Kaiser wins the GWTC 30K while Khosla and Rosen tumble records in the 15K

Goldilocks wouldn't care for the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K. Like the porridge she sampled in the three bears' cottage, some years the weather is too hot and some years it's too cold. Like the bears' beds she tried out, some years the clay roads are too hard and some year's they're too soft--it depends on when it rained last. Nevertheless, some years everything at the 30K is just right. The 38th annual GWTC 30K on Saturday morning, 17 January 2015, fell in one of those "just right" years, with near perfect weather and road conditions. Taking advantage of the "just right" day on Old Centerville and Sunny Hill Roads, Nate Kaiser won the 18.6-mile race in 1:53:19, while Katie Sherron took the women's title with a 2:22:32, finishing 19th overall. In the concurrently run 15K, Leon High senior Sukhi Khosla won with a new course record of 50:11. Sheryl Rosen picked up her third women's win of 2015 in the 15K, placing 12th overall in 58:37.


The 30K and 15K started near the Retreat at Bradley's Pond, just north of Tallahassee. Nearly 300 runners made the first turn from Bradley Road onto Centerville Road; 165 would finish the 15K and another 107 the 30K. Chasing the fastest 15K runners, Five-time GWTC 30K champion Vince Molosky led the long race. At 7-1/2 kilometers the 15K runners turned around to head back to Bradley's Pond, and Molosky was alone out front. The nearest pursuit was half a kilometer back--Tallahassee runners Nate Kaiser, Geb Kiros, and Adam Greenstein. Another hundred meters behind that group, Patrick Whitehead of Albany, Georgia, ran in fifth.


Molosky made it to the halfway point, the turnaround on Sunny Hill Road, still in command of the 30K. There are two halves of a race though. Nate Kaiser caught Molosky early in the second half of the 30K, and by the 20K mark Kaiser was 70 meters ahead. That gap was widening. Patrick Whitehead was still over half a kilometer back at that point, but he was gaining on Molosky.


"I caught him with about two miles to go," said Whitehead.


No one caught Kaiser, however. In his GWTC 30K debut, Kaiser won the race in 1:53:19. Whitehead was second in 1:56:51 and Molosky was third in 1:58:55. Once a contender for second, Adam Greenstein was fourth in 2:02:02. Peter Kaus placed fifth in 2:03:47. Geb Kiros was the fastest master runner in the race, sixth overall in 2:04:54.


Katie Sherron had won the women's division at the 30K two of the last three years. Seven kilometers into the 2015 race, she was 300 meters ahead of the next woman, Jillian Heddaeus, and looking likely to make it three out of four. Sherron made it to the halfway mark still leading the women's field, and her second half was as strong as her first. Over the last 10 kilometers Sherron doubled her lead and finished atop the women's standings in 2:22:32. Heddaeus hung on to take the second women's spot, 22nd overall in 2:28:31. 2014 30K women's winner Laura McDermott was narrowing the gap on Heddaeus late in the race, but never enough to pose a challenge. The third woman finisher, McDermott was 23rd overall in 2:30:01. Nancy Stedman was the first woman master and sixth female finisher, placing 33rd overall in 2:39:34.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 1:53:19 ~ Nate Kaiser (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
2. 1:56:51 ~ Patrick Whitehead (M, 28) Albany, GA
3. 1:58:55 ~ Vince Molosky (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
4. 2:02:02 ~ Adam Greenstein (M, 23)
5. 2:03:47 ~ Peter Kaus (M, 30) Tallahassee, FL
6. 2:04:54 ~ Geb Kiros (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL
7. 2:12:34 ~ Jack McDermott (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
8. 2:16:53 ~ Mark Tombrink (M, 27)
9. 2:18:21 ~ Paul Guyas (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
10. 2:18:42 ~ Jon Mason (M, 41)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 2:22:32 ~ Katie Sherron (F, 33) Tallahassee, FL
2. 2:28:31 ~ Jillian Heddaeus (F, 31) Tallahassee, FL
3. 2:30:01 ~ Laura McDermott (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
4. 2:34:40 ~ Hilary Joyner (F, 39)
5. 2:34:40 ~ Nikky Manausa (F, 33)
6. 2:39:34 ~ Nancy Stedman (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
7. 2:42:25 ~ Jane Skalski (F, 30) Tallahassee, FL
8. 2:42:33 ~ Katie Clark (F, 40)
9. 2:43:44 ~ Emma Spencer (F, 33)
10. 2:43:51 ~ Tiffany Roddenberry (F, 30)

Race day dawned on about as close to a winter morning as North Florida ever sees, with frost glazing the grass along the road. It was the kind of cool air in which the heat engine that powers a runner works most efficiently. You could see that in the front of the 15K field. Sukhi Khosla and Hunter Scott started the race in long sleeves, knit caps, and gloves, but by three kilometers the two Leon High seniors had abandoned the cold weather gear. Khosla was on a mission. The holder of four Florida high school running titles and the winner of the last two GWTC 15K races, Khosla wanted the course record. He had missed it by one second in the 2014 race, a rainy day when the unpaved half of the course had been a muddy morass. This year the footing was excellent. Taking advantage of the conditions Khosla posted a winning 50:11, trimming nearly a minute off of Will Stanford's 2009 course record of 51:05. Hunter Scott was second in 51:51 and Dan Baur third in 53:43. Zach DeVeau ran a strong second half, moving up to edge Leon sophomore Matt Cashin for fourth, 55:28 to 55:32. Jesse Espinoza was the fastest master in the 15K, coming in sixth overall in 56:27.


Sheryl Rosen is a four-time women's champ at the GWTC 30K, with wins in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2014 she took a break from the long race and finished second to Seeley Gutierrez in the 15K. In 2015 Rosen was back in the 15K and finishing second to no one. The Tallahassee lawyer ran 58:37, placing 12th overall, taking the first women's spot, and setting a new course record for women. It was also nearly two minutes faster than Rosen had run two months earlier on a fully-paved 15K course at the Tallahassee Turkey Trot. Stephanie Liles-Weyant was the women's runner-up and top woman master, coming in 23rd overall in 62:47. Renee Cox was third in the women's standings, 30th overall in 67:04.


When everything is "just right," a lot of athletes leave the race happy. That includes out-of-town visitors, like Albany, Georgia, runner Patrick Whitehead.


"Gorgeous course," said Whitehead after the race. "I hope to run it again."


Next January he can.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 50:11 ~ Sukhi Khosla (M, 18)
2. 51:51 ~ Hunter Scott (M, 18)
3. 53:43 ~ Dan Baur (M, 28)
4. 55:28 ~ Zach Deveau (M, 27)
5. 55:32 ~ Matthew Cashin (M, 15)
6. 56:27 ~ Jesse Espinoza (M, 48)
7. 58:00 ~ Adam Wallenfelsz (M, 17)
8. 58:08 ~ Danny Moore (M, 17)
9. 58:23 ~ Jake Mazziotta (M, 16)
10. 58:29 ~ James McClure (M, 15)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 58:37 ~ Sheryl Rosen (F, 30)
2. 62:47 ~ Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 42)
3. 67:04 ~ Renee Cox (F, 27)
4. 71:06 ~ Sarrah Carroll (F, 32)
5. 71:16 ~ Zoe Sheldon (F, 15)
6. 71:26 ~ Caroline Willis (F, 15)
7. 71:45 ~ Grace Lockhart (F, 16)
8. 71:51 ~ Gray Kinch (F, 15)
9. 74:49 ~ Jane Johnson (F, 55)
10. 76:52 ~ Sarah Dugas (F, 36)

Gulf Winds Track Club 30K Champions, 1978 - 2015
Dates	Race	Men	Women	Finishers
17 January 2015	30K	1:53:19, Nate Kaiser	2:22:32, Katie Sherron	107
	15K	50:11, Sukhi Khosla	58:37, Sheryl Rosen	165
11 January 2014	30K	1:57:29, Vince Molosky	2:34:23, Laura McDermott	55
	15K	51:06, Sukhi Khosla	61:27, Seeley Gutierrez	169
12 January 2013	30K	1:48:22, Stanley Linton	2:16:41, Katie Showman	150
	15K	52:57, Sukhi Khosla	64:19, Kristin Sweeney	200
14 January 2012	30K	1:51:30, Charlie Johnson	2:17:38, Katie Showman	150
	15K	53:29, Stanley Linton	60:42, Pasca Cheruiyot	176
15 January 2011	30K	1:51:48, Vince Molosky	2:17:15, Heather Griffis	103
	15K	53:03, Stephen Cox	59:55, Lisa Johnson	169
16 January 2010	30K	1:56:14, Vince Molosky	2:14:22, Sheryl Rosen	90
	15K	51:50, Matt Mizereck	63:45, Lisa Johnson	101
17 January 2009	30K	1:54:06, Vince Molosky	2:11:41, Sheryl Rosen	87
	15K	51:05, Will Stanford	61:49, Lisa Johnson	96
12 January 2008	30K	2:00:29, Vince Molosky	2:17:24, Sheryl Rosen	77
	15K	54:23, Matt Mizereck	63:13, Lisa Johnson	126
13 January 2007	30K	2:01:23, Justin Dickieson	2:04:21, Sheryl Rosen	70
	15K	58:18, Matthew Mizereck	73:40, Anna Busby	50
21 January 2006	30K	2:03:36, Michael Douma	2:09:27, Stephanie Liles	65
	15K	58:51, Chris Holland	60:30, Sarah Docter-Williams	59
22 January 2005	30K	1:56:18, Art Remillard	2:13:50, Jane Johnson	38
16 January 2004	30K	1:56:00, Timothy Bolton	2:09:27, Jane Johnson	69
18 January 2003	30K	2:02:28, Larry Mengelkoch	2:07:46, Jane Johnson
15 December 2001	30K	2:09:43, Tom Ratliffe	2:22:56, Carrie Weyant
3 February 2001	30K	2:00:29, Kevin Porter	2:02:27, Jane Johnson
5 February 2000	30K	1:57:47, Garth Grumme	1:53:04, Anne Van Schuppen
6 February 1999	30K	1:58:17, Doug Gorton	2:11:20, Jane Johnson
10 January 1998	30K	1:57:45, Clarence Calloway	2:04:34, Jane Johnson
7 January 1997	30K	1:54:26, Tracy Burch	2:00:28, Jane Johnson
13 January 1996	30K	1:46:14, John Viitanen	2:12:30, Eileen Telford
14 January 1995	30K	1:49:45, Herb Wills	2:22:18, Nancy Stuparich
22 January 1994	30K	1:43:50, Herb Wills	2:07:27, Lisa Herman
16 January 1993	30K	1:43:54, Herb Wills	2:12:42, Carrie Hunnicutt
4 January 1992	30K	1:46:36, Jessie Close	2:13:46, Lynda Nilges
12 January 1991	30K	1:37:31, David Keen	2:06:03, Paula Johnson
13 January 1990	30K	1:43:57, Herb Wills	2:12:00, Paula Johnson
14 January 1989	30K	1:45:31, Jessie Close	2:22:07, Mary Jean Yon
16 January 1988	30K	1:45:24, Tom Burr	2:10:04, Mae Cleveland
10 January 1987	30K	1:44:45, Larry Greene	2:11:59, Karen Macharg
18 January 1986	30K	1:38:54, Herb Wills	2:10:48, Missy James
14 January 1985	30K	1:45:10, Herb Wills	2:17:56, Mae Cleveland
14 January 1984	30K	1:43:32, Noel Shumann	2:04:20, Barbara Balzer
15 January 1983	30K	1:48:18, Andrew Wills	2:18:18, Christy Orthman
16 January 1982	30K	1:44:41, Rick Miller	1:56:57, Laura Ledbetter
1981	30K
12 January 1980	30K	1:51:19, Steve Ray	2:48:31, Robyn Anderson
3 February 1979	30K	1:42:13, Ken Misner	2:12:44, Lynda Heimann
11 March 1978	30K	1:46:19, Tim Simpkins	2:22:31, Donna Glotzbach
In 1978 the race was run on Apalachicola National Forest roads, starting and finishing near Hilliardville. From 1979 to 1981 the race was run on Natural Bridge Road. From 1982 to February 2001 the race was run in the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge. From December 2001 to 2005 the race was run at Natural Bridge. From 2006 to 2015 the GWTC 30K was run on Old Centerville Road and Sunny Hill Road, starting and finishing at Bradley's Retreat in Felkel.

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2015/GWTC%2030K-15K%202015.asp
  
  
• More photos of the 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  
  • Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105655431935913.1073742060.5215641&l=a1a2963c0e
  • Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105658154395083.1073742061.5215641&l=0e7d4202d3
    
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  
  • 15K: https://picasaweb.google.com/112560881455823075870/GWTC15K_15
    
  • 30K: https://picasaweb.google.com/112560881455823075870/GWTC30K_15
    
  
  
• 2014 story, "Tough mudders Molosky and McDermott win a messy GWTC 30K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/01/gwtc-30k-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, "A no-excuse 30K for Linton and Showman"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/gwtc-30k-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, "Johnson and Showman roll through the Red Hills in the GWTC 30K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/01/gwtc-30k-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, "Molosky and Griffis run top 30K times on timeless Old Centerville Road"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/01/gwtc-30k-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, "Molosky and Rosen defend titles at a muddy 30K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/molosky-and-rosen-defend-titles-at.html
  
  
• 2009 story, "2009 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-gulf-winds-track-club-30k-15k.html
  
  
• 2008 story, "2008 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-gulf-winds-track-club-30k.html
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL06013DL for the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL06013DL
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL06014DL for the Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL06014DL
  
  
• Find upcoming races, long and short, in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1281

State Championship Titles of Tallahassee & Leon County High School Cross-Country Teams, 1947-2014

High school cross country isn't that old as an organized sport in Florida. The first FHSAA state championship in cross country wasn't held until 1947. In 1969, over two decades later, a Tallahassee school first brought home a state cross country title. Since then Leon County boys (and starting in the 1970s, girls) have won numerous team and individual titles at the state cross country meet. The 2014 championships were held right in Tallahassee at Leon County's Apalachee Regional Park, home to the FHSAA state cross country final since 2012. Capital City athletes didn't leave empty handed.


In the final event of a morning of championship races, Leon senior Sukhi Khosla won the class 3A boys race in 15:01.8, the fastest time of the day on the 5K course at ARPXC. It was Khosla's second state cross country win and the ninth for Leon--putting the school in the FHSAA record book for the most individual championships. Repeating is no small feat--since the state meet was established in 1947, only 29 boys have tallied two wins. An even more elite group of five boys won three times. Three of the double winners have come from Tallahassee--Ray Carter (1988, 1989) of Leon, Patrick Swain (2008, 2009) of Maclay, and now Sukhi Khosla (2013, 2014) of Leon. The Capital City also produced one of the triple winners--Matt Mizereck (2007, 2008, 2009) of Leon.


The same race put a Tallahassee team into the record books, as the Chiles Timberwolves took the class 3A boys' team title--the school's fourth. seniors Avery Bartlett (3rd, 15:31.8), Allan Hernandez (7th, 15:39.1), Tyson Murray (8th, 15:43.4), and Jared Grigas (24th, 16:05.8) combined with with junior Austin Dodson (27th, 16:08.2) to put up a winning score of 64 points for the Timberwolves, with back-up by seniors Thomas Blaine (32nd, 16:15.5) and Austin Runtschke (78th, 16:56.2).


Tallahassee dominance in the 3A boys race continued as the Leon boys, led by Khosla, placed second in the team standings with 77 points. In addition to Khosla, seniors Scott Hunter (4th, 15:33.6), Kyle Buchholz (21st, 16:01.9), and Wil Luca (22nd, 16:04.0), together with sophomore Matt Cashin (39th, 16:22.9) scored for the Lions. Senior Maxx Marshall (41st, 16:23.1) and junior Adam Wallenfelsz (92nd, 17:11.3) also competed for Leon.


Leon County was also represented in the class 3A girls race, as Chiles scored 147 points to place fifth. Chiles junior Emma Tucker put together the right race at the right time, running 18:44.2 to place third in the state final. Junior Alex Wallace (12th, 19:03.4), frosh Ana Wallace (31st, 19:35.5), junior Juliana Krueger (44th, 19:56.0), frosh Erin Phelps (90th, 20:50.3), sophomore Jianni McDole (116th, 21:31.5), and frosh Cynthia Patterson (154th, 22:59.9) also contributed to the Chiles cause.


Tallahassee Maclay was fourth in the class 1A girls team standings, scoring 158 points. Sophomore Caroline Willis broke into the top ten for the Marauders, placing ninth in 19:20.9. Sophomore Molly McCann (30th, 20:06.9), sixth-grader Lindsay James (41st, 20:25), eight-grader Kenzie Mazziotta (44th, 20:39.0), frosh Jainey Coates (52nd, 20:58.9), frosh Ann Elise Desotell (53rd, 21:00.5), and junior Katie Whitworth filled out the rest of Maclay's squad in the championship race.


Maclay was also represented in the class 1A boys race, where the Marauders scored 208 points to take fifth. Junior George Gwynn (25th, 17:05.1), sophomore Jake Mazziotta (29th, 17:11.1), frosh James McClure (42nd, 17:36.7), junior Daniel Becker (80th, 18:18.9), frosh Daniel Sweeney (103rd, 18:44.8), junior George Escobar (133rd, 19:23.0), and eighth-grader Clay Milford (145th, 19:37.6) competed for Maclay.


Some of Tallahassee's neighbors also made it to the State Finals. The Blountstown Tigers and the Aucilla Christian Warriors both raced in class 1A boys competition. Blountstown was scored 505 points to place 22nd with senior Thomas Howell (77th, 18:17.4), sophomore Tyreek Sumner (98th, 18:41.2), frosh Jesse Boyd (110th, 18:50.2), sophomore Alfredo Puente (160th, 20:05.9), frosh Weston Schrock (161st, 20:06.8), frosh Will Price (162nd, 20:08.4), and sophomore Mark Wilson (170th, 20:26.4). It was the third year in a row at the State Championships for the Tigers. For Aucilla Christian, it was their second straight trip to the State Meet. This time, the Warriors placed 24th with 555 points earned by the running of sophomore Gatlin Nennstiel (45th, 17:39.0), senior Carson Nennstiel (142nd, 19:35.6), sophomore Nick Arceneaux (149th, 19:44.9), sophomore Traynor Barker (158th, 20:03), seventh-grader Dawson Bishop (159th, 20:04.8), sophomore Chaz Hamilton (169th, 20:25.9), and junior Taylor Nugent (180th, 21:26.8).


The Aucilla Christian girls made it to State for the fifth year in a row in class 1A, placing 25th and scoring 723 points. Racing for the Warriors were frosh Camryn Grant (124th, 22:54.5), sixth-grader Olivia Walton (152nd, 23:52.2), sixth-grader Anna Leigh Trest (157th, 24:06.5), junior Sarah Tharpe (167th, 24:55.6), seventh-grader Abby Reams (168th, 25:00.4), eighth-grader Grace Beshears (175th, 25:57.9), and eighth-grader Hanna Searcy (177th, 26:14.8).


In class 2A, Wakulla made a return appearance in both the boys race and the girls race. Haleigh Martin (16th, 19:40.5), Constance Lewis (109th, 21:56.0), Juliana Prestia (114th, 22:04.9), Lydia Wiedeman (130th, 22:18.2), Emily Lawrence (166th, 23:52.3), Alyssa McIver (174th, 25:19.9), and Jeanna Prisco (175th, 25:58.0) scored 474 points for the War Eagles in the class 2A girls race, placing 20th. The Wakulla boys placed 22nd in the class 2A race on the strength of 514 points scored by the team of sophomore Bryce Cole (72nd, 17:26.4), senior Lane Williams (104th, 17:53.5), sophomore James Story (142nd, 18:30.9), frosh Dylan Peebles (144th, 18:31.4), senior Travis Parks (155th, 18:38.5), frosh Caleb Wiedeman (157th, 18:39.8), and senior Alan Pearson (163rd, 18:51.0).


Because of the winning performances of the Chiles boys and Leon's Sukhi Khosla, I have to update the list of titles won by local teams. Thank you, guys; thank you too much. And congratulations.

---

CHILES HIGH SCHOOL

Team Titles

Boys:
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2003
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2005
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2006
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2014

Girls:
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2008
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2009
FHSAA 3A State Champions, 2010


Individual Titles

Boys:
2003, Alex Miletich, 3A State Champion

Girls:
2009, Carly Thomas, 3A State Champion
2012, Rachel Givens, 3A State Champion

---

GODBY HIGH SCHOOL

Individual Titles

Boys:
2007, Joe Franklin, 2A State Champion

---

LEON HIGH SCHOOL

Team Titles

Boys:
FHSAA 2A State Champions 1969
FHSAA 3A State Champions 2007
FHSAA 3A State Champions 2008
FHSAA 3A State Champions 2009

Girls:
FHSAA 3A State Champions 1977
FHSAA 3A State Champions 1978
FHSAA 3A State Champions 1986
FHSAA 3A State Champions 1987
FHSAA 3A State Champions 1988


Individual Titles:

Boys:
1976 Herb Wills, 4A State Champion
1986 Doug Dickinson, 3A State Champion
1988 Ray Carter, 3A State Champion
1989 Ray Carter, 3A State Champion
2007 Matt Mizereck, 3A State Champion
2008 Matt Mizereck, 3A State Champion
2009 Matt Mizereck, 3A State Champion
2013 Sukhi Khosla, 3A State Champion
2014 Sukhi Khosla, 3A State Champion

Girls:
1979 Rosemary Desloge, 3A State Champion
1988 Jessica Scafidi, 3A State Champion
1989 Jessica Scafidi, 3A State Champion
1990 Jessica Scafidi, 3A State Champion

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LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

Individual Titles

Girls:
1991 Kathy Ward, 4A State Champion
1992 Kathy Ward, 4A State Champion

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MACLAY SCHOOL

Team Titles

Boys:
FHSAA 2A State Champions, 1998
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 1999
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 2000
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 2001
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 2002


Girls:
FHSAA 2A State Champions, 1997
FHSAA 2A State Champions, 1998
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 1999
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 2001
FHSAA 1A State Champions, 2005


Individual Titles

Boys:
2002, Ryan Deak, 1A State Champion
2008, Patrick Swain, 1A State Champion
2009, Patrick Swain, 1A State Champion

---

NORTH FLORIDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Individual Titles

Boys:
1989, Robert Boyd, 1A State Champion

---

Links

• A complete recap of Florida's 2014 State Cross-Country Championships at DistancePreps.com
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=299941
  
  
• More photos of the 2014 FHSAA State Cross-Country Championships
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105349162053213.1073742043.5215641&l=d5083503ba
  
  
• State Championship Titles of Tallahassee and Leon County High School Cross-Country Teams, 1947-2013
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/11/tallahassee-titles-1947-2013.html
  
  
• State Championship Titles of Tallahassee and Leon County High School Cross-Country Teams, 1947-2012
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/tallahassee-titles-1947-2012.html
  
  
• State Championship Titles of Tallahassee and Leon County High School Cross-Country Teams, 1947-2010
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/11/tallahassee-titles-1947-2010.html
  
  
• State Championship Titles of Tallahassee and Leon County High School Cross-Country Teams, 1947-2009
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/12/state-championship-titles-of.html
  
  
• Cross-country season may be over, but there are still races to run on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1248

Sukhi Khosla and Leon win big at Bale 'N' Trail

If you were going by the FACA cross-country rankings, you would have concluded that Bartram Trail and Creekside boys' teams would both place ahead of Leon at the 13th Bale 'N' Trail Cross Country Original. But on Saturday morning, 27 September 2014, the boys from Tallahassee demonstrated a total lack of respect for the rankings by demolishing the field at Bale 'N' Trail. Defending state champion Sukhi Khosla led Leon with a 15:38 win as the Lions took four of the top five places and put up a mathematically unbeatable score of 23 points. In the girls' race, Bolles junior Mackenzie Wilson ran 18:42 to grab her first win of the season, leading her team to a 33-point score and the Bale 'N' Trail title.


It was misty and somewhat cool (or at least not nearly as warm) in Jacksonville at 7:30 AM, the scheduled starting time for the boys' 5K at Bale 'N' Trail. The course was also wet and muddy in spots because of an overnight rain. There were also some low barriers on the course, the "bales" in "Bale 'N' Trail". Three-time state cross-country champion Matt Mizereck encountered the barriers at the 2008 Bale 'N' Trail.


"Small, like one-foot tall hay cubes, nothing crazy," Mizereck described the obstacles. "When you are tired they are kinda annoying but you can literally just run around them."


They certainly didn't get in Mizereck's way; he set the Bale 'N' Trail record of 15:06.28.


Neither the mini-bales nor the mud bothered Sukhi Khosla, either. The Leon senior took the lead 600 meters into the race, then only got farther and farther ahead as he cranked out the distance. Behind Khosla, Leon runners Kyle Buchholz, Hunter Scott, and Adam Wallenfelsz ran in a group, swapping places back and forth. Finishing the race with a lead of over 200 meters, Khosla won the race in 15:38. Buchholz was second in 16:20. Creekside senior David Cash Tampa broke up the Leon pack, placing third in 16:24, but Leon senior Hunter Scott (4th, 16:25) and Leon junior Adam Wallenfelsz (5th, 16:32) followed him across the finish line. Once sophomore Matt Cashin (12th, 16:52) had crossed the finish line for Leon, the Lions had 23 points and the 2014 Bale 'N' Trail title. Creekside, with three runners in the top ten, scored 58 points to take second. Host school Bartram Trail was third with 118 points.


Top Ten Boys, 2014 Bale 'N' Trail Cross Country Original

1. 15:37.60 ~ Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 12
2. 16:19.60 ~ Kyle Buchholz (Leon) 12
3. 16:23.80 ~ David Cash Tampa (Creekside) 12
4. 16:25.00 ~ Hunter Scott (Leon) 12
5. 16:31.40 ~ Adam Wallenfelsz (Leon) 11
6. 16:31.90 ~ Zack Bias (Creekside) 12
7. 16:33.20 ~ Trenton Liberty (Mandarin) 11
8. 16:41.00 ~ Connor Vaughan (Wolfson)
9. 16:44.40 ~ Jordan Bubar (Bartram Trail) 11
10. 16:48.20 ~ Matthew Clark (Creekside) 10

Team Standings, 2014 Bale 'N' Trail Cross Country Original, Boys

1. Leon, 23 points
2. Creekside, 58
3. Bartram Trail, 118
4. Mandarin, 142
5. Bishop Kenny, 157
6. Flagler Palm Coast, 175
7. Matanzas, 223
8. Fleming Island, 283
9. Buchholz, 297
10. Bishop Snyder, 335
11. Bolles, 355
12. Eastside, 362
13. P.K. Yonge, 376
14. Stanton, 397
15. Nease, 418
16. Episcopal, 455
17. Harvest Community, 490
18. Sandalwood, 526
19. Ridgeview, 571
20. Clay, 584
21. Providence, 632
22. Fletcher, 641
23. Columbia, 702
24. University Christian, 726
25. Middleburg, 749
26. Baldwin, 774
27. Duval Charter, 778
28. Bradford, 784
29. Orange Park, 819
30. Oakleaf, 823

Mackenzie Wilson had finished second to Fletcher sophomore Kayley Delay in their first two meets of the season, the UNF Invitational and the Katie Caples Invitational. At the Bale 'N' Trail Original, though, their third meeting belonged to Wilson, as the Bolles junior put up a 18:42 to Delay's 18:59 to win the girls' 5K. Three other Bolles runners joined Wilson in the top ten--sophomore Ally Hajda (3rd, 19:13), Frosh Rachel Shapiro (6th, 19:48), and senior Ash DeHechavarria (9th, 20:12). Bolles' fifth scorer Aoife O'Riordan (14th, 20:25) finished her team's sum of 33 points, good enough to earn the Bulldogs their third Bale 'N' Trail girls' title in the thirteen-year history of the event. Columbia totalled 88 points to take second, and Nease was third with 111 points.


Top Ten Girls, 2014 Bale 'N' Trail Cross Country Original

1. 18:41.90 ~ Mackenzie Wilson (Bolles) 11
2. 18:58.20 ~ Kayley Delay (Fletcher) 10
3. 19:12.60 ~ Ally Hajda (Bolles) 10
4. 19:26.10 ~ Daniell Van Liere (Fletcher) 11
5. 19:31.80 ~ Yaranel Abreu (Nease) 12
6. 19:47.60 ~ Rachel Shapiro (Bolles) 9
7. 20:00.40 ~ Bridget Morse (Columbia) 9
8. 20:08.60 ~ Katie Potts (Nease) 11
9. 20:11.70 ~ Ash DeHechavarria (Bolles) 12
10. 20:13.00 ~ Cassie Pierron (Columbia) 9

Team Standings, 2014 Bale 'N' Trail Cross Country Original, Girls

1. Bolles, 33 points
2. Columbia, 88
3. Nease, 111
4. Fletcher, 192
5. Mandarin, 198
6. Fleming Island, 223
7. Flagler Palm Coast, 224
8. Bartram Trail, 225
9. Bishop Kenny, 256
10. Leon, 277
11. Creekside, 280
12. Boone, 319
13. Bishop Snyder, 319
14. Providence, 347
15. Eastside, 354
16. Episcopal, 383
17. Matanzas, 421
18. Ridgeview, 483
19. P.K. Yonge, 501
20. Stanton, 533
21. Harvest Community, 627
22. Orange Park, 680
23. Duval Charter, 693

Individual Champions, Bale 'N' Trail Cross-Country Original, 2001 - 2014
Date	Men	Women
22 September 2001	15:26, Nick Wilson (Paxon) 12	19:38, Amber Smith (Fletcher) 11
28 September 2002	17:07, Scott Hans (Ridgeview) 11	20:55, Heather Marees (Bolles) 10
11 October 2003	16:33, Luke Russell (Bishop Kenny) 10	18:22, Robyn DeBenedet (Episcopal) 11
No Bale 'N' Trail held in 2004
17 September 2005	17:07, Tristan League (Orange Park) 11	20:30, Roseanna Bell (Gainesville) 12
16 September 2006	15:42, Anthony Morales (Flagler Palm Coast) 12	19:38, Chloe Kowalksi (Pensacola Catholic) 11
13 October 2007	16:02.37, Johnathan Esteban (Lee) 12	18:55.66, Amanda Perkins (Spruce Creek) 11
4 October 2008	15:06.28, Matt Mizereck (Leon) 11	18:12.94, Lily Williams (Chiles) 9
10 October 2009	15:15.24, Jimmy Clark (Creekside) 11	18:23.03, Mary Brown (Orange Park) 9
2 October 2010	15:44.37, Eduardo Garcia (Mandarin) 12	17:54.55, Lily Williams (Chiles) 11
1 October 2011	15:39.42, Mac Reynolds (Nease) 12	18:40.55, Mary Kate Ponder (Mandarin) 12
13 October 2012	15:11.80, Josh Brickell (Peachtree Ridge) 12	18:28.91, Allie Buchalski (Johns Creek) 12
5 October 2013	15:37.50, Kevin Mills (Peachtree Ridge) 12	18:13.50, Karen Xiang (Nease) 12
27 September 2014	15:37.60, Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 12	18:41.90, Mackenzie Wilson (Bolles) 11
There was no Bale 'N' Trail in 2004 because of work at Bartram Trail associated with Super Bowl XXXIX The FHSAA cross country distance in 2001 was still three miles

Team Champions, Bale 'N' Trail Cross-Country Original, 2001 - 2014
Date	Men	Women
22 September 2001	Clay, 90 points	Nease, 99 points
28 September 2002	Bartram Trail, 45 points	Bolles, 60 points
11 October 2003	Bishop Kenny, 28 points	Bolles, 33 points
No Bale 'N' Trail held in 2004
17 September 2005	Bartram Trail, 54 points	Bishop Kenny, 35 points
16 September 2006	Chiles, 46 points	Bartram Trail, 54 points
13 October 2007	Chiles, 59 points	Bartram Trail, 65 points
4 October 2008	Leon, 78 points	Chiles, 43 points
10 October 2009	Peachtree Ridge, 81 points	North Gwinnett, 48 points
2 October 2010	Pensacola Washington, 31 points	Chiles, 42 points
1 October 2011	Bishop Kenny, 72 points	Creekside, 54 points
13 October 2012	Colonial, 78 points	Peachtree Ridge, 86 points
5 October 2013	Peachtree Ridge, 38 points	Peachtree Ridge, 52 points
27 September 2014	Leon, 23 points	Bolles, 33 points
There was no Bale 'N' Trail in 2004 because of work at Bartram Trail associated with Super Bowl XXXIX

Links

• Complete results of the 2014 Bale 'N' Trail Cross-Country Original via HalfMileTiming.com
  
  • HS Boys: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zSfkEWedKDAuYdbNr6HvxL_7Yp2nXVc9xBOVQXhBEmM/pub
    
  • HS Girls:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CF1tDP03sxHwnBtUX4uArdUELAdHf39-QuZnHSCw-dc/pub
    
  • JV Boys: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17HOB7z3IJ2fMGSLHPzDvyuIGCOvOAqUl4kkpc7EV2I4/pub
    
  • JV Girls:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N0hRyVg3doadvVplkx3x6vT4HpkPHOFiXQ-Hlb0-zIg/pub
    
  
  
• Bale 'N' Trail preview via DistancePrep's Northwest Report
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=285142
  
  
• Upcoming races closer to Tallahassee on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1215

Leon and Khosla repeat at Cougar Challenge

In George R. R. Martin's novel A Game of Thrones and its sequels, the sigil of House Lannister is a lion, and the family motto is "Hear Me Roar!" That could very well have been the motto of the Lions of Leon High at the Cougar Cross-Country Challenge on Saturday morning, 6 September 2014. Those distance-running Lions successfully defended their team titles in the high school girls' 5K and the high school boys' 5K, while Leon's ace, senior Sukhi Khosla, won the individual championship in the boys' race for a second year in a row.


Rawr!


As in years before, Tallahassee's 2014 high school cross-country season opened at Phipps Park with the Cougar Challenge. Competition started at 8:00 AM with the high school girls' race. Sophomores Haleigh Martin of Wakulla and Caroline Willis of Maclay battled shoulder to shoulder for the lead for more than four kilometers, then Martin pulled away on the final major uphill of the race, securing a 21:09 to 21:24 win. The next four runners after Willis, though, all wore Leon red and white. Gray Kinch (3rd, 23:00), Audrey Dogan (4th, 23:07), Grace Lockhart (4th, 23:10), and Zoe Sheldon (5th, 23:16) set up a Leon score of 44 points, good for the win. Only just good enough, though, because the Maclay Marauders were just a breath behind in second with 46 points. Wakulla was third in the twelve-team field with 93 points.


Team Standings, High School Girls, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. Leon, 44
2. Maclay, 46
3. Wakulla, 93
4. Lincoln, 119
5. Thomas County Central, 162
6. Aucilla Christian, 172
7. John Paul II, 172
8. Bainbridge, 216
9. Pelham, 236
10. North Florida Christian, 249
11. Grace Christian, 273
12. Baconton Charter, 307

Top Ten High School Girls, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. 21:08.67 ~ Haleigh Martin (Wakulla) 10
2. 21:23.99 ~ Caroline Willis (Maclay) 10
3. 22:59.09 ~ Gray Kinch (Leon) 10
4. 23:06.14 ~ Adrianna Dogan (Leon) 10
5. 23:09.31 ~ Grace Lockhart (Leon) 11
6. 23:15.81 ~ Zoe Sheldon (Leon) 10
7. 23:22.67 ~ Kenzie Mazziotta (Maclay) 8
8. 23:24.75 ~ Molly McCann (Maclay) 10
9. 23:54.95 ~ Monica Webb (Pelham) 10
10. 23:56.00 ~ Constance Lewis (Wakulla) 11

Part of the "Challenge" in the Cougar Challenge comes from two major uphill climbs on the course, one starting near the two kilometer mark and the other just after the four kilometer mark. The second kilometer of the race, though, is a level stretch along the shore of Lake Jackson. By the time the runners in the boys 5K reached this point on the course, six Leon runners were out ahead of the field--Sukhi Khosla, Hunter Scott, Kyle Buchholz, Adam Wallenfelsz, Matthew Cashin, and Maxx Marshall--with Wakulla sophomore Bryce Cole following in their wake. The six Lions remained up front, Khosla winning in 16:42 while his team racked up a perfect score of 15 points. Maclay sophomore Jake Mazziotta overtook Wakulla's Cole to take seventh in 17:58, but Wakulla's team beat out the Maclay squad for the runner-up trophy, 90 points to 93.


Team Standings, High School Boys, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. Leon, 15
2. Wakulla, 90
3. Maclay, 93
4. Chiles, 117
5. Bainbridge, 164
6. Lincoln, 168
7. Rickards, 194
8. Thomas County Central, 201
9. Aucilla Christian, 290
10. North Florida Christian, 316
11. Florida State, 336
12. Baconton Charter, 349
13. Pelham, 361
14. Grace Christian, 375
15. Franklin County, 440

Top Ten High School Boys, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. 16:41.80 ~ Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 12
2. 17:09.12 ~ Hunter Scott (Leon) 12
3. 17:16.37 ~ Kyle Buchholz (Leon) 12
4. 17:27.35 ~ Adam Wallenfelsz (Leon) 11
5. 17:43.37 ~ Matthew Cashin (Leon) 10
6. 17:51.58 ~ Maxx Marshall (Leon) 12
7. 17:57.04 ~ Jake Mazziotta (Maclay) 10
8. 18:04.03 ~ Bryce Cole (Wakulla) 10
9. 18:10.49 ~ William Luca (Leon) 12
10. 18:32.28 ~ James Dodson (Leon) 11

After the two high school 5K races, it was the middle school girls' turn to test themselves on the slopes of Phipps Park. Katherine Resavage of Holy Comforter Episcopal School won that race, turning 13:11 for three kilometers. In addition to Resavage, the Crusaders had four other runners in the top nine--Emma McGibany (4th, 14:07), Avery Smith (5th, 14:08), Elizabeth Calabro (7th, 14:11), and Hailey Hobbs (9th, 14:26). It was enough to give Holy Comforter an impressive team win with 26 points. Led by Lindsay James (2nd, 13:38) and Regan Hermeling (3rd, 13:54), Maclay took second with 97 points. Totaling 117 point, the Bainbridge team was third among the nine middle school girls squads.


Team Standings, Middle School Girls, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. Holy Comforter, 26
2. Maclay, 97
3. Bainbridge 117
4. Thomas County Central, 125
5. Pelham, 138
6. Grace Christian, 146
7. Florida State, 154
8. Cornerstone, 155
9. Baconton Charter, 189

Top Ten Middle School Girls, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. 13:10.75 ~ Katherine Resavage (Holy Comforter) 8
2. 13:37.94 ~ Lindsay James (Maclay) 6
3. 13:53.06 ~ Regan Hermeling (Maclay) 7
4. 14:06.93 ~ Emma McGibany (Holy Comforter) 8
5. 14:07.72 ~ Avery Smith (Holy Comforter) 7
6. 14:09.02 ~ Summer Williams (Florida State) 8
7. 14:10.05 ~ Elizabeth Calabro (Holy Comforter) 7
8. 14:20.72 ~ Anna James (Thomas County Central) 6
9. 14:25.04 ~ Hailey Hobbs (Holy Comforter) 8
10. 14:35.32 ~ Molly Dixon (Holy Comforter) 7

In the final race of the morning, the middle school boys also ran three kilometers. Bainbridge Middle eighth-grader Caleb Harris got out front and stayed there, winning the race in 11:08. Maclay School answered with second- and third-place performances by sixth-graders Johnny McClure (11:19) and Kennan Milford (11:25). McClure and Milford were joined by Marauders Max Eastman (5th, 11:28), Alfredo Peres (9th, 12:21), and Hunt Deison (11th, 12:32), giving Maclay 30 points and the team title. Led by top ten finishes by Joseph Ashebo (6th, 11:52) and Bryce Valveri (7th 12:00), Holy Comforter's team took second with 64 points. Bainbridge was third with 84.


449 runners each finished one of four races at the 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge. Those runners represented 54 teams from 24 different schools.


Team Standings, Middle School Boys, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. Maclay, 30
2. Holy Comforter, 64
3. Bainbridge, 84
4. Florida State, 95
5. Taylor County, 121
6. Baconton Charter, 174
7. Grace Christian, 176
8. Thomas County Central, 186
9. Pelham, 254

Top Ten Middle School Boys, 2014 Cougar Cross-Country Challenge

1. 11:07.45 ~ Caleb Harris (Bainbridge) 8
2. 11:18.21 ~ Johnny McClure (Maclay) 6
3. 11:24.28 ~ Kennan Milford (Maclay) 6
4. 11:27.01 ~ Jahaz Morgan (Florida State) 5
5. 11:27.87 ~ Max Eastman (Maclay) 8
6. 11:51.75 ~ Joseph Ashebo (Holy Comforter) 7
7. 11:59.09 ~ Bryce Valveri (Holy Comforter) 8
8. 11:59.35 ~ Ashton Smith (Florida State) 8
9. 12:20.21 ~ Alfredo Paredes (Maclay) 8
10. 12:28.71 ~ Max Kallschmidt (Taylor County) 8

Links

• DistancePreps.com report, "Cougar Challenge no challenge for Khosla"
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=279517
  
  
• Complete results of the 2014 Godby Cougar Cross-Country Challenge at DistancePreps.com
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=279516
  
  
• More photos of the 2014 Cougar Challenge
  
  • HS Girls:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105020484081503.1073742009.5215641&l=c67237d5d3
    
  • HS Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105024548910553.1073742010.5215641&l=46113c8e05
    
  • MS Girls:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105029606090923.1073742011.5215641&l=5682150ff4
    
  • MS Boys: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10105030071483273.1073742012.5215641&l=6df40fadf9
    
  
  
• DistancePreps.com interviews with the 2014 Cougar XC Challenge high school champs
  
  • Sukhi Khosla: http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=videos&video_id=124257
    
  • Haleigh Martin: http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=videos&video_id=124264
    
  
  
• 2013 story, "Harris and Khosla take on all challengers at the Challenge"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/cougar-xc-2013.html
  
  
• 2010 story, "The 2010 Cougar Challenge belongs to Kurgatt and Slupecki"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/cougar-xc-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, "Cougar Challenge opens cross-country season in Tallahassee"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/09/cougar-challenge-opens-cross-country.html
  
  
• Choose an upcoming race in the region from the selection on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1204

A few words with Dream Miler Sukhi Khosla

Sukhi Khosla has had quite a junior year at Leon High during 2013-14. Khosla went undefeated during the regular cross-country season, becoming the only runner to ever go under 15:00 for 5K at Apalachee Regional Park and winning the 3A state title. During track season he pushed his 3200 PR under nine minutes with an 8:59.50 win at the FSU Relays, and lowered his 1600 mark to 4:05.96 at the State Finals. Khosla added state titles in the 1600 and the 3200 to his cross-country championship.


And he still has another year to go in high school.


Before his senior year, though, Khosla has a chance to write an epilogue to the 2014 track season. On Wednesday, 4 June 2014, he received an invitation to the Dream Mile at the Adidas Grand Prix Diamond League Meet in New York City's Icahn Stadium. The invitation came in the form of a golden ticket, like the golden tickets in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, the golden tickets to Willie Wonka's chocolate factory were distributed randomly, ending up with some pretty undeserving characters. Dream Mile golden tickets only go to fourteen of the top high school milers in the country. And yes, this race will be a full and honest English mile, not a 1600. The Dream Mile is slated for 3:05 PM ET on Saturday, 14 July 2014.


I was able to talk to Sukhi Khosla a few hours after he got the invitation. I caught up to him near Forestmeadows Athletic Center after he and a few other Leon distance runners were done working out on the Lake Overstreet Trails. Yes, after their workout. There was no chance of catching up to them while they were running. We talked about the Dream Mile, the following Brooks PR Invitational on 21 June 2014, and Tallahassee's championship cross-country course. Here's our conversation.

---

HERB WILLS: I'm out at Forestmeadows Athletic Center with Sukhi Khosla who has just been invited to the dream mile in New York City. Sukhi, you've come to be associated with the mile this year, although you are the state cross-country champion and the state 3200 champion in addition to the 1600 champion. Do you see yourself as primarily a miler now?

SUKHI KHOSLA: Back in eighth grade, in middle school, everyone thinks they're a miler. In high school I remember Coach [Andrew] Wills saying, "You're not a miler! As soon as you do the two mile and the 5K you'll understand that you're not a miler." I've always liked the mile, it's my favorite event, but I still don't consider myself a miler, just based on the kind of workouts and stuff we do. They aren't really shorter type workouts, like miler workouts. I still think I've got a better two mile in me, I just haven't had a chance to do it yet.

WILLS: So that's where you think your future lies, in the longer distances?

KHOSLA: Yes, I consider myself a longer distance runner, but the mile has always been my favorite race, and will probably continue to be. However fast I can be in that, well, it will just be a fun ride. It's my favorite event.

WILLS: I can understand that. By ninth grade I realized I wasn't ever going to be a miler.

KHOSLA: Yeah.

WILLS: You had three particularly fast 1600 races this year. I know the last two were the front end of a double--at both the Region and the State Meet. Do you remember the first one? Was that also the front end of a double?

KHOSLA: Yes, it was at Bolles. That was my first breakout mile race. I ran 4:13 and then 9:11 in the double. At Regional having Nick Morken behind me really just pushed me; we both dropped seven and eight seconds. That was a big one.

WILLS: Speaking of Nick, do you know if he was invited to New York?

KHOSLA: Actually, I don't know. But I did read on an article in FLRunners about how he and Thomas Howell got some track award [Northwest Florida Daily News Large School Track Athlete of the Year]. They talked about how they were going to do 4 x 800 and distance medley at New Balance which is the same weekend, so I guess he's not doing the Dream Mile.

WILLS: Right, that's definitely an either/or.

KHOSLA: Yeah.

WILLS: One thing about this race [the Dream Mile], you won't have a 3200 hanging over you later on.

KHOSLA: Yeah. It'll be fun to do just a mile. They set it up well, with pacers, and this will be a completely different type of competition than I've ever been in. I'm just excited to get up there.

WILLS: You mentioned the Brooks PR Meet. What event would you be running out there?

KHOSLA: We talked to them, and I'm invited for the mile. But they do have a two-mile there that I really want to do. Also, the two mile is first at Brooks. That's definitely something I want to do--get a really good two-mile in before the season is over. I'll probably end up doing the mile there, too, if I get into the two mile. Definitely the mile, and then hopefully the two, also.

WILLS: So the two-mile is up in the air right now.

KHOSLA: Yes. The meet director said that if there's an opening that he'd let us know.

WILLS: After that, it's getting ready for cross country?

KHOSLA: Yeah, after Brooks for sure, definitely done. Coach Wills is unsure about even doing Brooks because it's so late already. But definitely no races after that.

WILLS: Have you seen Apalachee Regional Park lately?

KHOSLA: I have not. Have they changed it?

WILLS: I was out there recently. They sodded the shell road around the moat, around the half-mile mark. They put down sod and put in irrigation. There aren't any joints in the sod, but the surface is a lot softer than it was.

KHOSLA: I'm sure they're just doing everything they can to improve it. 'Cause I know they still want to have Nationals and stuff there. That'll be great if they can get big meets in Tallahassee.

New York City adidas Grand Prix Dream Mile winners, 2010-2013
Date	Men	Women
12 June 2010	4:04.38, Lukas Verzbicas	4:41.93, Madeleine Meyers
11 June 2011	3:59.71, Lukas Verzbicas	4:42.71, Camille Chapus
9 June 2012	4:01.32, Bernie Montoya	4:39.64, Camille Chapus
25 May 2013	4:02.72, Ben Saarel	4:39.17, Wesley Frazier
14 June 2014

Links

• Distance Preps, "Khosla gets the golden ticket to the Dream Mile"
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=267380
  
  
• Adidas Golden Stripes
  http://www.flotrack.org/adidasgoldenstripes/
  
  
• 2014 Brooks PR Invitational
  http://www.flotrack.org/ext/brookspr_2014/
  
  
• Find your own dream race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1151

Khosla leads the nation with a 4:06.45 1600

It took the nation's top time of the season to win the boys' 1600 at the FHSAA Region 1-3A championships. So a nation-leading 4:06.45 is exactly what Leon junior Sukhi Khosla ran in the Thursday evening race on 24 April 2014. Niceville senior Nick Morken was just a heartbeat back in 4:07.12. Chiles High hosted the meet on their track north of Tallahassee, Florida.


When the starting pistol fired, Khosla was already the Florida leader at the distance on the strength of the 4:13.02 he had run at the Bolles Bulldog Classic back on 7 March 2014. Morken had a 4:15.82 to his credit and was the defending state champion. So it was hardly surprising that Khosla went right to the front, or that Morken was right behind him. By the second lap the rest of the field was far behind and it was a two-man race, Khosla and Morken.


After sitting behind Khosla for 1400 meters, on the final turn Morken rolled up what little distance there was between them to position himself for a move on the homestretch. Khosla was ready for him, though. In spite of pacesetting the whole race, Khosla was far from exhausted, and answered Morken's move with a move of his own. The Leon junior's lead held as he ran home in a career-best 4:06.45.


Those weren't the only personal bests in the race. Morken's 4:07.12 was also a PR. Chiles junior Avery Bartlett (3rd, 4:16.79), Lee senior Rayford James (4th, 4:18.83), Chiles senior Sean Turner (5th, 4:21.31), and Orange Park senior Joshua Bigden (8th, 4:31.85) each ran their best 1600 times at Chiles that evening.


Results, 2014 FHSAA Region 1-3A Boys' 1600

1. 4:06.45 ~ Sukhi Khosla (Leon) 11
2. 4:07.12 ~ Nick Morken (Niceville) 12
3. 4:16.79 ~ Avery Bartlett (Chiles) 11
4. 4:18.83 ~ Rayford James (Lee) 12
5. 4:21.31 ~ Sean Turner (Chiles) 12
6. 4:29.63 ~ Caden Ewing (Niceville) 12
7. 4:30.59 ~ Trey LaNasa (Fort Walton Beach) 11
8. 4:31.85 ~ Joshua Bigden (Orange Park) 12
9. 4:34.46 ~ David Cash Tampa (Creekside) 11
10. 4:34.85 ~ Ryan Stellhorn (Bartram Trail) 11
11. 4:36.10 ~ Taylor Perkins (Pensacola Washington) 11
12. 4:37.57 ~ Tony Wiggins (Tate) 12
13. 5:03.81 ~ Zack Bias (Creekside) 11
13. 5:03.81 ~ Andrew Payne (Pace) 11

Some historical comparisons with Sukhi Khosla's 4:06.45
4:11.76	Matt Mizereck's Leon High School record	2010
4:08.84	Joe Franklin's Tallahassee city record	2008
4:06.45	Sukhi Khosla's Region 1-3A winning time	2014
4:04.45	Andres Arroyo's Florida record	2013
4:03.87y	Sam Vazquez's Florida mile record	2003

Links

• Complete results of the 2014 FHSAA Region 1-3A Track and Field Meet
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/11rrLaAnsqgfbw0768nkIk8K29dNehyWboA7QRRXy3eg/pub
  
  
• More photos of the 2014 FHSAA Region 1-3A Meet
  
  • 4x800: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104443160916753.1073741977.5215641&l=b067c8d801
  • 1600: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104445516321503.1073741978.5215641&l=64f34e715d
  • 800: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104446638148353.1073741979.5215641&l=02247ad044
  • 3200: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104447184588283.1073741980.5215641&l=26cb1778cb
  
  
• More about the Region 1-3A meet in DistancePreps.com's Northwest Report
  [ Coming soon! Please check back! ]
  
  
• Pre-race article, "Region 1-3A at Chiles is the last call for track in Tallahassee"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/04/region-1-3a-advance-2014.html
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! coverage of Khosla
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/Sukhi%20Khosla
  
  
• FHSAA Region 1-3A 1600m Run, 30 April 2010
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/04/2010-region.html
  
  
• Another 2010 story, "Conclusion of the rain-checked FHSAA Region 1-3A meeting"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/05/region-1-3a-part-two.html
  
  
• FHSAA Region 1-3A 1600m Run, 30 April 2009
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/fhsaa-region-1-3a-1600m-run-30-april.html
  
  

#1130

Feasting on the middle distances at the Chiles Classic

Some folks divine their financial and romantic fortune by examining tea leaves. If you want a forecast of what you might see at a track meet, though, you'd do better to examine the heat sheets. The list for Chiles High School's 15th annual Capital City Track & Field Classic prophesied hot times in the 1600. It turned out to be good prophecy.


Another kind of forecast, the weather forecast, threatened to get in the way, though. A line of storms marching across the Florida panhandle toward Tallahassee scared Chiles into changing the meet schedule, moving to an earlier 10:00 AM start. In the end, the meteorologists might as well have stuck with tea leaves. The worst weather stayed out in the Gulf of Mexico, and Tallahassee saw barely more than a trace of rain all day Saturday. If anything, a few more clouds would have been welcome. The Saturday, 5 April 2014, track meet was warm and bright.


In the girls' 1600, Chiles senior Ashton McMurray shrugged off early challenges from Maclay frosh Caroline Willis and FAMU frosh Audrey Dogan to win the race. Running all but alone for the second half of the race, McMurray clocked a 5:15.52 for the not-quite-a-mile race.


Top Ten Girls, Chiles Classic 1600

1. 5:15.52 ~ McMurray, Ashton (Chiles) 12
2. 5:29.98 ~ Willis, Caroline (Maclay) 9
3. 5:34.71 ~ Lockhart, Grace (Leon) 10
4. 5:35.67 ~ Krueger, Juliana (Chiles) 10
5. 5:36.06 ~ Dogan, Adrianna (FAMU) 9
6. 5:55.48 ~ Wiedeman, Margaret (Wakulla) 12
7. 5:56.78 ~ Smith, Rachel (Thomasville) 12
8. 5:57.56 ~ Rumana, Rachel (Maclay) 9
9. 5:58.15 ~ Toothman, Amanda (Florida) 11
10. 6:00.71 ~ Smith, Rebekah (Thomasville) 10

With three sub-4:20 athletes in the field of the boys' 1600, it's surprising that no one went with Leon junior Sukhi Khosla when he went through the first lap in 65 seconds. That's what reputation will do for you, though; with a 4:13.02 to his credit, Khosla is the state leader in the 1600. He turned it up a notch on the second 400, running a 63 second split and leaving everyone else far behind. Khosla went faster still for the second 800, finishing the race in 4:14.92 and taking out the twelve-year-old meet record of 4:17.39, set in 2002 by Lincoln sophomore Ryan Deak.


Top Ten Boys, Chiles Classic 1600

1. 4:14.92 ~ Khosla, Sukhi (Leon HS) 11
2. 4:22.05 ~ Bartlett, Avery (Chiles HS) 11
3. 4:22.12 ~ Turner, Sean (Chiles HS) 12
4. 4:24.84 ~ Zimmerman, Cade (Chiles HS) 12
5. 4:29.29 ~ Grigas, Jared (Chiles HS) 11
6. 4:33.53 ~ Scott, Hunter (Lincoln HS) 11
7. 4:34.91 ~ Murray, Tyson (Chiles HS) 11
8. 4:38.65 ~ Buchholz, Kyle (Leon HS) 11
9. 4:41.85 ~ Wallenfelsz, Adam (Leon HS) 10
10. 4:43.80 ~ White, Will (Thomasville High School) 12

Ashton McMurray was back later in the girls' 800. She stayed tucked back in the pack during the first 400, while Valdosta junior Desmeonna McDuffie led. McMurray took charge during the second lap. Florida State University School junior Amanda Toothman tried to keep up, but McMurray won going away in 2:30.21, while Toothman was second in 2:33.50.


Top Ten Girls, Chiles Classic 800

1. 2:30.21 ~ McMurray, Ashton (Chiles HS) 12
2. 2:33.50 ~ Toothman, Amanda (Florida High School) 11
3. 2:34.13 ~ Krueger, Juliana (Chiles HS) 10
4. 2:35.34 ~ Lockhart, Grace (Leon HS) 10
5. 2:35.68 ~ Martin, Haleigh (Wakulla HS) 9
6. 2:36.23 ~ Stair, Josephine (Ridgeview HS) 11
7. 2:40.07 ~ Mcduffie, Desmeonna (Valdosta High School) 11
8. 2:41.31 ~ Kadir, Hana (Florida High School) 10
9. 2:42.00 ~ Hayes, Jacara (Thomasville High School) 10
10. 2:42.46 ~ Sheldon, Zoe (Leon HS) 9

Chiles junior Avery Bartlett had finished second to Sukhi Khosla in the 1600, but he got a second crack at the Leon junior in the boys' 800. It was a third junior who led the first lap, though, Thomasville High's Travet Witherspoon. While Witherspoon rocketed around the track, Bartlett hit the 400 in second place at 59.95. Khosla went after Bartlett just after 400, but Bartlett held him off on the turn. Just past 500 meters, Witherspoon wilted. Bartlett and Khosla thundered past him. Khosla continued to challenge for the lead all the way to 700 meters, but Bartlett denied him. The last 100 meters belonged to Bartlett, who raced home in a winning 1:55.89, his personal best. Khosla's 1:56.86 second-place effort was also a PR. Maclay senior Connor Daughton took third in 1:58.68.


Top Ten Boys, Chiles Classic 800

1. 1:55.89 ~ Bartlett, Avery (Chiles HS) 11
2. 1:56.86 ~ Khosla, Sukhi (Leon HS) 11
3. 1:58.68 ~ Daughton, James Connor (Maclay School) 12
4. 2:02.60 ~ Witherspoon, Travet (Thomasville High School) 11
5. 2:02.92 ~ Grigas, Jared (Chiles HS) 11
6. 2:04.15 ~ Richardson, Kyle (Ridgeview HS) 12
7. 2:06.60 ~ Escobar, George (Maclay School) 10
8. 2:06.67 ~ Wallenfelsz, Adam (Leon HS) 10
9. 2:07.46 ~ Hernandez, Allan (Chiles HS) 11
10. 2:07.89 ~ Murray, Tyson (Chiles HS) 11

Links

• Results of Chiles High's 2014 Capital City Track & Field Classic at Dyestat.com
  http://parser.dyestat.com/meetresults.jsp?meetID=69120
  
  
• The Chiles Classic and other Northwest Florida athletics at DistancePreps.com
  http://www.distancepreps.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=31488&do=news&news_id=242232
  
  
• "A four-lap rumble is coming to the track at Chiles"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/04/chiles-classic-pre-2014.html
  
  
• More photos of the 2014 Capital City Classic 1600
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104414844203673.1073741974.5215641&l=bce8b82c1f
  
  
• More photos of the 2014 Capital City Classic 800
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10104414968309963.1073741975.5215641&l=4a223d8e9a
  
  
• Find your next race in the Tallahassee region using the Trouble Afoot! race calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1125