It's Justin Keefe with a new course record at the Paul Hoover Freedom 5K

On Saturday morning, 24 June 2017, Justin Keefe happened to be in Florida's Wakulla Springs State Park with his girlfriend, Rachel Gilbert, for her annual family reunion. As they strolled around the park, they noticed a couple hundred athletes assembling for what looked like a race. That looked like fun, so with just five minutes to spare before the start of the event, the pair registered and headed for the starting line. A little over a quarter of an hour later, Keefe had won the Wakulla High Cross Country Boosters' fifth annual Freedom 5K, setting a new course record of 16:32.

Justin Keefe

However, Keefe was no running neophyte. "We both ran cross-country in high school," explained Gilbert.


"I ran cross-country and track at the University of Richmond," elaborated Keefe. "I finished there in May 2016. I live in Greater Boston now."


The course for the Freedom 5K starts on the paved drives in the main area of the park, then quickly crosses State Road 61, taking the athletes onto the Cherokee Sink Trail. After a loop near Cherokee Sink, the runners returned the way they came.

Justin Keefe

"It was an awesome course," said Keefe. "I liked getting off the road and onto the softer trails; it's easier on the body. It brings me back to high school cross-country."


By the time Keefe reached the Cherokee Sink Trail, he was alone out front. His lead only grew on the sandy trail, and when he finished in a winning 16:32, Keefe was more than half a kilometer ahead of the next runner. Wakulla High alumnus Travis Parks was second in 18:30. Scott Lloyd, a senior on the Wakulla High cross-country team, edged sophomore teammate Mason McCord for third, 18:37 to 18:43. Michael Martinez of Tallahassee, Florida was the top master runner in the race, placing tenth overall in 20:26.

Travis Parks

After years of cross country and track at Newton North High School and the University of Richmond, Keefe is picking up another running sport.


"I'm running the Boston Triathlon in July and a half-Ironman in Maine," said Keefe. "I'm more into triathlons now."


Haleigh Martin, an alumna of the Wakulla High cross-country team, was on the starting line of the Freedom 5K. Martin hadn't had many opportunities to run the race before her graduation in 2017.

Haleigh Martin

"I've run it only one other time and that was last year," said Martin. "I usually work the race."


Martin made the most of her run in the 2017 Freedom 5K, finishing as the first woman and seventeenth overall in 21:52.


"I ran the first half or three-quarters of the race with this one woman," said Martin. "After that I pulled away and worked on passing guys I recognized from other races."

Rachel Gilbert

The woman that Martin had left behind was Rachel Gilbert, who finished the race second in the women's standings and 27th overall in 24:01. Cora Atkinson held off Connie Lewis for the third woman's spot, 24:19 to 24:22. Paula O'Neill was the top woman master and seventh female finisher, 36th overall in 24:38.


This fall Martin will begin her competitive career on the Truett McConnell University Bears cross-country team, where she joins former Wakulla teammate Margaret Wiedeman. Wiedeman, by the way, was the sixth woman in the Freedom 5K, placing 35th overall in 24:31.

Cora Atkinson

After four years as the Freedom 5K, the race became the Paul Hoover Freedom 5K, honoring Wakulla High Cross-Country Coach Paul Hoover who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run collision this year. The race is the primary fundraiser for the Wakulla High Cross-Country Boosters. 183 athletes finished the 5K, which was chip-timed by Gulf Winds Track Club.


Top Ten Men, 2017 Freedom 5K

1. 16:32, Justin Keefe (M, 23)
2. 18:30, Travis Parks (M, 21)
3. 18:37, Scott Lloyd (M, 17)
4. 18:43, Mason McCord (M, 15)
5. 19:16, Paul Guyas (M, 39)
6. 19:35, Daniel Wiedeman (M, 15)
7. 19:45, Hunter Phillips (M, 22)
8. 19:54, Eric Godin (M, 33)
9. 20:16, Caleb Wiedeman (M, 17)
10. 20:26, Michael Martinez (M, 51)

Top Ten Women, 2017 Freedom 5K

1. 21:52, Haleigh Martin (F, 17)
2. 24:01, Rachel Gilbert (F, 23)
3. 24:19, Cora Atkinson (F, 23)
4. 24:22, Connie Lewis (F, )
5. 24:26, Kyla Hennigan (F, 24)
6. 24:31, Margaret Wiedeman (F, 21)
7. 24:38, Paula O'Neill (F, 56)
8. 25:40, Kory Skrob (F, 46)
9. 25:50, Amelia Wilson (F, 27)
10. 26:28, Jessica Deneen (F, 26)

Freedom 5K winners, 2013 - 2017
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
29 June 2013	17:33, Stanley Linton	21:12, Madison Harris	107
28 June 2014	19:23, Reikan Lin	20:12, Madison Harris	82
27 June 2015	17:36, Zack DeVeau	19:51, Katie Sherron	173
25 June 2016	17:48, Wright Calhoun	20:00, Madison Harris	138
24 June 2017	16:32, Justin Keefe	21:52, Haleigh Martin	183

Links

• Complete results of the Wakulla HS Cross-Country Boosters' 2017 Freedom 5K at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2017/FreedomRun2017.html
  
  
• More photos of the Wakulla HS Cross-Country Boosters' 2017 Freedom 5K
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10109972315322003.1073742282.5215641&type=1&l=438d139937
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the Wakulla HS Cross-Country Boosters' 2017 Freedom 5K
  https://plus.google.com/photos/112560881455823075870/album/6435286411223176433
  
  
• 2016 story, “Calhoun and Harris are first in the Freedom 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/06/freedom-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “A little rain didn't slow down either DeVeau or Sherron at the Freedom Run 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/06/freedom-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Lin and Harris post Freedom 5K wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/06/freedom-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Linton and Harris break loose at Freedom 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/06/freedom-2013.html
  
  
• Find another upcoming race supporting scholastic cross country on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2016

The Wakulla boys and Florida State girls repeat as District 2 cross-country champs

Near Crawfordville, Florida the class 2A cross-country teams of District 2 returned to 3Y Ranch for the District Championship on Tuesday afternoon, 18 October 2016. For the fifth year in a row, the Wakulla boys' squad scored a team title, while Florida State University School repeated as district champions in the girls' race. More importantly, three teams in each race qualified for the Region 1 championship, the next step on the road to the State Meet.


Suwannee High junior Timothy Choe won the boys' 5K, the first event of the afternoon. Third in the 2015 2A District 2 race, ran 17:06 to take first in 17:06. Wakulla sophomore Chris Porter was second in 17:46, and Wakulla senior Bryce Cole placed third in 17:53.


Suwannee's Micah Hilliard outkicked Dalten Parker of Wakulla for fourth, 17:58 to 17:59. But Scott Lloyd grabbed sixth for Wakulla in 18:09 and Wakulla's Dalton Gray was eighth in 18:14. Wakulla had put all five of the team's scorers in the top eight, totaling a mathematically unbeatable 24 points. Suwannee was second with 55 points. Led by Joseph Jones (11th, 18:30), Rickards was third with 80 points. Those three teams advanced to the Region 1 championship. Additionally, two athletes qualified for the Region meet as individuals--Marianna junior Bowen Rudd (7th, 18:12) and Godby senior Marcus Bryant (10th, 18:25). For everyone else in the race, the 2016 cross-country season was over.


Boys' Team Standings, 2016 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross-Country Meet

1. Wakulla, 24 *
2. Suwannee, 55 *
3. Rickards, 80 *
4. Marianna, 102
5. Florida State, 107

* Team advances to the Region 1 Championships


Top Ten Boys, 2016 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross-Country Meet

1. 17:05.80 ~ Timothy Choe (Suwannee) 11
2. 17:45.96 ~ Chris Porter (Wakulla) 10
3. 17:52.71 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla) 12
4. 17:57.99 ~ Micah Hilliard (Suwannee) 11
5. 17:58.58 ~ Dalten Parker (Wakulla) 11
6. 18:08.79 ~ Scott Lloyd (Wakulla) 11
7. 18:11.02 ~ Bowen Rudd (Marianna) 11
8. 18:13.80 ~ Dalton Gray (Wakulla) 11
9. 18:20.63 ~ Dylan Peebles (Wakulla) 11
10. 18:24.24 ~ Marcus Bryant (Godby) 12

The girls' 5K followed. Wakulla senior Haleigh Martin won by over 400 meters, running 19:55. It was Martin's third year in a row as District 2 champion. Alyssa Langston of Wakulla was second in 21:43, and Mezindia Nkembo took third in 21:59 for Rickards.


Then it was the Florida State girls' turn. Florida State Seminoles took fourth and fifth, with India Sander-Nazario running 22:07 and Summer Williams 22:13. Alexis Thompson interrupted the Seminole charge by taking sixth for Suwannee in 22:22, but Olivia Dean grabbed seventh for Florida State with a 22:53. Florida State's final two scorers were Jordan Jones, twelfth in 23:55, and Ricondra Barrington, fourteenth in 24:10. The Seminoles had 40 points and the 2016 District 2 title.


Suwannee took second with 62 points, and Wakulla was third in the team standings with 67 points. Those three teams--Florida State, Suwannee, and Wakulla--advanced to the Region 1 Championship. Rickards sophomore Mezindia Nkembo (3rd, 21:59), Marianna sophomore Lauren Locke (8th, 22:54), Godby junior Sofia St. Julien (9th, 22:54), Rickards junior Carina Richardson (10th, 23:04), and Rickards senior Samera Dansby (13th, 23:58) each qualified as individuals for the Region 1 meet.


The 2A Region 1 meet is slated for Friday afternoon, 28 October 2016, at the Escambia County Equestrian Center near Pensacola, Florida. In addition to the Region titles, teams will be racing to qualify for the State Meet. State is scheduled for Saturday morning, 5 November 2016, at the Apalachee Regional Park Championship Cross-Country Course in Tallahassee, Florida.


Girls' Team Standings, 2016 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross-Country Meet

1. Florida State, 40 *
2. Suwannee, 62 *
3. Wakulla, 67 *
4. Rickards, 70
5. Marianna, 123

* Team advances to the Region 1 Championships


Top Ten Girls, 2016 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross-Country Meet

1. 19:54.45 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12
2. 21:42.28 ~ Alyssa Langston (Wakulla) 10
3. 21:58.64 ~ Mezindia Nkembo (Rickards) 12
4. 22:06.49 ~ India Sander-Nazario (Florida State) 10
5. 22:13.66 ~ Summer Williams (Florida State) 10
6. 22:21.56 ~ Alexis Thompson (Suwannee) 11
7. 22:52.40 ~ Olivia Dean (Florida State) 8
8. 22:53.56 ~ Lauren Locke (Marianna) 10
9. 22:54.00 ~ Sofia St. Julien (Godby) 11
10. 23:03.99 ~ Carina Richardson (Rickards) 11

FHSAA 2A District 2 champions, 2011 - 2016
Boys
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
5 November 2011	Marianna, 43	16:50, Stanley Linton (Wakulla) 12
3 November 2012	Wakulla, 34	17:41, Aaron Smith (Wakulla) 11
26 October 2013	Wakulla, 19	17:53, Albert Smythe (Wakulla) 10
1 November 2014	Wakulla, 28	17:23, Solomon Stevens, (Rickards) 11
20 October 2015	Wakulla, 34	17:39, Solomon Stevens (Rickards) 12
18 October 2016	Wakulla, 24	17:06, Timothy Choe (Suwannee) 11
Girls
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
5 November 2011	Wakulla, 27	20:34, Margaret Wiedeman (Wakulla) 10
3 November 2012	Wakulla, 19	20:55, Meagan Giddens (Taylor County) 9
26 October 2013	Wakulla, 23	21:42, Madison Harris (Wakulla) 12
1 November 2014	Wakulla, 17	20:01, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 10
20 October 2015	Florida State, 38	21:11, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 11
18 October 2016	Florida State, 40	19:55, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12
District 2 in its current form didn't exist before 2011. The meet was held at Apalachee Regional Park in 2011, 2012, and 2014. The meet was run at Phipps Park in 2013. The meet was run at 3Y Ranch in 2015 and 2016.

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross-Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11EEJ-Ri_3TCrNJi5AejGLiPAEkvsG7qL3rwF06yeJ7M/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “Solomon Stevens and Haleigh Martin repeat in 2A District 2”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/fhsaa-2a-district-2-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “A Wakulla day at District 2-2A”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/11/fhsaa-district-2-2a-2014.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “District 2 belongs to Chiles and Wakulla”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/fhsaa-district-2-3a2a-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “2011 FHSAA District 2-3A / 2A cross-country meet”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/11/fhsaa-district-2-3a2a-xc-2011.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “2009 FHSAA District 1-2A Cross-Country Meet”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/11/2009-fhsaa-district-1-2a-cross-country.html
  
  
• Get out and run one of the upcoming races on the Trouble Afoot! calendar!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1799

At Silver Lake the final laps are victory laps for Mazziotta and Martin

Gulf Winds Track Club staged the 41st annual Salute to Prefontaine 5K near Silver Lake, west of Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday morning, 24 September 2016. During the four decades of history of the event, the Prefontaine Classic high school meet has been a sometimes feature of the program. Among the years that the high school ran at Silver Lake were 2004 to 2007 and 2014 to 2016. Whatever the future of the Prefontaine Classic, high school graduation would ensure that 2016 was the last time that seniors Jake Mazziotta and Haleigh Martin would run at the meet. They each made that final act count, though. Maclay's Mazziotta won the boys' 5K race in 17:54, while Martin went 20:58 to win the girls' 5K.

Jake Mazziotta

The boys ran first, starting just after 9:30 AM. The course was twice around a circuit of the Silver Lake Recreation Area, a tour that included sand, hills, narrow paths, and views of trees downed by Hurricane Hermine earlier in the month. It wasn't a fast course by any means, but Maclay's Jake Mazziotta appreciated the ruggedness.


"I like the fact that you don't have to worry about time, that it's purely about the competition," said Mazziotta. "It was definitely harder this year."

Gatlin Nennstiel

Mazziotta helped to make it harder for his competition, setting the pace for the field during the first lap around the course. Gatlin Nennstiel of Aucilla Christian and Maclay's Clay Milford followed him closely on the first lap, but not so closely on the second. Mazziotta opened up a gap during the second time around, going on to win by over 80 meters in 17:54. Nennstiel was second in 18:13, and Milford held off Wakulla's Bryce Cole to take third, 18:19 to 18:21.


Cole was just the first of a wave of Wakulla runners, though. The boys from Wakulla County also took the next three places, with Scott Lloyd fifth in 18:40, Caleb Wiedeman sixth in 18:57, and Dylan Peebles seventh in 18:57. Maclay's Gannon Hundley placed eighth in 19:02, but then Dalten Park (9th, 19:06) finished the scoring for Wakulla. Wakulla also took the next two places--Dalton Gray was tenth in 19:08 and Alex Smythe eleventh in 19:08--putting both its pushers ahead of Maclay's fourth runner. The result was the Wakulla was first with 31 points, and Maclay second with 37. Aucilla Christian was third with 77 points.

Clay Milford

2016 Prefontaine Classic Team Standings, Boys

1. Wakulla, 31
2. Maclay, 37
3. Aucilla Christian, 77
4. John Paul II Catholic, 107

Top 15 Boys, 2016 Prefontaine Classic

1. 17:54 ~ Jake Mazziotta (Maclay)
2. 18:13 ~ Gatlin Nennstiel (Aucilla Christian)
3. 18:19 ~ Clayburn Milford (Maclay)
4. 18:21 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla)
5. 18:40 ~ Scott Lloyd (Wakulla)
6. 18:57 ~ Caleb Wiedeman (Wakulla)
7. 18:57 ~ Dylan Peebles (Wakulla)
8. 19:02 ~ Gannon Hundley (Maclay)
9. 19:06 ~ Dalten Parker (Wakulla)
10. 19:08 ~ Dalton Gray (Wakulla)
11. 19:08 ~ Alex Smythe (Wakulla)
12. 19:09 ~ Chris Porter (Wakulla)
13. 19:10 ~ Simon Hodgson (Franklin County)
14. 19:13 ~ Jay Brown (Maclay)
15. 19:49 ~ Marcus Bryant (Godby)

Mazziotta wasn't quite clear on how many years he had raced at Silver Lake. "I think this is my third or fourth time."


Haleigh Martin was similarly unsure. "Three, I think."

Haleigh Martin

Three was the correct number. Martin had won her first Prefontaine Classic in 2014, with Maclay's Caroline Willis taking second. In 2015 Willis had taken first with Martin relegated to runner-up. In 2016 the two seniors were back at Silver Lake for a final showdown at the Prefontaine Classic.


Martin grabbed the lead on the first loop. Willis was close through the first mile, but Martin widened the margin on the second time around. Martin was more than 70 meters ahead when she crossed the finish line first in 20:58. Willis was second in 21:17.

Caroline Willis

"That was definitely not really fun," said Martin. "The hill at the Cougar Challenge was worse but the sand out there today was tiring. I stumbled a couple of times."


After Willis, two more Maclay Marauders took the next two places, with Molly McCann third in 21:30 and Lindsay James fourth in 22:23. the Maclay girls wrapped up their scoring with Rachel Rumana placing eighth in 24:05 and Kenzie Mazziotta ninth in 24:20. After that the Marauders had a mathematically unbeatable total of 26 points and the 2016 Prefontaine Classic title. Two points separated the next three teams, with Aucilla Christian second with 77 points, Wakulla third with 78, and John Paul II Catholic fourth with 79.

Molly McCann

2016 Prefontaine Classic Team Standings, Girls

1. Maclay, 26
2. Aucilla Christian, 77
3. Wakulla, 78
4. John Paul II Catholic, 79
5. Franklin County, 121

Top 15 Girls, 2016 Prefontaine Classic

1. 20:58 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla)
2. 21:17 ~ Caroline Willis (Maclay)
3. 21:30 ~ Molly McCann (Maclay)
4. 22:23 ~ Lindsay James (Maclay)
5. 23:32 ~ Genevieve Printiss (Franklin County)
6. 23:43 ~ Julia Rose Travis (John Paul II Catholic)
7. 24:02 ~ Alyssa Langston (Wakulla)
8. 24:05 ~ Rachel Rumana (Maclay)
9. 24:20 ~ Kenzie Mazziotta (Maclay)
10. 24:32 ~ Sofia St Julien (Godby)
11. 24:32 ~ Ella Porche (Maclay)
12. 24:34 ~ Sofia Paredes (Maclay)
13. 24:39 ~ Emma Travis (John Paul II Catholic)
14. 24:48 ~ Natalie Vasquez (Aucilla Christian)
15. 25:24 ~ Olivia Wulton (Aucilla Christian)

Some past champions of the Prefontaine Classic
High School Boys' 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
25 September 2004	Maclay, 55 points	19:48, Grant Stauffer (Brookwood)
24 September 2005	Trinity Prep, 27	17:31, Whitney Stickland (North Florida Christian)
23 September 2006	Lincoln, 54	16:46, Joseph Franklin (Godby)
29 September 2007	Maclay, 19	17:38, Conor Sweeney (Maclay)
27 September 2014	Maclay, 25	18:25, Clay Milford (Maclay) 8
26 September 2015	Maclay, 32	17:39, Clay Milford (Maclay) 9
24 September 2016	Wakulla, 31	17:54, Jake Mazziotta (Maclay) 12
High School Girls' 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
25 September 2004	Maclay, 24 points	22:47, Katy Swain (Maclay)
24 September 2005	Maclay, 15	19:58, Adriana Piekarewicz (Maclay)
23 September 2006	Maclay, 20	20:27, Alicia Fenley (Maclay)
29 September 2007	Lincoln, 35	20:21, Laura Hempel (Rickards)
27 September 2014	Maclay, 21	21:19, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 10
26 September 2015	Maclay, 38	20:48, Caroline Willis (Maclay) 11
24 September 2016	Maclay, 26	20:58, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12

Links

• 2016 Prefontaine 5K open race story, “Kiros and Reilly add their names to Prefontaine 5K history”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/prefontaine-2016.html
  
  
• Complete results of the high school race at the 2016 Prefontaine Forest 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gbJpvNkW2WtaSIxqrbSVJ86JOmFMdozxcFetyRM1Qo0/pubhtml
  
  
• More photos of the high school race at the 2016 Prefontaine Forest 5K
  
  • Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10108230576066433.1073742226.5215641&l=1e74b9621f
    
  • Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10108230648191893.1073742227.5215641&l=b14034086b
    
  
  
• 2015 story, “Milford and Willis make it all Maclay at the Prefontaine Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/prefontaine-hs-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Maclay harriers make themselves at home at Silver Lake”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/09/prefontaine-hs-2014.html
  
  
• Upcoming races, home and away, in the Tallahassee region
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1778

Fort Walton Beach sweeps team honors at the Ram Run

It may have been Rutherford High's cross country meet, but it all belonged to Fort Walton Beach High before the morning was over. On Saturday morning, 17 September 2016, Fort Walton Beach swept the boys' and girls' team titles at the sixth annual Rutherford Ram Run Cross Country Meet, held at Callaway Park near Panama City, Florida. Wakulla High senior Haleigh Martin won the girls' 5K in 20:04, and Rutherford senior Alix Gennette ran a winnning 17:33 in the boys' 5K.


Martin had raced at the Ram Run two years earlier, finishing fifth in 2014. There was no one near the Wakulla senior in 2016, though, as she crossed the finish line almost 400 meters ahead of the next runner. Rutherford senior Zeana Guirey was second in 21:38, and Mosley junior Ella Swigler edged Wakulla sophomore Alyssa Langston for third, 22:12 to 22:18.


Martin and Langston gave Wakulla a pair of scorers in the top ten, but Fort Walton Beach also had two in the top ten, with senior Jessica Riley placing sixth in 22:37 and junior Maia Rivera eighth in 23:01. After Riley and Rivera, Fort Walton Beach's remaining three scorers were frosh Blair Shankles (12th, 23:23), junior Jeanette Chastain (15th, 23:42), and sophomore Ashley Wagner (16th, 23:48). When Wagner crossed the finish line, the other fourteen teams in the girls' race were each still waiting for their third runner. Meanwhile, the Fort Walton Beach girls had already totaled a winning 58 points. Guirey's Rutherford team took third with 146 points.


Girls' Team Standings, 2016 Rutherford Ram Run

1. Fort Walton Beach, 58
2. South Walton, 82
3. Rutherford, 146
4. Wakulla, 153
5. Arnold, 181
6. North Bay Haven, 184
7. Dothan, 193
8. Mosley, 197
9. Walton, 221
10. Rickards, 234
11. Cottondale, 236
12. Northview, 305
13. Wewahitchka, 328
14. Blountstown, 345
15. Franklin County, 345

Top 15 Girls, 2016 Rutherford Ram Run

1. 20:03.91 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12
2. 21:37.61 ~ Zeana Guirey (Rutherford) 12
3. 22:11.75 ~ Ella Swigler (Mosley) 11
4. 22:17.26 ~ Alyssa Langston (Wakulla) 10
5. 22:27.13 ~ Aurora Fardal (Arnold) 9
6. 22:36.10 ~ Jessica Riley (Fort Walton Beach) 12
7. 22:50.12 ~ Lauren Bakun (South Walton) 9
8. 23:00.60 ~ Maia Rivera (Fort Walton Beach) 11
9. 23:06.11 ~ Genevieve Printiss (Franklin County) 11
10. 23:11.56 ~ Blessing Nkembo (Rickards) 12
11. 23:22.44 ~ Jillian Stevenson (Walton) 10
12. 23:22.83 ~ Blair Shankles (South Walton) 9
13. 23:29.45 ~ Lauren Adams (Fort Walton Beach) 9
14. 23:32.37 ~ Cristina Carr (Rutherford) 12
15. 23:41.95 ~ Jeanette Chastain (Fort Walton Beach) 11

The boys' race was much closer up front than the girls, with winner Alix Gennette crossing the finish line only a few steps ahead of Jacob D'Aleo, beating the South Walton frosh 17:33 to 17:37. Arnold sophomore Mason Bennett was third in 17:48, and Wakulla senior Bryce Cole outran Cottondale senior Garry Barnes for fourth, 17:54 to 17:58.


Right behind Barnes, Fort Walton Beach's troops opened their scoring with sophomore Brandon Meza (6th, 17:68), sophomore Jordan Huckaby (7th, 17:59), and junior Parker Dewrell (8th, 18:02). Senior George McCann (13th, 18:27) and junior Sage Delfino (19th, 18:50) added their performances to Fort Walton Beach's total, giving their team 53 points--the best score of the 13 schools competing. South Walton was a very close second with 57 points, and Wakulla a nearby third with 61.


Boys' Team Standings, 2016 Rutherford Ram Run

1. Fort Walton Beach, 53
2. South Walton, 57
3. Wakulla, 61
4. Cottondale, 132
5. Blountstown, 154
6. Rutherford, 182
7. Arnold, 229
8. Northview, 232
9. North Bay Haven, 239
10. Walton, 278
11. Wewahitchka, 299
12. Mosley, 302
13. Dothan, 311

Top 15 Boys, 2016 Rutherford Ram Run

1. 17:32.51 ~ Alix Gennette (Rutherford) 12
2. 17:36.18 ~ Jacob D'Aleo (South Walton) 9
3. 17:47.39 ~ Mason Bennett (Arnold) 10
4. 17:53.84 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla) 12
5. 17:57.36 ~ Garry Barnes (Cottondale) 12
6. 17:57.85 ~ Brandon I Meza (Fort Walton Beach) 10
7. 17:58.45 ~ Jordan Huckaby (Fort Walton Beach) 10
8. 18:01.83 ~ Parker Dewrell (Fort Walton Beach) 11
9. 18:02.93 ~ Scott Lloyd (Wakulla) 11
10. 18:09.85 ~ Connor Norton (South Walton) 11
11. 18:11.97 ~ Chris Porter (Wakulla) 10
12. 18:23.29 ~ Logan Brooks (South Walton) 9
13. 18:26.14 ~ George McCann (Fort Walton Beach) 12
14. 18:27.85 ~ Jesse Boyd (Blountstown) 11
15. 18:28.48 ~ Eliot Greene (South Walton) 11

Rutherford Ram Run Team Champions, 2011 - 2016
Date	Boys	Girls
24 September 2011	Mosley, 51 points	South Walton, 46 points
22 September 2012	Marianna, 39	Arnold, 33
21 September 2013	Mosley, 66	Crestview, 32
4 October 2014	Fort Walton Beach, 26	Fort Walton Beach, 31
26 September 2015	Cottondale, 78	Mosley, 54
17 September 2016	Fort Walton Beach, 53	Fort Walton Beach, 58

Rutherford Ram Run Individual Champions, 2011 - 2016
Date	Boys	Girls
24 September 2011	17:34, Jacob Leuze (South Walton) 12	20:11, Mikayla Hodges (Arnold) 11
22 September 2012	16:44, Hunter Potts (Graceville) 12	20:11, Michaela Ashley (Arnold) 9
21 September 2013	17:08, Sean White (Choctawhatchee) 11	20:38, Shelby Lindsay (Choctawhatchee) 9
4 October 2014	16:23, Trey LaNasa (Fort Walton Beach) 12	19:23, Maddie Fulmer (South Walton) 11
26 September 2015	17:08, Ethan Mines (Mosley) 12	20:26, Michaela Ashley (Arnold) 12
17 September 2016	17:33, Alix Gennette (Rutherford) 12	20:04, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Rutherford Ram Run, courtesy of Miles & Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_N9lwZVpQF7ERNGgwnxQhXI4ESsIcUJ8jrPzRZLa96o/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “Ethan Mines and Michaela Ashley were the fastest of the flock at the Ram Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/ram-xc-run-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “LaNasa and Fulmer romp at the Ram Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/ram-xc-run-2014.html
  
  
• Find the next animal-themed cross-country run on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1774

Carl Corley and Haleigh Martin repeat at the Bay Invitational

For the 15th annual Bay Invitational, Bay High School was still billing the course in Panama City, Florida's Harder's Park as "BAY COUNTY'S ONLY TRUE CROSS COUNTRY COURSE!" As someone who has splashed through creeks at the north end of the county in the Pine Log State Forest, and run on similarly rugged terrain at the south end of the county on the Tyndall Air Force Base, this is a difficult statement to accept. Still, definitions of "true cross country" may vary. Anyway, it must be true. The meet's hosts couldn't say it if it weren't true, right?


Whether or not they came to run "true cross country," athletes from ten schools came to Harder's Park on Saturday morning, 10 September 2016 to run fast. When the racing was over, Wakulla High senior Haleigh Martin had run 19:24 and taken the Bay Invitational girls' title for the second time in three years, and Bleckley County senior Carl Ellis Corley was the boys' champ for the second straight year. The Maclay girls had taken the team title in their race, and Bleckley County took home another boys' team trophy.


The morning's competition opened with the 5K for girls. That race was all Haleigh Martin. Finishing in 19:24, the Wakulla senior was well over a minute better than the next fastest runner on the course. Martin also bettered her previous outing at the Bay Invitational, a winning 20:54 in the 2014 race. In fact, Martin ran faster than any girl had at the Bay Invitational since 2012, when Pace High's Rachel King went 19:05.

Haleigh Martin

But if Martin was the dominating individual in the girls' 5K, Maclay was the dominating team. Four of the top eight girls wore Maclay blue, with senior Molly McCann second in 20:44, sixth-grader Ella Porcher third in 21:42, frosh Avery Smith sixth in 22:03, and senior Rachel Rumana eighth in 22:07. Sixth-grader Sofia Paredes was Maclay's fifth runner, placing fourteenth in 22:51. That gave the Marauders 33 points and dibs on the team trophy. The defending champions from Fort Walton Beach were second with 60 points, led by frosh Lauren Adams (5th, 21:54). Behind the fourth-place 21:47 performance of sophomore Macy Moe, Bleckley County scored 93 points and placed third in the team standings.


2016 Bay High XC Invitational Team Standings, High School Girls

1. Maclay, 33 points
2. Fort Walton Beach, 60
3. Bleckley County, 93
4. North Bay Haven, 109
5. Wakulla, 132
6. Arnold, 165
7. Rutherford, 174
8. Mosley, 177
9. Marianna, 229

Top Ten High School Girls, 2016 Bay High XC Invitational

1. 19:23.72 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 12
2. 20:43.37 ~ Molly McCann (Maclay) 12
3. 21:41.61 ~ Ella Porcher (Maclay) 6
4. 21:46.88 ~ Macy Moe (Bleckley County) 10
5. 21:53.52 ~ Lauren Adams (Fort Walton Beach) 9
6. 22:02.36 ~ Avery Smith (Maclay) 9
7. 22:05.64 ~ Ella Swigler (Mosley) 11
8. 22:06.69 ~ Rachel Rumana (Maclay) 12
9. 22:09.64 ~ Emma Wilson (North Bay Haven) 5
10. 22:09.72 ~ Maia Rivera (Fort Walton Beach) 11

This wasn't the first year that the Bleckley County boys made the trip of over 200 miles from Cochran, Georgia to the Bay Invitational. The Royals may travel all that distance to experience "true cross country." Or they may be attracted by the Gulf Coast beaches. Mostly, though, they come to the Bay Invitational to win.


Mission accomplished in that respect for Bleckley County senior Carl Ellis Corley. Corley went 17:09 in the boys' 5K to finish first, just ahead of the 17:14 posted by the runner-up, Maclay sophomore Clay Milford. Wakulla senior Bryce Cole edged Bleckley County frosh Garrett Rogers for third, 17:43 to 17:44.


Bleckley County had taken top team honors in the boys' race in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The Royals seemed well on their way to claiming a fourth straight title in the 2016 when half of the top six runners wore Bleckley County colors, with overall winner Corley joined by Rogers and senior Dayton Cannon (6th, 17:58). But Fort Walton Beach also put three runners in the top ten--sophomore Brandon Meza was eighth in 18:04, junior Parker Dewrell ninth in 18:12, and sophomore Jordan Huckaby tenth in 18:14. And while Bleckley County waited for a fourth scorer, Wakulla put juniors Scott Lloyd (11th, 18:15) and Caleb Wiedeman (12th, 18:16) across the finish line. Bleckley County's fourth was sophomore C. J. Rich (15th, 18:26), but Wakulla answered with sophomore Chris Porter (16th, 18:30), junior Dalten Parker (19th, 18:35), and senior Alex Smythe (24th, 19:34). Wakulla's first six were in, giving the team a final tally of 62 points. Fort Walton Beach's top seven had finished, and the team's score was 67 points. Bleckley County had 26 points, but their fifth scorer was still out on the course.


If sophomore Austin Hiner had run just fifteen seconds slower, the team outcome would have been different. But Bleckley County's Hiner ran 20:15 and finished 32nd, scoring 31 points and giving the Royals a team total of 57. The Bleckley County boys had won the Bay Invitational for the fourth year in a row. The upstarts from Wakulla were second, and Fort Walton Beach was third.


Of the schools at the Bay Invitational, Arnold, Bay, Fort Walton Beach, Mosley, North Bay Haven, Rutherford, and Wakulla are scheduled to be back on the trails of Bay County on 17 September 2016 for the sixth annual Rutherford Ram Run. That one may not be "true cross country," but should still be worth watching.


2016 Bay High XC Invitational Team Standings, High School Boys

1. Bleckley County, 57
2. Wakulla, 62
3. Fort Walton Beach, 67
4. Maclay, 87
5. Rutherford, 161
6. Arnold, 163
7. North Bay Haven, 174
8. Marianna, 208
9. Bay, 234
10. Mosley, 257

Top Ten High School Boys, 2016 Bay High XC Invitational

1. 17:08.09 ~ Carl Ellis Corley (Bleckley County) 12
2. 17:13.29 ~ Clayburn Milford (Maclay) 10
3. 17:42.12 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla) 12
4. 17:43.35 ~ Garrett Rogers (Bleckley County) 9
5. 17:48.02 ~ Alix Gennette (Rutherford) 12
6. 17:57.20 ~ Dayton Cannon (Bleckley County) 12
7. 18:02.93 ~ Mason Bennett (Arnold) 10
8. 18:03.37 ~ Brandon I Meza (Fort Walton Beach) 10
9. 18:11.66 ~ Parker Dewrell (Fort Walton Beach) 11
10. 18:13.44 ~ Jordan Huckaby (Fort Walton Beach) 10

Bay High Cross-Country Invitational team champions, 2008 - 2016
Date	Boys	Girls
18 October 2008	Mosley, 56 points	Wakulla, 55 points
26 September 2009	Fort Walton Beach, 50 points	Fort Walton Beach, 15 points
2 October 2010	Navarre, 38 points	Bleckley County, 29 points
1 October 2011	Meade County, 32 points	Bleckley County, 42 points
6 October 2012	Navarre, 26 points	Navarre, 49 points
14 September 2013	Bleckley County, 33 points	Bleckley County, 22 points
13 September 2014	Bleckley County, 48 points	Niceville, 44 points
12 September 2015	Bleckley County, 21 points	Fort Walton Beach, 17 points
10 September 2016	Bleckley County, 57	Maclay, 33 points

Bay High Cross-Country Invitational individual champions, 2008 - 2016
Date	Boys	Girls
18 October 2008	17:21, Thomas Heikkinen (Rutherford)	20:13, Holly Stanton (Rocky Bayou)
26 September 2009	16:49, Luc Lawrence (Fort Walton Beach)	20:03, Iolani Scanlan (Fort Walton Beach)
2 October 2010	16:52, Robert Mann (Navarre)	21:17, Melissa Knappel (Crestview)
1 October 2011	16:55, Will Strickland (Meade County)	19:47, Mikayla Hodges (Arnold)
6 October 2012	16:44, Brandon Amendt (Pace)	19:05, Rachel King (Pace)
14 September 2013	18:14, Aaron Jane (Bay)	21:25, Ellen Powell (Bleckley County)
13 September 2014	17:28, Jordan Lance (Arnold)	20:54, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla)
12 September 2015	16:57, Carl Ellis Corley (Bleckley County)	20:05, Maddie Fulmer (Fort Walton
10 September 2016	17:09, Carl Ellis Corley (Bleckley County)	19:24, Haleigh Martin (Wakulla)

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Bay High XC Invitational, courtesy of Miles and Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/134Tqy_44NS3A2Vq7TcFrodGrknXJ3lvk-581ijfsWts/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “Vikings and Royals rule at the Bay Invitational”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/bay-xc-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Jordan Lance and Haleigh Martin run truly fast at Bay Invitational”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/09/bay-xc-2014.html
  
  
• More high school athletics coverage at Trouble Afoot!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/high%20school
  
  
• Find more upcoming races in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1764

Stan Linton reclaims the record at the Wakulla Springs 5K

Stan Linton

Over the ten year-history of the race, course records just don't have a very long lifespan at the annual Wakulla Springs 5K. Since 2007, no record has ever stood more than two years. At the 2013 Wakulla Springs race, for instance, Stan Linton ran 16:39, slicing ten seconds off of the standard set by Vince Molosky the previous year. In 2014 Chris Lake ran 16:38, erasing Linton's name from the books. Lake's time stood for two years, but on Saturday morning, 21 May 2016, Linton returned for the tenth annual Wakulla Springs 5K, and scorched a winning 16:34, a new course record.


"The rain helped a lot in packing down the loose sand," said Linton.


It's true that an overnight rain helped to settle the deep sand that characterizes almost all of the 3.1-mile course. However, it did nothing about the roots and limestone boulders that punctuate the sand, nor did it alleviate the ravenous clouds of mosquitos. Always positive, Linton also failed to mention that whatever the overnight rain had done to the sand, it had also increased the relative humidity almost enough that an aqualung would have been a useful addition to your running outfit. Whatever the conditions, Linton still ran the fastest race in Wakulla Springs 5K history, and runner-up Joseph Garcia's 16:58 was the fifth fastest time ever run on the course. It's hard for the rest of us to make excuses when those guys are running so fast.

Top ten men's times, Wakulla Springs 5K  Time Athlete Year 16:34 Stan Linton 2016 16:38 Chris Lake 2014 16:39 Stan Linton 2013 16:49 Vince Molosky 2012 16:58 Joseph Garcia 2016 16:59 Vince Molosky 2011 17:04 Stan Linton 2012 17:06 Stephen Cox 2011 17:15 Dan Clark 2011 17:18 Vince Molosky 2013

Top ten women's times, Wakulla Springs 5K Time Athlete Year 18:46 Katie Slater 2015 19:29 Seeley Gutierrez 2011 19:42 Katie Sherron 2011 19:46 Kelly Stevens 2011 19:59 Summer Calder 2011 20:03 Kati Gosnell 2010 20:07 Katie Sherron 2014 20:19 Kate Harrison 2013 20:54 Micah Adriani 2010 20:56 Haleigh Martin 2015

Behind Linton and Garcia, Bryce Cole, a rising senior on the Wakulla High cross country team, was third in 17:47. Cole had won the Wakulla Springs 5K in 2015. Ryan Slyter was fourth in 17:52, and Evan Guarino was fifth in 18:41. Philip Sura was the fastest master runner in the race, placing sixth overall in 20:04.


Haleigh Martin won the women's title by over 300 meters, running 21:35. A rising senior on the Wakulla High cross country team, Martin had finished runner-up in the women's division in the previous year's Wakulla Springs 5K. Chiles High rising junior Cynthia Paterson was the second female finisher and seventeenth overall in 23:00. Kayla Wilson (19th, 23:26) took third in the women's standings and Emily Smith (24th, 24:00) fourth. Marien Dimacali was the top woman master in the race and fifth female finisher, placing 33rd overall in 25:06.


167 athletes finished the 2016 Wakulla Springs 5K. The race is hosted by the Friends of Wakulla Springs, with proceeds going to support Wakulla Springs State Park. Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee, Florida chip timed the race.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Wakulla Springs 5K

1. 16:34 ~ Stan Linton (M, 22)
2. 16:58 ~ Joseph Garcia (M, 20)
3. 17:47 ~ Bryce Cole (M, 17)
4. 17:52 ~ Ryan Slyter (M, 26)
5. 18:41 ~ Evan Guarino (M, 17)
6. 20:04 ~ Philip Sura (M, 46)
7. 20:15 ~ Duane Evans (M, 48)
8. 20:26 ~ Tim Unger (M, 56)
9. 20:37 ~ David Harrell (M, 31)
10. 21:03 ~ Travis Parks (M, 20)

Top Ten Women, 2016 Wakulla Springs 5K

1. 21:35 ~ Haleigh Martin (F, 16)
2. 23:00 ~ Cynthia Paterson (F, 16)
3. 23:26 ~ Kayla Wilson (F, 19)
4. 24:00 ~ Emily Smith (F, 31)
5. 25:06 ~ Marien Dimacali (F, 54)
6. 26:37 ~ Julia Sura (F, 44)
7. 27:08 ~ Sandra Canada (F, 53)
8. 27:11 ~ Emma Hughes (F, 16)
9. 28:08 ~ Jackie Adams (F, 49)
10. 28:15 ~ Virginia Fourqurean (F, 20)

Wakulla Springs 5K Champions, 2007 - 2016
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
19 May 2007	19:09, Myles Gibson	22:16, Olivia Swedberg	204
17 May 2008	17:42, Jay Wallace	23:29, Sydney Nutting	216
16 May 2009	17:20, Tyler Price	21:49, Roxanne Hughes	223
15 May 2010	17:56, Justin Dickieson	20:03, Kati Gosnell	355
21 May 2011	16:59, Vince Molosky	19:29, Seeley Gutierrez	326
19 May 2012	16:49, Vince Molosky	21:53, Angela Wable	256
18 May 2013	16:39, Stanley Linton	20:19, Kate Harrison	199
17 May 2014	16:38, Chris Lake	20:07, Katie Sherron	252
16 May 2015	18:12, Bryce Cole	18:46, Katie Slater	171
21 May 2016	16:34, Stan Linton	21:35, Haleigh Martin	167

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Friends of Wakulla Springs 5K at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2016/Friends%20Wakulla%20Springs%202016.asp
  
  
• 2015 story, “Cole wins and Slater shatters record at Wakulla Springs 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/05/wakulla-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Lake and Sherron speed through the sanctuary at Wakulla”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/wakulla-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Linton and Molosky renew their duel at Wakulla Springs”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/wakulla-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Molosky makes it two at the sixth annual Wakulla Springs 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/wakulla-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Molosky and Gutierrez break records at Wakulla Springs”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/05/wakulla-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Sand and 'Skeeters at the Sanctuary of Wakulla Springs”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/05/wakulla-2010.html
  
  
• Find your next race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1703

Wakulla High's herd does well at the Reindeer Run

Finishing nearly 200 meters ahead of the next runner, Bryce Cole won the third annual Reindeer Run 5K on Saturday morning, 5 December 2015. A junior on the Wakulla High cross country team, Cole ran the 3.1-mile course through the streets of Crawfordville, Florida, in 17:30. Wakulla High alum Matthew Phillips was runner-up in 18:09. Crawfordville athlete Duane Evans was the top master runner in the race, placing third overall in 19:21. Behind Evans, two more Wakulla High sophomore cross country runners were in a close race for fourth, with Caleb Wiedeman edging Scott Lloyd. Both Wiedeman and Lloyd were clocked in 19:34.


Wakulla High harriers were also prominent in the women's standing. Haleigh Martin, a junior, won the women's title, coming in eighth overall in 20:44. Wakulla frosh Alyssa Langston was second on the women's side, finishing twelfth overall in 22:11. Sandra Canada was the top woman master and third female finisher, placing 14th overall in 25:31.


58 athletes finished the 2015 Reindeer Run 5K. Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee, Florida, timed the race. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wakulla Senior Center and the Meals On Wheels program.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Crawfordville, Florida, Reindeer Run 5K

1. 17:29.92 ~ Bryce Cole (M, 17)
2. 18:08.61 ~ Matthew Phillips (M, 21)
3. 19:20.88 ~ Duane Evans (M, 48)
4. 19:33.36 ~ Caleb Wiedeman (M, 16)
5. 19:33.79 ~ Scott Lloyd (M, 15)
6. 19:56.81 ~ Travis Parks (M, 19)
7. 20:41.81 ~ Michael Cipriano (M, 57)
8. 21:00.64 ~ Colin Briggs (M, 16)
9. 21:46.91 ~ Michael Kennett (M, 42)
10. 21:57.55 ~ Daniel Wiedeman (M, 14)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Crawfordville, Florida, Reindeer Run 5K

1. 20:43.86 ~ Haleigh Martin (F, 16)
2. 22:10.97 ~ Alyssa Langston (F, 15)
3. 25:30.89 ~ Sandra Canada (F, 53)
4. 25:40.46 ~ Jeanna Prisco (F, 19)
5. 27:38.72 ~ Kristin Campbell (F, 23)
6. 27:45.20 ~ Victoria Pearce (F, 21)
7. 27:46.76 ~ Susie Brooks (F, 54)
8. 27:56.57 ~ Nancy Widener (F, 66)
9. 28:14.53 ~ Kristen Brazier (F, 37)
10. 28:36.06 ~ Caitlyn Martin (F, 15)

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 Crawfordville, Florida, Reindeer Run 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JTVqXaHYT5HP1GUaJYtlL0mRqiczdAbKFTONrxhMJ0o/pubhtml
  
  
• The Crawfordville, Florida, Reindeer Run 5K on Facebook
  https://www.facebook.com/Reindeer5KRun
  
  
• Find an upcoming holiday-themed race on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1566

Solomon Stevens and Haleigh Martin repeat in 2A District 2

The Florida High School Athletic Association groups the cross country teams of the state into four different classes, each competing in sixteen different districts. This means that the state championship series in the sport opens with no fewer than 64 different district championships meets, spread out across Florida. That's 64 events looking for a venue. For the site of the class 2A District 2 Meet on Tuesday afternoon, 20 October 2015, Wakulla High got permission to use 3Y Ranch, a place where no one had ever held a cross country race before.


On that farm outside of Crawfordville, Florida, competition opened with the boys' 5K race. Suwannee sophomore Micah Hilliard set the early pace for the field. When Hilliard faded Timothy Choe, another Suwannee sophomore, took over the lead. The whole time, though, Rickards seniors Solomon Stevens and Evan Garrison were stalking Choe. With a kilometer to go Stevens and Garrison took over. Stevens got the district title, placing first in 17:39, while Garrison took second in 17:40. Choe was third in 17:51.


Wakulla junior Bryce Cole was fourth in 18:02, but after a fifth-place 18:21 from Suwannee's Hilliard, the next six places belonged to Wakulla. Joining Cole in scoring for the Eagles were sophomore Caleb Wiedeman (6th, 18:31), sophomore Dylan Peebles (7th, 18:49), sophomore Dalten Wood (8th, 1:54), and senior Albert Smythe (9th, 18:57). Those five gave their Wakulla team 34 points and first place in District 2. Suwannee edged Rickards 68 to 70 for second. Those three teams advanced to the 2A Region 1 Meet in Lake City on Saturday, 31 October 2015. Florida High, fourth with 71 points, did not advance, but qualified three runners for the Region--frosh Ashton Smith (13th, 19:29), sophomore Mason McGalliard (14th, 19:50), and eighth-grader Morgan Castano (15th, 19:56). Marianna sophomore Bowen Rudd (10th, 18:59) also qualified as an individual for the Region 1 meet.


2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Team Standings, Boys

1. Wakulla, 34
2. Suwannee, 68
3. Rickards, 70
4. Florida State, 71

2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Top 15 Boys

1. 17:38.11 ~ Solomon Stevens (Rickards) 12
2. 17:39.58 ~ Evan Garrison (Rickards) 12
3. 17:50.78 ~ Timothy Choe (Suwannee) 10
4. 18:01.04 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla) 11
5. 18:20.29 ~ Micah Hilliard (Suwannee) 10
6. 18:30.93 ~ Caleb Wiedeman (Wakulla) 10
7. 18:48.70 ~ Dylan Peebles (Wakulla) 10
8. 18:53.74 ~ Dalten Wood (Wakulla) 10
9. 18:56.77 ~ Albert Smythe (Wakulla) 12
10. 18:57.42 ~ Alexander Smythe (Wakulla) 11
11. 18:58.23 ~ Evan Guarino (Wakulla) 12
12. 18:58.44 ~ Bowen Rudd (Marianna) 10
13. 19:28.37 ~ Ashton Smith (Florida State) 9
14. 19:49.15 ~ Mason McGalliard (Florida State) 10
15. 19:55.52 ~ Morgan Castano (Florida State) 8

Wakulla junior Haleigh Martin led the girls' 5K race from the start, but Florida State sixth-grader Tonie Morgan wouldn't go away. Morgan trailed Martin by as much as 20 seconds in the middle of the race, but began to narrow that gap during the final kilometer. With 400 meters to go Morgan was only four seconds behind Martin. With the finish line in sight, though, Martin began to pull away, going on to win in 21:11, successfully defending her 2014 2A District 2 title. Morgan was second in 21:19, and Wakulla senior Connie Lewis third in 21:58.


Florida State got a fourth-place 22:35 finish from frosh Summer Williams, and scoring performances from seventh-grader Olivia Dean (7th, 23:21), seventh-grader Ricondra Barrington (14th, 24:49), and frosh Jordan Jones (15th, 25:00). With that, Florida State had 38 points and the team title. Wakulla was second with 49 points. Suwannee, led by the eighth place 23:35 performance of sophomore Natalie Lord, was third with 60 points. Those three teams advanced to the 2A Region 1 Meet. Qualifying as individuals were Rickards junior Mezindia Nkembo (5th, 22:53), Taylor County senior Meagan Giddens (9th, 23:43), Rickards sophomore Mattie Mooney McMillan (11th, 24:14), and Taylor County frosh Haley Armstrong (13th, 24:48).


2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Team Standings, Girls

1. Florida State, 38
2. Wakulla, 49
3. Suwannee, 60
4. Rickards, 84
5. Marianna, 120

2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Top 15 Girls

1. 21:10.83 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 11
2. 21:18.85 ~ Tonie Morgan (Florida State) 6
3. 21:57.31 ~ Constance Lewis (Wakulla) 12
4. 22:34.20 ~ Summer Williams (Florida State) 9
5. 22:52.34 ~ Mezindia Nkembo (Rickards) 11
6. 23:07.24 ~ Alyssa Langston (Wakulla) 9
7. 23:20.71 ~ Olivia Dean (Florida State) 7
8. 23:34.29 ~ Natalie Lord (Suwannee) 10
9. 23:42.11 ~ Meagan Giddens (Taylor County) 12
10. 24:11.33 ~ Alexis Thompson (Suwannee) 10
11. 24:13.25 ~ Mattie Mooney McMillan (Rickards) 10
12. 24:27.40 ~ Courtney Sasso (Suwannee) 9
13. 24:47.41 ~ Haley Armstrong (Taylor County) 9
14. 24:48.61 ~ Ricondra Barrington (Florida State) 7
15. 24:59.77 ~ Jordan Jones (Florida State) 9

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J_CapV4i8Oa-B38iERqvta1ILP4CKw2Wdel0SJjP8YQ/pubhtml
  
  
• More photos of the 2015 FHSAA 2A District 2 Cross Country Meet
  
  • Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10106834516740513.1073742140.5215641&l=f9823a5691
    
  • Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10106834765536923.1073742141.5215641&l=53cc306ed1
    
  • Open: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10106835098300063.1073742142.5215641&l=346527bc48
    
  
  
• 2014 story, “A Wakulla day at District 2-2A”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/11/fhsaa-district-2-2a-2014.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “District 2 belongs to Chiles and Wakulla”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/fhsaa-district-2-3a2a-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “2011 FHSAA District 2-3A / 2A cross-country meet”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/11/fhsaa-district-2-3a2a-xc-2011.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “2009 FHSAA District 1-2A Cross Country Meet”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/11/2009-fhsaa-district-1-2a-cross-country.html
  
  
• Get out and run one of the upcoming races on the Trouble Afoot! calendar!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1529

Piotrowski and Martin coast to wins at the St George Island Spritzer 5K

Joel Piotrowski hasn't run every race ever held on Florida's Saint George Island. But the Tallahassee master runner has run six of the last seven Summer Sizzler 5K races on the island from 2008 to 2014, and he also has been at SGI's Red Pepper 5K from time to time. So it wasn't surprising to see Piotrowski on yet another Saint George Island starting line on Saturday morning, 4 July 2015, when the Franklin County High School cross country team hosted the Spritzer 5K. In fact, Piotrowski was the fastest of the 45 athletes who finished the 3.1-miles, winning the first year race in 18:38 and finishing over a minute ahead of runner-up Steve Reider. Ben Kilgore was third in 21:20.


On the women's side, Wakulla High junior Haleigh Martin was also the winner by over minute. Martin ran 23:15 for the women's title, finishing ninth overall. Eden Keene was second in the women's standings, placing twelfth overall in 24:17. Wakulla High senior Connie Lewis was the third woman finisher, 13th overall in 24:34. The top woman master and fourth female finisher was Genee Heink, 14th overall in 24:46.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Spritzer 5K

1. 18:38 ~ Joel Piotrowski (M, 45)
2. 19:41 ~ Steve Reider (M, 50)
3. 21:20 ~ Ben Kilgore (M, 26)
4. 21:40 ~ Michael Rhodes (M, ?)
5. 21:54 ~ Chip McGee (M, 33)
6. 22:13 ~ Dan Fortunas (M, 54)
7. 22:22 ~ Ryder Unknown (M, ?)
8. 23:00 ~ Jacob Stuart (M, 16)
9. 23:11 ~ Mark Collins (M, 48)
10. 23:20 ~ Press Witt (M, 56)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Spritzer 5K

1. 23:15 ~ Haleigh Martin (F, 15)
2. 24:17 ~ Eden Keene (F, 33)
3. 24:34 ~ Connie Lewis (F, 16)
4. 24:46 ~ Genee Heink (F, 46)
5. 25:44 ~ Savannah Siniard (F, 22)
6. 27:53 ~ Emma Bryant (F, 15)
7. 28:06 ~ Nancy Lewis (F, 49)
8. 28:13 ~ Mary Goda (F, 31)
9. 32:01 ~ Sha B (F, 45)
10. 32:17 ~ Paula McD (F, 46)

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 Spritzer 5K at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2015/Spritzer%202015.asp
  
  
• More Independence Day 2015 racing coverage on Trouble Afoot!
  • Dothan AL: troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/dothan-firecracker-2015.html
  • Gainesville FL: http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/ftc-melon-2015.html
  • Jay FL: http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/jay-freedom-2015.html
  • Panama City Beach: http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/pcb-firecracker-2015.html
  • Tallahassee FL: http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/firecracker-2015.html
  • Valdosta GA: http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/valdosta-independence-2015.html
  
  
• Upcoming races, island and mainland, on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1434

Bainbridge Memorial Day wins for Martinez and Martin

On Saturday morning, 23 May 2015, Michael Martinez was at Eglin Air Force Base, finishing fourth in the Gate-to-Gate Run. The Memorial Day weekend was just getting started for the Tallahassee, Florida, master runner though. On Monday evening, 25 May 2015, he was in Bainbridge, Georgia, where he won that city's ninth annual Memorial Day 5K Night Race. Martinez finished around 200 meters ahead of the next runner, covering the 3.1-mile course in 17:46. Donalsonville, Georgia, master runner Myles Gibson was second overall in 18:20, just ahead of the 18:28 that earned third place for Travis Parker. Lance Williams finished fourth in 19:12.


Wakulla High sophomore Haleigh Martin took the women's title, placing tenth overall in 21:33. Paige Braswell, a University of West Georgia distance runner, was second in the women's standings, finishing eleventh overall in 21:59. Darla Castoro was the third female finisher and first woman master, coming in 19th overall in 25:23.


71 athletes finished the 2015 Bainbridge Memorial Day 5K Night Race. The race is a fundraiser for the Bainbridge High School cross country teams.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Bainbridge Memorial Day 5K Night Race

1. 17:46 ~ Michael Martinez (M, 49) Tallahassee, FL
2. 18:20 ~ Myles Gibson (M, 48) Donalsonville, GA
3. 18:28 ~ Travis Parker (M, 19)
4. 19:12 ~ Lance Williams (M, 19)
5. 19:46 ~ Greg Waddell (M, 49)
6. 20:14 ~ Austin Lambert (M, 17)
7. 20:25 ~ A. Whatley (M, 45)
8. 21:29 ~ Mark Tombrink (M, 27)
9. 21:31 ~ Cole Farrington (M, 22)
10. 22:29 ~ Brendan Greene (M, 17)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Bainbridge Memorial Day 5K Night Race

1. 21:33 ~ Haleigh Martin (F, 15) Crawfordville, FL
2. 21:59 ~ Paige Braswell (F, 19) Bainbridge, GA
3. 25:23 ~ Darla Castoro (F, 51)
4. 26:30 ~ Juli deGrummond (F, 45)
5. 26:35 ~ Julie Harris (F, 49)
6. 26:36 ~ Camry Fillingame (F, 15)
7. 27:26 ~ Aileen Mejia (F, 15)
8. 27:48 ~ Rhonda Wells (F, 44)
9. 28:39 ~ Suzanne Angell (F, 49)
10. 29:35 ~ Anita King (F, 51)

Bainbridge Memorial Day 5K Night Run Champions, 2007 - 2015
Date	Men	Women
28 May 2007	???	???
26 May 2008	18:36, Caleb Bergon	23:05, Rachel Willis
25 May 2009	16:11, Tyler Price	23:16, Erica Pemberton
31 May 2010	17:35, Gabriel Leitz	23:12, Perra Harrell
30 May 2011	17:06, Stanley Linton	22:02, Paula O'Neill
28 May 2012	16:17, Stanley Linton	21:46, Tiffany Roddenberry
27 May 2013	15:46, Stanley Linton	25:41, Emily Jensenius
26 May 2014	17:30, Chase Harris	22:57, Cora Atkinson
25 May 2015	17:46, Michael Martinez	21:33, Haleigh Martin

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 Bainbridge Memorial Day 5K Night Race at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2015/Memorial%20Day%20Night%20Race%202015.asp
  
  
• 2014 story, “Night time is the right time for Harris and Atkinson in Bainbridge”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/bainbridge-night-race-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Three years in the Memorial Day 5K winner's circle for Linton”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/06/bainbridge-night-race-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Linton and Roddenberry beat Beryl in Bainbridge”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/bainbridge-night-race-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Linton and O'Neill fleet in the streets of Bainbridge”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/05/bainbridge-night-race-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Leitz and Harrell rule the night in Bainbridge”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/05/bainbridge-night-race-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “The Price is Right--Tyler Price's 16:11 wins the Memorial Day 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/06/price-is-right-tyler-prices-1611-wins.html
  
  
• Find your next night run, day run, or morning run in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1443