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 with three of their runners in the top ten: Lily Williams was the runner-up for the second year in a row with a time of 17:58; Carly Thomas took fourth in 17:59; Jodie McGuff (18:49) was tenth. Kelley Bahn (19:32) finished twenty-first, and Sara Lane ran a time of 20:04 for thirty-sixth.

This impressive team will compete later this week in the Nike Southeast Regional Championship in North Carolina. Riley Doherty (15:47) of Leon received fourth in the boys’ 3A competition. His teammates John Hazelton (7th -15:54), Benjamin McMahon (27th – 16:25), and William Henderson (38th – 16:36) helped the Lions to third. Jacob Slupecki (16:28) was Lincoln’s lead runner in twenty-eighth, and the Trojans earned ninth overall. In thirty-fourth with a time of 16:34, Taylor Buzzard led the Timberwolves to thirteenth.

For the 2A competition, Dieumy Duclos from Godby ran a time of 16:19 taking eleventh. Florida High was also represented by Joseph Garcia (63rd – 17:14). Even with a young team, the ladies of Maclay finished ninth in the 1A race led by Kristin Sweeney in seventh with a personal record of 18:30. Seniors Patrick Swain (15:44) and Austin Stevens (16:35) came in fourth and seventeenth respectively in the competitive boys’ 1A race.

Also helping the Marauders to their third place finish were Travis Covert (16:47) in twenty-first, Jacob Coates (16:48) in twenty-second, and Dennis Keane (17:22) in forty-first. Although a few runners and teams will venture out of state for more post-season competition, the 2010 cross-country season was wrapped up for most runners last Saturday. Thankfully, Tallahassee was well represented at the Ranch by athletes groomed on the plethora of trails our town has to offer. Only nine more months until the fun of cross-country begins again in 2011!