Curtis wins Runner of the Year
Runner of the Year: Gabriel Curtis, Mount Dora Christian Academy, Sr.
Curtis won his second Class 1A individual championship with a time of 15 minutes, 52.8 seconds for 5,000 meters and led the Bulldogs to a repeat team title. His personal best 15:28.20 time in the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival at the University of Arkansas led the area. Did you know: Curtis committed to FSU on Nov. 10. Including the Cecil Field Pre-season Classic, he finished first in eight of the Bulldogs’ nine meets. That included a first place finish in the highly-competitive Florida Runners Invitational and Class 1A, district, region and state titles.
All-Area first team Kayamo Galloway, Oviedo, Jr.: Galloway finished fifth at the 4A state championship with a time of 16:07.44. He was the individual 4A, Region 1 winner with a run of 15:55.97. Mamush Galloway, Oviedo, Jr.: Galloway finished 32nd at the 4A state meet with a run of 16:40.80. His run of 15:44.60 at the 4A, District 2 meet was the fifth fastest time in the area this season. John-Anthony Hernandez, St. Cloud, Jr.: Hernandez finished 25th at the 4A state meet with a time of 16:36.81. He won 4A, District 5 with a personal and season best time of 16:21.92. Jake Lockhart, Lake Mary, Sr.: Lockhart finished sixth at the 4A state meet with a time of 16:10.56. Lockhart was one of this season’s biggest surprises, having ran close to 17 minutes all season until his 15:57.00 performance at districts. Nicholas Miller, West Orange, Sr.: Miller finished 15th at the 4A state championship with a time of 16:22.99. His run of 15:40.00 at the Windermere XC Invitational was the fourth fastest time in the area this season. Onix Ortiz, Windermere, Jr.: Ortiz finished 11th at the 4A state championship with a time of 16:17.62. He finished fifth with a time of 16:22.42 at a highly competitive Last Chance Invite. Liam Pirie, Windermere, Jr.: Pirie finished 23rd at the 4A state meet with a time of 16:34.94. He finished fifth at the 4A, District 3 race with a time of 16:48.39. Jackson Pruim, MDCA, Sr.: Pruim finished fifth at the 1A state championship with a personal and season best time of 16:04.39. He finished 25th at the highly competitive Florida Runners Invitational.
Vicioso finished fourth at the 4A state championship with a time of 15:59.20. Including preseason, Vicioso finished first in six of the Lions’ nine meets this season. Christopher Wilhelm, Trinity Prep, Sr.: Wilhelm finished 12th at the 1A state meet with a personal and season best time of 16:11.64. Wilhelm won 2A, District 8 with a time of 17:11.20.
Zachary Cloud, St. Cloud, Jr.
Mitchell Soph.
Noah Ellenback, Windermere, Jr.
Nicholas Khan, West Orange, Sr.
Joshua Phillips, Sr. Michael May, Wekiva, Sr. Vincent Menozzi, Lake Highland Prep, Sr.
Jai Phillips, Lake Highland Prep, Jr.
Carter Rowe, Jr.
Trent Shackelford, Lake Brantley, Sr. Curtis, MDCA, Matzner, Dr. Windermere,
Vicioso and Kayamo Galloway led Lions to a fourth place finish at the 4A state meet in Tallahassee. The Galloway brothers will be back as seniors next season.
The Bulldogs capped a stellar season by winning their second consecutive Class 1A state championship, and by an 85-point margin.
In only their second season the Wolverines placed sixth at the 4A state meet. And they’re the only area school bringing back their top seven runners.
The Warriors made a statement in their first appearance at the FHSAA finals, finishing 10th under first-year head coach Adolph Morris. 5. Lake Highland Prep: Highlanders improved from sixth place in 2A in 2017 to third this year as the top area finisher in the classification. Top runner Jai Phillips was a junior. 6. St. Cloud: The Bulldogs finished 11th in 4A and brings back All-Area runner John-Anthony Hernandez and second team All-Area runner Zachary Cloud for next season.