Julia Robinson and Landon Reeves were the class of the Crusader Classic

It was a damp Tuesday afternoon at Holy Comforter Episcopal School in Tallahassee, Florida on 26 September 2023. But a little rain never stopped a cross-country runner, and it certainly didn't slow down the harriers who came to race that day at Holy Comforter's annual Crusader Classic. Florida State University School eighth-grader Julia Robinson won the girls' 3K, edging teammate, seventh-grader Elin Quisenberry, 13:23 to 13:27. The two set up a Florida State win in the team competition. In the boys' 3K, Community Christian eighth-grader Landon Reeves threw down a winning 10:38, while the Maclay boys scored 41 points to take the team title.

Julia Robinson

The rain had paused at 5:15 when the middle school girls' race started. By the 800-meter mark, a lead pack on nine runners had separated from the field with Florida State's Julia Robinson setting the page. All five Florida State scorers were in the lead pack. At halfway, Robinson was still ahead and the lead pack was down to five runners. With 700 meters to go the pace group had dwindled to three--Robinson, Florida State's Elin Quisenberry, and Holy Comforter sixth-grader Mackenzie McVay.


But Robinson had already gained a few steps on Quisenberry and McVay. She increased that advantage on the way to finish line, crossing first in 13:23. Quisenberry took second in 13:27, and McVay placed third in 13:30.

Early leaders in the girls' 3K

After Robinson and Quisenberry, Florida State had three more scorers in the top ten--


eighth-grader Penelope Cabezas was seventh in 14:15, sixth-grader Vera Vanlandingham was eighth in 14:21, and seventh-grader Olivia Gibson was tenth in 14:40. It added up to 28 points and first place for the Seminoles.

FSUS Girls

Holy Comforter, the host team, placed second with 39 points, led by Mackenzie McVay. The Maclay girls were third with 59 points; Maclay's first runner was eighth-grader Mary Price, fifth in 14:07.


2023 Crusader Classic Team Standings (Girls)

1. Florida State University, 28
2. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 39
3. Maclay, 59
4. Marianna, 117
5. Trinity Catholic, 126
6. Franklin County, NTS
   Christ Classical, NTS
   Community Leadership, NTS
   Community Christian, NTS
   Riversprings, NTS
   Cornerstone, NTS
   Wakulla, NTS
   Tallahassee Classical, NTS

Top Ten Girls, 2023 Crusader Classic 3K

1. 13:22.00, Julia Robinson (Florida State University) 8
2. 13:26.50, Elin Quisenberry (Florida State University) 7
3. 13:29.20, Mackenzie McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
4. 13:52.70, Madison McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
5. 14:06.50, Mary Price (Maclay) 8
6. 14:15.00, Mallory Van Leuven (Maclay) 8
7. 14:18.40, Penelope Cabezas (Florida State University) 8
8. 14:20.10, Vera Vanlandingham (Florida State University) 6
9. 14:20.90, Lillian Anway (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
10. 14:39.70, Olivia Gibson (Florida State University) 7

The middle school boys got their chance at the soggy, three-kilometer course at 5:45. Almost from the gun, two athletes charged out ahead of the rest--eighth-grader Landon Reeves of Community Christian and Maclay eighth-grader Logan Phipps. Reeves and Phipps were already 30 meters ahead at the 800-meter mark, with eighth-grader James Mogg of Trinity Catholic in pursuit. Reeves and Phipps continued to increase their lead, racing together through halfway. During the second half of the race, though, Reeves began to pull away from Phipps.

Landon Reeves

Holy Comforter is building a track, but on the day of the Crusader Classic that future track was still just a wide, oval ditch filled with rainwater. The final 300 meters of the race went around the outside of the track-to-be. When Reeves arrived there he had broken contact with Phipps. Reeves crossed the finish line with a lead of nearly 50 meters, winning the race in 10:38. Phipps took the runner-up spot in 10:48 and Mogg was third in 11:39.


Maclay had two more athletes in the top ten, with ; eighth-graders Andrew Campbell (7th, 12:47) and Henry Proctor (9th, 12:51). Maclay's remaining scorers were seventh-graders Mirko Usina (13th, 13:04) and Wesley Seise (14th, 13:08), giving the Marauders 41 points and first in the boys' team standings. Holy Comforter, led by eighth-grader Joshua Butera (8th, 12:51) placed second with 53 points. Mogg and Trinity Catholic scored 79 points, taking third.

Start of the boys' 3K

Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee timed and scored the 2023 Crusader Cross-Country Classic. Holy Comforter hosts one more meet on their home course this season, the Tallahassee Open on Tuesday, 10 October 2023.


2023 Crusader Classic Team Standings (Boys)

1. Maclay, 41
2. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 53
3. Trinity Catholic, 79
4. Community Christian, 111
5. Marianna, 127
6. Christ Classical, 176
7. Wakulla, 180
8. Tallahassee Classical, 234
9. Community Leadership, 243
10. Riversprings, 252
11. Cornerstone, 285
12. Florida State University, NTS

Top Ten Boys, 2023 Crusader Classic 3K

1. 10:37.60, Landon Reeves (Community Christian) 8
2. 10:47.50, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 8
3. 11:38.20, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 8
4. 12:13.40, Lincoln Eisenberg (Community Christian) 8
5. 12:20.10, Lawson Phillips (Florida State University) 7
6. 12:38.00, Asher McGrew (Trinity Catholic) 8
7. 12:46.40, Andrew Campbell (Maclay) 8
8. 12:50.00, Joshua Butera (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
9. 12:50.40, Henry Proctor (Maclay) 8
10. 12:58.90, Andrew Barnes (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 Crusader Cross-Country Classic, courtesy of Miles and Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSWGzNA57VxLcjJ8gfkUenW5L1VbXFKM1GMLD9feF6F0SRB68yq6qbxIqtYVflz3W2XOwMJVXDu1nTQ/pubhtml
  
  
• More photos of the 2023 Crusader Cross-Country Classic
  
  • Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121330637687933
  • Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121330770396983
  
  
• 2018 story, “Ella Porcher, Clayton Knox, and Maclay win everything at the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/09/crusaders-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Ella Porcher, Leo Kelly, and Holy Comforter star at the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/09/crusaders-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Kate Smith and Patrick Koon get cross country wins at the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/crusaders-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Hosay and Jackson lead a Holy Comforter sweep of the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/crusaders-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Ford and Resavage lead a Holy Comforter sweep of the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/crusaders-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Home wins for Ford and Resavage at the Crusader Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/crusaders-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “More wins at home for Holy Comforter cross country”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/10/crusaders-2-2012.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “McCann and Fitzgerald lead Holy Comforter victories at Crusader 3K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/09/crusaders-2012.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “Poole, Bartlett victorious at Holy Comforter”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/10/poole-bartlett-victorious-at-holy.html
  
  
• A tour of the 3K route at Lawson's Course via TallahasseeTrails.com
  http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/Cross-Country-Course-Maps/Holy-Comforter-3Km-Course-Tour
  
  
• Find a cross-country race to run yourself on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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