Caleb Carmichael and Hannah Hosay come home to win the Tallahassee Turkey Trot

In the United States, Thanksgiving is a time for homecoming. If you don't believe that, just try to book an airline flight during the Thanksgiving weekend. There is an especially big Thanksgiving homecoming event for athletes in Tallahassee, Florida, and that's Gulf Winds Track Club's annual Tallahassee Turkey Trot Road Race. Caleb Carmichael was among the thousands in Southwood for the race on Thanksgiving morning, 23 November 2023. Carmichael lives in Pensacola where he coaches cross-country at the University of West Florida, but a couple of decades back he was a high school cross-country runner in Tallahassee. He returned to win the Turkey Trot 15K by over 200 meters, running 51:23. In the women's competition, Hannah Hosay made a trip back home from the University of Florida in Gainesville to score a Turkey Trot 15K women's title, placing ninth overall in 60:57.

Trevor Touchton and Caleb Carmichael

The Turkey Trot 15K was the longest of three races that started from Esplanade Way in Southwood at 8:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day. Caleb Carmichael set the early pace for the 15K field, but during the second kilometer Trevor Touchton took over the lead. By the four kilometer mark, Touchton, an alum of Lincoln High and the United States Military Academy, had opened a gap of ten seconds.


But Carmichael came back. The coach overtook Touchton by the midway point of the race, and then pulled away during the second half, going on to win in 51:23. Touchton took second in 52:08. Tallahassee's Leonardo Canete was the first master runner in the race, coming in third overall in 55:39. Mason Romuald, a senior on the Lincoln High cross-country team, took fourth in 57:37.

Hannah Hosay

On the women's side, Hannah Hosay never had any challengers during the 15K. By halfway the microbiology student was already 600 meters ahead, and that lead had grown to over 1200 meters by the time she crossed the finish line in a winning 60:57. Tallahassee's Melanie Leitman was the women's runner-up, placing 21st overall in 66:34. Kara Guinan, formerly a cross-country runner at Keene State University, was the third woman and 37th overall in 73:07. Laura Reina was the first woman master and fifth female finisher in the 15K, 51st overall in 76:46.


190 athletes finished Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15K.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15K

1. 51:23, Caleb Carmichael (M, 39) Pensacola, FL
2. 52:08, Trevor Touchton (M, 28) Tallahassee, FL
3. 55:39, Leonardo Canete (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
4. 57:37, Mason Romuald (M, 17) Tallahassee, FL
5. 58:11, James Sands (M, 39) Baltimore, MD
6. 58:29, Drew Farrington (M, 36) Okemos, MI
7. 58:31, Hong-Guo Yu (M, 55) Tallahassee, FL
8. 58:34, Michael Tercyak (M, 40) Crawfordville, FL
9. 61:12, Luke Aagaard (M, 20) Tallahassee, FL
10. 61:53, Fanxiu Zhu (M, 54) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15K

1. 60:57, Hannah Hosay (F, 22) Tallahassee, FL
2. 66:34, Melanie Leitman (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
3. 73:07, Kara Guinan (F, 23) Tallahassee, FL
4. 76:16, Madeleine Keenan (F, 26) Tallahassee, FL
5. 76:46, Laura Reina (F, 59) Tallahassee, FL
6. 77:13, Jane Johnson (F, 64) Tallahassee, FL
7. 77:26, Kyla Crunkilton (F, 36) Niceville, FL
8. 77:59, Nikky Manausa (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL
9. 78:08, Christine Gallagher (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
10. 78:22, Jennifer Bisson (F, 50) Milton, FL

In the Turkey Trot 10K, the men's competition was dominated by high school cross-country runners. During the eighth kilometer of the race two sophomores shared the lead--Matthew Hauser of Lincoln and Josh Hicks of Chiles. Hauser pulled away over the final two kilometers to win in 35:33 while Hicks faded, finishing seventh in 38:46.

Matthew Hauser and Joshua Hicks

Another high school sophomore, Samuel Wood of Sharpsburg, Georgia's Trinity Christian Academy, took second in 37:07. Kyle Kraeft of Tallahassee was third in 37:16. Bryan Hendricks was the top master runner in the 10K, coming in eighth overall in 39:19.


Adriana Piekarewicz didn't need a late-race push to take the women's title in the 10K. Piekarewicz finished nearly 400 meters ahead of the next woman in the race, placing sixth overall in 38:15. It was her second Tallahassee Turkey Trot 10K title; she had also won in 2017, running 38:03.

Adriana Piekarewicz

Caroline Couch, a Maclay School sophomore, was second in the women's standings, placing eleventh overall in 40:04. Just six days before the Turkey Trot, Couch had finished second in the class 1A girls' race at Florida's High School Cross-Country State Championship Meet. Karina Montes of Miami, Florida was the third woman in the 10K, coming in fourteenth overall in 41:09. Carrie Murphy of Tallahassee was the first woman master and eighth female finisher, 29th overall in 44:03.


407 athletes finished Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 10K.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 10K

1. 35:33, Matthew Hauser (M, 15) Tallahassee, FL
2. 37:07, Samuel Wood (M, 15) Sharpsburg, GA
3. 37:16, Kyle Kraeft (M, 34) Tallahassee, FL
4. 37:31, Brad Busboom (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
5. 38:11, Mark Moore (M, 15) Tallahassee, FL
6. 38:46, Joshua Hicks (M, 16) Tallahassee, FL
7. 39:19, Bryan Hendricks (M, 42) Defuniak Springs, FL
8. 39:41, Aneesh Rahangdale (M, 25) Tallahassee, FL
9. 39:41, Jack Hauser (M, 18) Tallahassee, FL
10. 41:04, Mikell Squires (M, 43) Gainesville, FL

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 10K

1. 38:15, Adriana Piekarewicz (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
2. 40:04, Caroline Couch (F, 15) Tallahassee, FL
3. 41:09, Karina Montes (F, 39) Miami, FL
4. 41:31, Agnes McTighe (F, 23) Tallahassee, FL
5. 42:24, Lily Moore (F, 19) Tallahassee, FL
6. 43:28, Viviana Schuyler (F, 21) Bainbridge, GA
7. 43:31, Alexis Mayfield (F, 12) Tallahassee, FL
8. 44:03, Carrie Murphy (F, 52) Tallahassee, FL
9. 45:52, Deanna McVay (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL
10. 45:56, Alissa Cole (F, 25) Tallahassee, FL

Where high school cross-country runners shone in the Turkey Trot 10K, collegiate harriers led the way in the 5K.

Andrew McGinnis

1500 meters into the race, Wyatt Townsend of William and Mary was setting the pace for the field, closely followed by Nathan Reffitt of the University of Tampa. A little bit farther back, Ben Kirbo was running in third, wearing Colorado State colors. Behind Kirbo was Andrew McGinnis, a second-year runner for the Samford University Bulldogs.


McGinnis overtook Kirbo, then Reffitt and Townsend. With a kilometer to go, the Samford Bulldog had a five-second lead. He widened that gap on the way to the finish line, which he reached in a winning 15:04. Townsend held off Reffitt for second, 15:17 to 15:18. Kirbo took fourth in 15:26. Hans Hassell was the first master runner in the short race and the 21st male finisher, 22nd overall in 18:53.

Erin Phelps

Erin Phelps, an alum of the Chiles High and Florida State University cross-country teams, was the first woman in the 5K, placing seventeenth overall in 18:31. Charlotte Sikes, a seventh-grader on the Swift Creek Middle School cross-country squad, placed runner-up in the women's standings, finishing 28th overall in 19:04. Suus Altorf of the Netherlands, a frosh harrier for Florida State, was third in the women's division and 29th overall in 19:11. Stephanie Liles-Weyant was the first woman master and the fifth female finisher in the 5K, 46th overall in 20:19.


3206 athletes finished Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 5K. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the races.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 5K

1. 15:04, Andrew McGinnis (M, 19) Columbus, GA
2. 15:17, Wyatt Townsend (M, 19) Tallahassee, FL
3. 15:18, Nathan Reffitt (M, 20) Monticello, FL
4. 15:26, Ben Kirbo (M, 20) Tallahassee, FL
5. 16:28, Clayton Knox (M, 18) Tallahassee, FL
6. 16:43, Matthew Mizereck (M, 32) Tallahassee, FL
7. 17:00, Charles Hruda (M, 22) Tallahassee, FL
8. 17:07, Cadden Maxwell (M, 17) Tallahassee, FL
9. 17:27, Will Winsor (M, 17) Tallahassee, FL
10. 17:31, Daniel Wurgler (M, 23) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot 5K

1. 18:31, Erin Phelps (F, 23) Tallahassee, FL
2. 19:04, Charlotte Sikes (F, 12) Tallahassee, FL
3. 19:11, Suus Altorf (F, 19) Tallahassee, FL
4. 19:44, Ana Wallace (F, 23) McLean, VA
5. 20:19, Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 51) Tallahassee, FL
6. 20:33, Emma-Claire Tanenbaum (F, 12) Tallahassee, FL
7. 21:05, Keely Bradle (F, 19) Charlotte, NC
8. 21:53, Julia Robinson (F, 13) Tallahassee, FL
9. 21:54, Acadia Hassell (F, 10) Tallahassee, FL
10. 21:57, Alyson Churchill (F, 21) Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee Turkey Trot winners, 1976 - 2023
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
November 1976	10 Miles	53:33, Tim Simpkins	78:10, Betty Ely
November 1977	10 Miles	52:49, Tim Simpkins	65:30, Rosemary Desloge
November 1978	15K	46:30, Ken Misner	58:14, Janice Gage
November 1979	15K	49:03, Chuck Jewell	61:06, Janice Gage
November 1980	15K	48:06, Gary Slayton	58:16, Laura Ledbetter
November 1981	15K	46:50, Ernie McKee	58:54, Liz Tromboli
November 1982	15K	47:47, George West	55:51, Margaret Coomber
November 1983	15K	47:02, Ronnie Treadway	55:29, Carla Borovicka
November 1984	15K	49:42, Rick Miller	57:23, Margaret Coomber
November 1985	15K	46:31, Larry Greene	56:49, Karen MacHarg
November 1986	15K	47:35, Herb Wills	53:36, Carla Borovicka
	5K	16:29, Kent Vann	20:44, Gail Reinertsen
November 1987	15K	46:26, Paul Waldron	53:49, Carla Borovicka
	5K	15:46, Rick Miller	19:52, Anita Cicanese
November 1988	15K	47:18, Herb Wills	54:08, Carla Borovicka
	5K	15:36, Rick Miller	20:21, Yvonne Gsteiger
November 1989	15K	47:05, Jessie Close	57:25, Janice Hochstein
	5K	16:02, Gary Droze	21:45, Kathy Bishop
November 1990	15K	48:37, Jeff Wentworth	58:34, Paula Johnson
	5K	15:54, Patrick Calcutt	22:06, Kathy Scarth
November 1991	15K	48:54, Jessie Close	60:51, Tina Davies
	5K	N/A	N/A	N/A
November 1992	15K	55:35, Douglas Henry	1:03:17, Sissi Carroll
	10K	33:52, Bill Crooks	38:00, Lynda Nilges
	5K	No 5K race
November 1993	15K	55:32, Thomas Holshouser	1:04:15, Paula Johnson/Linda Nilges
	10K	32:43, Gary Droze	38:02, Carrie Weyant
	5K	17:23, Tony Wade	17:45, Kirsty Wade
November 1994	15K	55:06, Terry Presnell	58:50, Carrie Weyant
	10K	34:56, Jason Gowans	43:19, Rachel Kosiewski
	5K	17:48, Bill McGuire	18:36, Kim Pawelek
November 1995	15K	49:12, Jessie Close	59:40, Carrie Weyant
	10K	34:17, Jeff Nielsen	40:40, Chateau Mangaroo
	5K	18:14, John Rogers	22:55, Nicole Hylan
November 1996	15K	54:55, Clarence Calloway	59:51, Carrie Weyant
	10K	31:37, Gary Droze	40:34, Susan Bergh
	5K	18:37, Dana Carpenter	17:23, Kim Pawelek
November 1997	15K	52:57, Jeff Nielsen	59:40, Carrie Weyant
	10K	32:37, Lee Willis	37:35, Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	17:01, Corey Cherr	21:40, Jordann Baker
November 1998	15K	52:47, Robert Pautienus	58:20, Jane Johnson
	10K	32:38, Lee Willis	37:37, Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	16:33, Michael Joanos	21:56, Anne Johanson
November 1999	15K	53:52, Tim Unger	58:38, Jane Johnson
	10K	33:35, Gary Droze	38:02, Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	15:45, Lee Willis	20:15, Julie Carico
November 2000	15K	54:30, Gary Droze/Art Remillard	58:39, Jane Johnson
	10K	33:02, Lee Willis	40:02, Allison Eagen
	5K	17:55, Jason Stegall	16:56, Breeda Dennehy-Willis
November 2001	15K	55:43, Slade Ward	64:01, Cynthia Lyons
	10K	35:11, Matt Katz	38:19, Kate Remillard
	5K	17:32, Hunter Cook	21:21, Julia Bryant
November 2002	15K	53:30, Jessie Close	63:26, Carrie Weyant
	10K	34:55, Gary Droze	41:08, Jane Johnson
	5K	16:47, Shawn Patterson	19:42, Karol Withrow
November 2003	15K	51:54, Jessie Close	59:54, Luanne Coulter
	10K	34:15, Phillip Rowan	37:42, Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	17:18, Corey Preugschat	20:47, Karla Savery
November 2004	15K	50:42, Matthew Dobson	59:54, Jane Johnson
	10K	36:38, Charlie Johnson	37:08, Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	16:34, Caleb Carmichael	19:23, Karol Withrow
24 November 2005	15K	52:34, Jessie Close	57:59, Luanne Coulter	211
	10K	34:56, Gary Droze	37:35, Sarah Docter-Williams	274
	5K	16:34, Alex Miletich	20:03, Jennifer Emo	992
23 November 2006	15K	50:24, Matthew Dobson	58:24, Sheryl Rosen	207
	10K	32:52, Alex Brickler	35:20, Breeda Dennehy-Willis	295
	5K	16:40, Calvin Vannoy	18:16, Sarah Docter-Williams	1232
22 November 2007	15K	54:37, Jay Wallace	59:52, Sheryl Rosen	208
	10K	32:56, Alex Brickler	41:52, Michelle Sikes	210
	5K	15:37, Stephan Smith	18:39, Micah Adriani	686
27 November 2008	15K	50:10, Chris Lake	59:56, Sheryl Rosen	341
	10K	34:07, Tyler Price	44:33, Kristin Sweeney	389
	5K	16:11, Stan Reecy	18:29, Lisa Johnson	1714
26 November 2009	15K	51:19, Chris Lake	57:49, Amy Hines	346
	10K	32:15, Tyler Price	39:45, Kristin Findley	502
	5K	14:52, Nick Stenuf	17:38, Karen Harvey	2075
25 November 2010	15K	50:48, Chris Lake	61:46, Allison Eagen	464
	10K	35:23, Josh Brown	36:47, Karen Harvey	587
	5K	14:46, Matt Mizereck	18:30, Lisa Johnson	2858
24 November 2011	15K	50:39, Chris Lake	57:36, Pasca Cheruiyot	428
	10K	33:15, Richard Smith	45:41, L.A. Hanlon	643
	5K	16:35, Sean Mendes	19:02, Lisa Johnson	3035
22 November 2012	15K	49:53, Chris Lake	57:27, Sheryl Rosen	432
	10K	33:15, Stanley Linton	36:05, Stephanie Slekis	766
	5K	16:02, Ryan Barrow	16:26, Violah Lagat	3682
28 November 2013	15K	49:59, Joshua Seitz	57:11, Sheryl Rosen	395
	10K	32:38, Stanley Linton	38:00, Seeley Gutierrez	774
	5K	15:28, Kevin Sullivan	18:36, Emily Ness	2980
27 November 2014	15K	49:37, Chris Lake	60:19, Sheryl Rosen	465
	10K	34:49, David Thornton	40:50, Marci Gray	667
	5K	15:52, Joshua Seitz	20:59, Alyson Churchill	3864
26 November 2015	15K	52:41, Nate Kaiser	57:41, Katie Sherron	306
	10K	35:01, Daniel Hamilton	38:40, Katie Gorman	679
	5K	14:53, Ricardo Estremera	18:33, Emma Reed	3890
24 November 2016	15K	47:44, Stan Linton	59:42, Sheryl Rosen	354
	10K	32:01, Justin Garrard	41:40, Renee Cox	682
	5K	16:02, Trevor Touchton	19:48, Katie Sack	4274
23 November 2017	15K	51:49, Anthony Malatesta	56:36, Katie Sherron	292
	10K	32:42, Justin Garrard	38:03, Adriana Piekarewicz	507
	5K	15:11, Ricardo Estremera	20:07, Kat Sack	3060
22 November 2018	15K	48:28, Stan Linton	56:45, Sheryl Rosen	237
	10K	33:13, Micah Kemp	38:59, Renee Cox	542
	5K	14:47, Ricardo Estremera	19:43, Caroline Willis	3811
28 November 2019	15K	49:24, Austin Whitelaw	57:33, Sheryl Rosen	227
	10K	31:34, Chris Haynes	35:51, Ann Centner	567
	5K	14:46, Ricardo Estremera	18:44, Angela Cipriani	3507
25 November 2021	15K	51:59, Trevor Sununu	56:19, Katie Sherron	182
	10K	36:55, Joe McLeod	34:21, Amy Hines	351
	5K	15:33, Chris Haynes	16:26, Ann Centner	2577
24 November 2022	15K	47:33, Stan Linton	62:28, Sheryl Rosen	204
	10K	33:16, Nick Flatt	37:12, Angela Cipriani	402
	5K	15:06, Ben Kirbo	19:01, Caroline Couch	3434
23 November 2023	15K	51:23, Caleb Carmichael	60:57, Hannah Hosay	190
	10K	35:33, Matthew Hauser	38:15, Adriana Piekarewicz	407
	5K	15:04, Andrew McGinnis	18:31, Erin Phelps	3206

Links

• Complete results of Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Turkey Trot
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT3B4mFAqNDTu7ZlEsPd-oaCLIQzH6XrS1OuoAueiNuRuxdsVE1YXKtcpoFudJFYsBqX7dBIkxNkBYP/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of Gulf Winds Track Club's 2023 Tallahassee Turkey Trot
  
  • Part 1:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121693710641823
  • Part 2:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121693981389243
  • Part 3:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10121694041074633
  
  
• 2019 story, “Austin Whitelaw and Sheryl Rosen headline the 15K at the 44th annual Tallahassee Turkey Trot”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/11/turkey-trot-2019.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Stan Linton trots 47:44 for 15K at the Tallahassee Turkey Trot”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/11/turkey-trot-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “5,645 enjoy Turkey Trot; Kaiser and Sherron enjoy it quickly”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/11/turkey-trot-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Lake and Rosen back on top at Turkey Trot”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/11/turkey-trot-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Seitz and Rosen speed through Southwood to Turkey Trot 15K titles”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/11/turkey-trot-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Lake and Rosen take titles as 6,000 runners take in Turkey Trot”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/turkey-trot-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Lake and 5,100 runners decide Turkey Trot is 'just right'”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/11/turkey-trot-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Nearly 5,000 runners devour four races at 2010 Tallahassee Turkey Trot”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/11/turkey-trot-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “No Turkeys Were Harmed in the Trotting of this Race”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/11/no-turkeys-were-harmed-in-trotting-of.html
  
  
• Gulf Winds Track Club's Tallahassee Turkey Trot
  http://tallyturkeytrot.com/
  
  
• Find upcoming races, poultry and non-poultry alike, on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#3036

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

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
  
  

#2774

Tallahassee high school cross-country opens with wins by Liliana Lewis, Jackson Yarbrough

I suppose that if you want to know when high school cross-country season begins in Florida, you can look on the Florida High School Athletic Association calendar. I usually go by nature--if the beautyberries are ripe, it's time for cross-country. There were ripe beautyberries in Tallahassee on Saturday morning, 21 August 2021, but a more positive sign that high school cross-country season was under way was the racing in Southwood at Florida State University School. Seven schools had teams there for the second annual Florida State University School Cross-Country Invitational. Wakulla High and Maclay School split the team titles, with Wakulla taking the girls' 5K. Led by sophomore Liliana Lewis' 21:20 win, the Wakulla War Eagles took first in the team standings with 28 points. In the boys' race, the Maclay Marauders scored a mathematically unbeatable 23 points, while Maclay senior Jackson Yarbrough edged Marauder junior Carter Rothell for first, both runners clocked in 19:00.

Clara Alford and Liliana Lewis

The girls raced first, leaving the starting line at 8:00 AM. There was quite a bit of jockeying for the lead in the first mile. Liliana Lewis of Wakulla led for a while, then a trio of Maclay runners took over--frosh Kassidy Moninger, eighth-grader Caroline Couch, and frosh Payton Thumm. Two kilometers into the race, though, Lewis was in front to stay. By the three kilometer mark, the Maclay girls had fallen off the pace, and the vanguard was Lewis with Wakulla senior Clara Alford a few steps back.


"I was really hoping she was right behind me," said Lewis, always conscious of team scoring.


Alford remained close, but Lewis remained in first. They took the top two places for Wakulla, with Lewis first in 21:20 and Alford second in 21:24.


"I wanted to get into the 20s, but I was happy with my time," said Lewis.

Kassidy Moninger and Niya Colman

Moninger of Maclay was third in 21:36, while Florida State junior Niya Colman took fourth in 21:42.


Wakulla's five scorers all finished in the top ten. After Lewis and Alford, War Eagles sophomore Taylor Pfeifer was seventh in 22:45, senior Marina Whitsell was eighth in 23:08, and sophomore Analecia Ferrell tenth in 23:25. That added up to 28 points and the second FSUS Invitational win in two years for the Wakulla girls.


Led by Kassidy Moninger's third-place finish, Maclay was second with 50 points. Host Florida State University School and Community Christian each scored 82 points, tying for third. Niya Coleman (4th, 21:42) was the first FSUS finisher and junior Teresa Meli (9th, 23:12) the top runner for Community Christian.


2021 FSUS Invitational High School Girls' 5K Team Standings

1. 28, Wakulla
2. 50, Maclay
3. 82, Florida State University
3. 82, Community Christian
5. 112, Lincoln
6. NTS, Godby

Top Ten Athletes, 2021 FSUS Invitational High School Girls' 5K

1. 21:19.43, Liliana Lewis (Wakulla) 10
2. 21:23.05, Clara Alford (Wakulla) 12
3. 21:35.25, Kassidy Moninger (Maclay) 9
4. 21:41.29, Niya Coleman (Florida State University) 11
5. 22:27.00, Payton Thumm (Maclay) 9
6. 22:28.69, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 8
7. 22:44.76, Taylor Pfeifer (Wakulla) 10
8. 23:07.59, Marina Whitsell (Wakulla) 12
9. 23:11.62, Teresa Meli (Community Christian) 11
10. 23:24.27, Analecia Ferrell (Wakulla) 10

There were two hairpin turns on the 5K course at the FSUS Invitational. The second of those comes in the final hundred meters of the race. Some athlete slowed down to negotiate the turn. Others grabbed a fence post to help them swing around. A few slipped on the grass and fell before getting back to their feet and charging for the finish line.


In the boys' 5K, the lead runners ran past the final turn.

Jackson Yarbrough

Maclay senior Jackson Yarbrough, second in the state last year in class 1A boys' cross-country, entered the race still recovering from a summer bout of mononucleosis. Nevertheless, Yarbrough set the pace for most of the first half of the 5K, holding off a variety of challengers. Late in the race, Yarbrough was part of lead pack that included Maclay juniors Carter Rothell, Clayton Knox, and Lucas Mauch, as well as Wakulla junior Jaden Callaghan. The tempo increased. Yarbrough and Rothell were left behind. Then the leaders blew by the final turn.


Everyone shouted for the errant runners to return, but before they turned around Yarbrough and Rothell made the final turn and motored toward the finish. Yarbrough was slightly ahead as the two crossed the line in 19:00. Knox was third in 19:09 and Mauch fourth in 19:11, just ahead of Callaghan's fifth-place 19:12.


Maclay took the top four places, then the Marauder's completed their team score when their fifth runner, senior Lawrence Bishop, came across the line fifteenth in 20:48. That gave the Maclay boys 23 points and the team title. For the second year in a row, Wakulla was runner-up in the team standings, this time with 38 points. Lincoln and FSUS each scored 81 points, but Lincoln took third on the tiebreaker.


2021 FSUS Invitational High School Boys' 5K Team Standings

1. 23, Maclay
2. 38, Wakulla
3. 81, Lincoln
4. 81, Florida State University
5. NTS, Godby
   NTS, Rickards
   NTS, Community Christian

Top Ten Athletes, 2021 FSUS Invitational High School Boys' 5K

1. 18:59.55, Jackson Yarbrough (Maclay) 12
2. 18:59.78, Carter Rothell (Maclay) 11
3. 19:08.23, Clayton Knox (Maclay) 11
4. 19:10.62, Lucas Mauch (Maclay) 11
5. 19:11.21, Jaden Callaghan (Wakulla) 11
6. 19:20.99, Donnie Pitts (Wakulla) 12
7. 19:52.71, ShiQuel Tucker (Godby) 11
8. 19:56.00, Enijah Thomas (Rickards) 10
9. 20:11.73, Joseph Wiedeman (Wakulla) 11
10. 20:22.42, Shawn Peckham (Wakulla) 12

It didn't take long for Charlotte Sikes to get into the lead of the middle school girls' 3K at the FSU Invitational. Once in the lead, she stayed there. Sikes won the race in 13:03, a 24-second improvement on her time in the 2020 race and twelve seconds faster than last year's winning time. Maclay seventh-grader Ellie Mazziotta took second in 13:43 and Leah Boutwell, a Florida State seventh-grader, was third in 13:50.

Charlotte Sikes

Maclay's scoring runners all finished in the top ten, with Mazziotta joined by sixth-grader Mary Price (4th, 14:05), seventh-grader Aurora Earlywine (5th, 14:10), seventh-grader Lily Bell (7th, 14:26), and eighth-grader Mae Deison (8th, 14:35). Those five gave the Marauders a perfect fifteen-point score and the team title. Community Leadership Academy took second with 40 points. CLA's top runners were seventh-graders Ashlynn Naumann (9th, 15:15) and Briley Hanlon (10th, 15:15).


2021 FSUS Invitational Middle School Girls' 3K Team Standings

1. 15, Maclay
2. 40, Community Leadership
3. NTS, Red Hills Running Club
   NTS, Florida State University
   NTS, Community Christian

Top Ten Athletes, 2021 FSUS Invitational Middle School Girls' 3K

1. 13:02.83, Charlotte Sikes (Red Hills Running Club) 6
2. 13:42.02, Ellie Mazziotta (Maclay) 7
3. 13:49.91, Leah Boutwell (Florida State University) 7
4. 14:04.96, Mary Price (Maclay) 6
5. 14:09.44, Aurora Earlywine (Maclay) 7
6. 14:09.73, Ryleigh Gunter (Florida State University) 8
7. 14:25.59, Lilly Bell (Maclay) 7
8. 14:34.82, Mae Deison (Maclay) 8
9. 15:14.17, Ashlyn Naumann (Community Leadership) 7
10. 15:14.56, Briley Hanlon (Community Leadership) 7

Right after the start of the middle school boys' 3K, Wakulla eighth-grader Henry Lewis charged out ahead of the rest of the field. Before the end of the first kilometer, Lewis was overtaken by Luke Meli of Community Christian, another eighth-grader. Meli held his position and won the race in 11:27. Lewis was second in 11:50, almost a minute faster than he had run in the 2020 Invitational. Seventh-grader Randon Manausa of Holy Comforter took third in 12:14.

Luke Meli

Logan Phipps took fourth in 11:25. Phipps, a Maclay sixth-grader, was the first of four Maclay runners in the top ten. The other three were eighth-grader Collins Dixon (7th, 12:33), seventh-grader David Burton (8th, 12:47), and fifth-grader Wesley Seise (10th, 12:54). A few steps behind Seise in 12:54, Maclay seventh-grader Connor Thumm placed eleventh, giving the Marauders 20 points, first place in the middle school boys' team standings, and a sweep of the middle school titles at the Invitational.


Led by Meli, Community Christian was second with 42 points. Community Leadership Academy placed third with 73 points. CLA's first runner was seventh-grader Josiah Stake, seventeenth in 13:52.


Miles and Minutes, LLC of Tallahassee timed and scored the 2021 FSUS Invitational.


2021 FSUS Invitational Middle School Boys' 3K Team Standings

1. 20, Maclay
2. 42, Community Christian
3. 73, Community Leadership
4. NTS, Wakulla
   NTS, Fairview
   NTS, Holy Comforter Episcopal
   NTS, Florida State University

Top Ten Athletes, 2021 FSUS Invitational Middle School Boys' 3K

1. 11:29.61, Luke Meli (Community Christian) 8
2. 11:49.79, Henry Lewis (Wakulla) 8
3. 12:13.58, Randon Manausa (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 7
4. 12:24.06, Logan Phipps (Maclay) 6
5. 12:29.24, Emari Thomas (Fairview) 6
6. 12:29.59, Ethan Nicholson (Fairview) 6
7. 12:32.33, Collins Dickson (Maclay) 8
8. 12:46.79, David Burton (Maclay) 7
9. 12:50.14, Luke Springer (Holy Comforter Episcopal) 8
10. 12:50.93, Wesley Seise (Maclay) 5

Links

• Complete results of the 2021 Florida State University School Invitational
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQM8E3X0T0D0pzibgFYV0m2fWSeupQpI4P2ZnVIKjaQ92QZPM6KeBrUg9OLo61jq_jRkw0v3sWGQlc4/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of the 2021 Florida State University School Invitational
  
  • HS Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118292844973883
  • HS Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118291892762123
  • MS Girls: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118291128543623
  • MS Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10118290278127863
  
  
• Course maps for the 2021 Florida State University School Invitational
  
  • 5K: https://app.box.com/s/nhmvelj3lqdxxzfk7jghwt9hsz0ivu08
  • 3K: https://app.box.com/s/5ezahmwtg9kaa9xvaoe8vl2kgsr5fzku
  
  
• Tallahassee area cross country meets in 2021
  [ COMING SOON! PLEASE CHECK BACK! ]
  
  

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