Area runners seek titles in state cross country
The cross country state championships play out today in Tallahassee, and it’s a good bet Central Florida runners will bring home some hardware.
Starting in Class 1A, the Circle Christian girls likely will defend their 2017 title. The Centurions’ biggest competition, Citrus Park Christian, was reassigned to 2A, leaving the reigning state champs with no obstacles.
Reigning 1A boys state champ Mount Dora Christian Academy also looks like a lock to repeat, with senior Gabriel Curtis among the favorites for the individual title.
Montverde Academy and Trinity Prep are almost guaranteed to finish in the top five in the 2A girls event. Montverde’s Lily Henne has a shot at the individual title.
Defending 4A girls state champ Winter Park isn’t quite at the same level this season, making a repeat a difficult task. Region 1 champ Lake Brantley or Winter Springs could be next up for the title.
Elayna Bahr of Winter Springs, Mya Bodrato of Lake Mary and Amber Schulz of Timber Creek are favorites to win the individual title. Schulz won the Region 1 race in 18:20.55.
Oviedo, West Orange, Windermere and Lake Mary headline the 4A boys race. The Lions, who are looking to repeat as state champs, are led by Angel Vicioso, who has a shot to win the individual title. Oviedo edged West Orange by eight points for the Region 1 title.
Top-ranked Oviedo (26-4) faces No. 20 Sarasota Riverview (23-6) today in a Class 9A state volleyball semifinal.
The teams have a victory against a common opponent in Fort Pierce Central. Riverview also defeated Olympia and Dr. Phillips in its region bracket.
The winner advances to Friday’s state final in Fort Myers.
In Class 2A, Geneva School plays at Miami Christian today for its chance to reach the state finals, which begin Thursday in Fort Myers. Geneva (16-6) is coming off a major victory against Morningside Academy in the region final.
Lake Brantley figures to contend in all three of the boys relay events, while Oviedo should be in the mix for both boys and girls team titles at today’s Class 4A state swimming and diving championships in Stuart.
The Lions won both the boys and girls team titles at last week’s Region 2 meet. Junior Mason Herbet and senior Carlos Cartagena stand out in a deep Oviedo boys’ roster that will bring 22 swimmers to today’s meet.
For the girls, juniors Abigail Gibbons and Jaden Herbet are half of the 200 free relay going today. Gibbons also will compete in the 100 fly, while Herbet will swim the 100 back.
Lake Brantley’s boys finished first during the 200 medley relay and the 200 and 400 free relays at the region meet. Anchoring the Patriots in the 200 medley relay was junior Cole Parnell, who finished with the event’s fastest split time of 20.62. Parnell also finished second in the 50 free.
Other boys swimmers of note for Lake Brantley are junior Nate Boccuzzo and senior Jhon Moncada. For the girls, junior Lizzy Lanartas finished fourth in the 200 free at the region meet.
Other area boys who come in with No. 1 qualifying times are Winter Park senior Hector Rodriguez in the 100-yard breaststroke and Seminole freshman phenom Dawson Joyce in the 50 free.
On the girls side, West Orange senior Elizabeth Cottle is the top seed in the 100 free.
Also today, Lake Highland Prep hosts the 1A, Region 2 meet, which qualifies swimmers for the 1A state championships Nov. 10 in Stuart. The field includes Trinity Prep teammates Luke Uttley and Jan Collazo Torres, who finished first and second at state, respectively, in the 100 freestyle last season.