On a Mission

by Kristin Sweeney, October 3, 2011

Even though many of Tallahassee’s teams took a weekend off from competition, there were some spectacular performances from area athletes. Chiles’ ladies were quite impressive at the Jesse Owens Cross Country Invitational in Oakville, Alabama. Lily Williams not only won the Girls’ Gold Elite division, but she also ran a personal record time of 17:29 breaking the course record and going the fastest time out of all Florida’s ladies so far this season! Her teammates Carly Thomas (18:02) and Rachel Givens (18:18) also raced well, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Overall, the Chiles ladies won by over 100 points, and their team average was 18:37. Later, their male counterparts finished eighth, led by Taylor Buzzard (16:11) in twenty-third.

Farther south in Pensacola, Lincoln ventured to the Gulf Coast Cross Country Stampede. Their ladies were tenth in the varsity division. Jacob Slupecki finished in 16:34, placing fourteenth, and leading his team to seventh. At yet another race, Leon also ran well last weekend. At Bale-n-Trail in Jacksonville, Autumn Wable ran a personal record of 19:57, dipping under the 20-minute barrier for the first time! Her efforts helped the Lady Lions to finish thirteenth in a competitive field. Will Henderson led the Lions to sixth with his fifth place 16:27. Running a personal record of 16:40, Ben McMahon was thirteenth! This weekend was very successful with many personal records. Now that the weather is starting to cool, hopefully the times will improve even more!

Kristin’s Korner

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