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
Wrap up Post Season
On April 30, the State Track and Field Series began at Showalter Field in Winter Park. That Friday, Tallahassee athletes who go to 1A schools set the stage for those who would follow in the 2A meet on Saturday (May 1) and the 3A meet the following Friday...
Pre State and More
While some teams such as FSU High School, JPII, Lincoln, Maclay, and North Florida Christian remained in town this past weekend to train and prepare for the end of the season, other teams generated speedy times on the road. Both Chiles and Leon entered the...
An Invite
As the sun was rising Saturday morning, runners from near and far prepared to race locally at the Apalachee Regional Park, more commonly known as the ARP. Around 7:45, the boys' race of the FSU Invitational began with contestants from over twenty-four...
Times and Temperatures
In addition to the falling temperatures this weekend, times produced by Tallahassee runners also dropped. Chiles traveled to Jacksonville for the Bale-n-Trail race held at Bartram Trail High School. With their top five placing in the top twenty-five, the...
Invitation to Weekend Racing
Tallahassee cross-country teams continued to produce some swift, early-season times this weekend. Saturday morning, many local teams participated in the Lincoln Invitational held at Tom Brown Park. The new course this year consisted of two loops up and...
Kristin’s Korner 2010-09-12
Editor's note: It is cross country time again. We have been lucky over the past couple years to have the Stoltz report to keep us informed. Jana has moved on to the great college in the West and we are lucky to Kristin Sweeney ready and willing to step in...
State Championships
The state cross country competition marked the conclusion of the season for many of the area teams last Saturday at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City, Florida. Remarkably, the ladies of Chiles defended their state title for the third consecutive year...