FLRunners.com was the company and website that brought Florida high school cross country into the Internet age. The site’s success in the early 2000s led to its expansion into other states. In that endeavor, the site became known as Milesplit, and its goal was to provide the same services for event hosts, runners, coaches, and teams throughout the United States. Milesplit has become the website through which high school cross country teams post, register, and track results for thousands of running events every year. In 2000, FLRunners.com began hosting a large cross country event titled the FLRunners.com Invitational. Over the years, this event has grown to span two days and include a multitude of races at varying age and grade levels, and in the past has included college races. Elementary, middle, and high school races were scheduled for Friday and Saturday for the 25th installment of the FLRunners.com Invitational this weekend at Holloway Park in Lakeland Florida.**
This was the first time in six years that the East Ridge Knights competed at FLRunners. In fact, the Knights were placed into the Race of Champions for the first time in the school’s history. The Race of Champions is the elite division for the Invitational and it showcases many of the best teams and fastest individuals in Florida. It has become the premier mid season race for the entire state. Holloway Park retained a lot of the water from the storms that happened over the past couple of weeks, so the meet directors decided to alter the traditional 5K course. Due to those changes, the modified course was a two loop course that began on a long grassy straight away that took the field of runners over some hills and through some wooded areas. After the second loop, the runners made a final left turn into a long finish area, over a slight incline, and across the finish line.
Girls from 25 teams throughout Florida competed in the Race of Champions at FLRunners.com on Saturday morning. The girls Race of Champions took off at 7:50 AM, and the Knights charged the starting field! The first Knight to come across the finish line was junior Rhyen Foley. Foley found herself in familiar company in the Race of Champions, as she ran with other elite runners that she had battled with throughout the season. Foley finished in an impressive seventh place out of a field of more than 200 varsity girls and in a time of 19:15! The second Knight through the chute was junior Veronica Peterson. Peterson also put together an impressive performance, as she placed fifteenth overall and finished in a time of 19:43 – a second fastest time of the season! The third Knight to finish was senior Hanna Warren. Warren, who ran in close proximity to Peterson throughout most of the race, finished in 22nd place overall and in a time of 20:14. Warren’s performance enabled her to join her teammates on the awards stage!
Following Foley, Peterson, and Warren were East Ridge’s trio who pack run in order to push each other and pick off opposing runners to help secure desirable results for their team. Junior Adriana Mustin, sophomore Taylor Walker, and senior Neelyanis Lugo make up that trio, and their efforts greatly contributed to their team’s overall performance.
Part way into the third mile, it was Walker who pushed the throttle, and began to separate from the pack. As Walker entered the finish chute, she lengthened her stride, and ultimately overcame several opponents to help her team. Walker placed 48th overall and finished in a time of 21:24 – a new season best performance! Once Walker amped it up, Lugo and Mustin also went for it! Lugo, the Knight’s final scorer, placed 60th overall and finished in a time of 21:35 – a new season best performance! Mustin followed in Lugo, taking 61st place and finished in a time of 21:39 – her third fastest time of the season.
The seventh Knight to finish was freshman Kori Lindley. Lindley had an impressive run at Holloway, as she placed 87th overall and finished in a time of 22:25 – a new career personal best performance! The next finisher for the Knights was junior Avery Post. Post was able to hold off four immediate opponents at the finish line, as she placed 101st overall and in a time of 22:45 – her second fastest time of the season! Sophomore Jessie Volz was the next finisher for the Knights. Volz placed 125th overall and finished in a time of 23:17 – her second fastest time of the season. Sophomore Lexi Whitehead was the final finisher for the Knights. Whitehead placed 162nd overall and finished in a time of 24:11 – her second fastest time of the season.
The Knights took third place in the Race of Champions and defeated every other Class 4A team in the race! Some of the 4A teams that East Ridge was able to defeat included their crosstown and district rival, Lake Minneola, Plant (Tampa), and Wellington (Palm Beach County). Our Lady of Lourdes (Miami) was the meet’s runner up. Dillard High School (Ft. Lauderdale), last season’s 3A state championship team, won the Race of Champions. Eighth grader Avery Hartley from Cornerstone Classical Academy (Jacksonville) was the individual champion. Harley finished in a swift time of 18:11.
East Ridge had four runners participate in the junior varsity race later in the morning. Junior Thirsa Cnossen placed 21st overall and finished in a time of 27:37. Freshman Daniela Garzon placed 34th overall and finished in a time of 28:40. Junior Alyssa Schacht placed 36th overall and finished in a time of 28:47. Sophomore Yeidy Diaz placed 49th overall and finished in a time of 29:59.
