Jackson Rowe and Katie Sherron win by a bunch at Miller Landing Madness

Saturday, 12 August 2023, was a day for winning margins in Gulf Winds Track Club's annual Miller Landing Madness 8K. Specifically, it was a day for big winning margins. Chiles High senior Jackson Rowe won the race by nearly two minutes in 27:43, which meant that he was leading by almost half a kilometer when he finished the race. Master runner Dr. Katie Sherron took first on the women's side in 31:09, finishing almost ten minutes before the next woman.

Jackson Rowe

The eight-kilometer cross-country race started at 8:00 AM ET on the north side of Tallahassee, Florida in Phipps Park. Nicholas Samuel, who had won the race in 2021, was leading coming off the starting line. By the two-kilometer mark Samuel had been overtaken by Jackson Rowe and another Chiles harrier, junior Gabriel Edwards. Over the next four kilometers Rowe pulled away while Edwards also left Samuel behind. At six kilometers Rowe was over a minute ahead of Edwards and Samuel had faded to seventh.


Rowe continued to widen the gap, going on to win in 27:43. Edwards hung on to place second in 29:30. Over the final two kilometers, Chiles sophomore Josh Hicks passed master runner Leonardo Canete but couldn't quite catch Edwards. Hicks was third in 29:30, giving Chiles the first three spots. Canete was fourth in 29:40.

Jackson Rowe, Nicholas Samuel, Gabriel Edwards

The Miller Landing Madness 8K is run on a loop course, with the athletes doing the loop twice. The loop is on the slope of the Lake Jackson Basin, so there is plenty of up and down. The highest point on the course comes about midway through the loop. So when Katie Sherron crested the high point the first time, she had been racing for two kilometers. The second time by, she had gone six kilometers. Less than fifteen minutes after finishing the race, she came by a third time.


"I parked at the tennis courts," she explained.

Katie Sherron

The tennis courts were a good two miles from the starting line, and a bit farther than that from the finish line, requiring at least four miles of warming up and cooling down. But Sherron has won the women's 8K title at four of the last five Miller Landing Madness events. She also set the women's course record in 2022. Plus, Sherron was the 2021 USATF National Club Cross-Country Women's Master Champion. Nine or more miles of running is an easy Saturday morning for an athlete with those credentials.


Sherron led the women's field from start to finish, placing eleventh overall in 31:09. The only faster women's performance on the course was Sherron's own 30:51, the Miller Landing Madness record she set in the 2022 race.

Nancy Moody

Two kilometers into the race, Nancy Moody was second in the women's field. She held that position all the way to the finish line, taking 53rd overall in 40:52. Master runner Ruffian Tyner overtook Emma Huggins during the final two kilometer of the race to take third in the women's standings. Tyner was 54th overall in 41:47 and Huggins was 55th overall in 42:00.


129 athletes finished the 2023 Miller Landing Madness 8K.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 8K

1. 27:43, Jackson Rowe (M, 17) Chiles High
2. 29:30, Gabriel Edwards (M, 16) Chiles High
3. 29:34, Joshua Hicks (M, 15) Chiles High
4. 29:40, Leonardo Canete (M, 44)
5. 29:57, Jonah Blay (M, 17) Chiles High
6. 30:04, Walker Elrod (M, 15) Grace Christian
7. 30:11, Matthew Hauser (M, 15) Lincoln High
8. 30:46, Nicholas Samuel (M, 20)
9. 30:54, Jackson Beener (M, 15) Chiles High
10. 31:01, Jack Fuller (M, 16) Chiles High

Top Ten Women, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 8K

1. 31:09, Katie Sherron (F, 41)
2. 40:52, Nancy Moody (F, 38)
3. 41:47, Ruffian Tyner (F, 48)
4. 42:00, Emma Huggins (F, 32)
5. 42:09, Nancy Proctor (F, 62)
6. 42:31, Angela Dempsey (F, 55)
7. 42:39, Nancy Stedman (F, 61)
8. 42:53, Hannah Hosay (F, 21)
9. 43:23, Georgina Hernandez (F, 33)
10. 43:26, Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 51)

Henry Lewis

The Miller Landing Madness 5K shared a starting line and a starting time with the 8K. Seconds after the start, Henry Lewis was leading everyone--both 8K and 5K competitors. Unchallenged, the Wakulla High sophomore continued to lead all the way to the finish line, winning the 5K in 17:12. Wakulla High senior Andrew Nix placed runner-up in 18:31. Josiah Friddle, a Franklin County High junior, took third in 18:41.


Isabella Laughton was the first woman in the 5K, making it a Wakulla High sweep of the 3.1-mile race. A junior-year athlete, Laughton was ninth overall in 19:57. Dothan High junior Gabriella Baker was the women's runner-up, coming in fifteenth overall in 21:37. Megan Noonan took third in the women's standings, placing sixteenth overall in 21:55.

Isabella Laughton

Bryan Hendricks was the top master runner in the 5K, the tenth male finisher and eleventh overall in 20:28. Tina Smith was the first woman master in the race and the 23rd female finisher, placing 61st overall in 27:27.


144 athletes finished the 2023 Miller Landing Madness 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 5K

1. 17:12, Henry Lewis (M, 16) Wakulla High
2. 18:31, Andrew Nix (M, 18) Wakulla High
3. 18:41, Josiah Friddle (M, 16) Franklin County High
4. 18:53, Paul Gunter (M, 17) Suwannee High
5. 19:28, Ryan McCreary (M, 15) Lincoln High
6. 19:40, Joshua Robinson (M, 17) John Paul II Catholic High
7. 19:44, Nathaniel Cabrera (M, 14) Franklin County High
8. 19:48, Alex Marshall (M, 17) Wakulla High
9. 20:10, Emil Bendeck (M, 16) Wakulla High
10. 20:28, Bryan Hendricks (M, 42)

Top Ten Women, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 5K

1. 19:57, Isabella Laughton (F, 15) Wakulla High
2. 21:37, Gabriella Baker (F, 17) Dothan High
3. 21:55, Megan Noonan (F, 39)
4. 21:59, Taylor Pfeifer (F, 17) Wakulla High
5. 22:00, Liliana Lewis (F, 17) Wakulla High
6. 22:42, Lana Hawkins (F, 16) Wakulla High
7. 22:44, Tatiana Smith (F, 14) Grace Christian
8. 23:16, Analecia Ferrell (F, 18) Wakulla High
9. 23:54, Emmalee Johnson (F, 16) Southwest Georgia
10. 23:56, Marigrace Garcia-Simmons (F, 14) Southwest Georgia

The last 8K and 5K runners were clearing the trails at 9:00 AM, the starting time of the 3K. The three-kilometer race has typically been for middle school and younger athletes, but this year a pair of Chiles High cross-country runners took the first two places--frosh Jonathan Kiros was first in 9:45 and junior Peyton Allen was runner-up in 10:09. Trinity Catholic eighth-grader James Mogg was the first middle school level athlete in the race, taking third in 10:57.

Charlotte Sikes

Charlotte Sikes successfully defended the female division of the 3K from high school incursions. Racing in a Red Hills Running Club vest, the Deer Lake seventh-grader was the first girl in the race for the second year in a row, placing eighth overall in 11:25. Sikes' time was a 40-second improvement on her performance in the 2022 race as well as a new Miller Landing Madness record, edging out the previous mark of 11:26 set by Rory Claussen in 2018.


The next three spots went to high school frosh athletes. Kaia Ables was the girls' runner-up, placing tenth overall in 11:38. Savannah Stanley edged Haley Heitmeyer for third in the girls' standings, both athlete clocked in 11:43. Stanley was twelfth overall and Heitmeyer thirteenth.


156 athletes finished the 2023 Miller Landing Madness 3K. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the races.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 3K

1. 9:45, Jonathan Kiros (M, 14)
2. 10:09, Peyton Allen (M, 16)
3. 10:57, James Mogg (M, 13)
4. 11:04, Logan Haley (M, 14)
5. 11:19, Levi Pearson (M, 14)
6. 11:23, Carson Weiss (M, 14)
7. 11:24, Patrick Walsh (M, 14)
8. 11:30, Lowell Mick (M, 14)
9. 11:41, Landon Heitmeyer (M, 9)
10. 11:44, Emerson Gandy (M, 12)

Top Ten Women, 2023 Miller Landing Madness 3K

1. 11:25, Charlotte Sikes (F, 12)
2. 11:38, Kaia Ables (F, 14)
3. 11:43, Savannah Stanley (F, 14)
4. 11:43, Haley Heitmeyer (F, 14)
5. 12:31, Acadia Hassell (F, 10)
6. 12:36, Sophia Youngberg (F, 15)
7. 12:43, Alexis Mayfield (F, 12)
8. 12:44, Maddy Morris (F, 15)
9. 12:53, Ava Hill (F, 17)
10. 12:59, London Mellen (F, 15)

Miller Landing Madness Winners, 2004 - 2023
Date	Race	Men	Women	Finishers
28 August 2004	8K	27:57, Gary Droze	34:58, Kate Remillard	79
	5K	16:40, Shawn Patterson	20:13, Adriana Piekarwicz	170
27 August 2005	8K	27:36, Justin Davis	31:02, Sarah Docter-Williams	120
	5K	15:59, Alex Miletich	18:58, Lydia Willise	235
26 August 2006	8K	29:49, Adam David Churchill	33:29, Kati Gosnell	103
	5K	16:06, Christian Minor	19:30, Jana Stolting	217
	3K	11:39, Brian Bowden	12:47, Summer Shepherd	118
25 August 2007	8K	27:42, Seth Proctor	32:31, Sheryl Rosen	108
	5K	16:13, Joseph Franklin	19:57, Emily Ness	194
	3K	11:58, Sam McManama	11:59, Carly Thomas	70
30 August 2008	8K	28:57, David Altmaier	32:49, Sheryl Rosen	76
	5K	17:12, Austin Stevens	18:46, Jana Stolting	110
	3K	11:21, Will Henderson	13:14, Autumn Wable	73
29 August 2009	8K	28:05, Chris Lake	33:03, Sarah Docter-Williams	151
	5K	18:17, Austin Stevens	18:17, Jana Stolting	243
	3K	11:26, Chase Harris	12:04, Cecelia Williams	136
28 August 2010	8K	26:28, Kevin Cook	33:29, Sheryl Rosen	168
	5K	17:15, Patrick Swain	19:22, Stefanie Kurgatt	160
	3K	11:14, Wil Luca	13:30, Madeline Horgan	110
27 August 2011	8K	25:54, Kevin Sullivan	32:17, Sheryl Rosen	236
	5K	16:59, Jacob Slupecki	20:14, Stefanie Kurgatt	212
	3K	11:08, Evan Francis	12:59, Cheyenne Hildinger	157
25 August 2012	8K	27:50, Vince Molosky	36:36, Jane Johnson	190
	5K	16:32, Joseph Garcia	19:12, Stefanie Kurgatt	258
	3K	10:57, Jake Mazziotta	12:16, Adrianna Dugan	148
24 August 2013	8K	26:29, Will Stanford	35:11, Katie Showman	150
	5K	16:55, Joseph Garcia	19:20, Emily Ness	237
	3K	10:48, James McClure	12:20, Chase Merrick	135
23 August 2014	8K	28:26, Chris Lake	35:26, Brittney Barnes	154
	5K	17:09, Joe Garcia	21:13, Caroline Willis	172
	3K	11:33, Jonathan McClure	12:34, Alyson Churchill	173
22 August 2015	8K	28:45, Roger Schmidt	38:07, Jane Skalski	126
	5K	18:16,James McClure	20:33, Caroline Willis	207
	3K	11:14, Jonathan McClure	11:34, Alyson Churchill	205
20 August 2016	8K	31:06, Geb Kiros	37:19, Katie Sack	160
	5K	18:03, Jake Mazziotta	19:20, Alyson Churchill	203
	3K	11:41, Trenton Blake	12:52, Lindsay James	171
19 August 2017	8K	29:11, Clayton Carlson	35:01, Kat Sack	125
	5K	17:55, Jesse Boyd	21:07, Elizabeth Skipper	237
	3K	11:01, Patrick Koon	12:43, Paige Churchill	212
18 August 2018	8K	33:07, Jim Halley	36:04, Katie Sherron	127
	5K	18:00, Jesse Boyd	19:57, Sheryl Rosen	201
	3K	10:37, Connor Edwards	11:26, Rory Claussen	177
17 August 2019	8K	31:21, Pierre Pean	33:04, Ann Centner	141
	5K	18:32, Daniel Wiedeman	22:14, Gracie Koeppel	196
	3K	10:47, Patrick Koon	12:10, Clifton Lewis	136
14 August 2021	8K	29:18, Nicholas Samuel	31:28, Katie Sherron	89
	5K	17:34, Brock Granberg	20:48, Susan Koeppel	165
	3K	10:52, Walker Elrod	11:36, Clifton Lewis	63
13 August 2022	8K	28:16, Alexander Croy	30:51, Katie Sherron	126
	5K	17:51, Nicholas Samuel	22:07, Isabella Laughton	128
	3K	10:11, Jonah Blay	12:05, Charlotte Sikes	131
12 August 2023	8K	27:43, Jackson Rowe	31:09, Katie Sherron	129
	5K	17:12, Henry Lewis	19:57, Isabella Laughton	144
	3K	9:45, Jonathan Kiros	11:25, Charlotte Sikes	156
The Miller Landing Madness was preceded in history by the Miccosukee Madness (2004-2007) and the Tom Brown Bash (1977-2003) races.

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 Miller Landing Madness
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRabvJjx1X1vuKFbjfNIcqlGwTy-cUnb1ig3fBTxS1VCOGZrtVEr-B1reLdz3u2gtMOYpcPX2z_1TDN/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of the 2023 Miller Landing Madness
  
  • 8K & 5K: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121156992120043
  • 3K: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121154701555353
  
  
• 2022 story, “Mad runs at the Madness for Alexander Croy and Katie Sherron”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/08/madness-2022.html
  
  
• 2021 story, “Nicholas Samuel wins and Katie Sherron sets a record in their return to Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/madness-2021.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Pierre Pean and Ann Centner lead the mob at the Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/08/madness-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Jim Halley and Katie Sherron were crazy-fast at Miller Landing Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/08/madness-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Carlson and Sack take Miller Landing Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/08/madness-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Kiros and Sack lead a celebration of cross country Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/08/madness-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Schmidt and Skalski top Miller Landing Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/08/madness-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Lake and Barnes take Miller Landing Madness 8K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/08/madness-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Stanford and Showman go crazy on the competition”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/08/madness-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Isaac a no-show at Madness, Molosky and Johnson dominate”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/08/madness-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Sullivan and Rosen run like mad in Miller Landing 8K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/08/madness-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Cook and Rosen lead the Madness”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/08/madness-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “Chris Lake wins Miller Landing Madness 2009”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/08/chris-lake-wins-miller-landing-madness.html
  
  
• Lots of upcoming races, some more mad than others
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2958

Seventh-graders Annabelle Wiktorski and Jonathan Kiros take LCS Cross-Country titles

In Tallahassee, Florida, Thursday, 7 October 2021 was a day for seventh-graders at Apalachee Regional Park. There, at the Leon County Schools Middle School Cross-Country Championship, Montford seventh-grader Annabelle Wiktorski won the girls' 3K, running 11:58. In the boys' 3K, Deerlake seventh-grader Jonathan Kiros took first in 10:46. Deerlake took the girls' team title with 23 points, and the Swift Creek boys edged Montford for the championship 44 to 47.

Annabelle Wiktorski

The league championship was the seventh and final meet of Leon County Schools' longest middle school cross-country season ever. The season had begun at Apalachee Regional Park on 26 August 2021; it was ending at Apalachee Regional Park. Competition opened at 6:00 PM with the girls' 3K. After 800 meters, London Mellen was leading. A Deerlake eighth-grader, Mellen had won the girls' 3K at the Fort Braden Run, the second meet of the season. She wasn't the only champion in the field. Montford's Annabelle Wiktorski, a few steps behind Mellen, had won the girls' race at the Everhart Invitational. Running in third, Deerlake eighth-grader Abbey Griffin had won at the Mustang Stampede, the Falcon Invitational, and the Mabry Invitational. Following Griffin was Deerlake eighth-grader Kyra Swart, the 2019 LCS cross-country champion. Just off Swart's shoulder was Chloe Molen; that Deerlake eighth-grader had won the season opener at Apalachee Regional Park.


Mellen was still leading with a kilometer to go, but only Wiktorski and Griffin had stayed with her. During the next half a kilometer, the course began to climb, ending with Apalachee Regional Park's most notorious uphill--the Wall. At the top of the Wall, the leaders had dropped Griffin and there were only 500 meters left in the race. Then Wiktorski made her move.

London Mellen

"It was about the last 400 meters, right after we came over the big hill, the Wall," recalled Wiktorski.


Wiktorski spent the final 400 meters opening a gap on Mellen, ultimately claiming the LCS title in 11:58. Mellen was second in 12:13 and Griffin third in 12:21. Andi Vilardo, a Montford seventh-grader, took fourth in 12:23.

Abbey Griffin

For Wiktorski, it was a far different race from the season opener, where she had finished fourth on the same course.


"I went a lot harder than the first one," said Wiktorski. "12:51 then and 11:58 today. It felt shorter today, though."

Top Ten Girls

When it came to team scoring, the story was all Deerlake. For the seventh time in the seven-meet season, the Deerlake girls put up a mathematically unbeatable score. This time it was 23 points, the lowest total by a girls' team since the LCS Championship moved to ARPXC in 2010. Mellen and Griffin were of course part of the Bucks' low score, and so were sixth-grader Honesty Daniel (5th, 12:37), sixth-grader Chloe Molen (6th, 12:43), and seventh-grader Kaia Ables (7th, 12:51). Eighth-grader Kyra Swart (8th, 12:52) also cracked the top ten for Deerlake. It was the third year in a row that Deerlake had won the girls' title.

Deerlake Girls, Team Champs

Wiktorski's Montford Mustangs were second in the team standings with 39 points. Raa, led by eighth-grader Kennedy Bell (10th, 12:54), placed third with 94 points.


Girls' Team Standings, Leon County Schools 2021 Middle School Cross-Country Championship

1. Deerlake, 23
2. Montford, 39
3. Raa, 94
4. Cobb, 102
5. Swift Creek, 136
6. Fairview, 137
7. Nims, 220
8. Griffin, 241

Top Ten Girls, Leon County Schools 2021 Middle School Cross-Country Championship

1. 11:57.52, Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford) 7
2. 12:13.00, London Mellen (Deerlake) 8
3. 12:20.19, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 8
4. 12:22.91, Andi Vilardo (Montford) 7
5. 12:36.31, Honesty Daniel (Deerlake) 6
6. 12:42.60, Chloe Molen (Deerlake) 6
7. 12:50.58, Kaia Ables (Deerlake) 7
8. 12:51.10, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 8
9. 12:52.52, Savannah Stanley (Montford) 7
10. 12:53.52, Kennedy Bell (Raa) 8

In twelve years of LCS Middle School Cross-Country Championships at Apalacheee Regional Park, Annabelle Wiktorski is one of three seventh-graders to win the girls' race. But before 2021, only eighth-graders had won the boys' 3K at the Championship. Jonathan Kiros of Deerlake started the 2021 race as if he intended to be the first seventh-grader to win the boys' event, leading the field past the 800-meter mark.

Jonathan Kiros

"I wanted to get out front and play to my strengths," explained Kiros.


Asa Swope, a Swift Creek eighth-grader, stayed in contact with Kiros. Aside from Swope and Kiros, no other athlete had won a boys' race during the 2021 season--going into the championship, Swope had four victories and Kiros two. With the 2021 title on the line, Kiros left the rest of the field far behind, but Swope was always just a few steps behind. Through the piney woods, across the shell bridge, and up the Wall, it was a two-person race. And on the homestretch, it was indeed a race.

Asa Swope

"In the last hundred meters, he came out of nowhere," said Kiros.


Kiros held off Swope's final challenge, eking out a close win. Both runners were clocked in 10:46. A seventh-grader had won the title. Another seventh-grader, Jack Koon of Fairview, took third in 11:18.

Jack Koon

Swift Creek eighth-graders Kinglsey Knispel and Thoren Knispel took the next two places, running 11:20 and 11:34 to give their team three runners in the top ten. But Montford also had three in the top ten, with eighth-grader Matthew Hauser sixth in 11:37, seventh-grader Gavin Poucher seventh in 11:42, and eighth-grader Jaxon Pelham tenth in 11:54. Montford also scoring performances by seventh-grader Trent Parsons (11th, 11:55) and eighth-grader Jackson Beener (13th, 11:58), giving the Mustangs 47 points.


Swift Creek responded with seventh-graders Cooper Rideout (14th, 12:00) and Zakaria Hemenway (19th, 12:29). The Wolves had 44 points, their second win of the season, and the 2021 boys' team title.

Swift Creek Boys, Team Champs

Kiros and Deerlake were third with 65 points. Koon and Fairview took fourth with 79.


The races over, the trophies awarded, the long LCS Middle School Cross-Country season was over. There was track to look forward to in the spring, but that was far in the future. Closer at hand, there was post-season cross-country.


"I think next Friday I may race at the FSU Invitational," said Annabelle Wiktorski. "I'm pretty tired with all these races, though."

Top Ten Boys

Other athletes plan on a break from racing, if not from competition.


"I'm more focused on the math team at Deerlake," said Jonathan Kiros.


Boys' Team Standings, Leon County Schools 2021 Middle School Cross-Country Championship

1. Swift Creek, 44
2. Montford, 47
3. Deerlake, 65
4. Fairview, 79
5. Cobb, 144
6. Raa, 176
7. Fort Braden, 231
8. Griffin, 233
9. Nims, 249

Top Ten Boys, Leon County Schools 2021 Middle School Cross-Country Championship

1. 10:45.68, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 7
2. 10:45.97, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 8
3. 11:17.31, Jack Koon (Fairview) 7
4. 11:19.66, Kingsley Knispel (Swift Creek) 8
5. 11:33.08, Thoren Knispel (Swift Creek) 8
6. 11:36.23, Matthew Hauser (Montford) 8
7. 11:41.03, Gavin Poucher (Montford) 7
8. 11:45.21, Emari Thomas (Fairview) 6
9. 11:52.35, Antonio Clements (Cobb) 6
10. 11:53.85, Jaxon Pelham (Montford) 8

2021 Leon County Schools Middle School Cross-Country Season Summary
Girls
Meet	Team Champ	Individual Champ
ARPXC (Story) 26 August 2021	Deerlake, 18	12:37, Chloe Molen (Deerlake ) 6
Fort Braden (Story) 2 September 2021	Deerlake, 25	12:54, London Mellen (Deerlake) 8
Mustang (Story) 7 September 2021	Deerlake, 22	11:55, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake ) 8
Everhart (Story) 15 September 2021	Deerlake, 27	12:07, Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford) 7
Falcon (Story) 23 September 2021	Deerlake, 21	12:07, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 8
SportsPlex (Story) 1 October 2021	Deerlake, 25	12:13, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 8
Championship (Story) 7 October 2021	Deerlake, 23	11:58, Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford) 7
Boys
Meet	Team Champ	Individual Champ
ARPXC (Story) 26 August 2021	Deerlake, 49	11:28, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake ) 7
Fort Braden (Story) 2 September 2021	Swift Creek, 60	11:29, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 8
Mustang (Story) 7 September 2021	Montford, 45	11:02, Asa Swope (Swift Creek ) 8
Everhart (Story) 15 September 2021	Montford, 35	11:10, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 7
Falcon (Story) 23 September 2021	Montford, 47	11:05, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 8
SportsPlex (Story) 1 October 2021	Montford, 39	11:10, Asa Swope (Swift Creek) 8
Championship (Story) 7 October 2021	Swift Creek, 44	10:46, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 7

Leon County Schools Middle School Cross-Country Championships Apalachee Regional Park, 2010 - 2021
Girls
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
6 October 2010	Raa, 32	13:34, Rebecca Clendinen (Raa) 8
28 September 2011	Swift Creek, 31	13:24, Zoe Sheldon (Swift Creek) 7
26 September 2012	Swift Creek, 36	12:49, Audrey Dogan (Raa) 8
2 October 2013	Swift Creek, 43	13:00, Ana Wallace (Deerlake) 8
1 October 2014	Deerlake, 36	12:12, Lawton Campbell (Deerlake) 8
7 October 2015	Swift Creek, 35	12:08, Emily Molen (Deerlake) 8
5 October 2016	Montford, 44	13:33, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 6
4 October 2017	Swift Creek, 27	13:14, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 7
4 October 2018	Swift Creek, 28	12:04, Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 8
3 October 2019	Deerlake, 36	12:17, Kyra Swart (Deerlake) 6
28 October 2020	Deerlake, 27	12:22, Sophia Youngberg (Montford) 8
7 October 2021	Deerlake, 23	11:58, Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford) 7
Boys
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
6 October 2010	Raa, 24	11:35, Wil Luca (Raa) 8
28 September 2011	Raa, 58	11:42, Evan Francis (Raa) 8
26 September 2012	Montford, 56	11:49, Matthew Cashin (Raa) 8
2 October 2013	Montford, 37	11:19, Jacob Dodson (Raa) 8
1 October 2014	Fairview, 44	11:59, Tavaris King (Griffin) 8
7 October 2015	Montford, 50	11:34, Nile Bryant (Raa) 8
5 October 2016	Swift Creek, 44	11:38, Weston Blake (Swift Creek) 8
4 October 2017	Deerlake, 50	11:31, Ben Kirbo (Montford) 8
4 October 2018	Deerlake, 38	10:07, Wyatt Townsend (Deerlake) 8
3 October 2019	Fairview, 33	10:08, Patrick Koon (Fairview) 8
28 October 2020	+	+
7 October 2021	Swift Creek, 44	10:46, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 7
Note: LCS held middle-school cross-country championships before 2010. This table summarizes the history of the championship at ARPXC.

Links

• Complete results of Leon County Schools' 2021 Middle School Cross Country Championships
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSTGjiQnLv8uTPw2u0wziselvIZAVCviENlV_s536b-6wPekG2lMqgMWGVLJP6Une1bfKUVCz667bKv/pubhtml
  
  
• More photos of the 2021 Leon County Schools Middle School Cross Country Championships
  
  • Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118443498353303
  • Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118464642480303
  
  
• The 2021 LCS middle school cross-country season
  
  • ARPXC Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/swift-creek-2021.html
    
  • Fort Braden Run https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/fort-braden-2021.html
    
  • Mustang Stampede https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/mustang-2021.html
    
  • Everhart Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/owl-run-2021.html
    
  • Falcon Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/falcon-2021.html
    
  • Mabry Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/10/mabry-2021.html
    
  • LCS Championship https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/lcs-champs-2021.html
    
  
  
• Leon County Schools' 2021 middle school cross country schedule
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/lcs-xc-2021.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Patrick Koon and Kyra Swart lead their teams to Leon County Schools cross-country titles”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/10/lcs-champs-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Paige Churchill and Wyatt Townsend close their middle school cross-country careers with wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/10/lcs-champs-2018.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Swift Creek boys and Montford girls take the Leon County Schools cross-country championship”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/10/lcs-champs-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Emily Molen and Nile Bryant grab 2015 LCS Cross Country titles”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/lcs-champs-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Deerlake girls stun Swift Creek, Fairview boys win first title”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/lcs-champs-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Jacob Dodson and Ana Wallace race to 2013 LCS XC titles”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/10/lcs-champs-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Swift Creek girls and Montford boys end season as champions”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/09/lcs-champs-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 girls' story, “Sheldon leads Swift Creek to victory in the 2011 LCS Meet”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/lcs-ms-girls-2011.html
  
  
• 2011 boys' story, “Francis goes 4-0 while Raa boys win when it counts”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/lcs-ms-boys-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Clendinen and Luca lead Raa to LCS Titles”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/lcs-champs-2010.html
  
  
• Even more upcoming distance races in the Tallahassee region
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2785

Annabelle Wiktorski and Jonathan Kiros rule at the Everhart Invitational

After skipping 2020, Tallahassee, Florida's oldest middle school cross-country meet was back on the schedule on Wednesday morning, 15 September 2021. Annabelle Wiktorski, a Montford seventh-grader, won the girls' 3K race in 12:07, while the Deerlake girls scored 27 points to take first in the team standings. In the boys' 3K, Deerlake seventh-grader Jonathan Kiros threw down a winning 11:10. The Montford boys took the team title with 35 points.

Annabelle Wiktorski

The grounds of Everhart School aren't expansive enough for a three-kilometer course, and the school is surrounded by suburban development, so a good bit of the racing at the Everhart Invitational is on nearby streets. The course also includes as much of the school property as possible, including the bus ramp. Unfortunately, three vehicles were navigating the bus ramp when the girls came through during the first 500 meters of their race.


"They let a car onto the course and I had to run farther to go around it, then work hard to catch up with her," said Annabelle Wiktorski, indicating her Montford teammate Andi Vilardo. "London ran into a tree."

Top Ten Girls

London Mellen, a Deerlake eighth-grader, recovered from her encounter with a live oak soon enough to lead the field around the school yard. By the time the race had left Everhart for the streets, Wiktorski had moved into second. At 1600 meters the Montford seventh-grader was just off Mellen's shoulder. Overtaking Mellen late in the second kilometer, Wiktorski started to open a gap. Another Deerlake eighth-grader, Abbey Griffin, passed Mellen on the way back to the school, but no one caught Wiktorski. Maintaining her lead, she crossed the finish line in a winning 12:07. Griffin took the runner-up spot in 12:13. Mellen was third in 12:30, and Vilardo fourth in 12:32.


"It was not the most difficult course I've run, but it wasn't easy," said Wiktorski after the race. "I did get a new PR today. I usually run better in the morning."

Deerlake Girls

Deerlake ended up with six runners in the top ten; Griffin and Mellen were the first two. The remaining Deerlake scorers were sixth-grader Chloe Molen (6th, 12:41), seventh-grader Kaia Ables (7th, 12:46), and sixth-grader Honesty Daniel (9th, 13:15). Those five gave the Bucks a mathematically unbeatable 27 points and the first-place team trophy. It was the fourth win in four appearances for the Deerlake girs, who have a five-meet winning streak in Leon County Schools cross-country going back to the 2020 season.


Wiktorski's Montford Mustangs were second with 34 points. Raa, led by eighth-grader Kennedy Bell (11th, 13:42) edged Cobb for third, 98 to 103. Eight schools had teams in the race.


2021 Everhart Invitational Team Standings, Girls

1. Deerlake, 27
2. Montford, 34
3. Raa, 98
4. Cobb, 103
5. Swift Creek, 122
6. Fairview, 154
7. Nims, 214
8. Griffin, 236
9. Fort Braden, NTS

Top Ten Girls, 2021 Everhart Invitational

1. 12:06.20, Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford) 7
2. 12:12.45, Abbey Griffin (Deerlake) 8
3. 12:29.75, London Mellen (Deerlake) 8
4. 12:31.16, Andi Vilardo (Montford) 7
5. 12:33.49, Savannah Stanley (Montford) 7
6. 12:40.01, Chloe Molen (Deerlake) 6
7. 12:45.94, Kaia Ables (Deerlake) 7
8. 13:01.34, Haley Heitmeyer (Montford) 7
9. 13:14.70, Honesty Daniel (Deerlake) 6
10. 13:17.59, Madeline Morris (Deerlake) 8

Between the streets and the bus ramps, there is a lot of pavement on the three-kilometer course at the Everhart Invitational, certainly more than you'd typically expect in cross-country running. For some people, that's not a bad thing.


"I actually really loved it," said Jonathan Kiros. "I run well on the roads."

Jonathan Kiros

The seventh-grader certainly ran well at the Everhart Invitational. In the three previous meets of Leon County Schools' middle school cross-country season, the boys' 3K was a duel between Kiros and Swift Creek's Asa Swope, with Kiros winning the ARPXC Invitational and Swope winning at the Fort Braden Run and the Mustang Stampede. But Swope wasn't at the Everhart Invitational.


"I could go out harder knowing that Asa wasn't in the race," said Kiros.

Top Ten Boys

Kiros did go out harder. He was already in front of the field coming off the bus ramp, half a kilometer into the race. Swift Creek eighth-grader Kingsley Knispel, Fairview seventh-grader Jack Koon, and Montford seventh-grader Gavin Poucher were the closest athletes to Kiros as the race left the school, but no one was able to challenge the Deerlake seventh-grader. Kiros just kept widening the gap, ultimately winning by nearly 150 meters in 11:10. Knispel took second in 11:42. Koon stuck with Knispel for most of the race, but eventually fell back and was overtaken by Poucher, who placed third in 11:49. Koon held off a late charge by Montford eighth-grader Matthew Hauser to take fourth in 11:58. Hauser was fifth in 11:59.


Montford's Poucher and Hauser were joined in the top ten by two more Mustangs--seventh-grader Parker Smith was seventh in 12:10 and eighth-grader Edward Bass placed ninth in 12:18. When Montford eighth-grader Jackson Beener finished eleventh in 12:24, the Mustangs had 35 points and first place in the boys' team standings.

Montford Boys

Kiros' Deerlake squad took second with 50 points. Close behind at 55 points, Koon and the Fairview Falcons placed third--Fairview's best showing as a team this season at a Leon County Schools meet. Nine schools fielded boys' teams.


Fairview hosts the next Leon County Schools middle school cross-country event--the Falcon Invitational at the North Florida Fairgrounds on Thursday, 23 September 2021. The season continues at the Florida State University Recreation SportPlex on Friday, 1 October 2021, with the Mabry Invitational. Competition concludes on Thursday, 7 October 2021, with the League Championship Meet at Apalachee Regional Park.


2021 Everhart Invitational Team Standings, Boys

1. Montford, 35
2. Deerlake, 50
3. Fairview, 55
4. Swift Creek, 95
5. Cobb, 143
6. Raa, 178
7. Fort Braden, 201
8. Nims, 242
9. Griffin, 257
10. Woodville, NTS

Top Ten Boys, 2021 Everhart Invitational

1. 11:09.08, Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 7
2. 11:41.27, Kingsley Knispel (Swift Creek) 8
3. 11:48.59, Gavin Poucher (Montford) 7
4. 11:57.51, Jack Koon (Fairview) 7
5. 11:58.98, Matthew Hauser (Montford) 8
6. 11:59.88, Antonio Clements (Cobb) 6
7. 12:09.63, Parker Smith (Montford) 7
8. 12:10.30, Emari Thomas (Fairview) 6
9. 12:17.79, Edward Bass (Montford) 8
10. 12:20.40, Hagen Perdue (Deerlake) 7

Everhart Invitational Champions, 1988 - 2021
Date	Boys	Girls
15 September 2021	Jonathan Kiros (Deerlake) 11:10	Annabelle Wiktorski (Montford 12:07
12 September 2019	Patrick Koon (Fairview) 10:12	Skye Williams (Montford) 12:29
13 September 2018	Wyatt Townsend (Deerlake) 10:46	Maya Tang (Deerlake) 12:16
21 September 2017	Ben Kirbo (Montford) 11:41	Paige Churchill (Swift Creek) 13:45
22 September 2016	Weston Blake (Swift Creek) 11:47	Amaya Jones (Raa) 13:51
17 September 2015	Spencer Amsellem (Deerlake) 12:17	Emily Molen (Deerlake) 12:16
18 September 2014	Tavaris King (Griffin) 12:04	Lawton Campbell (Deerlake) 12:41
19 September 2013	Jacob Dodson (Raa) 11:46	Ana Wallace (Deerlake) 13:13
20 September 2012	Matthew Cashin (Raa) 12:01	Saige Kemeny (Montford) 13:19
22 September 2011	Evan Francis (Raa) 11:56	Zoe Sheldon (Swift Creek) 13:43
30 September 2010	Wil Luca (Raa) 11:41	Rebecca Clendinen (Raa) 13:57
1 October 2009	Cade Zimmerman (Deerlake) 11:33	Cece Williams (Deerlake) 13:26
25 September 2008	Will Henderson (Raa) 11:42	Cece Williams (Deerlake) 11:56
27 September 2007	Will Henderson (Raa) 12:11	Carly Thomas (Raa) 12:27
28 September 2006	Will Stanford (Raa) 10:59	Summer Shepherd (Raa) 12:59
29 September 2005	Kurt Dietrich (Swift Creek) 12:07	Jana Stolting (Deerlake) 13:26
30 September 2004	Graham Hawkes (Cobb) 11:51	Mallory Alonzo (Raa) 14:01
2 October 2003	Joe Franklin (Griffin) 11:38	Charlotte Murrell (Cobb) 14:17
3 October 2002	Bryan Miletich (Deerlake) 11:51	Julia Bryant (Deerlake) 14:06
4 October 2001	Kevin Bryant (Raa) 12:33	Karen Devick (Raa) 13:58
4 October 2000	Danny Sass (Deerlake) 13:04	LaShaunta Arnold (Fairview) 14:50
1 October 1999	Logan Wolcott (Raa) 12:52	LaShaunta Arnold (Fairview) 14:30
13 October 1998	Matt Varn (Swift Creek) 12:31	Allie Hunter (Swift Creek) 14:27
1997	Anthony Washington (Bellevue) 12:26	Allie Hunter (Swift Creek) 15:00
1996
6 October 1995	Bryan Hendricks (Cobb) 8:15*	Meredith Warren (Raa) 10:36*
6 October 1994	Kevin Anderson (Deerlake) 8:10*	Meredith Warren (Raa) 9:56*
20 October 1993
20 October 1992	Mark Roehl (Raa) 8:40*	Brianne Pla (Cobb) 9:33*
22 October 1991	Michael Rodriguez (Raa) 8:38*	Holly Skinner (Cobb) 10:15*
10 October 1990	Tim Bolton (Cobb) 8:44*	Christy Weinberger(Bellevue)10:17*
24 May 1990	Wayne McDaniel (Raa) 6:58†	Cynthia Costin (Griffin) 8:06†
23 May 1989	Wayne McDaniel (Raa) 7:09†	Tonia Jackson (Nims) 8:13†
10 May 1988	Bobby Jessup (Griffin) †	Tonia Jackson (Raa) †
* 1-1/2 mile race at Gretchen Everhart School † 2 km race at Florida State University

Links

• Complete results, 2021 Everhart Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSpjIp5W95wEIoHjBV4hygYR2A-SivNyg6WZAVW4RK8RfkxDY8T4kFlYyrPQOJnJiSckhaaWYm4nNP9/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of the 2021 Everhart Invitational Middle School Cross-Country Meet
  
  • Girls' 3K: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118367768895743
    
  • Boys' 3K: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118369056520333
    
  
  
• The 2021 LCS middle school cross-country season
  
  • ARPXC Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/swift-creek-2021.html
    
  • Fort Braden Run https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/fort-braden-2021.html
    
  • Mustang Stampede https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/mustang-2021.html
    
  • Everhart Invitational https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/09/owl-run-2021.html
    
  • Falcon Invitational [ Coming on 23 September 2021 ]
    
  • Mabry Invitational [ Coming on 1 October 2021 ]
    
  • LCS Championship [ Coming on 7 October 2021 ]
    
  
  
• Leon County Schools' 2021 middle school cross country schedule
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/08/lcs-xc-2021.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Skye Williams and Patrick Koon just keep winning at the Everhart Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/09/owl-run-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Maya Tang and Wyatt Townsend excel at Everhart”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/09/owl-run-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Paige Churchill and Ben Kirbo get their first Everhart Invitational wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/09/owl-run-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Homestretch sprints pay off for Amaya Jones and Wes Blake at Everhart”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/owl-run-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Emily Molen runs faster than everyone at the Everhart Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/owl-run-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Tavaris King and Lawton Campbell can't be caught at Everhart”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/09/owl-run-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Dodson and Wallace win at Everhart; Swift Creek sweeps the team titles”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/owl-run-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Owl Run is almost all-Montford”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/09/owl-run-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Nothing damp about Sheldon and Francis's Owl Run victories”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/owl-run-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Luca and Clendinen conquer the Owl Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/09/owl-run-2010.html
  
  
• Get out and run! Find a nearby race on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2776

The Wakulla girls and the Chiles boys split the team titles at the Panther Invitational

Southwood is only a corner of Tallahassee, Florida, but it has two high schools, and each of those schools hosts an invitational cross-country meet--the Florida State University School Invitational and Saint John Paul II Catholic High School's Panther Invitational. The sixth annual Panther Invitational was Saturday morning, 11 September 2021, and opened with Niya Coleman, a Florida State University School junior, winning the high school girls' 5K in 20:55. The Wakulla High girls took the team title in that race, scoring a mathematically unbeatable 26 points. The Chiles boys scored 23 points to win their race, led by the first place finish of Chiles senior Ben Kirbo.

Niya Coleman

Coleman had been Southwood's first meet in 2021, the FSUS Invitational. She had placed fourth in her race that day, finishing behind Liliana Lewis and Clara Alford. This time Coleman was over the line first, finishing ahead of both Wakulla runners. Chiles senior Kelly Davis was second in 21:27, and Wakulla frosh Isabella Laughton placed third in 21:30. Alford finished fourth in 21:35 and Lewis fifth in 21:50.


Wakulla also grabbed sixth when senior Marina Whitsell followed Lewis across the line in 21:50. Wakulla's fifth scorer was sophomore Taylor Pfeifer, eighth in 22:37. Once Pfeifer was home, the Wakulla girls had 26 points and first place.


Led by Davis, Chiles placed second with 66 points. FSUS and Niya Coleman put up 96 points, placing third.


John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational Team Standings, High School Girls

1. Wakulla, 26
2. Chiles, 66
3. Florida State, 96
4. Community Christian, 107
5. Maclay, 131
6. Lincoln, 140
7. Valdosta, 159

Top Ten High School Girls, John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational

1. 20:54.21, Niya Coleman (Florida State) 11
2. 21:26.01, Kelly Davis (Chiles) 12
3. 21:29.41, Isabella Laughton (Wakulla) 9
4. 21:34.29, Clara Alford (Wakulla) 12
5. 21:35.82, Liliana Lewis (Wakulla) 10
6. 21:49.15, Marina Whitsell (Wakulla) 12
7. 22:31.60, Teresa Meli (Community Christian) 11
8. 22:36.69, Taylor Pfeifer (Wakulla) 10
9. 22:44.72, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 8
10. 22:51.25, Leah Keller (Florida State) 10

There were a lot of Chiles uniforms at the front of the high school boys' 5K. After Ben Kirbo of Chiles had crossed the finish line in a winning 17:09, Chiles junior Wyatt Townsend took the runner-up spot in 17:14. Chiles senior Filippo Reina came home third in 17:44.


The remaining two scorers for Chiles also finished in the top ten--senior Tyler Canavan was eighth in 19:18 and junior Owen Franklin was ninth in 19:21. In cross-country, it's impossible to beat a score of 27 points or better, and the Chiles boys had 23, giving them the win.


Wakulla was second with 72 points behind their ace Jaden Callaghan (7th, 18:57), a junior. Valdosta, led by senior Parker Jackson (4th, 17:56), was third with 79 points.


John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational Team Standings, High School Boys

1. Chiles, 23
2. Wakulla, 72
3. Valdosta, 79
4. Maclay, 115
5. Community Christian, 159
6. Florida State, 163
7. Leon, 169
8. Rickards, 184
9. Saint John Paul II Catholic, 242
10. Lincoln, 265

Top Ten High School Boys, John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational

1. 17:08.02, Ben Kirbo (Chiles) 12
2. 17:13.98, Wyatt Townsend (Chiles) 11
3. 17:43.11, Filippo Reina (Chiles) 12
4. 17:55.74, Parker Jackson (Valdosta) 12
5. 18:46.55, Lucas Mauch (Maclay) 11
6. 18:46.91, Burnis Williams (Valdosta) 11
7. 18:56.18, Jaden Callaghan (Wakulla) 11
8. 19:17.04, Tyler Canavan (Chiles) 12
9. 19:20.51, Owen Franklin (Chiles) 11
10. 19:23.04, Kent Grayson (Brookwood) 9

On weekdays during the 2021 cross-country season, Montford seventh-grader Annabelle Wiktorski races for her school, but on Saturdays she races for the Red Hills Running Club. So on Tuesday, 7 September 2021, Wiktorski placed second in the girls' 3K at the Mustang Stampede Middle School Cross-Country Meet, wearing a Montford uniform. On Saturday, 11 September 2021, she was wearing Red Hills colors when she won the middle school girls' 3K at the Panther Invitational, running 13:02. Fifth-grader Charlotte Sikes, also competing for Red Hills, was a close second in 13:04. FSUS seventh-grader Leah Boutwell was third in 13:32.


Red Hills had three more athletes in the top ten--Seventh-grader Savannah Stanley was fifth in 13:40, eighth-grader Madeline Morris was sixth in 14:02, and seventh-grader Haley Heitmeyer was seventh in 14:04. Once the fifth Red Hills girl finished, the team had 21 points and first place.


Maclay was second with 54 points, led by the eighth-place, 14:16 performance of seventh-grader Ellie Mazziotta. Trinity Catholic took third with 91 points; the top Trinity runner was sixth-grader Genevieve Gillespie, fourteenth in 15:24.


John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Girls

1. Red Hills Running Club, 21
2. Maclay, 54
3. Trinity Catholic, 91
4. Florida State, 97
5. Community Leadership, 117
6. Riversprings, 139
7. Cornerstone, 169
8. Wakulla, 173

Top Ten Middle School Girls, John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational

1. 13:01.82, Annabelle Wiktorski (Red Hills Running Club) 7
2. 13:03.96, Charlotte Sikes (Red Hills Running Club) 5
3. 13:31.86, Leah Boutwell (Florida State) 7
4. 13:40.08, Ryleigh Gunter (Florida State) 8
5. 13:59.85, Savannah Stanley (Red Hills Running Club) 7
6. 14:01.28, Madeline Morris (Red Hills Running Club) 8
7. 14:03.36, Haley Heitmeyer (Red Hills Running Club) 7
8. 14:15.52, Ellie Mazziotta (Maclay) 7
9. 14:21.20, Lilly Bell (Maclay) 7
10. 14:59.59, Mae Deison (Maclay) 8

Like Wiktorski, Deerlake seventh-grader Jonathan Kiros had also been a runner-up at the Mustang Stampede, finishing second in the boys' 3K. And like Wiktorski, Kiros was a winner at the Panther Invitational. Competing for Red Hills, Kiros threw down a 12:00 in the middle school boys' 3K, taking first. Mark Moore, a Trinity Catholic eighth-grader, was second in 12:07. A step behind him, Trinity Catholic sixth-grader James Mogg finished third in 12:08.


The Maclay boys won the team title with a winning score of 54. Contributing to that total were sixth-graders Logan Phipps (7th, 12:50) and Peter Fernandez (11th, 13:11), together with seventh-graders David Burton (12th, 13:14), Connor Thumm (13th, 13:14), and Max Colon (22nd, 1:16). Trinity Catholic was a close second with 59 points. Marianna placed third with 69 points. Marianna first runner was seventh-grader Maxwell Wester, eighth in 13:00.


John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Boys

1. Maclay, 54
2. Trinity Catholic, 59
3. Marianna, 69
4. Holy Comforter Episcopal, 87
5. Red Hills Running Club, 102
6. Valdosta, 166
7. Cornerstone, 195
8. Christ Classical, 195

Top Ten Middle School Boys, John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational

1. 11:59.98, Jonathan Kiros (Red Hills Running Club) 7
2. 12:06.88, Mark Moore (Trinity Catholic) 8
3. 12:07.82, James Mogg (Trinity Catholic) 6
4. 12:25.95, Gavin Poucher (Red Hills Running Club) 7
5. 12:27.21, Henry Lewis (Unattached) 8
6. 12:36.69, Luke Springer (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
7. 12:49.43, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 6
8. 12:59.64, Maxwell Wester (Marianna) 7
9. 13:01.80, Yoshi Hutt (Florida State) 8
10. 13:04.78, Trent Parsons (Red Hills Running Club) 7

Panther Invitational Cross-Country Meet Winners, 2016 - 2021
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
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

Links

• Complete results of John Paul II Catholic's 2021 Panther Invitational from Miles & Minutes, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR4G6nzBVCvliv5w-SfNK_orLD8NOUUODedUAc3hCJ9cQzCMp2fukKiJtpBfdmzHylrUgF7DmiDxuZg/pubhtml
  
  
• 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
  
  

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