took second with 45 points. Crestview placed third with 85 points, led by the fourteenth place, 21:58 performance of their sophomore, Aidan Beaty. The top three teams qualified to advance to the Region 1 Meet, scheduled for Saturday, 7 November 2020, at Alligator Lake Park in Lake City, Florida.


Girls' Team Standings, 2020 FHSAA 4A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. Niceville, 19 *
  2. Chiles, 45 *
  3. Crestview, 85 *
  4. Tate, 99
* Team advances to the 4A Region 1 Championship


Top 10 Girls, 2020 FHSAA 4A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. 19:02.80, Lillian Holtery (Niceville) 12
  2. 19:36.30, Kelly Davis (Chiles) 11
  3. 20:42.00, Lauryn Cooper (Niceville) 9
  4. 20:43.30, Erika Bobek (Niceville) 11
  5. 20:45.30, Paige Kelly (Niceville) 12
  6. 20:47.00, Riley Johnston (Niceville) 10
  7. 21:03.30, Victoria Roberts (Niceville) 9
  8. 21:03.80, Hailey Holtery (Niceville) 9
  9. 21:30.10, Raina Crawford (Chiles) 11
  10. 21:30.40, Elizabeth Segars (Niceville) 12

The Chiles boys had placed sixth at the District Meet in 2019, their first year in class 4A. The Timberwolves were determined to improve on that in 2020. The boys from Bradfordville started off by taking the first four places in their District race, starting with Nathan Reffitt and Wyatt Townsend. The two finished less than a second apart, with Reffitt first in 16:47.0 and Townsend second in 16:47.2. Juniors Filippo Aldrovandi Reina and Ben Kirbo were next across the finish line for Chiles, third in 16:59 and fourth in 17:00. Goaded by Timberwolf frosh Jackson Rowe, senior Jackson Sytsma was Chiles fifth scorer, seventh in 17:31 while Rowe was eighth in 17:31. The Chiles boys had nineteen points and their first District title in class 4A.


Scoring 51 points behind frosh Dawson Isbell (6th, 17:22), Niceville was second with 51 points. Crestview took third with 88 points. Crestview frosh Alexander Buena (10th, 17:36) was his team's first runner. As in the girls' race, the top three teams qualified for the 4A Region 1 Meet.


Boys' Team Standings, 2020 FHSAA 4A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. Chiles, 17 *
  2. Niceville, 51 *
  3. Crestview, 88 *
  4. Tate, 94
* Team advances to the 4A Region 1 Championship


Top 10 Boys, 2020 FHSAA 4A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. 16:47.00, Nathan Reffitt (Chiles) 12
  2. 16:47.20, Wyatt Townsend (Chiles) 10
  3. 16:58.60, Filippo Aldrovandi Reina (Chiles) 11
  4. 16:59.70, Ben Kirbo (Chiles) 11
  5. 17:18.10, Brandon Knieja (Tate) 12
  6. 17:22.00, Dawson Isbell (Niceville) 9
  7. 17:30.30, Jackson Sytsma (Chiles) 12
  8. 17:31.00, Jackson Rowe (Chiles) 9
  9. 17:33.10, Seamus Hodge (Niceville) 9
  10. 17:35.40, Alexander Buena (Crestview) 9

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Thursday, October 29, 2020

Grace Koeppel and Leo Rutledge lead a Maclay sweep of 1A District 4

For some athletes in North Florida, the high school cross-country state championship series opened in Lake City on Thursday, 29 October 2020 with the 1A District 4 Meet. Maclay swept the team titles in that opening round competition at Alligator Lake Park, the girls scoring a winning 19 points and the boys nabbing first in their race with 18 points. Maclay frosh Gracie Koeppel was first in the girls' 5K with a 20:50. In the boys' 5K, Maclay senior Leo Rutledge edged Maclay junior Jackson Yarbrough for the win, 17:24 to 17:25.

Grace Koeppel
Grace Koeppel

Morgan Wilson, a Community Christian junior, was second in 21:11. As it turned out, Wilson was the only barrier between Maclay and a perfect score, because the next four places were Maclay's remaining scorers--seventh-grader Lillian Koeppel was third in 22:24, frosh Natalie Hammett was fourth in 22:29, seventh-grader Nishi Bhanderi was fifth in 22:57, and eighth-grader Payton Thumm was sixth in 22:58. After that wave of blue-clad runners, Maclay had nineteen points and the 2020 1A District 4 girls' cross-country title.


Led by Wilson, Community Christian was second in the team standings with 50 points. Saint Joseph scored 71 points to take third; the top runner on the Saint Augustine school's team was sophomore Ana Whitehouse, seventh in 23:26. Aucilla Christian was fourth with 110 points, led by their top sophomore, Samantha Drawdy (18th, 25:15).


Maclay, Community Christian, and Saint Joseph qualified for the next round in the state championship series, the 1A Region 1 Championship Meet at New World Golf in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday morning, 6 November 2020.


Girls' Team Standings, FHSAA 1A District 4 Cross-Country Meet
  1. Maclay, 19 *
  2. Community Christian, 50 *
  3. Saint Joseph, 71 *
  4. Aucilla Christian, 110
* Team advances to the 1A Region 1 Championship


Top Ten Girls, FHSAA 1A District 4 Cross-Country Meet
  1. 20:49.22, Gracie Koeppel (Maclay) 9
  2. 21:10.54, Morgan Wilson (Community Christian) 11
  3. 22:23.81, Lillian Koeppel (Maclay) 7
  4. 22:28.26, Natalie Hammett (Maclay) 9
  5. 22:56.06, Nishi Bhanderi (Maclay) 7
  6. 22:57.54, Payton Thumm (Maclay) 8
  7. 23:25.02, Ana Whitehouse (Saint Joseph) 10
  8. 23:28.96, Sarah Tychsen (Community Christian) 9
  9. 23:48.33, Jane-Kathry Whittington (Maclay) 12
  10. 24:10.29, Olivia Bishop (Maclay) 9

In the girls' race, only Community Christian's Morgan Wilson prevented Maclay from having a perfect score. Similarly, in the boys' race only one runner came between Maclay and a perfect score. After Maclay's Leo Rutledge (1st, 17:24) and Jackson Yarbrough (2nd, 17:25) had taken the first two places for the Marauders, Saint Joseph sophomore Victor Farfan grabbed third with a 17:55.

Leo Rutledge
Leo Rutledge

But Farfan was followed by a lot of runners in Maclay blue. Marauder sophomore Clayton Knox was fourth in 18:05, Marauder sophomore Carter Rothell was fifth in 19:01, and Marauder junior Lawrence Bishop placed sixth in 19:13. That gave the Maclay boys eighteen points and the win.


Victor Farfan and Saint Joseph put up 69 points and grabbed the runner-up spot in 1A District 4. Community Christian, led by senior Nicholas Ciarlariello (8th, 19:26), scored 80 points for third.


Maclay, Saint Joseph, and Community Christian each advanced to the 1A Region 1 meet.


Boys' Team Standings, FHSAA 1A District 4 Cross-Country Meet
  1. Maclay, 18 *
  2. Saint Joseph, 69 *
  3. Community Christian, 80 *
  4. Aucilla Christian, 85
  5. Saint John Paul II, 144
  6. Wakulla Christian, 171
* Team advances to the 1A Region 1 Championship


Top Ten Boys, FHSAA 1A District 4 Cross-Country Meet
  1. 17:23.42, Leo Rutledge (Maclay) 12
  2. 17:24.18, Jackson Yarbrough (Maclay) 11
  3. 17:54.40, Victor Farfan (Saint Joseph) 10
  4. 18:04.20, Clayton Knox (Maclay) 10
  5. 19:00.49, Carter Rothell (Maclay) 10
  6. 19:12.59, Lawrence Bishop (Maclay) 11
  7. 19:18.27, Wyatt Stafford (Aucilla Christian) 12
  8. 19:25.15, Nicholas Ciarlariello (Community Christian) 12
  9. 19:25.64, Ashton Akam (Saint Joseph) 9
  10. 19:27.57, Sean-Patrick McCann (Maclay) 12

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Abbey Griffin and Neal Porter fly right at the Falcon Invitational

Friday, 23 October 2020, was a day of close finishes at the third annual Falcon Invitational. At Florida State University' Rec SportsPlex that afternoon, both races were decided by less than a single second. Deerlake seventh-grader Abbey Griffin finished inches ahead of Montford eighth-grader Sophia Youngberg in the girls' 3K, winning 12:29.07 to 12:29.53. Neal Porter outkicked Danny Mauldin for the win in the boys' 3K, the Montford eighth-grader running 11:21.44 to the Deerlake eighth-grader's 11:22.19. The team competition was also tight, with the Montford girls scoring a winning 30 to Deerlake's 32, and the Deerlake boys put up 63 points to take first over Montford (65) and Fairview (67).

Abbey Grffin, Sophia Youngberg
Sophia Youngberg and Abbey Griffin

The FSU Rec SportsPlex, on the west side of Tallahassee, was a new venue for the LCS middle school cross-country circuit--the third time this season that the athletes had raced on a new course. It was in fact only the second time that anyone had raced at the site--the first time had been less than two weeks earlier, when Godby High hosted the Mabry Manor Invitational at the SportsPlex. The location may have been novel, but the girls' 3K race started out in a familiar fashion--with Deerlake seventh-grader Kyra Swart setting the pace. Swart had entered the race with a six-race winning streak in LCS competition going back to the 2019 season.


The streak ended. After leading through the first kilometer, Swart stumbled and fell during the second kilometer. The race was now between Abbey Griffin and Sophia Youngberg. Griffin and Youngberg fought for first during the third and final kilometer, leaving the rest of the field far behind. The fight continued down the homestretch and all the way to the finish line, where it was Griffin over Youngberg by less than half a second. Two more Deerlake athletes battled for third, with seventh-grader London Mellen edging sixth-grader Kaia Ables 12:58 to 12:59.


Mellen and Ables gave Deerlake three girls in the top ten, but Montford put all five of their scorers in the top ten. After Youngberg finished runner-up for the Mustangs, sixth-grader Adriena Vilardo was fifth in 13:02, sixth-grader Savannah Stanley was seventh in 13:29, sixth-grader Haley Heitmeyer was ninth in 13:39, and eighth-grader Ava Hill was tenth in 13:40. Montford had 30 points and their first win of the season, ending the Deerlake girls' winning streak at four meets.


Deerlake was a very close second with 32 points. Raa took third with 86 points. The first Raa finisher was seventh-grader Cecilia Veliz, eighth in 13:36.


2020 Falcon Invitational Girls' Team Scores
  1. Montford, 30
  2. Deerlake, 32
  3. Raa, 86
  4. Cobb, 110
  5. Fort Braden, 130
  6. Swift Creek, NTS
    Nims, NTS
    Fairview, NTS
    Woodville, NTS
    Griffin, NTS

Top Ten, 2020 Falcon Invitational Girls' 3K
  1. 12:29.07, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 7
  2. 12:29.53, Sophia Youngberg (Montford) 8
  3. 12:57.84, London Mellen (Deerlake) 7
  4. 12:58.83, Kaia Ables (Deerlake) 6
  5. 13:01.89, Adriena Vilardo (Montford) 6
  6. 13:22.34, Gianna Guillermo (Swift Creek) 8
  7. 13:28.31, Savannah Stanley (Montford) 6
  8. 13:35.74, Cecilia Veliz (Raa) 7
  9. 13:38.44, Haley Heitmeyer (Montford) 6
  10. 13:39.20, Ava Hill (Montford) 8

Only Griffin and Youngberg had been in contention during the final kilometer of the girls' race. With a kilometer to go in the boys' 3K, four runners were still in the hunt for first. Montford's Neal Porter led, with three runners close behind--Deerlake eighth-grader Danny Mauldin, Swift Creek seventh-grader Asa Swope, and Fairview eighth-grader Xalimon Akbar.

Neal Porter
Neal Porter

Over the final kilometer Swope and Akbar fell back, but Mauldin moved up to challenge Porter, setting up a finish reminicent of the Killearn Invitational earlier in the season. The outcome was the same--Porter narrowly beat Mauldin to the finish line to take first. Swope was third in 11:34. Akbar held off a late charge by Deerlake sixth-grader Jonathan Kiros to take fourth, 11:42 to 11:43.


Deerlake eighth-grader Logan Peltier was ninth in 12:17, making it three Bucks in the top ten. eighth-graders Trevor Lord (20th, 12:52) and Josh Ryland de Kloet (27th, 13:07) finished the scoring for Deerlake, giving the Bucks 63 points and their fourth win in four outings this season.


Porter and the Montford Mustangs were second with 65. Led by Akbar, Fairview had their best showing of the 2020 season, placing third with 67 points.


Leon County Schools' 2020 middle school cross-country season concludes on Wednesday, 28 October 2020, with the LCS Championship Meet at Apalachee Regional Park. On the girls' side, the defending champs from 2019 are the Deerlake bucks. Fairview won the boys' title in 2019.


2020 Falcon Invitational Boys' Team Scores
  1. Deerlake, 63
  2. Montford, 65
  3. Fairview, 67
  4. Swift Creek, 81
  5. Nims, 130
  6. Raa, 134
  7. Cobb, 206
  8. Fort Braden, 235
  9. Woodville, 256
  10. Griffin, NTS

Top Ten, 2020 Falcon Invitational Boys' 3K
  1. 11:21.44, Neal Porter (Montford) 8
  2. 11:22.19, Danny Mauldin (Deerlake) 8
  3. 11:33.85, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 7
  4. 11:41.59, Xalimon Akbar (Fairview) 8
  5. 11:42.59, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 6
  6. 11:52.95, Julian Thompson (Raa) 8
  7. 12:01.90, Cadden Maxwell (Raa) 8
  8. 12:10.28, Celestine Rwamptie (Nims) 6
  9. 12:16.12, Logan Peltier (Deerlake) 8
  10. 12:16.86, Kylen Welch (Nims) 8

Falcon Invitational Champions
2018 - 2020
Girls
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
27 September 2018Swift Creek, 3411:27.82, Maya Tang (Deerlake) 8
26 September 2019Swift Creek, 4412:30.55, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 6
23 October 2020Montford, 3012:29.07, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 7
Boys
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
27 September 2018Deerlake, 359:49.60, Wyatt Townsend (Deerlake) 8
26 September 2019Fairview, 3010:10.03, Patrick Koon (Fairview) 8
23 October 2020Deerlake, 6311:21.44, Neal Porter (Montford) 8
The Falcon Invitational was in Phipps Park in 2018 and 2019, and at the
FSU Rec SportsPlex in 2020.


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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Jackson Welch and Leyah O'Kelley were hitting on all cylinders at the Pre-District Tune Up

Port Saint Joe Tiger SharksJackson Welch is making a habit of winning.


The Malone High eighth-grader started with a first-place finish on the streets of Marianna, Florida at the ninth annual Run Baby Run 5K. Four days later, on 21 October 2020, Welch scored another victory, this time in boys' 5K at the Port Saint Joe Pre-District Tune Up Cross-Country Meet.


It was the Blountstown High boys that got the team win, though, taking first with 33 points. The Port Saint Joe girls were first in their race with 36 points, while top individual honors went to Blountstown frosh Leyah O'Kelley, first in 25:08.


Blountstown sophomore Austin Pennington was a close second to Welch in the boys' race, running 19:59. Port Saint Joe junior Ricky Forbes edged sophomore teammate Walker Chumney for third, 20:10 to 20:12.


Blountstown ended up with four runners in the top ten, with runner-up Pennington joined by frosh Alex Nandho (5th, 21:06), sophomore Brett Woodard (6th, 21:07), and frosh Cristian Gonzalez (9th, 21:44). Blountstown's fifth and final scorer was frosh Jayden Peacock, eleventh in 21:56, completing the Tiger's winning total of 33 points. Hosts Port Saint Joe took second with 45 points, and Malone was third with 52.


Boys' Team Standings, 2020 Port Saint Joe Pre-District Tune Up
  1. Blountstown, 33
  2. Port Saint Joe, 45
  3. Malone, 52
  4. Sneads, NTS

Top Ten Boys, 2020 Port Saint Joe Pre-District Tune Up
  1. 19:54, Jackson Welch (Malone) 8
  2. 19:59, Austin Pennington (Blountstown) 10
  3. 20:10, Ricky Forbes (Port Saint Joe) 11
  4. 20:12, Walker Chumney (Port Saint Joe) 10
  5. 21:06, Alex Nandho (Blountstown) 9
  6. 21:07, Brett Woodard (Blountstown) 10
  7. 21:23, Annario Ware (Malone) 12
  8. 21:33, Parker Hicks (Port Saint Joe) 11
  9. 21:44, Cristian Gonzalez (Blountstown) 9
  10. 21:47, Everett Welch (Malone) 6

The leaders of the boys' 5K may have finished close together, but there was none of that in the girls' 5K. Leyah O'Kelley's winning 25:08 put her almost 300 meters ahead of the next runner. The close race was for second, with Port Saint Joe junior Emily Lacour coming in just ahead of Rutherford seventh-grader Erica Olds, 26:34 to 26:37. Araceli Perez-Gutierrez, a Malone sixth-grader, was fourth in 26:44.


In addition to Lacour, Port Saint Joe put three more girls in the top ten, with seventh-grader Katie Trochessett fifth in 27:10, frosh Hanna DaCosta sixth in 27:32, and frosh Arlena Gleichner tenth in 28:13. Another Shark frosh, Jessica Dunn, was the fifth scorer for Port Saint Joe, 22nd in 31:26, giving the hosts 36 points and the win.


Led by O'Kelley's first place finish, Blountstown was a close second with 40 points. Rutherford took third, scoring 49 points behind the third-place performance of Olds, their top finisher.


Girls' Team Standings, 2020 Port Saint Joe Pre-District Tune Up
  1. Port Saint Joe, 36
  2. Blountstown, 40
  3. Rutherford, 49
  4. Sneads, 115
  5. Malone, NTS
    Altha, NTS

Top Ten Girls, 2020 Port Saint Joe Pre-District Tune Up
  1. 25:08, Leyah O'Kelley (Blountstown) 9
  2. 26:34, Emily Lacour (Port Saint Joe) 11
  3. 26:37, Erica Olds (Rutherford) 7
  4. 26:44, Araceli Perez-Gutierrez (Malone) 6
  5. 27:10, Katie Trochessett (Port Saint Joe) 7
  6. 27:32, Hannah DaCosta (Port Saint Joe) 9
  7. 27:44, Abby DeVuyst (Blountstown) 10
  8. 28:00, Alexis Washington (Rutherford) 11
  9. 28:07, Maya Patalinghung (Rutherford) 11
  10. 28:13, Arlena Gleichner (Port Saint Joe) 9

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Saturday, October 24, 2020

Whole hog in Adel--Ryan Kelly and Kylie Downs win the Hog Jog 5K

2020 Hog Jog 5KBy late October Georgia's 2020 high school cross-country season was nearly over. The State Championship was coming up on 6 November 2020. Before State, the Valdosta High Wildcats had only the Region 1 meet on 29 October 2020 scheduled. So on 24 October 2020 the Wildcat coach, Ryan Kelly, had a rare free Saturday morning. Why not head up to Adel, Georgia for a road race?


He did. Coach Kelly won the Hog Jog 5K in 18:30, finishing more than 400 meters ahead of the next runner. Adel's Kylie Downs, a sophomore on the Cook High girls' cross-country team, took first in the women's standings, placing nineteenth overall in 24:34.


Bonaire, Georgia master runner Jared Hammond finished second overall with a 20:07. The race for third place was a showdown between two cross-country runners--Caden McDaniel, an eighth-grader on the Cook Middle School boys' cross-country squad, and William Garcia, a junior who races with the Lowndes High boys. Both athletes went 20:18, but McDaniel took third while Garcia had to settle for fourth.


Kylie Downs' Cook High teammate, junior Maggie Gregory, finished runner-up in the women's standings, placing 21st overall in 25:22. Shonna O'Quinn of Adel was the first woman master and third female finisher, 22nd overall in 25:29.


54 athletes finished Adel, Georgia's 2020 Hog Jog 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2020 Adel Hog Jog 5K
  1. 18:29.4, Ryan Kelly (M, 41) Lake Park, GA
  2. 20:06.4, Jared Hammond (M, 40) Bonaire, GA
  3. 20:17.2, Caden McDaniel (M, 13) Adel, GA
  4. 20:17.5, William Garcia (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
  5. 20:31.9, Joel Malin (M, 35) Nashville, GA
  6. 21:29.9, Milo Mirate (M, 24) Valdosta, GA
  7. 21:30.9, Alex Ayala (M, 16) Adel, GA
  8. 21:56.5, Will O'Quinn (M, 16) Adel, GA
  9. 21:58.0, Colton Baldwin (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
  10. 22:40.9, Canaan Ponce (M, 15) Adel, GA

Top Ten Women, 2020 Adel Hog Jog 5K
  1. 24:33.8, Kylie Downs (F, 15) Adel, GA
  2. 25:21.3, Maggie Gregory (F, 16) Adel, GA
  3. 25:28.8, Shonna O'Quinn (F, 45) Adel, GA
  4. 25:50.6, Addie Gregory (F, 13) Adel, GA
  5. 27:05.9, Tia Pike (F, 43) Warner Robins, GA
  6. 27:28.1, Jessie Burton (F, 39) Barney, GA
  7. 27:55.9, Reagan Barker (F, 25) Adel, GA
  8. 28:22.0, Caitlin Davis (F, 17) Adel, GA
  9. 28:49.9, Christina Farni (F, 32) Jacksonville, FL
  10. 30:51.5, Caia Davis (F, 15) Adel, GA

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Friday, October 23, 2020

Jackson Welch and Holly Burnett hit the roads at Run Baby Run

In the United States, October is right in the middle of the high school cross-country season. Nevertheless, On Saturday morning, 17 October 2020, Jackson Welch took a break from racing for the Malone High cross-country team to compete on the roads of Marianna, Florida in the ninth annual Run Baby Run 5K. 56 other athletes may have been wishing he hadn't. Welch outkicked master runner Richard Fernandez, 18:46 to 18:48, to win the 3.1-mile road race. Holly Burnett was the first woman in the 5K, placing twentieth overall in 25:24.


Welch, an eighth-grader, had raced for the Malone Tigers just seven days earlier in the boys' 5K at the Dolphin Dash Cross-Country Meet in Panama City, where he had placed 21st in 20:02. Four days after the Run Baby Run, he and the Tigers were scheduled to race again in Port Saint Joe, Florida.


Behind Welch and Fernandez, Donalsonaville, Georgia master runner Myles Gibson finished third in 18:59.


Edna Reed was the first woman master in the race and the second female finisher, coming in 24th overall in 28:17. Sydney Basford took third in the women's standings, placing 25th overall in 29:16.


57 athletes finished the 2020 Run Baby Run 5K. The Pregnancy Center of Marianna hosted the race.


Top Ten Men, 2020 Run Baby Run 5K
  1. 18:46, Jackson Welch (M, 14)
  2. 18:48, Richard Fernandez (M, 42)
  3. 18:59, Myles Gibson (M, 54)
  4. 19:15, Austen Walker (M, 28)
  5. 19:59, Hunter Shuler (M, 16)
  6. 21:28, Hunter Nolen (M, 42)
  7. 21:37, Mark Nichols (M, 46)
  8. 21:53, Connor Montfort (M, 25)
  9. 21:59, Michael Kennett (M, 47)
  10. 22:06, Cody Hill (M, 26)

Top Ten Women, 2020 Run Baby Run 5K
  1. 25:24, Holly Burnett (F, 32)
  2. 28:17, Edna Reed (F, 46)
  3. 29:16, Sydney Basford (F, 26)
  4. 29:46, Ashley Johnson (F, 38)
  5. 30:00, Cynthia Johnson (F, 36)
  6. 30:37, Genia Smith (F, 47)
  7. 32:02, Danielle Walker (F, 38)
  8. 33:28, Pam Stone (F, 50)
  9. 33:41, Melissa Saggars (F, 57)
  10. 34:09, Tamara Hudson (F, 49)

Run Baby Run 5K Winners, 2011 - 2020
DateMenWomenFinishers
3 December 2011
13 October 2012
11 October 2014
10 October 2015
8 October 2016
7 October 201718:55, Paul Hodge28:28, Ashley Johnson31
20 October 2018Canceled
9 November 201923:19, William Carrel27:01, Laynie Smith
27 October 202018:46, Jackson Welch25:24, Holly Burnett57


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Wednesday, October 21, 2020

21 October 2020 Tallahassee 100-Mile Race Calendar

This is the Tallahassee vicinity road-race schedule for 21 October 2020. If that's more than a week ago, the latest schedule is always available via this link:

This is a listing of upcoming races within 100 miles of Tallahassee, Florida, roughly the region in the map below. If a race isn't listed, I probably haven't heard of it, so post a comment and let me know about it.
Races are being abruptly canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19, so if a race is farther
away than across the street, it is more important than ever to confirm that the event is
actually taking place. Also, please make sure that you are comfortable with whatever
hygienic protocols an event has in place. Be safe, and smooth trails!


24 OCTOBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • Hog Jog 5K. 8:00 AM ET. 1811 North Elm Street, Sparks, Georgia. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

31 OCTOBER 2020 (Saturday)
    .
  • heart31st annual Run For Love 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET one mile / 8:30 AM ET 5K. Northeast Middle School, 3021 Fulwood Road Tifton, Georgia 31794. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2010 story. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.

7 NOVEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • Run More, One Less 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Covenant Baptist Church, 3019 Country Club Drive, Valdosta, Georgia 31602. 2019 story. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  • 10th annual Run For Your Lungs 5K. 9:30 AM ET 5K / 9:35 AM ET one mile. Lake Blackshear Resort, 2459-H US Highway 280 West, Cordele, Georgia 31015. 2018 story. Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. 2019 Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  • High Springs Gobble Wobble 5K. 10:00 AM ET. Civic Center Park, 330 NW Sante Fe Boulevard, High Springs, Florida 32643. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

14 NOVEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • 5th annual Hops and Half Shells 5K Trail Run. 8:30 AM ET one mile / 9:00 AM ET 5K. Wakulla Environmental Institute, 170 Preservation Way, Crawfordville, Florida 32327. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. Event web page. Event page on Facebook.

21 NOVEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • Flint River Entertainment Complex 5K Race #3 (Turkey Trot). 9:00 AM ET. Veterans Park Amphitheatre, 100 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, Albany, Georgia 31701. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

26 NOVEMBER 2020 (Thursday)
  • 12th annual Valdosta Thanksgiving Day 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Valdosta Early College Academy, Azalea Drive and College Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31602. 2019 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified 5K course GA18010WC. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

28 NOVEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • .

5 DECEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • Christmas Parade 5K. 4:45 PM ET. 120 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

12 DECEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • .

19 DECEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • .

26 DECEMBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • .

#2721
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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Chloe Fernander and Ryan Sloan are Panhandle Cross-Country Champions

In 2019, Arnold High School hosted the Panhandle Cross-Country Challenge at Bay Dunes Golf Course in Panama City, Florida. The meet returned for another edition on Saturday, 17 October 2020, but with its name upgraded to the Panhandle Cross-Country Championship. What's in name? By any other name, the fact would remain that South Walton won the girls' 5K with 44 points, a race where Choctawhatchee junior Chloe Fernander took individual honors in 18:58. Without that title, Niceville would have still scored 41 points to win the boys' 5K for the second year in a row, and Fort Walton Beach senior Ryan Sloan would even so have been first across the finish line in 16:09.


Chloe Fernander had to hold off a challenge from a teammate to win the girls' race. Another junior from Choctawhatchee, Deanna Bottino, was just a few steps back at the finish line. But Fernander got the win by running 18:58 to Bottino's 19:02. South Walton sophomore Ava Flaherty placed third in 19:48, and South Walton senior Patasha Bryan edged Brylie Kilgore, a Choctawhatchee sophomore, for fourth, 20:12 to 20:13.


Kilgore gave Choctawhatchee three runners in the top ten. South Walton matched that when Seahawk frosh Reece Knowlton finished ninth in 20:44. But before any team could bring home even their fourth runner, South Walton's final two scorers crossed the finish line--junior Heidi Scali (13th, 20:47) and senior Aris Short (15th, 21:04). The Seahawks had their winning 41 points.


The Niceville girls, the meet champions in 2019, placed second to South Walton with 70 points. Niceville's top finisher was frosh Lauren Cooper, sixth in 20:29. The Wakulla girls squeaked by Fernander's Choctawhatchee squad to take third, 76 to 77. Wakulla was led by frosh Liliana Lewis, who ran 20:36 for seventh.


Fifteen teams competed in the girls race.


Girls' Team Standings, 2020 Panhandle Cross-Country Championships
  1. South Walton, 44
  2. Niceville, 70
  3. Wakulla, 76
  4. Choctawhatchee, 77
  5. Fort Walton Beach, 152
  6. North Bay Haven, 173
  7. Community Christian, 191
  8. Crestview, 207
  9. Florida State University, 221
  10. Bay, 292
  11. Paxton, 350
  12. Rutherford, 361
  13. Chipley, 362
  14. Marianna, 400
  15. Wewahitchka, 411

Top Ten Girls, 2020 Panhandle Cross-Country Championships
  1. 18:57.6, Chloe Fernander (Choctawhatchee) 11
  2. 19:01.2, Deanna Bottino (Choctawhatchee) 11
  3. 19:47.8, Ava Flaherty (South Walton) 10
  4. 20:11.6, Patasha Bryan (South Walton) 12
  5. 20:13.0, Brylie Kilgore (Choctawhatchee) 10
  6. 20:28.6, Lauren Cooper (Niceville) 9
  7. 20:35.2, Liliana Lewis (Wakulla) 9
  8. 20:39.8, Clara Alford (Wakulla) 11
  9. 20:43.2, Reece Knowlton (South Walton) 9
  10. 20:43.3, Lexi Roberts (Niceville) 9

Ryan Sloan had raced in the Panhandle meet in 2019, finishing a respectable ninth in 17:51. Sloan was through with respectabllity in 2020. Running almost two minutes better than the previous year, Sloan won the boys' 5K by close to 150 meters, running 16:09. Another senior, Choctawhatchee's Darius Johnson, was runner-up to Sloan in 16:37. Wakulla senior Simon Cole took third in 16:51.


Choctawhatchee took the next two places, with sophomore Kaleb Hollins fourth in 16:59 and junior William Armbruster fifth in 17:00. But the Niceville boys, the 2019 winners, also had three scorers in the top ten--juniors Parker Nunley (6th, 17:08) and Ian Masterson (8th, 17:29), and frosh Seamus Hodge (9th, 17:31). Before another Choctawhatchee runner finished, Niceville brought four more athletes home--sophomore William Jetton (11th, 17:36), senior Todd Wendel (12th, 17:37), sophomore Cooper Breeze (13th, 17:38), and frosh Dawson Isbell (14th, 17:39). It took all seven of Niceville's varsity to do it, but the Eagles took first in the fifteen-team field, scoring a narrow 71 to 72 victory over the runners-up from Choctawhatchee.


South Walton was third with 87 points. Their top runner was sneior Cooper Blazer, tenth in 17:35.


Boys' Team Standings, 2020 Panhandle Cross-Country Championships
  1. Niceville, 41
  2. Choctawhatchee, 42
  3. South Walton, 87
  4. Crestview, 142
  5. Arnold, 152
  6. Wakulla, 160
  7. North Bay Haven, 236
  8. Community Christian, 248
  9. Mosley, 257
  10. Florida State University, 259
  11. Marianna, 319
  12. Paxton, 349
  13. Wewahitchka, 354
  14. Bay, 379
  15. Rutherford, 427

Top Ten Boys, 2020 Panhandle Cross-Country Championships
  1. 16:08.2, Ryan Sloan (Fort Walton Beach) 12
  2. 16:36.9, Darius Johnson (Choctawhatchee) 12
  3. 16:50.2, Simon Cole (Wakulla) 12
  4. 16:58.9, Kaleb Hollins (Choctawhatchee) 10
  5. 16:59.2, William Armbruster (Choctawhatchee) 11
  6. 17:07.3, Parker Nunley (Niceville) 11
  7. 17:18.7, Eddie Kepran (Arnold) 10
  8. 17:28.5, Ian Masterson (Niceville) 11
  9. 17:30.7, Seamus Hodge (Niceville) 9
  10. 17:34.5, Cooper Blazer (South Walton) 12

Panhandle Cross-Country Championship Winners, 2019 - 2020
Boys
DateTeamAthlete
31 August 2019Niceville, 2616:52, Ethan Rowe (Daphne) 12
17 October 2020Niceville, 4116:09, Ryan Sloan (Fort Walton Beach) 12
Girls
DateTeamAthlete
31 August 2019Niceville, 2918:51, Kambry Smith (Fort Walton Beach) 11
17 October 2020South Walton, 4418:58, Chloe Fernander (Choctawhatchee) 11


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Mat Maier and Eva Mustian have wings at the Eagle Invitational

Saturday morning, 17 October 2020, it was cool, clear, and calm in Tallahassee, Florida. It was also two weeks before the city was set to host the the Florida College System Activities Association's state cross-country championship. So you really couldn't ask for a better time to head to the venue for the FCSSAA meet, the Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross-Country Course, and race a little bit. Fortunately, that was the morning that Tallahassee Community College's third annual Eagle Invitational Cross-Country Meet was scheduled at ARPXC.

Mat Maier
Mat Maier

TCC's Mat Maier won the men's 8K, the first race of the morning. Maier, a transfer from North Carolina-Pembroke, ran 28:41. The Eagles took the first five places, with Maier followed by Bryce Bass (2nd, 28:51), Will Stanton (3rd, 28:55), Shawn Marcum (4th, 29:43), and Rodolph Adonis (5th, 30:24). That gave TCC fifteen points and the win. No other complete teams were entered in the men's race.


Men's Team Standings, 2020 Eagle Invitational
  1. Tallahassee Community, 15
  2. Gulf Winds Track Club, NTS

Top Ten Athletes, 2020 Eagle Invitational Men's 8K
  1. 28:41, Mathew Maier (Tallahassee Community)
  2. 28:51, Bryce Bass (Tallahassee Community)
  3. 28:55, Will Stanton (Tallahassee Community)
  4. 29:43, Shawn Marcum (Tallahassee Community)
  5. 30:24, Rodolph Adonis (Tallahassee Community)
  6. 32:48, Elijah Oquendo (Tallahassee Community)
  7. 34:05, Austin Erbaio (Tallahassee Community)
  8. 35:40, George Gwynn (Unattached)
  9. 35:43, Gannon Hundley (Unattached)
  10. 38:34, Nasir Washington (Unattached)

Finishing nearly a minute before the second runner, Eva Mustian won the women's 5K in 22:56. Mustian raced unattached. The Florida Gateway Wolves took the next two places, with Merlin Leal finishing just ahead of Savana Thomas, 23:49 to 23:51.

Eva Mustian
Eva Mustian

Florida Gateway only brought three women to the Invitational though, so the Wolves lacked a complete team. Chipola Junior College did have a full contingent, though. Chipola put three athletes in the top ten--Montana Arnold was seventh in 25:58, Zy Johnson was eighth in 26:31, and Samantha Whitaker was ninth in 26:43.Sara Padgett (12th, 30:24) and Gianna Mathews (14th, 30:43) finished the scoring for Chipola, giving the Indians fifteen points and first place.


Florida Gateway, Pensacola State, and Tallahassee Community College were each represented in the women's 5K, but didn't have complete squads of five scorers.


The colleges will be back at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday, October 30 for the FCSAA Meet, which will also be the NJCAA Region 8 championship.


Women's Team Standings, 2020 Eagle Invitational
  1. Chipola, 15
  2. Florida Gateway, NTS
    Pensacola State, NTS
    Tallahassee Community, NTS

Top Ten Athletes, 2020 Eagle Invitational Women's 5K
  1. 22:56, Eva Mustian (Unattached)
  2. 23:49, Merlin Leal (Florida Gateway)
  3. 23:51, Savana Thomas (Florida Gateway)
  4. 24:12
  5. 25:27, Amber Hollingsworth (Florida Gateway)
  6. 25:57, Jabria Brothers (Pensacola State)
  7. 25:58, Montana Arnold (Chipola)
  8. 26:31, Zy Johnson (Chipola)
  9. 26:43, Samantha Whitaker (Chipola)
  10. 26:44, Julie Ann Morgan (Pensacola State)

TCC Eagle Invitational Winners, 2018 - 2020
Men
DateTeamAthlete
20 October 2018Tallahassee Community, 2418:10, Jesse Boyd (Tallahassee Community)
13 September 2019Thomas, 2330:27, Daniel Randolph (Tallahassee Community)
17 October 2020Tallahassee Community, 1528:41, Mathew Maier (Tallahassee Community)
Women
DateTeamAthlete
20 October 2018Florida Gateway, 26Lucy Baird (Florida State)
13 September 2019Chipola, 2321:21, Michelle Allen (Unattached)
17 October 2020Chipola, 1522:56, Eva Mustian (Unattached)
The men's race was 5K in 2018 and 8K in 2019-2020.


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Monday, October 19, 2020

Apalachee Regional Park's 2020 cross-country schedule

This will be the twelfth season for Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross-Country Course.


It's a season that seemed like it might never begin. Now it seems like it may never end. August and September meets in Apalachee Regional Park were canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, because the NCAA has rescheduled the 2020 Division 1 Cross-Country Championship for March 2021, the season has been extended. FSU will host two large late-winter/early-spring meets at ARPXC, one in February and one in March. It's like cross-country is becomong a year-round sport. Not that I'd complain. Bring it!

2019 FHSAA High School Cross-Country State Championship Meet
Class 1A Boys State Championship Race

It's not all good news. Leon County Parks are still closed to community racing, so you won't see either the Trash Dash 5K or the Tannenbaum Trail 6K out at ARPXC in 2020. But there's still a full schedule of racing at ARPXC. Not bad for a year where there could very well have been no racing at all. And by the end of the season, the improvements to the venue should be in place--the circular drive, the operations building, the new stage, and the finish line arch. And plumbing. There will actually be water in that part of park; piped-in water that you can drink.


2 OCTOBER 2020 (Friday)
  • Florida State University Cross Country Invitational (Collegiate Classic). 7:40 AM ET college men 8K / 8:10 AM ET college women 5K / 8:30 AM ET open men 8K / 8:30 AM ET open women 5K. Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross Country Course, 7550 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida. 2017 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. 1981 story. 1980 story. 1978 story.
3 OCTOBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • Florida State University Cross Country Invitational (Pre-State). 7:15 AM ET boys high school Elite 5K / 7:40 AM ET girls high school Elite 5K / 8:05 AM ET boys open-club 5K / 8:30 AM ET girls open-club 5K / 8:55 AM ET boys high school Select 5K / 9:20 AM ET girls high school Select 5K / 9:45 AM ET boys high school Varsity A 5K / 10:10 AM ET girls high school Varsity A 5K / 10:35 AM ET boys high school Varsity B 5K / 11:00 AM ET girls high school Varsity B 5K. Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross Country Course, 7550 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32311. 2016 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. 1981 story. 1980 story. 1978 story.
15 OCTOBER 2020 (Thursday)
  • Trojan Mask Invitational. 4:30 PM ET girls' 5K / 5:15 PM ET boys' 5K.
17 OCTOBER 2020 (Saturday)
  • 3rd annual Tallahassee Community College Eagle Invitational. 9:00 AM ET men's 8K / 9:45 AM ET women's 5K.
28 OCTOBER 2020 (Wednesday)
30 OCTOBER 2020 (Friday)
  • FCSAA / NJCAA Region 8 Cross Country Championship. 8:00 AM ET men's 8K / 9:00 AM ET women's 5K. 2017 story. 2016 story.
31 OCTOBER 2020 (Saturday)
13-14 NOVEMBER 2020 (Friday-Saturday)
4 DECEMBER 2020 (Saturday
  • AAU Cross Country National Championships. 9:00 AM ET 15-18 Girls' 5K / 9:30 AM ET 15 - 18 Boys' 5K / 10:00 AM ET 13-14 Girls' 4K / 10:30 AM ET 13-14 Boys' 4K / 11:00 AM ET 11-12 Girls' 3K / 11:30 AM ET 11-12 Boys' 3K / 12:00 PM 9-10 Girls' 3K /12:30 PM 9-10 Boys' 3K / 1:00 PM ET 7-8 Girls' 2K / 1:30 PM ET 7-8 Boys' 2K / 2:00 PM ET 6 & Under Girls' 1K / 2:15 PM ET 6 & Under Boys' 2K / 2:35 PM ET Parents & Coaches Run. Host web page.
5 FEBRUARY 2021 (Friday)
  • Florida State University February Cross-Country Meet.
5 MARCH 2021 (Friday)
  • Florida State University March Cross-Country Meet.

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Saturday, October 17, 2020

Lilli Unger and Jake Rogers nab wins as Leon and Chiles split the Trojan Mask Invitational

Construction and the COVID-19 pandemic kept competition off Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross-Country Course through September 2020, but harriers hit the course on 2-3 October 2020 for the Florida State University Invitational. Tallahassee, Florida's premier cross-country venue saw more action on Thursday afternoon, 15 October 2020, when prep athletes converged on ARPXC for Lincoln High's Trojan Mask Invitational. Leon High crushed the field in the girls' 5K, scoring 19 points behind the 19:31 win of Lilli Unger. Leon sophomore Jake Rogers took first in the boys' 5K with a 16:48, but Chiles grabbed the team title, scoring 32 points to Leon's 40.

Lily Unger
Lily Unger

Competition commenced at 4:30 PM on a warm, sunny afternoon with the girls' race. 1500 meters into the 5000-meter event, a group of five athletes were out in front of the rest of the field--Leon sophomore Lillee Tang, Leon senior Lilli Unger, Chiles junior Kelly Davis, Community Christian junior Morgan Wilson, and Leon sophomore Lily Moore.


Then Unger took over.


Unger led for the entire second half of the race, essentially running alone. By the final stretch, she was way over 200 meters ahead of the next runner, rolling home in 20:32. Behind her, Lillee Tang and Lily Moore had staked a firm claim to second and third, finishing in those positions at 20:32 and 20:33. Morgan Wilson placed fourth in 20:54, and Kelly Davis fifth in 21:12.

Lillee Tang
Lillee Tang

Davis was followed across the finish line by two more Leon girls--Lion sophomores Mallory Robinson (6th, 21:41) and Stella Lewis (7th, 22:01). That gave the girls in red-and-white first in the team standings with a mathematically unbeatable 19 points. Chiles placed second with 57 points. Lincoln, led by senior Lauren Whittier (9th, 22:40), was third with 57. Community Christian scored 72 points for fourth.


Girls' Team Standings, 2020 Trojan Mask Invitational
  1. Leon, 19
  2. Chiles, 57
  3. Lincoln, 67
  4. Community Christian, 72

Top Ten Girls, 2020 Trojan Mask Invitational
  1. 19:30.07, Lillian Unger (Leon) 12
  2. 20:31.51, Lillee Tang (Leon) 10
  3. 20:32.49, Lily Moore (Leon) 10
  4. 20:53.05, Morgan Wilson (Community Christian) 11
  5. 21:11.73, Kelly Davis (Chiles) 11
  6. 21:40.61, Mallory Robinson (Leon) 10
  7. 22:00.82, Stella Lewis (Leon) 10
  8. 22:27.12, Ella Hodges (Chiles) 11
  9. 22:39.30, Lauren Whittier (Lincoln) 12
  10. 23:28.74, Alyssa Cooper (Chiles) 11

Halfway through the race, Leon sophomore Jake Rogers was setting the pace in the boys' 5K, closely followed by Leon frosh Patrick Koon, Lincoln senior Nicholas Samuel, Chiles senior Nathan Reffitt, and Chiles junior Filippo Reina. The two Leon runners left the others behind during the second half, going on to take the first two places in 16:48 and 16:51. Samuel took third in 17:01. Chiles' Reffit and Reina were fourth in 17:19 and fifth in 17:53.

Jake Rogers
Jake Rogers

The Lions may have been hoping for another win like the one they enjoyed in the girls' race, but the Chiles boys had other ideas. Chiles frosh Jackson Rowe and Chiles sophomore Wyatt Townsend joined Timberwolves Reffitt and Reina in the top ten, placing sixth in 18:05 and seventh in 18:06. Frosh Jonah Blay finished the scoring for Chiles, just missing the top ten and placing eleventh in 18:48. The Timberwolves further increased their lead by putting their sixth and seventh runners--juniors Ben Kirbo (12th, 18:49) and Daniel Neustadter (13th, 18:53)--across the finish line before Leon's final scorer. In the end, Chiles had a winning 32 points and Leon 40. Lincoln was third in the six-team field with 60 points.

Patrick Koon
Patrick Koon

The pandemic continues as does construction at ARPXC, but the cross-country season goes on nevertheless. Apalachee Regional Park will host Tallahassee Community College's Eagle Invitational on 17 October 2020, Leon County Schools' Middle School Championship on 28 October 2020, the NJCAA Region 8 Championship on 30 October 2020, the FHSAA 3A District 2 Championship on 31 October 2020, and the FHSAA's Florida High School Cross-Country State Championship on 13-14 November 2020. It's a busy schedule, especially for a season that almost didn't happen.


Boys' Team Standings, 2020 Trojan Mask Invitational
  1. Chiles, 32
  2. Leon, 40
  3. Lincoln, 60
  4. Saint John Paul II Catholic, 136
  5. Maclay, 144
  6. Community Christian, 156

Top Ten Girls, 2020 Trojan Mask Invitational
  1. 16:47.84, Jake Rogers (Leon) 10
  2. 16:50.10, Patrick Koon (Leon) 9
  3. 17:00.26, Nicholas Samuel (Lincoln) 12
  4. 17:18.53, Nathan Reffitt (Chiles) 12
  5. 17:42.41, Filippo Reina (Chiles) 11
  6. 18:04.72, Jackson Rowe (Chiles) 9
  7. 18:05.73, Wyatt Townsend (Chiles) 10
  8. 18:44.49, Leo Kelly (Leon) 11
  9. 18:45.76, Khary Wright (Lincoln) 12
  10. 18:46.45, Noah Deem (Community Leadership) 8

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Thursday, October 15, 2020

Kyra Swart and Danny Mauldin win while Deerlake sweeps the Mustang Stampede

Leon County Schools' middle school cross-country season returned to familiar ground on Wednesday evening, 14 October 2020. After two weeks of racing on new courses, first at the Alford Greenway and next at the Golf and Country Club, the LCS harriers headed to Montford Middle School on the north side of Tallahassee for the eighth annual Mustang Stampede. The venue was especially familiar to Deerlake seventh-grader Kyra Swart, who had won the girls' 3K at Montford in 2019. Swart successfully defended her title in the 2020 race, running the three kilometers in 12:50 and leading her team to a winning score of 18 points. The Deerlake boys team won team honors for the fourth year in a row and fifth time in six years, edging Swift Creek 43 to 48. Danny Mauldin, a Deerlake eighth-grader, earned his second win of the season, running 11:31.

Kyra Swart
Kyra Swart

The 2019 Mustang Stampede girls' 3K was Kyra Swart's first LCS cross-country win. She hasn't lost a Leon County Schools race since, a winning streak that stands at six races. Swart led most of the way at the 2020 Mustang Stampede, never more than a few steps ahead, but nevertheless always ahead--especially at the finish line, where she was first in 12:50. Just behind Swart, Deerlake seventh-grader Abbey Griffin took second in 13:07. Sophia Youngberg, a Montford eighth-grader, interrupted the parade of Deerlake green by grabbing third with a 13:07.

Abbey Griffin
Abbey Griffin

But after Youngberg the Deerlake procession resumed. Buck sixth-graders Myra Holman and Kaia Ables were fourth in 13:14 and fifth in 13:16. London Mellen, a Deerlake seventh-grader, followed them across the line, sixth in 31:21. The Deerlake girls had a mathematically unbeatable 18 points, successfully defending their 2019 Stampede title.


Led by Youngberg, the girls from Montford, the host school, placed second with 40 points. Raa stood third among the six girls' teams, scoring 83 points behind Ram seventh-grader Cecilia Veliz (8th, 13:45).


2020 Mustang Stampede Team Standings, Girls
  1. Deerlake, 18
  2. Montford, 40
  3. Raa, 83
  4. Cobb, 125
  5. Swift Creek, 136
  6. Nims, 150
  7. Fort Braden, NTS
    Fairview, NTS
    Woodville, NTS

Top 10 Girls, 2020 Montford Mustang Stampede 3K
  1. 12:49.63, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 7
  2. 12:54.73, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 7
  3. 13:06.65, Sophia Youngberg (Montford) 8
  4. 13:13.86, Myra Holman (Deerlake) 6
  5. 13:15.81, Kaia Ables (Deerlake) 6
  6. 13:20.72, London Mellen (Deerlake) 7
  7. 13:39.41, Adriena Vilardo (Montford) 6
  8. 13:44.89, Cecilia Veliz (Raa) 7
  9. 13:56.32, Haley Heitmeyer (Montford) 6
  10. 13:57.65, Ava Hill (Montford) 8

Raa eighth-grader Cadden Maxwell led for most of the first kilometer of the boys' 3K, but he fell back during the second half of the race, ultimately finishing seventh in 12:24. The fading Maxwell was overtaken by a pack of four athletes--Danny Mauldin of Deerlake, Asher Robertson of Swift Creek, Neal Porter of Montford, and Asa Swope of Swift Creek. The lead group strung out as Robertson, an eighth-grader, charged ahead. With less than 400 meters left in the race, Robertson was still in front, ten meters ahead of Mauldin. Then Mauldin made his move.

Asa Swope, Neal Porter, Asher Robertson, Danny Mauldin
Boys' 3K

On the way to the finish line Mauldin passed Robertson, going on to win 11:31 to 11:36. Eighth-grader Porter was third in 11:45, and seventh-grader Swope placed fourth in 11:45.


Swift Creek had three athletes in the top ten--Robertson, Swope, and eighth-grader Connor Aarons (10th, 12:42). Deerlake also put three in the top ten--winner Mauldin, plus eighth-graders Logan Peltier (5th, 12:10) and Petyon Allen (9th, 12:35). But Deerlake put eighth-grader Mathew Miralles (12th, 12:43) across the finish line ahead of Swift Creek's fourth runner, and Deerlake sixth-graders Sawyer McNeely (16th, 12:51) and Jonathan Kiros (17th, 12:52) were in before Swift Creek's fifth scorer. That was enough to put the Deerlake boys first in the nine-team field with 45 points, keeping the Bucks undefeated in 2020 league competition.

Danny Mauldin
Danny Mauldin

Swift Creek was a close second with 48 points. Montford took third with a score of 81.


2020 Mustang Stampede Team Standings, Boys
  1. Deerlake, 43
  2. Swift Creek, 48
  3. Montford, 81
  4. Fairview, 109
  5. Raa, 133
  6. Cobb, 161
  7. Nims, 173
  8. Fort Braden, 238
  9. Woodville, 276
  10. Griffin, NTS

Top 10 Boys, 2020 Montford Mustang Stampede 3K
  1. 11:30.94, Danny Mauldin (Deerlake) 8
  2. 11:35.57, Asher Robertson (Swift Creek) 8
  3. 11:44.81, Neal Porter (Montford) 8
  4. 11:56.57, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 7
  5. 12:09.45, Logan Peltier (Deerlake) 8
  6. 12:09.97, Xalimon Akbar (Fairview) 8
  7. 12:23.54, Cadden Maxwell (Raa) 8
  8. 12:26.49, Julian Thompson (Raa) 8
  9. 12:34.55, Peyton Allen (Deerlake) 8
  10. 12:41.17, Connor Aarons (Swift Creek) 8

Mustang Cross-Country Stampede Champions
2013 - 2020
Girls
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
27 September 2013Swift Creek, 37 points13:42, Saige Kemeny (Montford) 7
10 September 2014Swift Creek, 3412:46, Lawton Campbell (Deerlake) 8
30 September 2015Swift Creek, 4312:25, Emily Molen (Deerlake) 8
28 September 2016Montford, 4313:12, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 6
28 September 2017Swift Creek, 2013:12, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 7
20 September 2018Montford, 4011:45, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 8
19 September 2019Deerlake, 4013:03, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 6
14 October 2020Deerlake, 1812:50, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 7
Boys
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
27 September 2013Montford, 56 points11:56, Jacob Dodson (Raa) 8
10 September 2014Swift Creek, 6612:14, Tavaris King (Griffin) 8
30 September 2015Deerlake, 4311:56, Weston Blake (Swift Creek) 7
28 September 2016Swift Creek, 3911:28, Weston Blake (Swift Creek) 7
28 September 2017Deerlake, 4211:15, Ben Kirbo (Montford) 8
20 September 2018Deerlake, 349:43, Wyatt Townsend (Deerlake) 8
19 September 2019Deerlake, 3610:54, Patrick Koon (Fairview) 8
14 October 2020Deerlake, 4311:31, Danny Mauldin (Deerlake) 8
From 2013 to 2017, the race distance at the Mustang Stampede was two miles. In
2018 the distance was changed to three kilometers.


Brian Corbin timed and scored Montford Middle School's eighth annual Mustang Stampede. There are two more events left in Leon County Schools' 2020 middle school cross-country season, starting with the third annual Falcon Invitational at the Florida State University SportsPlex on 23 October 2020. The season concludes with the LCS League Championship Meet on 28 October 2020 at Apalachee Regional Park.


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