Wakulla County Meet means more cross-country wins for Madison Sims and Patrick Koon

For the Big Bend's high school cross-country teams that remained in the region on Saturday, 16 September 2023, the place to be was 3Y Ranch outside of Crawfordville, Florida. There, Wakulla High was hosting their second annual Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet. The Wakulla High girls put up 23 points in their race, taking first, while Leon took the high school boys' event with 19 boys. Leon junior Madison Sims was first in the high school girls' 5K at 20:02, her second win in two weeks. Leon senior Patrick Koon improved his 2023 cross-country record to three wins with no losses by defeating everyone in the high school boys' 5K with a 16:26.

Wakulla High girls

The high school girls' race was first on the program, scheduled to start at 8:00 AM. As at the Panther Invitational seven days earlier, Leon athletes Madison Sims and Clifton Lewis ran together until the end, where junior-year harrier Sims edged the sophomore Lewis, 20:02 to 20:04. Wakulla junior Isabella Laughton followed the two Lions across the finish line, placing third in 20:13.


Laughton was only the first of five War Eagles in the top ten. The other four were senior Liliana Lewis (6th, 22:16), junior Lana Hawkins (7th, 22:46), senior Taylor Pfeifer (8th, 22:48), and senior Analecia Ferrell (9th, 22:51). With that, the Wakulla girls had 23 points, the best score of the seven teams in the race.


Lincoln High's first runner, junior NyAshia Wright, took tenth in 22:58, leading the Trojans to second place in the team standings with 70 points. Saint John Paul Catholic was third with 103 points; the team's top scorer was sophomore Serafina Rietow, fifth in 21:54.


High School Girls' Team Standings, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. Wakulla, 23
2. Lincoln, 70
3. Saint John Paul Catholic, 103
4. Community Christian, 106
5. Thomas County Central, 114
6. Liberty County, 152
7. Rickards, 154

Top Ten High School Girls, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. 20:02.00, Madi Sims (Leon) 11
2. 20:04.00, Clifton Lewis (Leon) 10
3. 20:12.50, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 11
4. 21:07.80, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County Central) 11
5. 21:53.70, Serafina Rietow (Saint John Paul II Catholic) 10
6. 22:15.50, Liliana Lewis (Wakulla) 12
7. 22:45.30, Lana Hawkins (Wakulla) 11
8. 22:47.20, Taylor Pfeifer (Wakulla) 12
9. 22:50.40, Analecia Ferrell (Wakulla) 12
10. 22:57.80, NyAshia Wright (Lincoln) 11

After the Panther Invitational on 9 September 2023, Patrick Koon had said that his focus was preparing for the Pre-State race at the FSU Invitational on 30 September 2023. But at 3Y Ranch the Leon senior's immediate order of business was the Wakulla County Meet's high school boys' 5K. Koon took care of business, winning by 100 meters in 16:26. Wakulla sophomore Henry Lewis took second for the home team, running 16:46. Leon seniors took the next two places, with Quinn Carrasquilla edging Will Winsor 16:54 to 16:56.

Leon High boys

Leon's remaining two scorers weren't far behind, with junior Cadden Maxwell fifth in 17:18 and senior Walt Haber sixth in 17:42. Only Wakulla's Lewis had prevented the Lions from scoring a perfect 15; as it was, they had a mathematically unbeatable 19 points and Leon's first Wakulla County team title.


Lewis and Wakulla scored 77 points, putting the War Eagles second in the six-team field. The Community Christian Chargers were a close third with 80 points, led by Charger eighth-grader Landon Reeves, seventh in 17:45.


High School Boys' Team Standings, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. Leon, 19
2. Wakulla, 77
3. Community Christian, 80
4. Lincoln, 97
5. Thomas County Central, 114
6. Rickards, 135

Top Ten High School Boys, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. 16:25.50, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
2. 16:45.40, Henry Lewis (Wakulla) 10
3. 16:53.10, Quinn Carrasquilla (Leon) 12
4. 16:55.10, Will Winsor (Leon) 12
5. 17:17.50, Cadden Maxwell (Leon) 11
6. 17:41.70, Walt Haber (Leon) 12
7. 17:44.80, Landon Reeves (Community Christian) 8
8. 17:49.20, Yi'en Liu (Leon) 12
9. 17:49.70, Jeremy Collier (Community Christian) 10
10. 17:50.50, Theo McDonald (Leon) 9

The girls' 3K led off the middle school racing at the Wakulla County Meet. Holy Comforter sixth-graders Mackenzie McVay and Madison McVay headed the field, with Mackenzie taking first in 12:51 and Madison second in 12:56. Holy Comforter eighth-grader Elaine Ungru was third in 13:40.

Mackenzie McVay

Holy Comforter's next two scorers were eighth-grader Lillian Anway, fourth in 13:50, and sixth-grader Eleanor Blalock, fifth in 14:22. You can't do better than taking the first five places, so you couldn't have a better score than the Holy Comforter girls' 15 points--putting the Crusader girls first in the five-team field.


Riversprings was second with 73 points, the top Bear was eighth-grader Breland Smith, eleventh in 15:28. Marianna was third with 79 points, led by seventh-grader Jaymi Miller (8th, 15:00).


Middle School Girls' Team Standings, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 15
2. Riversprings, 73
3. Marianna, 79
4. Trinity Catholic, 98
5. Liberty County, 100

Top Ten Middle School Girls, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. 12:50.10, Mackenzie McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
2. 12:55.40, Madison McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
3. 13:39.70, Elaine Ungru (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
4. 13:49.10, Lillian Anway (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
5. 14:21.60, Eleanor Blalock (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
6. 14:34.30, Kynley Cheesborough (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
7. 14:39.90, Allie Winsor (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
8. 15:00.00, Jaymi Miller (Marianna) 7
9. 15:01.90, Danielle Sasso (Trinity Catholic) 8
10. 15:19.90, Taylor Strohecker (Liberty County) 8

The first place showing by the Holy Comforter girls gave them a three-meet winning streak, but the Holy Comforter boys were perfect after the Wakulla County Meet--four wins in four outings.


Individual honors in the middle school boys' 3K, though, went to Trinity Catholic eighth-grader James Mogg, who won by nearly 200 meters in 11:02. Liberty County eighth-grader Sebastian Knight was runner-up in 11:52, and Holy Comforter eighth-grader Joshua Butera edged Trinity Catholic eighth-grader Asher McGrew for third, 11:57 to 11:59.

James Mogg

But Holy Comforter got the win by putting three more Crusaders in the top ten--eighth-grader Andrew Norby was sixth in 12:15, sixth-grader Hudson Cheesborough was seventh in 12:18, and eighth-grader Gavin McVay was ninth in 12:28. That was enough to give the Crusader boys 25 points, a mathematically unbeatable score, and first place out of five teams.


Mogg and Trinity Catholic put up 47 points, placing second. Christ Classical was third with 92 points.


Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee timed and scored the 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet.


Middle School Boys' Team Standings, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 25
2. Trinity Catholic, 47
3. Christ Classical, 87
4. Wakulla, 92
5. Riversprings, 122

Top Ten Middle School Boys, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet

1. 11:02.00, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 8
2. 11:51.10, Sebastian Knight (Liberty County) 8
3. 11:56.40, Joshua Butera (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
4. 11:58.80, Asher McGrew (Trinity Catholic) 8
5. 12:13.00, Aidan Glisson (Marianna) 8
6. 12:14.10, Andrew Nordby (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
7. 12:17.30, Hudson Cheesborough (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
8. 12:27.70, Chase Sims (Unattached) 6
9. 12:27.70, Gavin McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
10. 12:39.70, Kayson Gantt (Community Leadership) 8

Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet Winners, 2022 - 2023
High School Girls
Date	Team	Athlete
17 September 2022	Florida State, 29	20:48, Niya Coleman (Florida State) 12
16 September 2023	Wakulla, 23	20:02, Madi Sims (Leon) 11
High School Boys
Date	Team	Athlete
17 September 2022	Mosley, 57	17:30, Nicolas Waddell (Mosley) 11
16 September 2023	Leon, 19	16:26, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
Middle School Girls
Date	Team	Athlete
17 September 2022	Maclay, 16	12:42, Lilly Bell (Maclay) 8
16 September 2023	Holy Comforter, 15	12:51, Mackenzie McVay (Holy Comforter) 6
Middle School Boys
Date	Team	Athlete
17 September 2022	Maclay, 41	10:54, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 7
16 September 2023	Holy Comforter, 25	11:02, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 8

Links

• Complete results, 2023 Wakulla County Cross-Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ2VFsxIpjeMdQnhvZxPGAy_-ArpyJGR6DvMqCaJgxXzR6BTFLuoeUCEiAwhSIHi1gGKk1iGFpqHVJv/pubhtml
  
  
• Upcoming races in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2976

Patrick Koon rips a 15:45 5K at the Panther Cross-Country Meet

Saturday, 9 September 2023, was the morning of John Paul II Catholic High School's eighth annual Panther Invitational Cross-Country Meet, with four races on the school's campus in the Southwood neighborhood of Tallahassee, Florida. It was also the first time that Leon High entered the meet. The Lions made the most of their debut, with Leon junior Madi Sims winning the high school school girls' 5K in 20:13, and Leon senior Patrick Koon taking the high school boys' 5K in 15:45. Koon and the Leon boys grabbed first place in the team standings with 25 points, while the Chiles High girls' won the team title in their race with 23 points.

Patrick Koon and Madison Sims

The Panther Invitational was scheduled to start at 8:00 AM with the high school girls' 5K. At 8:00 AM there was no one on the starting line. The timer had overslept. When it was clear that the timing company was going to be quite tardy, the race director assembled a volunteer finish line crew, and the starter got the first race underway at 8:23 AM.


Maclay sophomore Caroline Couch, the defending champion and meet record holder in the high school girls' race, charged out to an early lead, ahead by five seconds after half a kilometer. By two kilometers, Couch had widened that gap to 45 seconds, and 1500 meters later her lead was well over a minute.

Start of the high school girls' race

Behind Couch, Leon's two entries--junior Madison Sims and sophomore Clifton Lewis--had started off more conservatively, tucked back in seventh and eighth position at the end of the first half kilometer. Steadily overtaking their competitors, Sims and Lewis had worked their way up to second and third with 1500 meters to go.


"We pretty much ran together and pushed each other," said Sims.

Madison Sims and Clifton Lewis

Less than 200 meters from the finish line, Couch dropped out of the race.


"I didn't know I was leading until someone told me at three miles," said Sims.


With Lewis a few steps back, Sims drove to the finish line, crossing in a winning 20:13. Lewis was second in 20:19. Chiles High frosh Kaia Ables took third in 20:28.

Chiles Girls

Ables was just the first of five Chiles Timberwolves in the top ten. The others were frosh Haley Heitmeyer (5th, 21:12), frosh Savannah Stanley (7th, 21:43), sophomore London Mellen (8th, 21:50), and frosh Andi Vilardo (10th, 22:23). With a mathematically unbeatable 23 points, the Timberwolf girls had won the Panther Invitational for the second year in a row.


With their top runner, junior Isabella Laughton, finishing fourth in 20:36, the Wakulla girls placed second in the team standings with 54 points. Florida State University School was third with 70 points, led by frosh Leah Boutwell (6th, 21:33).


John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational Team Standings, High School Girls

1. Chiles, 23
2. Wakulla, 54
3. Florida State University, 70
4. Saint John Paul II Catholic, 106
5. Community Christian, 126

Top Ten High School Girls, John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational

1. 20:12.20, Madi Sims (Leon) 11
2. 20:18.44, Clifton Lewis (Leon) 10
3. 20:27.80, Kaia Ables (Chiles) 9
4. 20:35.50, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 11
5. 21:11.30, Haley Heitmeyer (Chiles) 9
6. 21:32.20, Leah Boutwell (Florida State University) 9
7. 21:42.10, Savannah Stanley (Chiles) 9
8. 21:49.80, London Mellen (Chiles) 10
9. 21:52.60, Serafina Rietow (Saint John Paul II Catholic) 10
10. 22:22.80, Andi Vilardo (Chiles) 9

Patrick Koon

"The plan was to go out with the team for the first mile and then start accelerating," explained Patrick Koon, describing his script for the high school boys' 5K. Koon played the part as written, remaining tucked behind the leaders for the early part of the race before setting his own faster pace. At two kilometers he was already well out ahead of the rest of the field, with senior year teammates Will Winsor and Quinn Carrasquilla holding the second and third positions. The only thing that changed after that was Koon's lead, which only grew.


No athlete had ever broken 17:00 at the Panther Invitational before; Koon left that mark far behind, winning the race in 15:45. Leon's Winsor also cracked 17:00, finishing runner-up in 16:58. Carrasquilla placed third in 16:58.

Leon boys

After taking the top three places, the Lions also had a fourth athlete in the top ten--senior Walt Haber was tenth in 18:06. Leon's fifth scorer was junior Cadden Maxwell, eleventh in 18:23, after which the Lions had 25 points, putting them first out of seven boys' teams.


The Chiles boys, led by frosh Jonathan Kiros (6th, 17:29), took second with 64 points. Wakulla was third with 108 points behind the fourth place 17:15 showing of sophomore Henry Lewis.


John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational Team Standings, High School Boys

1. Leon, 27
2. Chiles, 64
3. Community Christian, 89
4. Wakulla, 108
5. Florida State University, 120
6. Rickards, 138
7. North Florida Christian, 206

Top Ten High School Boys, John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational

1. 15:44.10, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
2. 16:57.70, Will Winsor (Leon) 12
3. 17:06.50, Quinn Carrasquilla (Leon) 12
4. 17:14.50, Henry Lewis (Wakulla) 10
5. 17:27.90, Xavier England (Florida State University) 12
6. 17:28.10, Jonathan Kiros (Chiles) 9
7. 17:38.00, Jonah Blay (Chiles) 12
8. 17:45.50, Landon Reeves (Community Christian) 8
9. 17:57.70, Jeremy Collier (Community Christian) 10
10. 18:05.90, Walt Haber (Leon) 12

Florida State University School is quite literally across the street from John Paul II Catholic High, so FSUS seventh-grader Elin Quisenberry didn't have to travel far to win the middle school girls' race at the Panther Invitational. Quisenberry won the three-kilometer even by more than 60 meters, running 13:24. Holy Comforter sixth-grader MacKenzie McVay took second in 13:42, followed by two more Holy Comforter harriers--sixth-graders Madison McVay (3rd, 13:49) and Elaine Ungru (4th, 13:56).

Elin Quisenberry

Holy Comforter's two other scorers also made the top ten; Crusader eighth-grader Lillian Anway was seventh in 14:18 while her teammate, eighth-grader Harper McKee, was tenth in 14:58. With five Crusaders in the top ten, the Holy Comforter girls had an untouchable 26 points and first in the team standings.


Quisenberry and Florida State were second with 38 points. The Maclay girls, led by eighth-grader Mary Price (8th, 14:24), placed third with 80 points.


John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Girls

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 26
2. Florida State University, 38
3. Maclay, 80
4. Trinity Catholic, 120
5. Marianna, 136
6. Cornerstone, 145

Top Ten Middle School Girls, John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational

1. 13:23.20, Elin Quisenberry (Florida State University) 7
2. 13:41.60, Mackenzie McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
3. 13:48.40, Madison McVay (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
4. 13:55.60, Elaine Ungru (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
5. 14:03.20, Julia Robinson (Florida State University) 8
6. 14:09.30, Vera Vanlandingham (Florida State University) 6
7. 14:17.40, Lillian Anway (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
8. 14:23.20, Mary Price (Maclay) 8
9. 14:41.60, Olivia Gibson (Florida State University) 7
10. 14:57.70, Harper McKee (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8

James Mogg ran away from the rest of the field in the middle school boys' 3K; the Trinity Catholic eighth-grader won the race by nearly 150 meters in 11:43. Florida State seventh-grader Lawson Phillips nabbed second with a 12:19. At 12:29, Marianna eighth-grader Aidan Glisson placed third.

James Mogg

Eighth-grader Asher McGrew took fourth place for Trinity Catholic in 12:30. Andrew Norby was the first finisher for Holy Comforter; the eighth-grader was fifth in 12:34. Norby was joined in the top ten by his teammate, sixth-grader Hudson Cheesborough, ninth in 13:00. The Holy Comforter's boys' next three scorers were seventh-grader Matthew Nowels (11th, 13:08), seventh-grader Beau May (12th, 13:09), and eighth-grader Gavin McVay (14th, 13:28), giving the Crusaders 38 points and the first place team.


Mogg's Trinity Catholic squad was a close second with 44 points, just better than the 46 points scored by third-place Maclay. Maclay's top finisher was eighth-grader Andrew Campbell, sixth in 12:49.


John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Boys

1. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 38
2. Trinity Catholic, 44
3. Maclay, 46
4. Christ Classical, 120
5. Cornerstone, 146

Top Ten Middle School Boys, John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational

1. 11:42.90, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 8
2. 12:18.70, Lawson Phillips (Florida State University) 7
3. 12:28.40, Aidan Glisson (Marianna) 8
4. 12:29.30, Asher McGrew (Trinity Catholic) 8
5. 12:33.10, Andrew Nordby (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
6. 12:48.30, Andrew Campbell (Maclay) 8
7. 12:50.70, Henry Procter (Maclay) 8
8. 12:58.10, Leo Perez (Trinity Catholic) 8
9. 12:59.10, Hudson Cheesborough (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 6
10. 13:03.40, Christian Acree (Unattached) 7

The 2023 Panther Invitational was timed and scored by Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee.

Panther Invitational Cross-Country Meet Winners, 2016 - 2023
High School Boys
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
9 September 2016	Lincoln, 38	18:18, Gatlin Nennstiel (Aucilla Christian) 12
23 September 2017	Wakulla, 15	18:17, Chris Porter (Wakulla) 11
8 September 2018	Maclay, 19	17:30, Junious Brown IV (Maclay) 11
7 September 2019	Community Christian, 47	18:00, David A. Keen (North Florida Christian) 12
12 September 2020	Maclay, 23	17:32, Jackson Yarbrough (Maclay) 11
11 September 2021	Chiles, 23	17:09, Ben Kirbo (Chiles) 12
10 September 2022	Chiles, 63	17:56, Lucas Mauch (Maclay) 12
9 September 2023	Leon, 27	15:45, Patrick Koon (Leon) 12
High School Girls
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
9 September 2016	Florida State, 41	21:52, Gianna Forte (Bishop Snyder) 10
23 September 2017	Community Christian, 29	22:31, Alyssa Langston (Wakulla) 11
8 September 2018	Maclay, 21	21:49, Ella Porcher (Maclay) 8
7 September 2019	South Walton, 17	21:10, Ava Flaherty (South Walton) 10
12 September 2020	Wakulla, 37	21:30, Morgan Wilson (Community Christian) 11
11 September 2021	Wakulla, 26	20:55, Niya Coleman (Florida State) 11
10 September 2022	Chiles, 35	20:13, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 9
9 September 2023	Chiles, 23	20:13, Madi Sims (Leon) 11

Links

• Complete results of John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational from Miles & Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT5rHHgRir8Bi3B719FD2mXO6CI30_BNasWsl4zVFsiIrTi_4PpE7yLSPj2Gn2W55ZeYFRi47d6khmT/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of John Paul II Catholic's 2023 Panther Invitational
  • High School Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121284447683073
  • High School Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121284491540183
  • Middle School Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121284508985223
  • Middle School Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121284527548023
  
  
• 2021 story, “The Wakulla girls and the Chiles boys split the team titles at the Panther Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/panther-xc-2021.html
  
  
• 2020 story, “The engines were purring for Morgan Wilson and Jackson Yarbrough at the Panther Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/09/panther-xc-2020.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Ava Flaherty and David Keen were top cats at the Panther Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/09/panther-xc-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Junious Brown and Ella Porcher lead a Maclay sweep of the Panther Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/09/panther-xc-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “The Wakulla boys and the Community Christian girls prevail at the Panther Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/09/panther-xc-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Seminoles and Trojans triumph at the Panther Cross Country Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/panther-xc-2016.html
  
  
• 2018 Tallahassee Area Cross Country Schedule
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/07/tallahassee-xc-2018.html
  
  
• Upcoming cross country, road, trail, and track races in the Tallahassee region via Trouble Afoot!
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2973

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Acadia Hassell

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


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


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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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

Links

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

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