Cadence Curnalia, Matthew Hauser win as Thomas County, Lincoln split the Yellow Jacket Invitational

Just after dawn on Wednesday, 30 August 2023, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend, moving inland into South Georgia. The next afternoon, Thursday, 31 August 2023, the high school cross-country runners of the region were back racing at the 30th annual Yellow Jacket Invitational in Thomasville, Georgia. Cadence Curnalia, a junior competing for host school Thomas County Central, won the girls' 5K by nearly 400 meters, running 21:36. Lee County took the team title with a nearly-unbeatable 32 points. Lincoln High sophomore Matthew Hauser took first in the boys' 5K, finishing with a lead of more than 200 meters in 16:40 and leading his Trojans to first place with a team score of 38.


The girls' 5K was the first high school race, with a start scheduled at 5:00 PM. Cadence Curnalia came into the Yellow Jacket Invitational with a record of winning--as a seventh-grader she had won the middle school girls' race in 2019, then repeated in 2020. In 2021, her frosh year at Thomas County Central, Curnalia had won the Invitational's high school girls' 5K. In 2022, she placed second in that race. Curnalia wasn't interested in finishing runner-up again in 2023.


She didn't. Curnalia crushed the field with a 21:36, her best mark yet at the Yellow Jacket Invite. Seminole County junior Geisha Smith took second at 23:08. Hadiya Ali, a Lee County sophomore, placed third in 23:20.


Ali was followed closely by her teammate Kali Nicholson, a junior who finished fourth in 23:26. Lee County's remaining scorers also cracked the top ten--junior Olivia Vanderwalt was sixth in 23:46, sophomore Harlee Oosterveen was ninth in 25:48, and sophomore Gabriella Vanderwalt was tenth in 26:09. With five athletes in the top ten, the Lee County girls' had 32 points--good for first place in a field of eleven teams.


Led by Curnalia, Thomas County Central took second with 99 points. Westover, winner of the girls' division in 2021, took third with 117. Westover's top finisher was Yaliza Wright, seventeenth in 26:49.


2023 Yellow Jacket XC Invitational Team Standings, High School Girls

1. Lee County, 32
2. Thomas County Central, 99
3. Westover, 117
4. Bainbridge, 129
5. Monroe Comprehensive, 137
6. Lincoln, 137
7. Tift Area, 186
8. Warner Robins Northside, 192
9. Thomasville, 200
10. Seminole County, 220
11. Baconton Charter, 307

Top Ten High School Girls, 30th annual Yellow Jacket XC Invitational

1. 21:35.30, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County) 11
2. 23:08.00, Geisha Smith (Seminole County) 11
3. 23:19.50, Hadiya Ali (Lee County) 10
4. 23:25.50, Kali Nicholson (Lee County) 11
5. 23:37.00, Faith Thompson (Warner Robins Northside) 11
6. 23:45.90, Olivia Vanderwalt (Lee County) 11
7. 25:02.70, Anna Caulkins (Lincoln) 12
8. 25:30.80, Kate Phillips (Tift Area) 10
9. 25:47.60, Harlee Oosterveen (Lee County) 10
10. 26:08.20, Gabriella Vanderwalt (Lee County) 10

Curnalia's Yellow Jacket Invitational win was her second of the 2023 cross-country season; her first had been at the Sherwood Around The Cross Invitational twelve days earlier in Albany, Georgia. Matthew Hauser came into the Yellow Jacket still looking for his first cross-country win of 2023.


He got it. In his first Yellow Jacket Invite appearance, the Lincoln sophomore threw down a winning 16:40. Another sophomore, Jesus Gutierrez of Warner Robins Northside, grabbed second with a 17:24. Bainbridge senior Jahlae Sapp took third in 17:38.


Hauser wasn't the only Lincoln Trojan in the top ten. Senior Enijah Thomas was fifth in 18:13, frosh Trent Parsons was sixth in 18:19, and senior Mason Romuald was ninth in 18:57. Connor Aarons completed the scoring for Lincoln; the junior placed seventeenth in 19:28. With that, the Trojan boys had 38 points, putting them first among thirteen teams.


Gutierrez and the Northside Eagles put up 59 points for second. Crisp County placed third with 131, led by the fourth place, 18:02 showing of junior Sawyer McGinnis.


2023 Yellow Jacket XC Invitational Team Standings, High School Boys

1. Lincoln, 38
2. Warner Robins Northside, 59
3. Crisp County, 104
4. Brookwood, 131
5. Bainbridge, 170
6. Thomas County Central, 186
7. Thomasville, 208
8. Lee County, 239
9. Westover, 241
10. Baconton Charter, 246
11. Seminole County, 249
12. Pelham, 278
13. Cairo, 308

Top Ten High School Boys, 30th annual Yellow Jacket XC Invitational

1. 16:39.10, Matthew Hauser (Lincoln) 10
2. 17:23.20, Jesus Gutierrez (Warner Robins Northside) 10
3. 17:38.00, Jahlae Sapp (Bainbridge) 12
4. 18:01.60, Sawyer McGinnis (Crisp County) 11
5. 18:12.80, Enijah Thomas (Lincoln) 12
6. 18:18.90, Trent Parsons (Lincoln) 9
7. 18:39.90, Nate Jackson (Warner Robins Northside) 10
8. 18:52.00, John Hoffpauir (Lee County) 10
9. 18:56.20, Mason Romuald (Lincoln) 12
10. 18:56.80, Calvon Clark (Warner Robins Northside) 11

In Tallahassee, Florida, Fairview Middle School had been scheduled to race at the Fort Braden Run on the same day as the Yellow Jacket Invite. The Fort Braden meet ended up rescheduled for 20 September 2023 due to the hurricane, leaving Fairview eighth-grader Emari Thomas free to race in Thomasville. Race he did, winning the middle school boys' event by close to 200 meters in 12:47. Thomas County harriers took the next two places, with seventh-grader Holten Dennard second in 13:31 and eighth-grader Connor Stephens third in 14:04.


Thomasville Middle School Bulldog eighth-graders took the next two spots, with Conner D'Amico fourth in 14:41 and Jack Chastain fifth in 14:43. Two more Bulldogs also cracked the top ten--eighth-grader Mason Baggett was seventh in 15:00 and seventh-grader Luke Ridley eighth in 15:01. When the Bulldog's fifth scorer, seventh-grader Parks Everett, crossed the finish line twelfth in 15:37, Thomasville had 30 points and first place among eight teams.


Dennard and Thomas County were a close second with 38 points. The Whigham boys were third with 112 points; Whigham's first finisher was sixth-grader Luke Molisee, sixteenth in 16:04.


2023 Yellow Jacket XC Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Boys

1. Thomasville, 30
2. Thomas County, 38
3. Whigham, 112
4. Seminole County, 133
5. Bainbridge, 144
6. Baconton Charter, 145
7. Tift Area, 157
8. Spring Creek Charter, 184

Top Ten Middle School Boys, 30th annual Yellow Jacket XC Invitational

1. 12:46.70, Emari Thomas (Fairview) 8
2. 13:30.90, Holten Dennard (Thomas County) 7
3. 14:04.00, Connor Stephens (Thomas County) 8
4. 14:40.90, Conner D'Amico (Thomasville) 8
5. 14:42.30, Jack Chastain (Thomasville) 8
6. 14:53.30, Richard Calloway (Seminole County) 8
7. 15:00.00, Mason Baggett (Thomasville) 8
8. 15:00.10, Luke Ridley (Thomasville) 7
9. 15:05.00, Aaron Irvin (Thomas County) 7
10. 15:32.70, Brayden Inlow (Bainbridge) 9

2023 was Jada Anderson's third year of running cross-country for Bainbridge Middle School, but it was her first appearance at the Yellow Jacket Invitational. The eighth-grader made the most of it, winning the middle school girls' race in 15:58, the only sub-16:00 performance in that event since 2020. A few seconds back, Crisp County eighth-grader Mya Dunlap was runner-up in 16:05. Gracie Musgrove, a Brookwood seventh-grader, was the first hometown finisher, placing third in 16:33.


The race for first had come down to Bainbridge's Anderson and Crisp County's Dunlap; the fight for the girls' team title was likewise between Bainbridge and Crisp County. Bainbridge had a second athlete in the top ten when eighth-grader placed eighth in 17:08, but Crisp County answered by putting sixth-grader Mary Michael McGinnis across the finish line ninth in 17:14. The girls from Bainbridge completed their scoring with eighth-grader Carrington Smith (11th, 17:28), seventh-grader Ayesha Sapp (25th, 19:39), and sixth-grader Payson Huto (36th, 20:53). That gave Bainbridge 67 points and a narrow win.


Dunlap and the Crisp County girls were only three points back, second with 70. Thomasville was a close third at 77 points, led by eighth-grader Sadie Kate Scarbrough. Scarbrough was fourth in 16:41. Eight schools had complete teams in the middle school girls' race.


Miles And Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee, Florida timed and scored the races at the 2023 Yellow Jacket Invitational Cross-Country Meet.


2023 Yellow Jacket XC Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Girls

1. Bainbridge, 67
2. Crisp County, 70
3. Thomasville, 77
4. Tift Area, 85
5. Thomas County, 109
6. Baconton Charter, 116
7. Whigham, 165
8. Spring Creek Charter, 212

Top Ten Middle School Girls, 30th annual Yellow Jacket XC Invitational

1. 15:57.20, Jada Anderson (Bainbridge) 8
2. 16:04.60, Mya Dunlap (Crisp County) 8
3. 16:32.20, Gracie Musgrove (Brookwood) 7
4. 16:40.30, Sadie Kate Scarbrough (Thomasville) 8
5. 16:50.80, Annabelle Barrow (Baconton Charter) 6
6. 17:01.10, Madison Miracle (Baconton Charter) 6
7. 17:05.60, Iyanna Kyles (Seminole County) 8
8. 17:08.00, Emerson Huggins (Bainbridge) 8
9. 17:13.60, Mary Michael McGinnis (Crisp County) 6
10. 17:22.60, Eleanor Walker (Tift Area) 5

Yellow Jacket Cross Country Invitational winners, 2008 - 2023
High School Boys
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
18 October 2008	Tift County, 32 points	16:59, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County)
17 October 2009
16 October 2010
15 October 2011
20 October 2012
19 October 2013	Maclay, 41	16:13, Chase Harris (Bainbridge) 11
25 October 2014	Thomas County Central, 74	16:25, Wil Luca (Leon) 12
17 October 2015	Leon, 36	15:47, Poncherella Leonard (Bainbridge) 11
15 October 2016	Veterans, 54	17:13, Colby Jones (Lee County) 11
14 October 2017	Veterans, 32	17:04, Brishen House (Lowndes) 12
12 October 2019	Colquitt County, 68	17:21, Stokes Moore (Bainbridge) 12
29 August 2020	Davis, 36	18:16, Briley Reyes (Davis) 11
2 September 2021	Valdosta, 33	17:45, Parker Jackson (Valdosta) 12
13 September 2022	Lowndes, 46	16:50, Jonah Berry (GCU Elite Racing) 11
31 August 2023	Lincoln, 38	16:40, Matthew Hauser (Lincoln) 10
High School Girls
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
18 October 2008	Valdosta, 30 points	21:12, JaCourtney Alexander (Cairo)
17 October 2009
16 October 2010
15 October 2011
20 October 2012
19 October 2013	Maclay, 30	19:44, Paige Braswell (Bainbridge) 12
25 October 2014	Berrien County, 47	20:58, Rebekah Smith (Thomasville) 11
17 October 2015	Leon, 44	20:07, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 10
15 October 2016	Lee County, 83	17:50, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 11
14 October 2017	Valwood, 80	17:45, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 12
12 October 2019	Aucilla Christian, 32	21:28, Anna James (Thomas County Central) 11
29 August 2020	Colquitt County, 41	20:06, Anna James (Thomas County Central) 12
2 September 2021	Westover, 44	23:40, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County Central) 9
13 September 2022	Lowndes, 31	21:47, Kendall Johnson (Lowndes) 10
31 August 2023	Lee County, 32	21:36, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County) 11
Do you have results from the missing years? Please let me know!

Links

• Complete results of Thomas County Central's 2023 Yellow Jacket Cross-Country Invitational
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRt416d547En8jnwYboL4g7-UnT1NhTEjqfSbGGXCorbeZSpEF7qEyaJRyhXGfnx2g0K_eluRkqgNKO/pubhtml
  
  
• 2021 story, “Westover girls and Valdosta boys win at the Yellow Jacket”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/yellowjacket-xc-2021.html
  
  
• 2020 story, “Anna James and Briley Reyes swat the competition at the Yellow Jacket Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/09/yellowjacket-xc-2020.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Funderburk blazes a valedictory 17:44.50 at the Yellow Jacket Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/10/yellowjacket-xc-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Elizabeth Funderburk goes 17:50 in Thomasville at the Yellow Jacket Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/10/yellowjacket-xc-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Poncherella Leonard and Elizabeth Funderburk have wings at Yellow Jacket Invite”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/yellowjacket-xc-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Wil Luca, Rebekah Smith finish the season right at Yellow Jacket Cross Country Meet”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/yellowjacket-xc-2014.html
  
  
• Can't get an invitation? Find an open race on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2970

30 August 2023 Tallahassee 100-Mile Race Calendar

This is the Tallahassee vicinity road-race schedule for 30 August 2023. If that's more than a week ago, the latest schedule is always available via this link:

https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1

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!

2 September 2023 (Saturday)

• 3rd annual Georgia Muscadine Festival 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET mile / 8:30 AM ET 5K. Paulk Vineyards, 1788 Satilla Road, Wray, Georgia, 31798. Event web site. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at active.com.

4 September 2023 (Monday)

• 7th annual Bluebird Run For Brookie B 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET one mile / 8:30 AM ET 5K. J.R. Alford Greenway, 2500 Pedrick Road, Tallahassee, Florida. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. Event web site. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. contact@bluebirdrun.com
  
• 13th annual Valdosta Labor Day 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Valdosta State University Complex, 401 Baytree Road, Valdosta, Georgia 31602. 2019 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Canceled
• 46th annual Macon Labor Day Road Race 10K, 5K, and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET 5K / 8:30 AM ET 10K / 10:00 AM ET one mile. 4553 Forsyth Road, Macon, Georgia. USATF certified 10K course GA12100WC. USATF certified 5K course GA12099WC. Event web page. macontracks@macontracks.org
• Big Dog Labor Day Classic 10K. 7:30 AM ET. Headquarter Nissan, 1725 Whittlesey Road, Columbus, Georgia 31904. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

9 September 2023 (Saturday)

• 41st annual Sickle Cell Foundation of the Big Bend 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET one mile / 8:30 AM ET 5K. Jake Gaither Park, 801 Tanner Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32305. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified course #FL18025TY. Event web site. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• Valdosta Fire Department's 3rd annual 9/11 Memorial 5K. 7:59 AM ET. Downtown Valdosta, 120 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601. Event web page. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at ItsYourRace.com.
• Run Baby Run 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM CT. Bates Memorial Stadium, Enterprise, Alabama 36330. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at ChronoTrack.com.
• 4th annual Patriot's Run Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K. 6:30 AM CT Half Marathon / 7:00 AM CT 10K and 5K. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, 7525 West County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at ItsYourRace.com.

16 September 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 41st annual Tallahassee Women's Distance Festival 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET 5K women / 8:05 AM ET 5K men / 9:00 AM ET one mile. Optimist Park, East Indianhead Drive, Tallahassee, Florida. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. USATF certified course #FL17042TY. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Lisa Unger, unger4122@comcast.net or 850-544-4893.

23 September 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 45th annual Salute to Prefontaine 5K Cross-Country Run. 8:30 AM ET. Wallwood Boy Scout Reservation, 23 Wallwood BSA Drive, Quincy, Florida 32351. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 16th annual Trot with S.W.A.T. 10K and 5K. 8:00 AM CT. 2120 North Ennis Street, Dothan, Alabama 36303. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2013 story. Online registration at RaceEntry.com. Carol Goguen, cgoguen@graceba.net or 334-794-9029.
• 2nd annual Run to Prevent - Suicide Prevention 5K and one-mile fun run. 9:30 AM ET mile / 10:00 AM ET 5K. Valdosta Early College Academy, 1605 Azalea Drive, Valdosta, Georgia 31602. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at ItsYourRace.com.

30 September 2023 (Saturday)

• Bull Run 5K. 8:00 AM CT. Middlebrooks Park, Banfill Avenue, Bonifay, Florida 32425. 2015 story. Event web page. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  
• Dothan Running Festival 10K, 5K, and kids' run. 7:00 AM CT 5K / 8:00 AM CT Mile / 8:30 AM CT 10K. 3148 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, Alabama 36303. Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. racedirector@runthecircle.com

1 October 2023 (Sunday)

• Dothan Running Festival "Run The Circle" Half Marathon. 7:00 AM CT. 3148 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, Alabama 36303. Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. racedirector@runthecircle.com

7 October 2023 (Saturday)

• Hahira Honeybee Festival 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Hahira Community Center, 216 Randall Street, Hahira, Georgia 31632. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event web page. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 7th annual Tate's Hell And Back 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Crooked River Grill at Saint James Bay Golf Club, 151 Laughing Gull Lane, Carrabelle, Florida 32322. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. Event profile on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. BeLinda Wharton, bhwharton@gmail.com or 850-544-5410.
• 5th annual Pirates of the High Seas 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM CT. Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, Florida 32413. 2019 story. 2018 story. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 3rd annual Run For The Rosemary 5K and one-mile fun run. 7:00 AM CT. 200 West Water Street, Rosemary Beach, Florida 32461. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

8 October 2023 (Sunday)

• 7th annual Marching Chiefs 5K. 9:00 AM ET. Bill Harkins Field (Chiefs Field), Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32304. 2019 story. 2018 story. USATF certified 5K course FL18040TY. Event web site. Event page on Facebook.

14 October 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 44th annual Pine Run at Tall Timbers 20K. 7:30 AM ET. Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. GWTCpinerun@gmail.com or text Carter Hay (850-294-9388) or Jennifer Hay (850-294-9395).
  

21 October 2023 (Saturday)

• 8th annual Quail Trail 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Historic Pebble Hill Plantation, 1251 US Highway 319 South, Thomasville, Georgia. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. USATF certified course GA09026WC. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 16th annual Rejoice Run 5K and Mom's Mile (formerly Joyce's Jog). 7:30 AM ET one mile / 8:00 AM ET 5K. Historic Donalsonville Fire Station, 220 South Woolfork Avenue, Donalsonville, Georgia 39845. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2010 story. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 13th annual Run Baby Run 5K. 8:00 AM CT. Citizens Lodge Park, 4574 Lodge Drive, Marianna, Florida 32446. 2020 story. 2017 story. Event web page. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com. pcmarianna08@gmail.com or 850-526-4673.
  
• 2nd annual Graceville Harvest Hustle 5K. 8:00 AM CT. Graceville Civic Center, 5224 Brown Street, Graceville, Florida 32440. 2023 entry form and flyer. Online registration at ItsYourRace.com.

28 October 2023 (Saturday)

• 42nd annual Boston Mini-Marathon and 5K. 8:00 AM ET half marathon / 8:15 AM ET 5K. Commercial Bank, 124 West Jefferson Street, Boston, Georgia 31626. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. USATF certified half-marathon course GA18076WC. Event web page. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Brad Johnson, bradjohnson@bankcb.com or 229-498-8500 (day) / 229-226-4679 (evening).
• 18th annual St. John Road Race 5K. 8:00 AM ET. St. John Catholic School, 800 Gornto Road, Valdosta, Georgia 31602-1699. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2015 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  
• 10th annual Run For The Nurses half-marathon and 5K. 7:30 AM ET. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Athletic Center, Perimeter Road, Tifton, Georgia. 2016 story. 2014 story. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 3rd annual Argyle Volunteer Fire Department Fund Run 5K. 8:00 AM CT. Lake DeFuniak, 1183 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435. Event web page.

4 November 2023 (Saturday)

• 3rd annual ArtFest Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and fun run. 8:30 AM ET Half-Marathon / 9:00 AM ET 10K / 9:30 AM ET 5K / 10:00 AM ET mile. Colquitt County Art Center, 401 Seventh Avenue SW, Moultrie, Georgia 31768. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 13th 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.

10 November 2023 (Friday)

• Full Press Apparel Memorial to Memorial Veterans Day 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Florida Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, 463-489 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. Event web page. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

11 November 2023 (Saturday)

• 11th annual BFD Catfish Crawl 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM CT. M and B Train Park, North Main Street and Railroad Avenue, Blountstown, Florida 32424. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. USATF certified course FL16045EBM (5K). Event profile on Facebook. Online registration at ItsYourRace.com. Ben Hall, blountstownfire@gmail.com or 850-674-4988.
• 7th annual Patriot Run 10K / 5K. 8:00 AM CT. American Legion Emerald Coast Post 402, 17680 Ashley Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 32418. Online registration at active.com

18 November 2023 (Saturday)

23 November 2023 (Thursday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 47th annual Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15K / 10K / 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET. State Office Satellite Complex at SouthWood, Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida. 2019 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. USATF-certified course FL16080TY (15K). USATF-certified course FL22045JK (10K). USATF certified course FL22044JK (5K). Event web site. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. David Yon, david@radeylaw.com or 850-425-6671 or 850-668-2236.
  
• Turkey Trot 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM CT. Gulf Coast State College, 5230 US 98, Panama City, Florida 32401. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 10th annual Harvest Run 10K, 5K, and one-mile fun run. 8:30 AM ET 10K and 5K. Leesburg Recreation Building, 110 Starksville Avenue, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. USATF-certified course GA19089WC (10K). USATF certified course GA19090WC (5K). Event profile on Facebook. Race web site. Online registration at UltraSignUp.com.
• 12th annual 30A Thanksgiving Day 10K, 5K, and one mile. 7:30 AM CT 10K / 7:35 AM CT mile / 9:30 AM CT 5K. 78 North Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach, Florida 32461. Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. Online registration at GetMeRegistered.com.

25 November 2023 (Saturday)

2 December 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 47th annual Ten-Mile Challenge and Five-Mile Road Race. 8:00 AM ET. Hawks Rise Elementary School, 205 Meadow Ridge Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32312-1565. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified courses FL22043JK (ten mile) and FL22042JK (five mile). Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  
• Daybreak 76® Panama City Beach Marathon. 7:00 AM CST Marathon / 7:30 AM CST Half Marathon / 8:00 AM CST 5K / 9:30 AM CST one-mile fun run. Margaritaville, 16320 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, Florida 32413. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified marathon course FL22003LAB. USATF certified half-marathon course FL22002LAB. USATF certified 5K course FL22001LAB. Event web site. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• Wolfpack Jingle Bell 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:30 AM ET 5K / 9:30 AM ET mile. Florida Gateway College, 19 SE College Place, Lake City, Florida 32025. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

9 December 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 42nd annual Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 mi / 50 km / marathon. 7:00 AM ET. Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, Florida. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event web site. Event page on Facebook. tallahasseeultra@gmail.com
  
• 35th annual Jingle Bell Jog 10K / 5K / One-Mile. 8:00 AM ET 10K / 9:00 AM ET one mile / 9:30 AM ET 5K. Tift Park Community Market, 5th and Monroe, Albany, Georgia 31701. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2012 story. 2010 story. USATF certified courses GA16073WC (10 km) and GA16046WC (5 km). Event web site. Event page on Facebook.
  

16 December 2023 (Saturday)

• Gulf Wind Track Club's 11th annual Tannenbaum Trail 6K Cross Country Run. 9:00 AM ET. Apalachee Regional Park Trail, 7550 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Herb Wills, hwills@gmail.com

23 December 2023 (Saturday)

30 December 2023 (Saturday)

6 January 2024 (Saturday)

13 January 2024 (Saturday)

20 January 2024 (Saturday)

27 January 2024 (Saturday)

3 February 2024 (Saturday)

• 28th Dr. James H. Crowdis 10K & 5K. 9:15 AM ET. First United Methodist Church, 397 College Street, Blakely, Georgia. 2020 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. USATF certified 10K course GA17002WC. USATF certified 5K course GA15001WC. Event web site. Online registration at RaceEntry.com.

10 February 2024 (Saturday)

11 February 2024 (Sunday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 49th annual Tallahassee Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:30 AM ET. Leon County Courthouse, 301 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified marathon course FL17089TY. USATF certified half-marathon course FL17066TY. Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Tallahasseemarathon@gmail.com

17 February 2024 (Saturday)

24 February 2024 (Saturday)

• Death By 5K Coldwater Creek (10 5K runs in 24 hours). 8:00 AM CT. Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center, 8974 Tomahawk Landing Road, Milton, Florida 32570. Event web site. Online registration at UltraSignup.com

2 March 2024 (Saturday)

• 16th annual Albany Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:00 AM ET. Veteran's Park, 112 North Front Street, Albany, GA 31701. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. 1912 story. USATF certified course GA07003WC (Marathon), GA07002WC (half-Marathon). Event web site. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. info@albanymarathon.com or 229-317-4760.
  
• Red Pepper Run 5K. 8:00 AM ET. Saint George Island Firehouse, 324 East Pine Avenue, Saint George Island, Florida 32328. 2023 story. 2022 story.2016 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. Event page on Facebook. Event web site. Online registration at WebScorer.com

9 March 2024 (Saturday)

16 March 2024 (Saturday)

23 March 2024 (Saturday)

• Peanut Proud 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET. College Street at Court Square, Blakely, Georgia. Event web site.
• 12th annual Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K Night Race and one-mile fun run. 6:00 PM ET one mile / 6:30 PM ET 5K. Rylander Park, 110 North Hampton Street, Americus, Georgia. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. Event profile on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

30 March 2024 (Saturday)

• 
  

6 April 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 47th annual Springtime 10K, 5K and one-mile kids' run. 7:30 AM ET one-mile / 8:00 AM ET 10K and 5K. Florida Departemen of Transportation Building, 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. 2023 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. USATF-certifed course FL22011JK (10K). USATF-certifed course FL22012JK (5K). Event web site. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. springtime10k@gmail.com.

13 April 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 49th annual Palace Saloon 5K. 8:00 AM ET. James Messer Fields Park, Jackson Bluff Road and Dupree Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304. USATF certified course FL13028EBM. 2023 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

20 April 2024 (Saturday)

• 45th annual Rose City Run 10K and one-mile kids' run. 8:00 AM ET 10K / 9:30 AM ET one mile. North Broad Street and Monroe Street, Thomasville, Georgia 31792. USATF certified course GA22060WC (10K). 2023 story. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event web page. Event page on Facebook.

27 April 2024 (Saturday)

4 May 2024 (Saturday)

11 May 2024 (Saturday)

18 May 2024 (Saturday)

25 May 2024 (Saturday)

1 June 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 26th annual Potluck Bash Four-Mile Cross-Country Race. 6:00 PM ET. Forestmeadows Athletic Center, 4750 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee, Florida. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. David Yon, david@radeylaw.com or 850-425-6671.
• 14th annual Race The Tortoise 5K. 8:00 AM ET. O'Leno State Park, 410 S.E. O'Leno Park Road, High Springs, Florida 32643. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2020 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. USATF certified course FL09011EBM. Event page on Facebook. Event web page. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 4th annual Jam On The Coast 5K. 9:30 AM CT. Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, Florida 32407. 2023 story. 2022 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 12th annual Home Run 5K and one-mile fun run. 7:45 AM ET one mile / 8:00 AM ET 5K. Americus First United Methodist Church, 200 South Lee Street, Americus, Georgia 31709. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. Event web page. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
• 50th annual Billy Bowlegs 5K Night Race. 7:30 AM CT. Fort Walton Beach High School, 400 Hollywood Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. USATF certified course FL13020EBM. Event web page. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  

8 June 2024 (Saturday)

15 June 2024 (Saturday)

• Monticello Kiwanis' 45th annual Melon Run 5K. 8:15 AM ET. First United Methodist Church Family Ministry Center, 325 West Walnut Street, Monticello, Florida 32344. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. story. 2010 story. USATF certified course #FL17008TY. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at EventBrite.com. watermelonrun@gmail.com

22 June 2024 (Saturday)

29 June 2024 (Saturday)

4 July 2024 (Thursday)

• Capital City Kiwanis' 41st annual Firecracker 5K and one-mile Sparkler Run. 7:30 AM ET one mile / 8:00 AM ET 5K. Cascades Park, 1001 South Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified 5K course FL17036TY. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RaceRoster.com.
• Valdosta State University Cross Country's 15th annual Independence Day 5K. 7:30 AM ET. Valdosta State University Athletic Complex, 401 Baytree Road, Valdota Georgia 31601. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  
• Florida Track Club's 46th annual Jack Gamble Melon Run Three Mile. 8:00 AM ET. Albert "Ray" Massey Westside Park, 1001 NW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32605. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. USATF certified three-mile course FL17088TY. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  
• 25th annual Celebrate Freedom 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM CT 5K / 9:15 AM CT one mile. Jay's Bray-Hendricks City Park, 5259 Booker Lane, Jay, Florida 32565. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2019 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. Event profile on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com. Matt Dobson, rmdobson@liberty.edu
• 5th annual Keystone Heights Freedom 5K. Keystone Heights City Hall, 555 Lawrence Boulevard, Keystone Heights, Florida 32656. 2023 story. 2022 story. Event profile on Facebook. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

6 July 2024 (Saturday)

13 July 2024 (Saturday)

20 July 2024 (Saturday)

27 July 2024 (Saturday)

3 August 2024 (Saturday)

10 August 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's Miller Landing Madness 8K/5K/3K. 8:00 AM ET. Elinor Klapp Phipps Park (Gate B), 1775 Miller Landing Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. 2023 story. 2022 story. 2021 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. 8K course map. 5K course map. 3K course map. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Tom Perkins, 850-894-2019 or Bill Lott, 850-656-1273.
• Lakebottom Park 5K and one-mile fun run. 7:30 AM ET mile / 8:00 AM ET 5K. Weracoba Park, Columbus, Georgia 31901. 2023 story. 2015 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

17 August 2024 (Saturday)

• 18th annual Blaze The Day 5K and one-mile fun run. 7:30 AM ET 5K / 8:30 AM ET one mile. Valdosta Early College Academy, 1605 Azalea Drive, Valdosta, Georgia 31602. 2023 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF-certified 5K course GA18010WC. Event page on Facebook. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.

24 August 2024 (Saturday)

31 August 2024 (Saturday)

#2968

Patrick Koon wrecks the Dueling Summits 5K course record with a 15:40

You can find a cross-country race at any time of year, and there are pre-season cross-country meets, but in Tallahassee, Florida the high school cross-country season really doesn't begin until the Dueling Summits Meet is run in Phipps Park. That annual season opener happened for the sixteenth time on Saturday morning, 25 August 2023, with Chiles and Leon divvying up the team titles--Chiles taking first in the girls' race with 28 points, and Leon winning the boys' 5K with 30 points. Wakulla junior Isabella Laughton won the girls' 5K for the second year in a row, covering the hilly course in 20:21. Leon senior and two-time state champion Patrick Koon set a new course record in the boys' race with a winning 15:40.

The start of the 2022 Dueling Summits high school girls' 5K

Isabella Laughton has raced at Dueling Summits each of her first three years as a Wakulla War Eagle, placing fourth in the high school girls' race in 2021 and first in 2022. Laughton had to outkick two other athletes for that 2022 win. That wasn't part of the plot the next year. In the 2023 race, Laughton won by more than 200 meters, and her winning time of 20:21 was almost two minutes faster than she had run the previous year. Leon sophomore Clifton Lewis took the runner-up spot with a 21:15. At 21:27, Chiles frosh Kaia Ables came in third.


Ables was joined in the top ten by four other Chiles Timberwolves--frosh Haley Heitmeyer was seventh in 22:07, junior Sophia Youngberg eighth in 22:32, sophomore Maddy Morris ninth in 22:42, and frosh Savannah Stanley took tenth in 23:07. That gave the Chiles girls 28 points and the top spot in the team standings, the fifth Dueling Summits girls' title for the Timberwolves in the past seven meets.


Laughton and the Wakulla girls placed second in the twelve-team field with 50 points. Lincoln, led by junior NyAshia Wright (24th, 24:42) edged Community Christian for third, 139 to 143. Community Christians top athlete was Sarah Kate Costello, 23rd in 24:30.


Team Standings, High School Girls, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. Chiles, 28
2. Wakulla, 50
3. Lincoln, 139
4. Community Christian, 143
5. Tift County, 154
6. Saint John Paul Catholic, 160
7. Thomas County Central, 172
8. Westover, 207
9. Fort White, 221
10. Altha, 235
11. Seminole County, 248
12. Blountstown, 347

Top Ten High School Girls, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. 20:20.20, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 11
2. 21:14.90, Clifton Lewis (Leon) 10
3. 21:26.80, Kaia Ables (Chiles) 9
4. 21:35.80, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County Central) 11
5. 21:47.20, Liliana Lewis (Wakulla) 12
6. 21:53.70, Madi Sims (Leon) 11
7. 22:06.50, Haley Heitmeyer (Chiles) 9
8. 22:31.90, Sophia Youngberg (Chiles) 11
9. 22:41.30, Maddy Morris (Chiles) 10
10. 23:06.60, Savannah Stanley (Chiles) 9

Let's be clear. Cross-country is not about time. It never has been. I understand that, but please indulge me for a moment. Prior to 2023, more than a few state cross-country champions have won the boys' race at Dueling Summits--Joseph Franklin, Patrick Swain, Sukhi Khosla, and Michael Phillips. Two of those had run sub-9:00 in the 3200--Sukhi Khosla (8:59.57) and Michael Phillips (8:54.62). None of those athletes ever broke 16:00 at Dueling Summits.


Patrick Koon, though, left the 16:00 minute mark far behind in the 2023 race. A hypothetical 16:00 runner wouldn't have been able to see Koon when he crossed the finish line in 15:40, winning his first and only Dueling Summits appearance. He wasn't exactly pushed, either. The next runner was about 450 meters back, still trudging up the hill from Lake Jackson, when Koon finished.


Lincoln's Matthew Hauser had run 19:59 at the 2022 Dueling Summits, his debut performance in the meet. Returning as a sophomore, Hauser threw down a 17:14 in the 2023 race, good for second place. Quinn Carrasquilla, a Leon sophomore, took third with a 17:28, just ahead of his teammate, junior Cadden Maxwell, fourth in 17:32.


Walt Haber, a senior, gave Leon another runner in the top ten, placing tenth in 18:27. The Lions' two remaining scorers were frosh Theo McDonald (12th, 18:33) and senior Yi'en Liu (15th, 18:40), giving the Leon boys 30 points and the top spot in a field of seventeen boys' teams. It was the fifth time a Leon boys team had won Dueling Summits.


The Chiles boys, led by senior Kasey Mick (5th, 17:34) and junior Gabriel Edwards (6th, 17:35), scored 48 points for second in the team standings. Lincoln was third with 95 points.


Team Standings, High School Boys, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. Leon, 30
2. Chiles, 48
3. Lincoln, 95
4. Community Christian, 124
5. Tift County, 138
6. Bainbridge, 226
7. Wakulla, 226
8. Rickards, 248
9. Thomas County Central, 252
10. Westover, 320
11. Saint John Paul Catholic, 336
12. Blountstown, 337
13. Cairo, 353
14. Seminole County, 360
15. Grace Christian, 431
16. North Florida Christian, 469
17. Altha, 507

Top Ten High School Boys, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. 15:39.10, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
2. 17:13.60, Matthew Hauser (Lincoln) 10
3. 17:27.50, Quinn Carrasquilla (Leon) 12
4. 17:31.10, Cadden Maxwell (Leon) 11
5. 17:34.00, Kasey Mick (Chiles) 12
6. 17:34.40, Gabriel Edwards (Chiles) 11
7. 17:44.50, Josh Hicks (Chiles) 10
8. 18:10.80, Jahlae Sapp (Bainbridge) 12
9. 18:18.80, Blair Golden (Tift County) 12
10. 18:27.00, Walt Haber (Leon) 12

Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet High School Winners 2006 - 2023
Girls
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
16 September 2006	Maclay, 23	20:44, Laura Hempel (Rickards)
10 September 2007	Maclay, 18	20:36, Jana Stolting (Maclay)
15 September 2008	Maclay, 39	20:18, Jana Stolting (Maclay)
14 September 2009	Maclay, 43	21:05, Stefanie Kurgatt (Maclay)
2 October 2010	West Florida Tech, 27	19:23, Stefanie Kurgatt (Maclay)
8 October 2011	Lincoln, 49	21:16, Savana Osterbye (FSUS)
2012	No meet held in 2012
31 August 2013	Leon, 27	20:35, Madison Harris (Wakulla)
6 September 2014	Leon, 44	21:09, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla)
29 August 2015	Fort Walton Beach, 24	21:16, Caroline Willis (Maclay)
27 August 2016	Chiles, 40	18:47, Alyson Churchill (Lincoln)
26 August 2017	Chiles, 80	18:29, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County)
25 August 2018	Chiles, 27	19:42, Abigail Schrobilgen (Chiles) 12
24 August 2019	Chiles, 39	18:52, Alyson Churchill (Chiles) 12
28 August 2021	Wakulla, 25	21:23, Kelly Davis (Chiles) 12
27 August 2022	Wakulla, 35	22:17, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 10
26 August 2023	Chiles, 28	20:21, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 11
Boys
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
16 September 2006	Lincoln, 42	16:56, Joseph Franklin (Godby)
10 September 2007	Maclay, 23	17:18, Whitney Strickland (NFCS)
15 September 2008	Niceville, 36	17:02, Whitney Strickland (NFCS)
14 September 2009	Maclay, 47	17:27, Patrick Swain (Maclay)
2 October 2010	Lincoln, 52	16:10, Jacob Slupecki (Lincoln)
8 October 2011	Lincoln, 63	16:55, Stanley Linton (Wakulla)
2012	No meet held in 2012
31 August 2013	Leon, 34	16:47, Sukhi Khosla (Leon)
6 September 2014	Leon, 15	16:42, Sukhi Khosla (Leon)
29 August 2015	Leon, 52	16:38, Adam Wallenfelsz (Leon)
27 August 2016	Chiles, 32	16:44, Michael Phillips (Chiles)
26 August 2017	Chiles, 23	16:42, Michael Phillips (Chiles)
25 August 2018	Chiles, 32	17:01, Connor Phillips (Chiles) 12
24 August 2019	Leon, 28	17:11, Jackson Yarbrough (Leon) 10
28 August 2021	Chiles, 20	16:32, Wyatt Townsend (Chiles) 11
27 August 2022	Lowndes, 42	18:10, Isaac Chambers (Lowndes) 11
26 August 2023	Leon, 30	15:40, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12

Seven days earlier, in a different Tallahassee park, Acadia Hassell had won the women's division in the Cadillac Trail 9K. The fifth grader was back on the trails at Dueling Summits, winning the middle school girls' 3K in 12:46. Mackenzie McVay, a Holy Comforter sixth-grader, was a close second in 12:51. Another Holy Comforter sixth-grader, Madison McVay, took third in 13:29.

Acadia Hassell

Holy Comforter had four more Crusaders in the top ten--sixth-grader Elaine Ungru was fifth in 13:49, eighth-grader Lillian Anway was eighth in 14:21, eighth-grader Allie Winsor was ninth in 14:34, and eighth-grader Kynley Cheesborough finished tenth in 14:44. All those top ten performances gave the Crusader girls a mathematically unbeatable score of 22 points, placing them first out of nine middle school girls' teams.


Tift eighth-grader Jovia Burke took fourth in 13:41, leading the Tift girls to a second-place showing with 68 points. The Bainbridge girls edged Maclay for fourth, 99 to 103. Bainbridge's first finisher was eighth-grader Jada Anderson, sixth in 13:44, while the first Maclay Marauder was third-grader Tessa Beaven, fifteenth in 15:15.


Team Standings, Middle School Girls, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 22
2. Tift, 68
3. Bainbridge, 99
4. Maclay, 103
5. Thomas County, 117
6. Trinity Catholic, 155
7. Cornerstone, 182
8. Whigham, 216
9. Spring Creek Charter, 230

Top Ten Middle School Girls, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. 12:45.20, Acadia Hassell (Unattached) 5
2. 12:50.60, Mackenzie McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
3. 13:28.70, Madison McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
4. 13:40.80, Jovia Burke (Tift) 8
5. 13:48.10, Elaine Ungru (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
6. 13:54.30, Jada Anderson (Bainbridge) 8
7. 14:14.50, Katherine Currie (Tift) 7
8. 14:20.80, Lillian Anway (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
9. 14:33.80, Allie Winsor (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
10. 14:43.70, Kynley Cheesborough (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8

On a Saturday morning exactly two weeks before the Dueling Summits, James Mogg had raced the Miller Landing Madness 3K in Phipps Park, placing third. At Dueling Summits, on a different 3000-meter course, Mogg was second to no one. The Trinity Catholic eighth-grader took first in 11:000. Fairview eighth-grader Emari Thomas was second in 11:06. Three days earlier, Thomas had won the boys' 3K at the ARPXC Middle School Cross-Country Invitational.


Four runners scrambled for third place, but Landon Heitmeyer, a fourth-grader racing for Red Hills Running Club, grabbed the spot with an 11:32. Raa seventh grader Emerson Gandy was right behind him, fourth in 11:33, followed by Thomas County seventh-grader Holten Dennard (5th, 11:34) and Holy Comforter eighth-grader Joshua Butera (6th, 11:34).


Butera was joined in the top ten by his fellow Crusader, seventh-grader Matthew Nowels (7th, 11:52). Holy Comforter's other three scorers were eighth-grader Andrew Norby (15th, 12:14), sixth-grader Hudson Cheesborough (18th, 12:19), and eighth-grader Gavin McVay (26th, 12:34), totaling a winning 48 points for the Crusader boys.


The Maclay boys were second out of twelve teams, scoring 56 points behind the eleventh-place, 12:03 showing of eighth-grader Henry Proctor. Led by Mogg, Trinity Catholic placed third with 78 points.


Team Standings, Middle School Boys, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 48
2. Maclay, 56
3. Trinity Catholic, 78
4. Tift, 131
5. Thomas County, 146
6. Grace Christian, 151
7. Christ Classical, 189
8. Whigham, 212
9. Bainbridge, 244
10. Cornerstone, 268
11. Spring Creek Charter, 314
12. Community Leadership, 332

Top Ten Middle School Boys, 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet

1. 10:59.70, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 8
2. 11:06.00, Emari Thomas (Unattached) 8
3. 11:31.40, Landon Heitmeyer (Red Hills Running Club) 4
4. 11:32.70, Emerson Gandy (Unattached) 7
5. 11:33.90, Holten Dennard (Thomas County Central) 7
6. 11:34.00, Joshua Butera (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
7. 11:52.00, Matthew Nowels (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 7
8. 11:55.40, Lincoln Eisenberg (Community Christian) 8
9. 12:00.70, Connor Stephens (Thomas County Central) 8
10. 12:01.20, Owen Hunt (Southwest Georgia) 8

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 Dueling Summits Cross-Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQJ20o2PGriCINHkBHEtoT59uJqBn6ReDb1mgoWDxjWIWQoCLd8DGesT5RnmhEqGmR9sP-MAIZIBDMj/pubhtml
  
  
• 2022 story, “Isabella Laughton and Isaac Chambers were swift to the summit at Dueling Summits”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/08/cougar-xc-2022.html
  
  
• 2021 story, “Kelly Davis and Wyatt Townsend win their duels at Dueling Summits”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/kelly-davis-and-wyatt-townsend-win.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Jackson Yarbrough and Alyson Churchill were the winning duo at Dueling Summits”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/08/cougar-xc-2019.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Chiles sweeps, Phillips repeats, and Funderburk sets a record at the Cougar Challenge”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/08/cougar-xc-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Alyson Churchill meets the Challenge, runs 18:47”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/08/cougar-xc-2016.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Leon and Khosla repeat at Cougar Challenge”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/09/cougar-xc-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Harris and Khosla take on all challengers at the Challenge”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/cougar-xc-2013.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “The 2010 Cougar Challenge belongs to Kurgatt and Slupecki”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/cougar-xc-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “Cougar Challenge opens cross-country season in Tallahassee”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/09/cougar-challenge-opens-cross-country.html
  
  
• Choose an upcoming race in the region from the selection on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2968