Kristin is Back and so is Cross Country
by Kristin Sweeney, September 11, 2011Not only was Saturday a wonderful day because of the lovely weather (and FSU’s win), but it also marked the beginning of the 2011 Cross Country Season for the local teams! Chiles’ Timberwolves headed south to Orange Park for the Ridgeview Bob Hans Invitational. In the girls’ race, Lily Williams won by over 30-seconds with 18:09. Her teammates Carly Thomas (18:43.28) and Rachel Givens (18:43.96) were the next two finishers. With a low score of 19, the ladies’ team won overall. Later, the boys’ team also won with Taylor Buzzard (16:20) in third and Cade Zimmerman (16:29) in fourth. Chiles started the season out strong!
A bit closer to Tallahassee, many of the local teams traveled to Marianna for the Panhandle Jamboree. In the boys’ race, North Florida Christian (4th), Florida High (5th), Rickards (8th), Maclay (11th), and Godby (12th) were all well represented. From NFC, Luke Strickland was the highest Tallahassee finisher in ninth with a 17:39, and Seth Venable followed in eleventh with a 17:53. Meanwhile, Maclay’s Stefanie Kurgatt led her squad to second place with her winning time of 18:41. Teammates Kristin Sweeney (20:10 – 3rd) and Elizabeth Santoro (21:05 – 7th) also finished in the top ten. Overall, Florida High came in fourth, and Rickards finished tenth. Later on in the season, many of these teams will revisit that course for another race: the Panhandle Championship.
Leon competed in yet another race in Georgia, the Carrolton Orthopaedic Clinic Invitational. With only 28 points, the boys finished second overall. Three of their athletes were in the top ten – Will Henderson led the team in third place with a time of 16:49. Zac Buccholz (17:07) and Ben McMahon (17:09) pushed each other through the course, and they finished eighth and ninth respectively. Led by Autumn Wable in fifth with her 20:45, The Lady Lions were eighth in their competition. Representing Tallahassee in the fourth and final venue of the day, Maclay’s guys’ varsity journeyed to Mobile, Alabama for the Challenge of Champions Saturday evening, and their strong showing enabled them to finish third. One thing can easily be concluded from the results of these sundry races, and it is that Tallahassee will make an impressive showing throughout the course of this year’s cross country season!
Kristin’s Korner
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