Showing posts with label Apalachee Regional Park Trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apalachee Regional Park Trail. Show all posts

Thursday, January 16, 2025

The World Cross-Country Countdown started with wins by Leonardo Canete and Rebekah Mills

364...363...362...361...


The next World Athletics Cross-Country Championship is slated for Tallahassee, Florida's Apalachee Regional Park Cross-Country Course on 10 January 2026. So on Saturday morning, 11 January 2025, 364 days before the big event, Visit Tallahassee hosted a Countdown to the World Championship at ARPXC. Heading the schedule at the Countdown was a three-kilometer cross-country run on the course. Tallahassee master runner Leonardo Canete was the first to finish the 3,000 meters, running 10:53. The first woman was Rebekah Mills, who toured the course in 13:34.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

It was Canete's second win of 2025; just seven days earlier he had won the half-marathon at Gulf Winds Track Club's Swamp Forest Trail Race, another cross-country event. Both Canete and Mills had raced at Apalachee Regional Park three weeks before the Countdown in the Tannenbaum Trail 6K on 21 December 2024. Based on that schedule, you'd have to think that the two athletes have some love for the sport. You wouldn't be wrong.


"It's wonderful that there's so much excitement for cross-country here," said Mills, Caesar Rodney High's four-time medalist at the Delaware Cross-Country Championships. "It's the best sport."

Rebekah Mills
Rebekah Mills

Excitement is warranted. You'll see different figures for the number of national teams that will compete in the World Championship (dozens and dozens) and for the number of athletes (hundreds and hundreds). The exact numbers aren't important, though. What is important is that these will be the best cross-country runners in the world. This is, after all, the World Championship, and these harriers will be competing in Florida, in Tallahassee, at Apalachee Regional Park.


There will be five races. Senior men, senior women, junior men, junior women, and a mixed relay. "Senior" means any age; the senior athletes race ten kilometers. "Junior" is under 20, the junior men race eight kilometers and the junior women six kilometers. The relay is 4 x 2 kilometers in the order man, woman, man, woman.

Tallahassee 26
The Tallahassee 26 logo unveiled

No one in any of the five races will have to race up Apalachee Regional Park's notorious incline, the Wall. The races will each feature multiple laps around a new two-kilometer loop at ARPXC, a loops that will feature a sand element (symbolizing Florida's beaches), a mud element (symbolizing the Everglades), a roller-coaster element (sharp up-and-downs symbolizing Florida's theme parks), and a water element (symbolizing Florida's water recreation). Thankfully, there will be no 'gator attack element (symbolizing Florida's wildlife) or lighting-oneself-on-fire element (symbolizing Florida man).


The World Championship has never before been in Florida. It has seldom been in the United States; of 46 World Championship meets Tallahassee 26 will be only the third in North America.


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Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Single-age records for Gulf Winds Track Club's Tannenbaum Trail 6K, 2011-2024

If you read about Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Tannenbaum Trail 6K cross-country race, you might know that Alyson Churchill has the women's event record, 21:46. But you wouldn't necessarily know that Churchill had also run Tannenbaum's best time ever for a twelve-year-old girl, 25:41. Or that back in 2011, Stan Linton established the Tannenbaum standard for fifteen-year-old boys, 20:35. You might have also overlooked that Bryan Koon not only has the master runner record for Tannenbaum (20:51), but also the records for 40-year-old men (21:41) and 41-year-old men (21:13).

Katie Sherron
Katie Sherron

Those gems and more you can find on this table of single-age records for the Tannenbaum Trail 6K, current through the first twelve runnings of the race.


Gulf Winds Track Club's Tannenbaum Trail 6K
Single-Age records, 2011-2024
MenWomen
AgeTimeAthleteYearAgeTimeAthleteYear
540:20Rocco Moore20225
632:47Rocco Moore20236
730:14Patrick Koon20127
829:49Patrick Koon20138
926:51Landon Heitmeyer2022928:25Acadia Hassell2022
1022:24Chase Harris20111027:12Acadia Hassell2023
1124:02Caleb Harris20121124:22Ani Veltcheva2015
1222:55Johnathan McClure20141225:41Alyson Churchill2014
1323:48Caleb Harris20141325:28Alyson Churchill2015
1428:01Andrew Campbell20231422:33Alyson Churchill2016
1520:35Stanley Linton20111526:42Madison Sims2022
1621:07Poncherella Leonard20151623:49Caroline Willis2015
1720:42Jonah Berry20231723:55Stefanie Kurgatt2012
1819:50Stanley Linton20121834:30Anna Bridges2015
1921:40Thomas Howell20151931:27Paige Churchill2024
2019:49Chris Lake20112022:30Jodie McGuff2013
2124:45Matthias Laywell20192124:04Kelley Bahn2013
2221:47Peter Van Brussel20152221:46Alyson Churchill2024
2321:15Matthew McCurdy20172329:30Alyssa Terry2016
2421:35Roger Schmidt20152421:56Stefanie Slekis2012
2520:21Stephen Cox20112527:06Chelsee Cook2015
2622:46Connor Stevens20162625:27Renee Cox2013
2724:03Rickey Albert20232727:54Rebekah Mills2024
2820:30Josh Andrews20162831:19Martha Bademan2012
2922:44Zach Deveau20162927:25Kate Chunka2012
3020:29Charlie Johnson20113025:33Katie Sherron2011
3124:58David Welling20153125:21Jillian Heddaeus2014
3222:44Ryan Truchelut20173224:12Sheryl Rosen2016
3320:36Vince Molosky20123324:34Sheryl Rosen2017
3424:38John Schwenkler20153423:30Katie Sherron2015
3520:28Nate Kaiser20143523:57Katie Sherron2016
3620:41Nate Kaiser20153622:46Katie Sherron2017
3721:47Vince Molosky20163729:22Danielle Zemola2015
3819:35Kevin Sullivan20123830:21Nikky Manausa2019
3923:14Paul Guyas20163926:46Amy Horst2019
4021:41Bryan Koon20114028:26Stephanie Liles-Weyant2012
4121:13Bryan Koon20124122:16Katie Sherron2022
4220:51Bryan Koon20134231:06Lori Westphal2012
4321:46Tony Guillen20124323:32Katie Sherron2024
4421:45Leonardo Canete20224423:41Amy Hines2024
4521:47Leonardo Canete20234526:46MaryAnne Grayson2011
4622:20Leonardo Canete20244627:50Angela Dempsey2014
4721:38Michael Martinez20134728:16Angela Dempsey2015
4821:35Jay Wallace20124829:09Ruffian Tyner2023
4922:22Mike Martinez20154928:23Angela Dempsey2017
5021:16Gary Droze20115028:39Stephanie Liles-Weyant2022
5122:34Jay Wallace20155128:48Laura Reina2015
5221:18Gary Droze20135225:41Stephanie Liles-Weyant2024
5324:07Mickey Moore20235328:17Laura Reina2017
5423:11Hong-Guo Yu20225429:13Nancy Stedman2015
5523:52Tim Unger20145529:22Laura Reina2019
5623:35Hong-Guo Yu20245629:00Nancy Proctor2017
5724:31Bill McNulty20155732:11Tsige Tadesse-Kiros2024
5826:06Felton Wright20155830:29Laura Reina2022
5926:54Bailin Cong20245933:10Diana Caldwell2015
6027:04Tim Unger20196032:54Kelley Coe El-Urfali2024
6124:49Gary Droze20226130:59Nancy Stedman2022
6227:27David Anderson20126231:48Nancy Stedman2023
6327:06David Anderson20136330:49Nancy Proctor2024
6426:34David Anderson20146433:52Stephanie Hurt2016
6525:47Bill McNulty20236534:59Stephanie Hurt2017
6625:56Bill McNulty20246639:54Carol Winger2014
6730:28David Yon20226735:37Stephanie Hurt2019
6828:13Bill McGuire20156838:46Casey Hutto2022
6929:01Bill McGuire20166940:47Pat Dugan2019
7030:10Bill McGuire20177036:41Perha Varley2014
7131:06Daniel Black20247162:35Kathy Flippo2024
7234:39David Anderson20227240:46Perha Varley2016
7335:09Rex Cleveland20127349:36Susan Cornwell2022
7433:29Carlos Zapata20197443:53Pat Dugan2024
7541:03Bob Keller20117553:53Margarete Deckert2011
7638:42David Darst20197650:22Mary Lou Manausa2014
7735:45Carlos Zapata20227738:36Dot Skofronick2014
7835:54Neil Snyder20247842:20Dot Skofronick2015
7937:55Carlos Zapata20247955:59Margarete Deckert2012
8044:59David Darst20238039:00Dot Skofronick2017
8149:03David Darst20248156:00Margarete Deckert2014
82 8259:23Margarete Deckert2015
8351:21Robert Morris20148360:23Margarete Deckert2016
8462:09James Skofronick201584
85 85
86 8662:36Mary Lou Manausa2024

The 2018 race was shortened due to course conditions; performances from that race
are not included.

There was no Tannenbaum Trail 6K in either 2020 or 2021.

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Monday, December 23, 2024

The top 25 performances at the Tannenbaum Trail 6K, 2011 - 2024

From 2011 to 2024, there have been twelve runnings of Gulf Winds Track Club's Tannenbaum Trail 6K Cross-Country Race. That's more than enough to look at the top performances in the history of the race.


One of those twelve races, the 2018 Tannenbaum, had to be shortened to something in the neighborhood of 5500 meters because Field #4 of the Apalachee Regional Park Course wasn't available. That was also the year that a stream was flowing across the course, but never mind. We're still looking at eleven races. More importantly, comparing cross-country times isn't necessarily valid. Even on the same course conditions can change from year to year. But ARPXC is so well maintained and well drained that it has been very consistent over time (except on those occasions like 2018 when the Corbin Trail becomes Corbin Creek). Anyway, this is just for fun. I've compiled a list of the 25 fastest men's times and a list of the 25 fastest women's times. Take these seriously at the risk of ridicule.

Kevin Sullivan and Stanley Linton
Kevin Sullivan

After twelve years, Kevin Sullivan's winning time from the 2012 race, 19:35, still stands as the Tannenbaum record for men. This isn't surprising; aside from being a Canadian Olympian, Sullivan was the Big Ten Conference champion in men's cross-country four years straight. Only two other athletes have cracked 20:00 at Tannenbaum; Chris Lake (19:49) in the inaugural race and Stan Linton (19:50) in 2012. Bryan Koon stands as Tannenbaum's fastest master runner over the years; Koon ran a winning time of 20:51 in the 2013 race, placing him sixteenth on Tannenbaum's all-time list. Vince Molosky never won the Tannenbaum, but he shows up in the list of the top 25 men four times--more than any other male athlete.

Alyson Churchill
Alyson Churchill

On the women's side, Alyson Churchill heads the top 25 with the 21:46 Tannenbaum record for women she ran in the 2024 race. It took twelve years for someone to crack the previous record, 21:56, posted by Stefanie Slekis in 2012. Alyson Churchill shows up in the women's top 25 five times, but Katie Sherron has six entries on the list. Sherron's best Tannenbaum mark is the race's record for women masters, the 22:16 she ran in 2022. That performance is Tannenbaum's third-ranked all time.


If you haven't skipped ahead to the lists already, here they are:

Top 25 Men's Times, Tannenbaum Trail 6K
#TimeAthleteAgeYear
1. 19:35Kevin Sullivan382012
2. 19:49Chris Lake202011
3. 19:50Stanley Linton182012
4. 20:17Kyle Harris202014
5. 20:19Charlie Johnson382017
6. 20:21Stephen Cox252011
7. 20:28Nate Kaiser352014
8. 20:29Charlie Johnson302011
9. 20:30Josh Andrews282016
10. 20:35Stanley Linton152011
11. 20:36Vince Molosky332012
12. 20:36Joseph Garcia202015
13. 20:41Nate Kaiser362015
14. 20:42Jonah Berry172023
15. 20:43Nate Kaiser332012
16. 20:51Bryan Koon422013
17. 20:53Vince Molosky362015
18. 20:55Vince Molosky302011
19. 20:56Vince Molosky352014
20. 21:01Mike Nesius252011
21. 21:07Poncherella Leonard162015
22. 21:13Bryan Koon412012
23. 21:15Matthew McCurdy232017
24. 21:16Gary Droze502011
25. 21:18Gary Droze522013
Top 25 Women's Times, Tannenbaum Trail 6K
#TimeAthleteAgeYear
1. 21:46Alyson Churchill222024
2. 21:56Stefanie Slekis242012
3. 22:16Katie Sherron412022
4. 22:30Jodie McGuff202013
5. 22:33Alyson Churchill142016
6. 22:46Katie Sherron362017
7. 23:30Katie Sherron342015
8. 23:32Katie Sherron432024
9. 23:41Amy Hines442024
10. 23:49Caroline Willis162015
11. 23:55Stefanie Kurgatt172012
12. 23:57Katie Sherron352016
13. 24:00Megan Churchill202022
14. 24:04Kelley Bahn212013
15. 24:12Sheryl Rosen322016
16. 24:22Ani Veltcheva112015
17. 24:30Alyson Churchill172019
18. 24:34Sheryl Rosen332017
19. 24:44Megan Churchill222024
20. 25:21Jillian Heddaeus312014
21. 25:27Renee Cox262013
22. 25:27Lilli Unger172019
23. 25:28Alyson Churchill132015
24. 25:33Katie Showman302011
25. 25:41Alyson Churchill122014

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Sunday, December 22, 2024

Alyson Churchill posts a swift homecoming win at the Tannenbaum 6K

Saturday, 21 December 2024 was the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. So although it was sunny and bright in Tallahassee, Florida that morning, the Capital City was experiencing its version of winter temperatures, dipping below 40 °F. At Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross-Country Course, the athletes gathered for Gulf Winds Track Club's twelfth annual Tannenbaum Trail 6K were so bundled up because of the chill that it was hard to recognize anyone. One runner, though, was clearly identifiable by her stride--springy and energetic, even while warming up before the race. It was Alyson Churchill, whose distinctive stride carried her over the course in 21:46, good for first place overall. Master runner and triathlete Charlie Johnson was the top male finisher, placing runner-up to Churchill in 22:00.

Alyson Churchill
Alyson Churchill

Master runner Bryan Hendricks was the early pacesetter in the race, charging into the lead just after the 8:00 AM start. Two kilometers in, Hendricks had 50 meters on the field, with Alyson Churchill and Leonardo Canete leading the pursuit. The two-kilometer mark was on the Shell Bridge, the lowest point on the two-loop course. During the next kilometer, the runners would climb to regain the elevation they had lost on the way to the Shell Bridge; that climb would include ARPXC's notorious hill--the Wall.


"It was just after the wall where I passed Bryan Hendricks," recalled Churchill. "We ran together up the wall and then I passed him coming up behind the fence area."

Charlie Johnson
Charlie Johnson

By the three-kilometer mark, Churchill had opened a 40-meter gap. Master runners Canete and Charlie Johnson had caught up with Hendricks. Canaan Ponce, a harrier for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was a few more steps back. Churchill, though, was widening the gap.


She doubled her lead during the second half of the race, going on to win in 21:46, the fastest Tannenbaum by a woman in the twelve-year history of the race, beating the old mark of 21:56 run by Stefanie Slekis in 2012. It was Churchill's third time as first female at the Tannenbaum; she had also led the women's standings in 2016 and 2019. This time Churchill led everyone.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

Charlie Johnson was the first male finisher, coming in second overall in 22:00. Leonard Canete took second in the men's standings, placing third overall in 22:20. Canaan Ponce was the first Junior (U19) in the race, the third male and fourth overall in 22:29. At 23:02, Bryan Hendricks was the third master runner, the fourth male finisher, and fifth overall.


The first woman master was Florida State professor Dr. Katie Sherron, coming in eighth overall iin 23:32. Second in women's division in 2024, Sherron had previously won four Tannenbaum titles, having been first female in 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2022. Master runner Amy Hines took third in the women's ranks, finishing tenth overall in 23:41. Flagler University alum Megan Churchill was the fourth female finisher and fifteenth overall in 24:44.

Katie Sherron
Katie Sherron

143 athletes finished the 2024 Tannenbaum Trail 6K. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the race. Look for the thirteenth annual Tannenbaum Trail 6K on Saturday morning, 20 December 2025.


Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Tannenbaum Trail Cross-Country Race
  1. 21:46, Alyson Churchill (F, 22) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 23:32, Katie Sherron (F, 43) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 23:41, Amy Hines (F, 44) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 24:44, Megan Churchill (F, 22) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 25:41, Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 52) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 27:54, Rebekah Mills (F, 27) Camden Wyoming, DE
  7. 29:33, Signe Ulsamer (F, 47) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 29:34, Megan Orcutt (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 29:44, Angela Dempsey (F, 56) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 30:14, Georgina Hernandez (F, 34) Quincy, FL

Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Tannenbaum Trail Cross-Country Race
  1. 22:00, Charlie Johnson (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 22:20, Leonardo Canete (M, 46) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 22:29, Canaan Ponce (M, 19) Adel, GA
  4. 23:02, Bryan Hendricks (M, 44) Defuniak Springs, FL
  5. 23:20, Ryan Truchelut (M, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 23:21, Alexander Ayala (M, 20) Adel, GA
  7. 23:35, Hong-Guo Yu (M, 56) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 24:02, Ryan Kunz (M, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 24:38, Jonathan Kiros (M, 16) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 24:39, Tony Guillen (M, 56) Tallahassee, FL

Tannenbaum Trail 6K Champions, 2011 - 2024
DateMenWomenFinishers
17 December 201119:49, Chris Lake25:33, Katie Showman173
15 December 201219:35, Kevin Sullivan21:56, Stefanie Slekis182
21 December 201320:51, Bryan Koon22:30, Jodie McGuff76
20 December 201420:17, Kyle Harris25:21, Jillian Heddaeus149
19 December 201520:36, Joseph Garcia23:30, Katie Sherron192
17 December 201620:30, Josh Andrews22:33, Alyson Churchill87
16 December 201720:19, Charlie Johnson22:46, Katie Sherron112
15 December 201818:03*, Charlie Kline22:29*, Michelle Allen136
21 December 201922:16, Filippo Aldrovandi-Reina24:30, Alyson Churchill105
19 December 2020No Race
18 December 2021No Race
17 December 202221:45, Leonardo Canete22:16, Katie Sherron129
16 December 202320:42, Jonah Berry26:18, Alexis Mayfield98
21 December 202422:00, Charlie Johnson21:46, Alyson Churchill143
* The 2018 race was shortened to 5,500 meters because of course conditions.


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Friday, November 1, 2024

Margaret Bartlow and Henry Lewis repeat as 2A District 1 cross-country champions

On Friday morning, 1 November 2024, the FHSAA 2A District 1 Cross-Country Championship was at Apalachee Regional Park. It was the second year in a row that the meet had been held at that Tallahassee, Florida venue. It was also the second year in a row that Margaret Bartlow of North Bay Haven won the District title in the girls' 5K. And it was also the second year in a row that Henry Lewis of Wakulla took first in the District's boys' 5K. The Pensacola Catholic girls were the top team in their race with 45 points, while West Florida scored 39 points in the boys' 5K, claiming the team title in that race.

Margaret Bartlow
Margaret Bartlow

The girls raced first, starting just before 8:50 AM. By 8:50, North Bay Haven's Margaret Bartlow was leading. She reached the end of the first kilometer of the five-kilometer race almost 50 meters ahead of the next runner, Pensacola Catholic junior Addison Garrett. By three kilometers, Bartlow's lead had swollen to more than 200 meters. Garrett was hanging onto second, while Wakulla senior Isabella Laughton had moved into third. Bartlow continued to widen the gap over the remaining two kilometers, ultimately crossing the finish line first by 300 meters in 18:43.


"I was just trying to breathe," Bartlow said after the race. "I've been having some nasal problems. We're really focusing on Region and State."


"It was a bit warm today, but not compared to the heat we raced in and trained in early in the season."

Addison Garrett
Addison Garrett

Pensacola Catholic's Addison Garrett took second in the district, running 19:54. Isabella Laughton of Wakulla placed third in 20:27. Another Wakulla senior, Lana Hawkins, was fourth in 21:01.


The next two spots went to Pensacola Catholic athletes--junior Callie Howard was fifth in 21:07 and senior Julia Frosch was sixth in 21:18. Pensacola Catholic's remaining two scorers were frosh Isabel Gross (14th, 22:06) and sophomore Natalie Jackson (20th, 23:25), making it 45 points for the Crusaders, good for the District title.

2024 Pensacola Catholic Girls
2024 Pensacola Catholic Girls' Cross-Country Team

Bartlow North Bay Haven girls totaled 50 points, taking second. Florida State University School placed third with 76 points, led by a top-ten finish by sophomore Leah Boutwell (7th, 21:43).


Pensacola Catholic, North Bay Haven, and Florida State each qualified for the 2A Region 1 meet in Jacksonville on 8 November 2024. The other teams that earned the right to race in the Region 1 championship were Wakulla (4th, 80 points), West Florida (5th, 107 points), Freeport (6th, 157 points), and Walton (7th, 179 points).


Girls' Team Standings, 2024 FHSAA 2A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. Pensacola Catholic, 45 *
  2. North Bay Haven, 50 *
  3. Florida State, 76 *
  4. Wakulla, 80 *
  5. West Florida, 107 *
  6. Freeport, 157 *
  7. Walton, 179 *
  8. South Walton, NTS
    Rutherford, NTS
    Pensacola, NTS
    Marianna, NTS
    Bay, NTS
    Godby, NTS
    Chipley, NTS
    Northview, NTS
* Team advances to the 2A Region 1 Championship


Top 15 Girls, 2024 FHSAA 2A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. 18:42.4, Margaret Bartlow (North Bay Haven) 12
  2. 19:53.1, Addison Garrett (Pensacola Catholic) 11
  3. 20:26.7, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 12
  4. 21:00.1, Lana Hawkins (Wakulla) 12
  5. 21:06.1, Callie Howard (Pensacola Catholic) 11
  6. 21:17.9, Julia Frosch (Pensacola Catholic) 12
  7. 21:43.0, Leah Boutwell (Florida State) 10
  8. 21:46.5, Elin Quisenberry (Florida State) 8
  9. 21:48.3, Mary Pickford (North Bay Haven) 8
  10. 21:48.7, Isabella Cottrill (North Bay Haven) 9
  11. 21:56.3, Story Novotny (West Florida) 10
  12. 22:01.9, Diana Garcia (South Walton) 11
  13. 22:04.2, Saige Pharr (West Florida) 10
  14. 22:05.1, Isabel Gross (Pensacola Catholic) 9
  15. 22:14.5, Kyla Faint (North Bay Haven) 11

After an embarrassing number of misfires by the starter's pistol, the boys' 5K got underway just before 9:50 AM. Halfway through the race, Wakulla's Henry Lewis had a 70-meter lead, with Florida State senior Ben Kyvik his closest pursuer. Well behind Kyvik, a pack of eight athletes battled for third. Each runner in the pack would also have been happy to overtake either Kyvik or Lewis, but that didn't happen. Lewis continued to run alone during the second half of the race, stretching out his lead to almost 200 meters on his way to a 16:27 win. Kyvik took second in 17:01--more than half a minute faster than he had run at District in 2023, but not fast enough to catch Lewis.

Henry Lewis
Henry Lewis

Meanwhile, the battle for third was down to six athletes, but it was still brewing with 200 meters to go. On the homestretch, Bay senior Lundon Faile managed to gain a few steps on his rivals and take third in 17:28. Barely behind him, West Florida frosh Donovan Carmichael edged Bowen Spear, a Pensacola Catholic junior, for fourth, 17:30 to 17:31.


The West Florida Jaguars had two more scorers in the top ten, senior Riley Valdez (7th, 17:37) and junior Ray Duong (8th, 17:38). The fourth Jaguar scorer was sophomore Jude Theriault (12th, 18:01), and junior Quinn Duong (13th, 18:08) was their final scorer. West Florida had 39 points and the 2024 2A District 1 team title.

Ben Kyvik
Ben Kyvik

Pensacola Catholic, led by Bowen Spear, put up 65 points for second. North Bay Haven was third with 80 points; the teams's top scorer was frosh Mason Brain, sixth in 17:34.


Joining the top three teams as qualifiers for the 2A Region 1 Championship were Wakulla (4th, 99 points), Florida State (5th, 99 points), Marianna (6th, 178 points), Freeport (7th, 186 points), and Northview (8th, 209 points).

2024 West Florida Boys
2024 West Florida Boys' Cross-Country Team

Boys' Team Standings, 2024 FHSAA 2A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. West Florida, 39 *
  2. Pensacola Catholic, 65 *
  3. North Bay Haven, 80 *
  4. Wakulla, 99 *
  5. Florida State, 99 *
  6. Marianna, 178 *
  7. Freeport, 186 *
  8. Northview, 209 *
  9. Bay, NTS
    Godby, NTS
    Pensacola, NTS
    Rutherford, NTS
    South Walton, NTS
    Chipley, NTS
    Walton, NTS
* Team advances to the 2A Region 1 Championship


Top 15 Boys, 2024 FHSAA 2A District 1 Cross-Country Championship
  1. 16:26.6, Henry Lewis (Wakulla) 11
  2. 17:00.7, Ben Kyvik (Florida State) 12
  3. 17:27.7, Lundon Faile (Bay) 12
  4. 17:29.1, Donovan Carmichael (West Florida) 9
  5. 17:30.4, Bowen Spear (Pensacola Catholic) 11
  6. 17:33.9, Mason Brain (North Bay Haven) 9
  7. 17:36.7, Riley Valdez (West Florida) 12
  8. 17:37.4, Ray Duong (West Florida) 11
  9. 17:43.8, Emil Bendeck (Wakulla) 12
  10. 17:46.5, Aidan Baker (Pensacola Catholic) 12
  11. 18:00.2, Alastair Casler (Pensacola Catholic) 12
  12. 18:00.8, Jude Theriault (West Florida) 10
  13. 18:07.6, Quinn Duong (West Florida) 11
  14. 18:12.3, Erick Garcia (Godby) 10
  15. 18:16.9, John McAuley (West Florida) 11

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Thursday, October 31, 2024

Estella Collante and Sean Cunningham nab 1A District 2 wins at Apalachee Regional Park

On Wednesday morning, 30 October 2024, the FHSAA 1A District 2 Cross-Country Championship came to Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. The 2024 meet was very nearly all about Providence. True, Oak Hall junior Estella Collante did win the girls' 5K with a 19:35. But the Providence Stallions took the team title in the race, scoring 39 points. Providence also had the top team in the boys' 5K, scoring a mathematically unbeatable putting up a mathematically unbeatable 20 points while Stallion sophomore Sean Cunningham won the race Estella Collantein 16:39.

Estella Collante
Estella Collante

Sunny skies, humid air, and rising temperatures were part of the program when the girls' 5K started at 9:00 AM. A mob of Providence girls set the early pace, but by the end of the first kilometer Maclay junior Caroline Couch was leading the field. Couch, the defending champion, had posted a winning 18:20 in the 2023 1A District 2 girls' race. Behind her, a pursuit group of five runners formed--Katie Cunningham and Emma Akhundjanov of Providence, Rebecca Stratton of Saint Johns Country Day, and Oak Hall runners Lola Murfee and Estella Collante.


At the halfway point the runners had started their second loop at ARPXC. Couch continued to lead. The pursuit group was hanging together. During the second half, though, Couch dropped out and Oak Hall's Collante took over the lead.

Lola Murfee
Lola Murfee

"It was on the second loop before the big hill," said Collante, recalling where she took the lead. The "big hill" is, of course, the Wall--Apalachee Regional Park's notorious rise half a kilometer from the finish line.


Collante was more than a hundred meters ahead and still pulling away when she crossed the finish line in 19:35, the 2024 1A District 2 champion. Her Oak Hall teammate, sophomore Lola Murfee, placed runner-up in 20:02. Saint Johns Country Day senior Rebecca Stratton coming in third at 20:03.

All-District Girls
Top Fifteen Girls

Providence runners took the next two places, with Stallion eighth-grader Emma Akhundjanov fourth in 20:06 and junior Katie Cunningham fifth in 20:17. Providence had two more in the top ten, juniors Sara Palmer (7th, 20:53) and Kasey Davey (9th, 21:32). The Stallions fifth scorer was frosh Leeza Loftin (14th, 21:55), giving the Providence girls 39 points and the team title.


Led by the one-two finish of Collante and Murfee, Oak Hall placed second in 1A District 2 with 55 points. Maclay, District champs in 2023, edged Saint John Country Day for third, 98 to 101. Maclay's first scorer was senior Payton Thumm, sixth in 20:50.

2024 Providence Girls' Cross-Country Team
Providence Girls

The top eight teams qualified for the 1A Region 1 meet, scheduled for Friday morning, 8 November 2024, at Cecil Field Golf Course in Jacksonville. Providence, Oak Hall, Maclay, and Saint John Country Day made the cut, as did Trinity Christian (5th, 140), Branford (6th, 181), Christ's Church (7th, 196), and Bishop Snyder (8th, 201).


Girls' Team Standings, 2024 FHSAA 1A Distict 2 Cross-Country Meet
  1. Providence, 39 *
  2. Oak Hall, 55 *
  3. Maclay, 98 *
  4. Saint Johns Country Day, 101 *
  5. Trinity Christian, 140 *
  6. Branford, 181 *
  7. Christs Church, 196 *
  8. Bishop Snyder, 201 *
  9. Saint John Paul Catholic, 211
  10. Bell, 271
  11. Community Christian, 310
  12. Trenton, 315
  13. North Florida Christian, 398
* Team advances to the 1A Region 1 Championship


Top Ten Girls, 2024 FHSAA 1A Distict 2 Cross-Country Meet
  1. 19:34.50, Estella Collante (Oak Hall) 11
  2. 20:01.90, Lola Murfee (Oak Hall) 10
  3. 20:03.00, Rebecca Stratton (Saint Johns Country Day) 12
  4. 20:05.20, Emma Akhundjanov (Providence) 8
  5. 20:16.40, Katie Cunningham (Providence) 11
  6. 20:49.60, Payton Thumm (Maclay) 12
  7. 20:53.00, Sara Palmer (Providence) 11
  8. 21:17.80, Serafina Rietow (Saint John Paul Catholic) 11
  9. 21:31.50, Kasey Davey (Providence) 11
  10. 21:33.40, Kate Staten (Saint Johns Country Day) 8

The 2024 FHSAA Cross-Country State Championship is Saturday, 16 November 2024 at Apalachee Regional Park. The 1A District 2 meet was one of the few chances during the 2024 season for athletes to preview the State Championship course at ARPXC.


"Since Pre-State was canceled because of the hurricane, this was like our Pre-State," said Collante.


Some athletes, though, have already seen ARPXC more than a few times.

Sean Cunningham
Sean Cunningham

"This is my seventh time running here," said Providence's Sean Cunningham. "I've been racing here since the seventh grade. You hit the Wall hard and use the downhills. It's a true cross-country course."


Cunningham was in front of the field right after the start of the boys' 5K, the rest of the Providence boys following in his wake. Soon, though, even his teammates were left behind. Not that Cunningham knew what was going on back there.

Grant Curtis
Harrison Kozlowski and Grant Curtis

"To be honest, I didn't look back at all," he said. "I was just going to feel it out today, and do what I need to do to win. I just wanted to win today."


Cunningham did just that. Never challenged, he crossed the finish line close to a hundred meters ahead of the next runner in 16:38.21, his best time yet at ARPXC. Oak Hall senior Grant Curtis took second in 16:59, just ahead of Providence junior Harrison Kozlowski, third in 17:03.

All-District Boys
Top Fifteen Boys

Sam Loftin, a Providence junior, placed fourth in 17:15 and Providence senior Ellis Halton was fifth in 17:24. Providence's fifth scorer, senior Donovan Drake, also cracked the top ten, coming in seventh in 17:38. That gave the Stallion boys 20 points and the 1A District 2 title, their third in the past three years.


Led by Curtis, Oak Hall placed second with 57 points. Maclay, the host school, put up 81 points for third. Maclay's first scorer was sophomore David Barton, sixth in 17:34. Barton had won the 2023 1A District 2 race.

2024 Providence Boys' Cross-Country Team
Providence Boys

The top three teams qualified for 1A Region 1 competition, as did the next five--Community Christian (4th, 92 points), Saint Francis (5th, 165), Harvest Community (6th, 184), Saint John Country Day (7th, 199), and Bishop Snyder (8th, 211). For the remaining seven teams, the 2024 season was over.


Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee timed and scored the 2024 FHSAA 1A District 2 Cross-Country Championship.


Boys' Team Standings, 2024 FHSAA 1A Distict 2 Cross-Country Meet
  1. Providence, 20 *
  2. Oak Hall, 57 *
  3. Maclay, 81 *
  4. Community Christian, 92 *
  5. Saint Francis, 165 *
  6. Harvest Community, 184 *
  7. Saint Johns Country Day, 199 *
  8. Bishop Snyder, 211 *
  9. Covenant, 233
  10. Trinity Christian, 305
  11. Bell, 313
  12. Branford, 370
  13. Hamilton County, 374
  14. Christs Church, 377
  15. Trenton, 396
* Team advances to the 1A Region 1 Championship


Top Ten Boys, 2024 FHSAA 1A Distict 2 Cross-Country Meet
  1. 16:38.21, Sean Cunningham (Providence) 10
  2. 16:58.30, Grant Curtis (Oak Hall) 12
  3. 17:02.70, Harrison Kozlowski (Providence) 11
  4. 17:14.20, Sam Loftin (Providence) 11
  5. 17:23.80, Ellis Halton (Providence) 12
  6. 17:34.00, David Barton (Maclay) 10
  7. 17:37.50, Donovan Drake (Providence) 12
  8. 17:43.60, Landon Reeves (Community Christian) 9
  9. 17:43.90, Luke Meli (Community Christian) 11
  10. 17:49.70, Gabe Manry (Maclay) 11

FHSAA 1A District 2 Cross-Country Championship
at Apalachee Regional Park, 2021 - 2024
Girls
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
28 October 2021Maclay, 27 points19:33, Susan Gracie Koeppel (Maclay) 10
18 October 2022Maclay, 2019:19, Susan Gracie Koeppel (Maclay) 11
31 October 2023Maclay, 2018:20, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 10
30 October 2024Providence, 3919:35, Estella Collante (Oak Hall) 11
Boys
DateTeam ChampIndividual Champ
28 October 2021Maclay, 66 points16:23, Mattew Stratton (Saint John Country Day) 12
18 October 2022Providence, 3017:02, Clayton Knox (Maclay) 12
31 October 2023Providence, 2216:18, David Barton (Maclay) 9
30 October 2024Providence, 2016:39, Sean Cunningham (Providence) 10


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Posted by Herb Wills at 4:52 PM 0 comments
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