Laci Watford and Matthew Stratton win at 1A Region 1, but Maclay sweeps team honors

When the athletes of FHSAA 1A Region 1 met at New World Golf in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday morning, 6 November 2020, it was Laci Watford, the University Christian junior, who won the girl's 5K, running 18:40. Another junior, Matthew Stratton of Saint Johns Country Day, won the boys' 5K with a 15:53. But it was the harriers from Maclay who swept the team titles, taking first in the girls' race with 49 points and first in the boys' race with 36 points.


Runner-up in the 2018 and 2019 Region 1 races, Watford's winning 18:40 in the 2020 event put her across the finish line a minute before the next runner. Kaylin Olivarez, a Baker eighth-grader, placed runner-up in 19:40. Maclay frosh Susan Koeppel came in third with a 19:49.


After Susan Koeppel, Maclay had seventh-grader Lillian Koeppel take ninth in 20:43. The remaining three Marauder scorers were Maclay frosh Natalie Hammett (11th, 20:46), eighth-grader Payton Thumm (15th, 21:56), and seventh-grader Nishi Bhanderi (16th, 21:28). Those five athletes combined for Maclay's winning score of 49. In the past seven years, the Maclay girls have won seven Region 1 team titles.


Pensacola Christian was second in the region with 66 points, led by frosh Rae Anne Tutton and seventh-grader Jaimee Tutton. Rae Anne Tutton finished fourth in 20:08, Jaimee Tutton was fifth in 20:08. Community Christian placed third with 92 points; the Tallahassee school's first runner was junior Morgan Wilson, seventh in 20:34. Providence, the last school to win the Region before the Maclay streak began, took fourth in the 2020 meet with 98 points. Providence was led by frosh Lindy White, who placed sixth in 20:25.


The top four schools--Maclay, Pensacola Christian, Community Christian, and Providence--qualified for the State Championship Meet.


Team Standings, 2020 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Girls' Cross-Country Championships

1. Maclay, 49
2. Pensacola Christian, 66
3. Community Christian, 92
4. Providence, 98
5. Baker, 116
6. Saint Johns Country Day, 163
7. Saint Joseph, 191
8. Bishop Snyder, 206
9. Port Saint Joe, 237
10. Rocky Bayou Christian, 254
11. Blountstown, 302
12. Wewahitchka, 375

Top 15 Girls, 2020 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championships

1. 18:39.60, Laci Watford (University Christian) 11
2. 19:39.60, Kaylin Olivarez (Baker) 8
3. 19:48.40, Susan Koeppel (Maclay) 9
4. 20:07.20, RaeAnne Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 9
5. 20:07.40, Jaimee Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 7
6. 20:24.30, Lindy White (Providence) 9
7. 20:33.40, Morgan Wilson (Community Christian) 11
8. 20:35.40, Reagan Smith (Pensacola Christian) 7
9. 20:42.80, Lillian Koeppel (Maclay) 7
10. 20:43.40, Gretchen Morgan (Providence) 10
11. 20:45.30, Natalie Hammett (Maclay) 9
12. 21:04.60, Emily Wheldon (Bishop Snyder) 9
13. 21:14.00, Sydney Athearn (Rocky Bayou) 9
14. 21:25.60, Payton Thumm (Maclay) 8
15. 21:28.00, Nishi Bhanderi (Maclay) 7

Undefeated in the month of October, Matthew Stratton's 15:53 win in the 1A Region 1 boys' 5K gave the Saint Johns Country Day junior a four-race winning streak. The Maclay Marauders took the next two places, with junior Jackson Yarbrough runner-up in 16:08 and senior Leo Rutledge third in 16:37.


In addition to Yarbrough and Rutledge, Maclay had two more harriers in the top ten; sophmores Clayton Knox (5th, 16:58) and Carter Rothell (8th, 17:25). When Lawrence Bishop finished 21st in 18:17 for Maclay, the Marauders had 36 points and their ninth Region 1 boys' title in the last eleven years.


Finishing fourth in 16:43, junior Jonathan Tutton was first runner home for Pensacola Christian. Pensacola Christian had five scorers in the top fourteen, racking up a score of 44 points and taking second in the Region. Saint Johns Country Day was third, scoring 114 points behind Region champ Matthew Stratton. Saint Joseph was fourth with 136 points, led by sophomore Victor Farfan (6th, 17:08).


Maclay, Pensacola Christian, Saint Johns Country Day, and Saint Joseph were the four boys' teams that qualified for State out of 1A Region 1. The 2020 FHSAA State Cross-Country Championship Meet will be contested in Tallahassee, Florida at Apalacheee Regional Park. The class 1A races are scheduled for Friday morning, 13 November 2020.


Team Standings, 2020 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Boys' Cross-Country Championships

1. Maclay, 36
2. Pensacola Christian, 44
3. Saint Johns Country Day, 114
4. Saint Joseph, 136
5. Bishop Snyder, 146
6. Providence, 164
7. Community Christian, 173
8. Blountstown, 231
9. Baker, 252
10. Rocky Bayou Christian, 258
11. Port Saint Joe, 263
12. Malone, 295

Top 15 Boys, 2020 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championships

1. 15:53.00, Matthew Stratton (Saint Johns Country Day) 11
2. 16:07.50, Jackson Yarbrough (Maclay) 11
3. 16:36.50, Leo Rutledge (Maclay) 12
4. 16:42.90, Jonathan Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 11
5. 16:57.70, Clayton Knox (Maclay) 10
6. 17:07.30, Victor Farfan (Saint Joseph) 10
7. 17:11.90, Andrew Birx (Pensacola Christian) 10
8. 17:24.80, Carter Rothell (Maclay) 10
9. 17:40.50, Eugene Hall (Paxton) 12
10. 17:41.60, Logan Dunaway (Freeport) 12
11. 17:42.70, Donald Dempsey (Bishop Snyder) 11
12. 17:45.70, Micah Sleeth (Pensacola Christian) 10
13. 17:49.40, Erick Lund (Pensacola Christian) 11
14. 17:52.20, Micah Hodge (Pensacola Christian) 10
15. 17:52.70, Jacob Kailes (Saint Johns Country Day) 12

FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Champions, 1999 - 2020
Boys
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
13 November 1999	Maclay, 25	15:36, Ryan Deak (Maclay) 9
11 November 2000	Maclay
10 November 2001	Maclay, 20	16:20, Caleb Carmichael (Florida State) 12
16 November 2002	Maclay, 15	??:??, Ryan Deak (Maclay) 11
1 November 2003	Episcoal, 31	16:32, Justin Jackson (Episcopal) 12
30 October 2004	Episcopal, 82	16:32, Michael Anderson (P K Yonge) 10
5 November 2005	P K Yonge, 72	16:37, Geoffrey Anderson (P K Yonge) 11
4 November 2006	P K Yonge, 36	15:42, Michael Anderson (P K Yonge) 12
10 November 2007	Maclay, 41	16:11, Whitney Strickland (North Florida Christian) 11
15 November 2008	P K Yonge, 33	16:17, Whitney Strickland (North Florida Christian) 12
14 November 2009	P K Yonge, 21	16:21, Patrick Swain (Maclay) 11
12 November 2010	Maclay, 23	16:37, Patrick Swain (Maclay) 12
12 November 2011	Maclay, 25	16:48, Travis Covert (Maclay) 11
10 November 2012	Maclay, 43	16:05, Griffith Rutherford (North Florida Christian) 11
2 November 2013	Maclay, 52	16:38, Griffith Rutherford (North Florida Christian) 12
8 November 2014	Maclay, 34	16:39, Micah Kemp (Jay) 12
31 October 2015	Maclay, 52	16:35, Jackson Neri (Bishop Snyder) 12
28 October 2016	Maclay, 69	17:00, Clay Milford (Maclay) 10
4 November 2017	Providence, 70	16:31, Sean Snyder (Saint Joseph) 12
3 November 2018	Providence, 69	15:47, Junious Brown (Maclay) 11
2 November 2019	Maclay, 70	16:00, Junious Brown (Maclay) 12
7 November 2020	Maclay, 36	15:53, Matthew Stratton (Saint Johns Country Day) 11
Girls
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
13 November 1999	Maclay, 40	18:11, Kara Scanlin (Episcopal) 10
11 November 2000	Episcopal
10 November 2001	Maclay, 51	17:33, Kara Scanlin (Episcopal) 12
16 November 2002	Oak Hall, 40	??:??, Robyn Debenedet (Episcopal) 11
1 November 2003	Oak Hall, 31	18:56, Robyn Debenedet (Episcopal) 12
30 October 2004	Episcopal, 36	19:40, Emily Ingham (Episcopal) 10
5 November 2005	Maclay, 26	19:42, Meghan Roberts (P K Yonge) 8
4 November 2006	Maclay, 29	19:06, Meghan Roberts (P K Yonge) 9
10 November 2007	Maclay, 27	19:13, Alicia Fenley (Maclay) 10
15 November 2008	P K Yonge, 67	18:27, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 11
14 November 2009	Maclay, 46	18:21, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 12
12 November 2010	Oak Hall, 39	18:53, Brittney Olinger (Oak Hall) 9
12 November 2011	Providence, 34	18:17, Stefanie Kurgatt (Maclay) 11
10 November 2012	Providence, 49	19:27, Eden Meyer (Providence) 11
2 November 2013	Providence, 22	19:30, Eden Meyer (Providence) 12
8 November 2014	Maclay, 37	18:53, Maya Espinosa (Baker) 7
31 October 2015	Maclay, 49	19:10, Maya Espinosa (Baker) 8
28 October 2016	Maclay, 52	19:45, Caroline Willis (Maclay) 12
4 November 2017	Maclay, 47	19:55, Audrey Woods (Providence) 11
3 November 2018	Maclay, 48	18:24, Gianna Forte (Bishop Snyder) 12
2 November 2019	Maclay, 23	19:42, Ella Porcher (Maclay) 9
7 November 2020	Maclay, 49	18:40, Laci Watford (University Christian) 11
The 1A Region 1 meet was run at Port Saint Joe High in Port Saint Joe in 1999. The meet was run at the Miccosukee Greenway in Tallahassee in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The meet was run at Maclay School in Tallahassee in 2001 and 2002. The meet was run at Florida Community College in Jacksonville in 2003. The meet was run at Summit East in Tallahassee in 2004. The meet was run at Sainte Fe College in Gainesville in 2009. The meet was run at Oak Hall High in Gainesville in 2010. The meet was run at Sunnyhill Farms near Tallahassee in 2012 and 2014. The meet was run at Alligator Lake in Lake City in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The meet was run at Escambia Equestrian Center in Pensacola in 2016. The meet was run at New World Golf in Jacksonville in 2018 and 2020. The meet was held at The Oaks Equestrian Park in Lake City in 2017 and 2019.

Links

• Complete results of the 2020 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championship Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSdXQqFFnj_og-Dq2nSeXWcG5RKpI9FMSlRQP0E9p0Hfk_Nw9XRPdvNe7ic-scRg4WXcBbql4MO4SSe/pubhtml
  
  
• Trouble Afoot! coverage of 2020 FHSAA Region 1 cross-country
  
  • 1A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/11/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2020.html
    
  • 2A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/11/fhsaa-2a-region-1-2020.html
    
  • 3A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/11/fhsaa-3a-region-1-2020.html
    
  • 4A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/11/fhsaa-4a-region-1-2020.html
    
  
  
• 2019 story, “Led by Junious Brown and Ella Porcher, Maclay paints Region 1 blue”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/11/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2019.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Region 1 cross country, Sunny Hill Farms and the road to State”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/fhsaa-regon-1-2012.html
  
  
• Find a cross-country, road, or track race for your schedule on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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