Another Weekend - Bobcat Classic and Quail Trail

by Jana Stolting, September 27, 2009

This past weekend, area athletes traveled to two different venues to show off their distance running prowess. Chiles made the trip to Gainesville to take part in the Bucholz Bobcat Classic, while Maclay, Florida High, and Lincoln went just up the road to Pebble Hill Plantation in Georgia to be a part of the very first Quail Trail Invitational.

In Gainesville, Chiles dominated the girls’ field, taking home the win. They were led by a first through third sweep consisting of Lily Williams (first in 18:25.49), Carly Thomas (second in 18:54.69), and Rachel Givens (third in 18:57.82). Teammate, Kelley Bahn, rounded out the top five with her twenty-first place finish in 21:00.95.

The men of Chiles were not quite as dominant, but they still came out a solid fourth overall. They were led by Branden Lingerfelt’s fifth place finish in 16:34.70. Teammates, Sam Sutton (eighth in 16:46.30) and Taylor Buzzard (ninth in 16:48.70) added the depth needed to place so highly in such a respectable field.

Back in our neck of the woods (or a little up the road from it, in Georgia), Maclay proved to be the team to beat. The Marauders took first overall in both the girls’ and boys’ races, proving they can get the job done even on very “creatively measured” courses. After all, accuracy falls by the wayside, as it should, in real cross country. The lady Marauders matched the lady Timberwolves, with a first through third sweep of their own. Jana Stolting (first in 18:43.00), Stefanie Kurgatt (second in 20:18.00), and Shelby Salimone (third in 21:10.00) sealed Maclay’s first place fate. The Maclay boys were led by Austin Stevens, who finished in second with a time of 17:49.00. Behind him, teammates, Patrick Swain (sick, with a third place finish of 18:21.00) and Travis Covert (ninth in 19:28.00) wrapped up the necessary points to take home the win.

Lincoln’s girls finished fifth overall, and their boys finished fourth (their lead runners plagued with illness). Florida High’s boys took third, led by a Trey Edwards’s fourth place finish (18:35.00) and a fifth place finish by Robert Abellera (18:56.00).

The Big Bend has enjoyed another successful weekend at the races, even as sickness makes its way through area teams. Hopefully, everyone will be healthy two weeks from now, when FSU hosts its Invitational at the brand new Apalachee Regional Cross Country Park. Our very own Brian Corbin has made it his mission to provide the community with a true cross country venue, and his mission has been accomplished. He and countless volunteers have spent many-a-Saturday toiling away to create this great course from scratch. Words cannot begin to describe the level of appreciation my fellow runners and I have for those who undertook this daunting task. It is my feeling that the greatest way we can all say “Thanks” is to break it in right on October 10.
 

The Stoltz Report

Lincoln Invite

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...

Cross Country Season Kicks Off

It’s hard to believe, but the 2009 cross country season is upon us. The Godby Invite on Monday was a great kick-off to what promises to be an exciting next couple of months. Unfortunately, I was in Portland, so I did not get to witness the race firsthand,...

Three A Competition Wraps up State

On Friday, local 3A teams closed out this track season with their State Meet. Leon, Lincoln, and Chiles showed up in Winter Park ready to run (and throw, and jump, and vault), and the results are littered with top performers from the Big Bend. On the...

Another Weekend at and on the Way to State

This past weekend, local 1A and 2A athletes competed in their State track meets. 3A tracksters participated in their Region meet, the last contest before their big dance. Winter Park played host to both the 1A State meet on Friday and the 2A State meet on...

More Post Season Competition

This past week marked the beginning of District competition for area 3A teams and the start of Regional battles for local 1A and 2A athletes. The competition grows tougher as State looms on the horizon, but the Big Bend’s finest proved they are up to the...

The Road to State Begins

The Road to State Begins Jana Stolting, This past week marked the beginning of the post season for area 1A and 2A athletes. Runners, jumpers, and throwers competed for those coveted four spots, hoping to earn a berth to Regionals and beyond.On Tuesday,...

The Road to State Begins

This past week marked the beginning of the post season for area 1A and 2A athletes. Runners, jumpers, and throwers competed for those coveted four spots, hoping to earn a berth to Regionals and beyond. On Tuesday, Godby hosted the 2A District 2...

Mo Better Track

Mo' Better Track Jana Stolting,  Local athletes represented Tallahassee at three separate venues this past weekend. Each competition provided yet another showcase of the outstanding talent of the Big Bend.On Friday, Maclay hosted the Last Chance Meet,...

Mo’ Better Track

Local athletes represented Tallahassee at three separate venues this past weekend. Each competition provided yet another showcase of the outstanding talent of the Big Bend. On Friday, Maclay hosted the Last Chance Meet, which, as the name implies, gave...

City Champs

City Championships and More Jana Stolting,  The Stoltz report has returned from its spring break, as have the runners, jumpers, and throwers of the Big Bend. Before the City Championships, held Tuesday, can be highlighted, however, it is necessary to...