This past Saturday, Lincoln hosted the Lincoln Invitational cross country meet at Tom Brown Park. Regrettably, I was in New York at the time (I promise this is the last time I’ll be away for a while), so I had to, once again, receive most of my information on the meet via text. Thank the running gods for technology, or else there might not have been a Stoltz report this week… or at least not a factual one.

On the boys’ side, Riley Doherty led Leon to take first overall with his first place individual finish in a time of 16:18.84. Teammate, Will Stanford took third in 16:56.64. Maclay finished second overall led by Patrick Swain’s second place effort of 16:19.32. Fellow Marauder, Austin Stevens, took fourth overall, with a time of 17:06.49. Maclay freshman, Travis Covert, dipped under the nineteen minute mark to finish nineteenth in a time of 18:54.64. Mosley High School finished third, with a fifth place finish by Phil Cochran (17:07.90) and a seventh place finish by Frankie Menna (17:30.49). Godby grabbed fourth overall, Lincoln fifth, and Florida High sixth.

On the girls’ side, the Maclay marauders took home the win. It was déjà vu all over again, with Stefanie Kurgatt (19:58.51), Kristin Sweeney (20:25.02), and Lindsey Sanders (22:11.71) taking first through third, just as they did earlier in the week at the Godby Invite. The ladies of Leon finished second as a team, with a fourth through seventh sweep consisting of Allison Clarke (22:13.24), Brooke Eubanks (22:17.68), Autumn Wable (22:27.81), and Allyson Alonso (22:41.83). Mosley took third overall, with Florida High in fourth, Wakulla in fifth, and Lincoln in sixth.

With another tough course and another successful meet behind them, area distance prepsters are gaining confidence for what lies ahead. Undoubtedly, the next few weeks will be full of surprises in the world of Big Bend cross country, and from now on, I will try to provide more than a second-hand account of these riveting races.