Annabella Tomasic and Patrick Koon lead the day at the FSU Invitational

With eight races at the Florida State University Invitational Cross-Country Meet on Saturday morning, 30 September 2023, 2,313 high school harriers crossed the finish line in Apalachee Regional Park. First across was Lake Highland Prep seventh-grader Annabella Tomasic, who won the girls' Elite 5K in 17:36. Patrick Koon was the first boy over the line; the Leon senior won the boys' Elite 5K for the third year in a row, running 14:51. Koon wasn't the only one to repeat; the Belen Jesuit Wolverines won the boys' team title for the sixth time straight, logging 38 points. The Bishop Kenny girls scored 100 points in their race to take home team honors.

Annabella Tomasic

For the first time in recent memory, the FSU Invitational started with the Girls' Elite 5K. There were nearly 300 athletes in the race, but it was a seventh-grader who set the early pace for that mob--Lake Highland Prep's Annabella Tomasic. Mackenzie De Lisle, a Bishop Verot junior, had beaten Tomasic earlier in the season to win the girls' race at the Cecil Field Summer Classic; De Lisle was one of several athletes racing close behind Tomasic at Apalachee Regional Park. Another was Ashley Fitzgerald, an American Heritage senior. Having placed runner-up in the 2022 FSU Invitational, Fitzgerald was the highest returning finisher in the 2023 race.


Just past the three-kilometer mark, Cardinal Mooney senior Addison Dempsey moved into the lead, inching ahead of Tomasic. Tomasic retook the lead then thundered home in 17:36, winning her debut race at the Invitational. Fitzgerald took second in 17:40, bettering her 17:54 performance in the 2022 race. Dempsey was third in 17:42 and Creekside sophomore Alyson Johnson was fourth in 17:50. De Lisle, Tomasic's early-season nemesis, placed fifth in 17:53.


Bishop Kenny's first athlete home ws senior Emily Weldon, fourteenth in 18:56. Forty seconds later, Bishop Kenny's fifth girl was across the finish line and the Crusaders had 100 points and the team title. Ponte Vedra, led by senior Lindy White (7th, 18:27), placed second with 149 points. Bolles edged Maclay for third 174 to 177. Bolles top finisher was seventh-grader Sofie Stam (17th, 18:58); Maclay's ace was Marauder sophomore Caroline Couch (6th, 18:15).


Team Standings, 2023 FSU Invitational High School Girls' Elite 5K

1. Bishop Kenny, 100
2. Ponte Vedra, 149
3. Bolles, 174
4. Maclay, 177
5. Cambridge Christian, 239
6. Lake Minneola, 313
7. Creekside, 329
8. Lourdes, 350
9. Niceville, 356
10. Oak Hall, 361
11. Episcopal, 363
12. Satellite, 363
13. Newsome, 364
14. Bishop Verot, 386
15. East Ridge, 408
16. Olympia, 436
17. Plant, 436
18. Winter Springs, 464
19. South Fork, 474
20. Naples, 475
21. Spanish River, 483
22. Fleming Island, 484
23. Vanguard, 506
24. Braddock, 512
25. Saint Augustine, 553
26. George Steinbrenner, 556
27. Oviedo, 568
28. Wiregrass Ranch, 605
29. Sarasota, 792
30. Providence, 819

Top Ten Athletes, 2023 FSU Invitational High School Girls' Elite 5K

1. 17:35.6, Annabella Tomasic (Lake Highland) 7
2. 17:40.0, Ashley Fitzgerald (American Heritage) 12
3. 17:41.5, Addison Dempsey (Cardinal Mooney) 12
4. 17:49.4, Alyson Johnson (Creekside) 10
5. 17:52.7, Mackenzie De Lisle (Bishop Verot) 11
6. 18:14.1, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 10
7. 18:26.5, Lindy White (Ponte Vedra) 12
8. 18:28.3, Avery Fronrath (King's) 12
9. 18:39.8, Reese Anderson (Newsome) 12
10. 18:41.6, Daisy Ross (Ponte Vedra) 11

Tomasic had fought for the lead from the start of the girls' race. In the boys' race, Patrick Koon played a more patient game. The course started with a 700-meter straightaway; looking for Koon in the stampeding horde on that opening stretch was like a "Where's Waldo?" puzzle in motion. You certainly wouldn't have found him in front. At the 1600-meter split, During the second kilometer, though, Koon slipped into the lead, hitting the 1600-meter split in 4:46. During the third kilometer, all challengers fell back except Joshua Ruiz, the Belen Jesuit junior who had finished runner-up to Koon in the Class 3A Cross-Country State Championship in both 2021 and 2022. Nearing the three-kilometer mark, Koon looked over as if surprised to see Ruiz. Ruiz actually led the two across the 3200-meter split in 9:33.

Boys' Elite 5K

But the remaining 1800 meters and the race belonged to Koon. Taking the lead from Ruiz, Koon began to open a gap--across the Shell Bridge and up The Wall, that gap grew until Koon crossed the line first, 50 meters ahead, in 14:51. The only high school runner to run faster at Apalachee Regional Park was Koon himself, who went 14:50 in the 2022 FSU Invitational. Ruiz was second in 15:00, just ahead of Nease senior Matt Ryan, third in 15:01. Belen Jesuit frosh Marcelo Mantecon took fourth in 15:11--the fastest time ever run by a ninth-grader on the Apalachee Regional Park course.


Belen Jesuit already had two of the first four finishers; to that the Wolverines added two more in the top ten. It was a strong foundation for the boys from Miami, who took first place with 38 points. The team from New Orleans' Brother Martin High took second with 124 points; the first Brother Martin Crusader across the finish line was senior Daniel Falk, sixteenth in 15:48. With 148 points, Nease placed third in the field of 32 teams.


Team Standings, 2023 FSU Invitational High School Boys' Elite 5K

1. Belen Jesuit, 38
2. Brother Martin, 124
3. Nease, 148
4. Buchholz, 212
5. Columbus, 259
6. Hagerty, 272
7. Naples, 285
8. Ponte Vedra, 313
9. Chiles, 315
10. Creekside, 353
11. Astronaut, 370
12. Fleming Island, 376
13. Braddock, 381
14. Leon, 400
15. Vero Beach, 410
16. Cambridge Christian, 428
17. Newsome, 451
18. Jesuit, 454
19. Plant, 476
20. Spanish River, 504
21. George Steinbrenner, 511
22. Bishop Verot, 512
23. Cypress Bay, 564
24. Fort Myers, 566
25. Bartram Trail, 595
26. Boone, 620
27. Oak Hall, 650
28. Geneva Classical, 651
29. Oviedo, 673
30. Sarasota, 678
31. Out-of-Door, 702
32. Satellite, 756

Top Ten Athletes, 2023 FSU Invitational High School Boys' Elite 5K

1. 14:50.4, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
2. 14:59.6, Joshua Ruiz (Belen Jesuit) 12
3. 15:00.9, Matt Ryan (Nease) 12
4. 15:10.2, Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit) 9
5. 15:15.3, Jonathan Leon (Hagerty) 12
6. 15:17.8, David Serra (Ransom Everglades) 12
7. 15:18.8, Riley Smith (Buchholz) 12
8. 15:31.0, Tanner Simonds (Creekside) 12
9. 15:33.6, Justin Ruiz (Belen Jesuit) 11
10. 15:34.7, Joseph Ruiz (Belen Jesuit) 12

Florida State University Invitational Cross-Country Meet High School Elite Race winners, 2000 - 2023
Boys
Date	Winning Teams	Individual Winners
7 October 2000	Niceville, 83 points	15:21.39, Michael Joanos (Leon) 12
22 September 2001	Ridgeview, 61 points	14:49.51, Lee Yaracs (Ridgeview) 12
14 September 2002	Maclay, 40 points	15:44.60, Ryan Deak (Maclay) 11
13 September 2003	Chiles, 25 points	15:58.00, Alex Miletich (Chiles) 12
11 September 2004	Tampa Jesuit, 65 points	15:59.66, Jeremy Criscione (Interlachen) 12
17 September 2005	Chiles, 85 points	15:59.56, Jonathan Blocker (Chiles) 12
7 October 2006	Chiles, 116 points	15:46.28, Anthony Morales (Flagler Palm Coast) 12
22 September 2007	Tampa Jesuit, 121 points	15:40.37, Joseph Franklin (Godby) 12
27 September 2008	Tampa Jesuit, 115 points	15:40.34, Derek Wehunt (Sickles) 12
10 October 2009	Leon, 86 points	15:34.27, Matt Mizereck (Leon) 12
9 October 2010	Estero, 62 points	15:36.78, Max del Monte (Chamberlain) 11
24 September 2011	Holy Trinity, 66 points	15:43.81, Daniel Moore (Holy Trinity) 12
6 October 2012	Belen Jesuit, 100 points	15:19.8, Andres Arroyo (Colonial) 12
12 October 2013	Chiles, 165 points	14:59.45, Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 11
11 October 2014	Chiles, 94 points	14:59.94, Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 12
3 October 2015	Trinity Prep, 88 points	15:21.10, Steven Cross (Merritt Island) 12
8 October 2016	Marist, 49 points	15:27.80, Michael Phillips (Chiles) 11
7 October 2017	Belen Jesuit, 132 points	15:29.20, Paul Stafford (Lake Wales) 12
13 October 2018	Meet canceled because of damage from Hurricane Michael
12 October 2019	Belen Jesuit, 111 points	15:22.30, Ethan Geiger (Robinson) 12
3 October 2020	Belen Jesuit, 31 points	15:21.00, Javier Vento (Belen Jesuit) 12
16 October 2021	Belen Jesuit, 157 points	15:09.80, Patrick Koon (Leon) 10
8 October 2022	Belen Jesuit, 85 points	14:50.00, Patrick Koon (Leon) 11
30 September 2023	Belen Jesuit, 38 points	14:50.40, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
Girls
Date	Winning Teams	Individual Winners
7 October 2000	Lake Brantley, 79 points	18:57.88, Allie Hunter (Lincoln) 10
22 September 2001	Estero, 83 points	18:07.19, Zita Magloire (Chiles) 12
14 September 2002	Lourdes, 37 points	19:30.34, Anna Greskovich (Pensacola Catholic) 10
13 September 2003	Oak Hall, 81 points	19:06.33, Anna Greskovich (Pensacola Catholic) 11
11 September 2004	Holy Trinity, 65 points	19:15.90, Emily Ingham (Episcopal) 10
17 September 2005	Episcopal, 39 points	18:29.44, Bona Jones (Estero) 12
7 October 2006	Episcopal, 25 points	19:22.24, Devin Spoerle (Astronaut) 11
22 September 2007	Episcopal, 37 points	17:52.36, Kayla Hale (Holy Trinity) 11
27 September 2008	Chiles, 54 points	18:12.42, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 11
10 October 2009	Chiles, 26 points	18:28.83, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 12
9 October 2010	Estero, 43 points	17:49.60, Julie Wollrath (Holy Trinity) 8
24 September 2011	Chiles, 55 points	18:00.60, Lily Williams (Chiles) 12
6 October 2012	Estero 100 points	18:06.0, Kacy Smith (Estero) 12
12 October 2013	Estero, 121 points	17:53.99, Caroline Barlow (Gulf Coast) 12
11 October 2014	Bolles, 103 points	17:52.12, Rafaella Gibbons (Winter Park) 9
3 October 2015	Pine Crest, 89 points	17:44.60, Rafaella Gibbons (Winter Park) 10
8 October 2016	Niceville, 61 points	18:06.70, Alyson Churchill (Lincoln) 9
7 October 2017	Pine Crest, 58 points	17:59.20, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 12
13 October 2018	Meet canceled because of damage from Hurricane Michael
12 October 2019	Pine Crest, 66 points	17:31.60, Alyssa Hendrix (Riverview) 12
3 October 2020	Winter Springs, 49 points	17:24.20, Caroline Wells (Winter Springs) 11
16 October 2021	Cambridge Christian, 67 points	17:10.70, Caroline Wells (Winter Springs) 12
8 October 2022	Ponte Vedra, 177 points	17:39.80, Eliana Black (Cambridge Christian) 9
30 September 2023	Bishop Kenny, 100 points	17:35.50, Annabella Tomasic (Lake Highland) 7
The earliest FSU Invitationals were at the Seminole Golf Course, later moving to the Miccosukee Greenway. From 2009 to present, the meet was held at Apalachee Regional Park.

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 FSU Invitational High School Elite races
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ_lyo3XtLs-SxK4W7-9cXf5erhZn6kSb_HHuSzI9X3d_KNnDUdUzFbc-cxJWJMzPw7gAjH1YLBmeKo/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of the 2023 FSU Invitational
  [ COMING SOON! PLEASE CHECK BACK! ]
  
  
• 2016 story, “Phillips and Churchill impress the hometown crowd at the FSU Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/10/fsu-xc-2016-sat.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Del Monte and Wollrath the class of their fields at FSU Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/fsu-xc-2010-sat.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “FSU Invitational launches Leon County's Apalachee Regional Park Trail”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/10/fsu-invitational-launches-leon-countys.html
  
  
• 1981 story, “Tenth annual Florida State University Cross Country Invitational, 26 September 1981”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/07/tenth-annual-florida-state-university.html
  
  
• 1980 story, “Ninth annual Florida State University Cross Country Invitational, 4 October 1980”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/08/ninth-annual-florida-state-university.html
  
  
• 1978 story, “Seventh annual Florida State University Cross Country Invitational, 30 September 1978”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/07/seventh-annual-florida-state-university.html
  
  
• Find your next cross-country run on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2990

FSU Invite's middle school races were large; Mercer and Phipps made them fast

The Friday afternoon session of the Florida State University Invitational Cross-Country Meet on 29 September 2023 included two middle school races, a girls' 3K and a boys' 3K. They may have been the largest middle school races in Tallahassee, Florida athletic history, but they were certainly the largest middle school runs ever held at the FSU Invitational. Lainee Mercer, an eighth-grader racing for the Hillsborough Harriers, won the girls' race by over 100 meters, running 10:39.3 on the course at Apalachee Regional Park, while the Ruckel Middle School Rams claimed first in the team standings with 84 points. It took a new meet record to win the boys' event, where Maclay eighth-grader Logan Phipps edged sixth-grader Dominic Johnson, 9:50 to 9:54. Red Sea Running Club had the top boys' team, scoring a winning 41.

Lainee Mercer

The starting gun in the girls' 3K fired promptly at 5:00 PM. A kilometer into the race, five athletes contended for the lead, with Lainee Mercer near the front. During the second kilometer, Mercer broke away from her challengers, opening a 40-meter gap on a pursuit group of three athletes--seventh-grader Mia Jucha of Saint Mary Catholic, eighth-grader Peyton Cerasi of Indian Trails, and seventh-grader Charlotte Sikes of Swift Creek. Further back, Brianna Motycka, a fifth-grader who races for the No Excuses Running Club, was chasing the chasers.


The third kilometer of the race included most of the climbing on the course, including a trip up The Wall--the most notorious hill on the course. Hillsborough County, Florida isn't known for rolling topography, but Mercer handled the slopes at ARPXC quite nicely. After cresting The Wall, her lead had only grown, and it continued to widen as she covered the final 500 meters to the finish line--which she crossed in a winning 10:40. Only one other athlete had ever run faster in the girls' 3K at the FSU Invite--Cheyenne Thomas, who went 10:29 in the 2022 race.


Peyton Cerasi secured second during the final kilometer, holding that position to finish runner-up in 11:04. Brianna Motycka moved up to overtake Charlotte Sikes; after a dash down the homestretch, Motycka was third in 11:07 and Sikes fourth in 11:08. Olivian Hermanson of the Suwanne Speed club was fifth in 11:15.

Peyton Cerasi

Ruckel's first scorer was seventh-grader Delaney Diehl, sixth in 11:28. a flurry of eighth-graders completed Ruckel's tally--Riley Manse was seventeenth in 12:02, Emman Kondrat 21st in 12:05, Kate Meissner 29th in 12:15, and Harmony Holland 33rd in 12:32. After that, the Ruckel girls had 84 points and their team's first win at the FSU Invitational since 2019.


Tallahassee's Deerlake Middle School placed second with 92 points, led by the their top finisher, seventh-grader Emma-Claire Tanenbaum, who was ninth in 11:42. Down from Georgia, the Cartersville Canes were a very close third with 94 points; Cartersville's ace was eighth-grader Sofia Burns, seventh in 11:28. Seventeen teams and 185 athletes competed in the girls' 3K.


Team Standings, 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School Girls' 3K

1. Ruckel, 84
2. Deerlake, 92
3. Cartersville, 94
4. Red Sea Running Club, 106
5. Saint Mary Catholic, 144
6. Landrum, 144
7. Swift Creek, 185
8. Suwannee Speed, 201
9. Florida State, 226
10. Sims, 233
11. Liza Jackson, 273
12. Raa, 309
13. Maclay, 322
14. Montford, 373
15. Lowndes, 452
16. Trinity Catholic, 504
17. Fairview, 535

Top Ten Athletes, 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School Girls' 3K

1. 10:39.3, Lainee Mercer (Hillsborough Harriers) 8
2. 11:03.4, Peyton Cerasi (Indian Trails) 8
3. 11:06.3, Brianna Motycka (Unattached) 5
4. 11:07.3, Charlotte Sikes (Swift Creek) 7
5. 11:14.9, Olivia Hermanson (Suwannee Speed)
6. 11:27.1, Delaney Diehl (Ruckel) 7
7. 11:28.0, Sofia Burns (Cartersville) 8
8. 11:35.3, Mia Jucha (Saint Mary Catholic) 7
9. 11:41.7, Emma-Claire Tanenbaum (Deerlake) 7
10. 11:41.9, Lila McGowan (Landrum) 8

Maclay's Logan Phipps set the pace in the boys' race for the first two kilometers, but it wasn't like he didn't have company. Three athletes were close enough to read the laundry instructions on the tag of his racing top--Liza Jackson seventh-grader Nic Smith, sixth-grader Dominic Johnson, and Maddox Mars of the Red Sea Running Club. After laboring up The Wall, Smith and Mars had fallen back. Logan Phipps maintained the lead, but he could hear Dominic Johnson's footsteps.

Logan Phipps

But Johnson wasn't able to move up and challenge Phipps, so the Maclay runner dashed home first in 9:50, just ahead of the 9:54 of runner-up Johnson. Phipps' time was not only more than half a minute faster than he had run in the same race in 2022, it was also a new meet record--four seconds better than the previous boys' 3K mark set by Fairview's Patrick Koon in 2019.


Red Sea's Maddox Mars also broke 10:00, placing third in 9:58. Nic Smith of Liza Jackson was fourth in 10:04.

Dominic Johnson

In addition to Mars, Red Sea had two more athletes in the top ten--Omar Castillo was seventh in 10:12 and Nicholas Alvarez was ninth in 10:18. Eric Chen (11th, 10:23) and Nathan Meloy (16th, 10:34) completed the scoring for Red Sea, giving the club 41 points and first place--Red Sea's first ever FSU Invitational title in the boys' 3K.


Elite Runner Fort Myers, also known as the Elite Runner Youth Running Club, took third with 99 points, led by Christian Ginart (8th, 10:18). Nic Smith and the Liza Jackson squad placed third with 114 points. Nineteen teams and 268 athletes competed in the boys' 3K.


Team Standings, 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School Boys' 3K

1. Red Sea Running Club, 41
2. Elite Runner Fort Myers, 99
3. Liza Jackson, 114
4. Ruckel, 128
5. Episcopal, 174
6. Cartersville, 215
7. Lowndes, 222
8. Montford, 225
9. Raa, 228
10. Maclay, 272
11. Suwannee Speed, 275
12. Deerlake, 294
13. Geneva Classical, 326
14. Fairview, 398
15. Sims, 413
16. Swift Creek, 454
17. Saint Mary Catholic, 459
18. Wakulla, 550
19. Griffin, 580

Top Ten Athletes, 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School Boys' 3K

1. 9:49.2, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 8
2. 9:53.6, Dominic Johnson (Unattached) 6
3. 9:57.1, Maddox Mars (Red Sea Running Club)
4. 10:03.3, Nic Smith (Liza Jackson) 7
5. 10:09.8, Benaiah Lawton (Geneva Classical) 8
6. 10:11.8, Brayden Reimer (Ruckel) 8
7. 10:11.9, Omar Castillo (Red Sea Running Club)
8. 10:17.5, Christian Ginart (Elite Runner Fort Myers)
9. 10:18.0, Nicholas Alvarez (Red Sea Running Club)
10. 10:21.8, Luke Stevens (Ruckel) 8

Florida State University Invitational Cross-Country Meet Middle School winners, 2016 - 2023
Middle School Girls
Date	Winning Teams	Individual Winners
7 October 2016	Ruckel, 26	11:05.40, Lillian Holtery (Ruckel) 8
6 October 2017	Ruckel, 47	11:37.50, Rory Claussen (Shaldera TC) 6
11 October 2019	Ruckel, 18	11:18.2, Shari Brown (Landmark Christian) 7
15 October 2021	Red Sea, 39	11:04.2, Cheyenne Thomas (Red Sea) 7
7 October 2022	Red Sea, 45	10:28,1, Cheyenne Thomas (Red Sea) 8
29 September 2023	Ruckel, 84	10:39.3, Lainee Mercer (Hillsborough Harriers) 8
Middle School Boys
Date	Winning Teams	Individual Winners
7 October 2016	Ruckel, 22 points	11:31.7, Logan Harrelson (Ruckel) 8
6 October 2017	Ruckel, 31	10:13.5, Zachary Bobak (Junior Dragons) 8
11 October 2019	Ruckel, 44	9:53.1, Patrick Koon (Fairview) 8
15 October 2021	Episcopal, 46	10:25.9, Walker Elrod (Tallahassee Zoom) 8
7 October 2022	Emerald Coast, 50	10:15.2, Brett Peveto (Emerald Coast) 8
29 September 2023	Red Sea, 41	9:49.2, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 8

Links:

• Complete results of the 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School races
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQdE2IESsnjQpRHdvAHxkV4X0L7GiTGVAcuD5H9wD-T4qMMTgxJncUrI_RfMbffLD-0NWFoxiNZMRWX/pubhtml
  
  
• More "Trouble Afoot!" photos of the 2023 FSU Invitational Middle School races
  
  • Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121351763711213
    
  • Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121352813168093
    
  
  
• 2019 story, “Patrick Koon and Shari Brown grab firsts while Ruckel keeps on winning at the FSU Invite”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/10/fsu-invitational-ms-xc-2019.html
  
  
• The "Trouble Afoot!" racing calendar has your next race in the Tallahassee region
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2989

Geisha Smith and Josiah Friddle take home wins from the Blountstown Home Meet

Like a mighty cable, Interstate 10 stretches 362 miles across the entire width of North Florida. In comparison, State Road 20 is just a thread, but it's the thread that holds much of the Florida Panhandle together. Blountstown, Florida is one of the cities along Highway 20. You won't see much driving through Blountstown on the highway--a few gas stations, some businesses, a municipal building, the courthouse, and the local Burger King. You have to get off the highway to see places like Sam Atkins Park. So if you were cruising through Blountstown on Wednesday, 27 September 2023, you would have totally missed that there was a high school cross-country meet in Sam Atkins Park--the seventh annual Blountstown Home Meet.


Which is an unassuming name for an event that included 22 teams and 201 athletes representing fifteen different schools. Anywhere else it would have been the River City Invitational or the Tiger Classic or the Apalachee River Valley Cross-Country Spectacular. But Blountstown doesn't put on any airs, nor does Blountstown High. So it was the Blountstown Home Meet.


Geisha Smith won the opening event, the high school girls' 5K, by almost 300 meters. A Seminole County junior, Smith ran the 3.1 mile course in 21:52. Franklin County frosh Addyson Paul edged Port Saint Joe eighth-grader Kate Patrick for the runner-up spot, 23:09 to 23:12.


But Port Saint Joe had two more athletes in the top ten--frosh Molly Martin, ninth in 24:25, and senior Arlena Gleichner, tenth in 24:28. Port Saint Joe's two remaining scorers were eighth-grader Libby White (13th, 24:58) and senior Hannah Dacosta (19th, 26:00), giving the Sharks 38 points and first place among eleven girls' teams.


Liberty County was second with 92 points. Rutherford nipped Altha for third, 108 to 110.


Girls' Team Standings, 2023 Blountstown Home Meet
Port Saint Joe, 38
Liberty County, 92
Rutherford, 108
Altha, 110
Marianna, 123
Malone, 141
Laurel Hill, 168
Seminole County, 171
Wewahitchka, 185
Blountstown, 286
Sneads, 289

Top Ten Girls, 2023 Blountstown Home Meet
21:52.00, Geisha Smith (Seminole County) 11
23:09.00, Addyson Paul (Franklin County) 9
23:11.60, Kate Patrick (Port Saint Joe) 8
23:17.30, Abella Faircloth (Liberty County) 9
23:22.90, Alena Brobst (Altha) 11
23:27.70, Isabella Polous (Franklin County) 8
23:43.00, Addison Cook (Walton) 10
23:59.70, Dixie Gilmore (Altha) 11
24:24.50, Molly Partin (Port Saint Joe) 9
24:27.70, Arlena Gleichner (Port Saint Joe) 12

Franklin County junior Josiah Friddle won the boys' 5K by close to 150 meters, covering the course in 17:41. The race for second was closer--Blountstown senior Hunter Shuler finished just a few steps ahead of Thoren Knispel, a Lincoln sophomore, with Shuler running 18:14 and Knispel 18:16. Marianna frosh Travis Ephriam was a close fourth in 18:21.

Josiah Friddle

Blountstown senior Alexander Nandho took fifth in 18:28. The next three Blountstown Tigers were sophmore Asher Black (20:05), senior Cristian Gonzalez (16th, 20:10), and frosh Diego Nandho (27th, 21:10), giving the team a winning score of 44 points.


Ephriam and Marianna placed second in the eleven-team field with 69 points. Port Saint Joe squeaked by Malone 121 to 122 for third.

Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee, Florida timed and scored the 2023 Blountstown Home Meet.


Boys' Team Standings, 2023 Blountstown Home Meet
Blountstown, 44
Marianna, 69
Port Saint Joe, 121
Malone, 122
Bay, 168
Sneads, 175
Seminole County, 176
Walton, 177
Wewahitchka, 182
Altha, 216
Liberty County, 227

Top Ten Boys, 2023 Blountstown Home Meet
17:40.70, Josiah Friddle (Franklin County) 11
18:13.50, Hunter Shuler (Blountstown) 12
18:15.10, Thoren Knispel (Lincoln) 10
18:20.30, Travis Ephriam (Marianna) 9
18:27.30, Alexander Nandho (Blountstown) 12
18:47.40, Maxwell Wester (Marianna) 9
18:53.30, Lundon Faile (Bay) 12
19:03.90, Jude Fosshage (Port Saint Joe) 7
19:07.00, Nathaniel Cabrera (Franklin County) 9
19:21.70, Kingsley Knispel (Lincoln) 10

Blountstown Home Meet winners, 2013 - 2023
Girls
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
9 October 2013	Blountstown, 30 points	22:22, Valerie Sampson (Cottondale)
26 September 2018	Port Saint Joe, 32	23:00, Jazzmyne Degolyer (Altha) 8
25 September 2019	North Bay Haven, 21	22:41, Kyla Faint (North Bay Haven) 6
30 September 2020	Port Saint Joe, 22	24:12, Madelyn Gortermoller (Port Saint Joe) 11
29 September 2021	Community Christian, 15	22:02, Megan Fajardo (Destin) 10
28 September 2022	Paxton, 36	21:57, Jersey Bilderback (Paxton) 9
27 September 2023	Port Saint Joe, 38	21:52, Geisha Smith (Seminole County) 11
Boys
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
9 October 2013	Blountstown, 32 points	17:48, Thomas Howell (Blountstown)
26 September 2018	Blountstown, 28	17:04, Xander Peacock (Blountstown) 11
25 September 2019	Blountstown, 33	17:15, Xander Peacock (Blountstown) 12
30 September 2020	Blountstown, 42	18:14, Eugene Hall (Paxton) 12
29 September 2021	Blountstown, 30	17:54, Jackson Welch (Malone) 9
28 September 2022	Blountstown, 31	17:57, Chance Thornton (Jay) 12
27 September 2023	Blountstown, 44	17:41, Josiah Friddle (Franklin County) 11

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 Blountstown Home Meet, via Miles and Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS3-NGOnRwWBk5UG9Qp8AeK749wCTvl16oCrbaEAQyvYpsvUS1RL4_uJE86heMcW4xS-FP10XEAqQ47/pubhtml
  
  
• 2018 story, “Xander Peacock and Jazzmyne Degolyer win at Blountstown”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/09/blountstown-xc-2018.html
  
  
• Find an upcoming race in Blountstown or elsewhere in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2988

Alexis Mayfield and Hudson Champion nab wins at the South Georgia Invitational

Rain fell on Thomasville, Georgia on Tuesday afternoon, 26 September 2023, making for a wet day at the races for Thomas County Middle School's fifth South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet. The Deerfield-Windsor boys and the Lowndes girls each took a team title, with Deerfield-Windsor putting up 33 points and Lowndes scoring a mathematically unbeatable 26. Swfit Creek eighth-grader Alexis Mayfield won the girls' race in 13:15, while Colquitt County seventh-grader Hudson Champion took first in the boys' race with an 11:42.

Alexis Mayfield

The girls raced first that afternoon. That event developed into a duel between two eighth-grader, with Alexis Mayfield of Swift Creek and Deerfield-Windsor's Sophie Logan well out ahead of the rest of the field. Mayfield had the advantage at the finish line, beating Logan home 13:15 to 13:19. Deerfield-Windsor eighth-graders took the next two places; Kaylee Hatcher was third in 14:19 and Sydney Daniel was fourth in 14:39.


Eighth-graders Ann Margaret Barrow and Abigail Lane finished the scoring for the Deerfield-Windsor Knights, with Barrow fourteenth in 16:02 and Lane fifteenth in 16:02. The Knights had tallied 33 points, good enough for first in the seven-team field.


Berrien County, led by eighth-grader Autumn Pearson (6th, 15:18), took second with 56 points. Hosts Thomas County was third, logging 78 points behind their top runner, seventh-grader Emma Thompson (11th, 15:59).


Girls' Team Scores, 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet

1. Deerfield-Windsor, 33
2. Berrien County, 56
3. Thomas County, 78
4. Colquitt County, 114
5. Lowndes, 127
6. MacIntyre Park, 128
7. Whigham, 185
8. Swift Creek, NTS

Top Ten Girls, 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet

1. 13:14.70, Alexis Mayfield (Swift Creek) 8
2. 13:18.70, Sophie Logan (Deerfield-Windsor) 8
3. 14:18.80, Kaylee Hatcher (Deerfield-Windsor) 8
4. 14:38.80, Sydney Daniel (Deerfield-Windsor) 8
5. 14:59.70, Lydia Chambers (Lowndes) 7
6. 15:17.60, Autumn Pearson (Berrien County) 8
7. 15:18.80, Peyton Vowell (Berrien County) 7
8. 15:38.90, Rileigh Proctor (Berrien County) 6
9. 15:41.70, Sadie Kate Scarbrough (MacIntyre Park) 8
10. 15:43.40, Pari Patel (Lowndes) 6

After the girls had churned up the muddy spots on the course, it was time for the boys to take their turn. Like the girl' race, it ultimately came down to two athletes--Colquitt County seventh-grader Hudson Champion and Lowndes eighth-grader River Thurston. Champion prevailed in that match, 11:42 to 11:46. Lowndes seventh-grader Andrew Chick took third in 12:01 and Lowndes eighth-grader fourth in 12:08.


Lowndes had one more Viking in the top ten, eighth-grader Masa Hammond, who was tenth in 13:09. Less than two seconds later, Lowndes sixth-grader Dominic Johnson came across the line eleventh in 13:11, all five Viking scorers were home, and the boys of Lowndes had a winning score of 26 points.


Led by eighth-grader Daniel Roland (7th, 12:35), Deerfield-Windsor scored 71 points, placing second among the seven teams in the race. MacIntyre Park was third with 84 points behind the fifteenth-place finish of their top Bulldog, seventh-grader Luke Ridley (13:29).


Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee, Florida timed and scored the 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet.


Boys' Team Scores, 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet

1. Lowndes, 26
2. Deerfield-Windsor, 71
3. MacIntyre Park, 84
4. Colquitt County, 94
5. Thomas County, 103
6. Berrien County, 113
7. Saint John Catholic, NTS
   Whigham, NTS

Top Ten Boys, 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet

1. 11:41.70, Hudson Champion (Colquitt County) 7
2. 11:45.30, River Thurston (Lowndes) 8
3. 12:00.70, Andrew Chick (Lowndes) 7
4. 12:07.30, Max Shelly (Lowndes) 8
5. 12:17.60, Holten Dennard (Thomas County) 7
6. 12:20.60, Juan Ledesma-Rodriguez (Saint John Catholic) 7
7. 12:34.10, Daniel Roland (Deerfield-Windsor) 8
8. 12:37.70, Christopher Wallace (Saint John Catholic) 8
9. 13:04.10, Connor Stephens (Thomas County) 8
10. 13:08.90, Masa Hammond (Lowndes) 8

South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet Winners, 2016 - 2023
Middle School Girls
Date	Team	Athlete
22 October 2016	Pike County, 46	13:46, Allison Drummond (Unattached) 8
21 October 2017	Pike County, 45	15:21, Emma Powell (Unattached) 8
18 October 2019	Thomas County, 38	14:42, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County) 7
30 September 2021	Tift Area, 50	16:16, Savannah Dodd (Thomas County) 8
26 September 2023	Deerfield-Windsor, 33	13:15, Alexis Mayfield (Swift Creek) 8
Middle School Boys
Date	Team	Athlete
22 October 2016	Valdosta, 40	12:35, Parker Jackson (Valdosta) 7
21 October 2017	Pike County, 39	12:48, Parker Jackson (Valdosta) 8
18 October 2019	Berrien County, 20	13:41, Robert Lindquist (Thomas County) 8
30 September 2021	Tift Area, 56	13:42, Brody Jennings (Thomas County) 7
26 September 2023	Lowndes, 26	11:42, Hudson Champion (Colquitt County) 7
The meet was not held in 2018, 2020, or 2022.

Links

• Complete results, 2023 South Georgia Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT5pX2KZCCAoZlb1scIvDwqHt2ng9EqOkFG7t_Hl1bXe2tdN9vsL7P37rhYStzMkZm7nnkgDyU-N1Dn/pubhtml
  
  
• Find upcoming races in Thomasville or other Tallahassee-region towns on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2986

27 September 2023 Tallahassee 100-Mile Race Calendar

This is the Tallahassee vicinity road-race schedule for 27 September 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!

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.
• Red Fox Run 5K and one-mile fun run. 8:00 AM ET. Group Shelter, F. D. Roosevelt State Park, 2790 Georgia State Road 190, Pine Mountain, Georgia 31822. Event page on Facebook. 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)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 10th annual Swamp Forest Trail Races (Three-Quarter Marathon, Half Marathon, and Quarter Marathon). 8:00 AM ET. Elinor Klapp Phipps Park, Miller Landing Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  

13 January 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 39th annual Bowlegs 5K Run for Scholarship. 9:00 AM ET. FAMU / FSU College of Engineering, 2525 Potsdamer Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32310-6046. 2022 story. 2020 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. USATF certified course #FL12001EBM. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Larry Giunipero, lgiunip@cob.fsu.edu or 850-878-5569, or Bill Hillison, bhillis@garnet.acns.fsu.edu or 850-893-4557.
  

20 January 2024 (Saturday)

• 47th annual Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K. 8:00 AM ET. The Retreat at Bradley's Pond, 9002 Bradley Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309. 2020 story. 2019 story. 2018 story. 2017 story. 2016 story. 2015 story. 2014 story. 2013 story. 2012 story. 2011 story. 2010 story. 2009 story. 2008 story. USATF certified courses FL16079TY (30K) and FL16080TY (15K). Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com.
  

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.
• 38th annual Freedom Springs Triathlon (440 yard swim, 10-mile bicycle, 3-mile run adults). 7:00 AM CT. Blue Spring Recreation Park, 5461 Blue Springs Road, Marianna, Florida 32446. Event web page. Event profile 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)

2 September 2024 (Monday)

• 8th 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. 2023 story. 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.
• 47th 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.

7 September 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 42nd 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. 2023 story. 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.

14 September 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 42nd 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. 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. USATF certified course #FL17042TY. Event page on Facebook. Online registration at RunSignUp.com. Lisa Unger, unger4122@comcast.net or 850-544-4893.

21 September 2024 (Saturday)

• Gulf Winds Track Club's 46th annual Salute to Prefontaine 5K Cross-Country Run. 8:30 AM ET. Wallwood Boy Scout Reservation, 23 Wallwood BSA Drive, Quincy, Florida 32351. 2023 story. 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.

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