Cloud is Orlando area runner of year
St. Cloud senior Zach Cloud said he focused more on what he called the “smaller” details of cross country during training this summer.
His attention to paid off in a big way.
Cloud beat every area runner he competed against this season. He also ran an area-best time of 15 minutes, 32 seconds for 5,000 meters, and capped the campaign with the best time among Sentinel coveragearea schools at the state meet.
All that added up to Cloud being chosen the Orlando Sentinel runner of the year.
Here is the 2019 All-Area team:
Runner of the Year detail
Zach Cloud
St. Cloud, Sr.
Buzz: Cloud’s time of 15:49.70 for fifth place in the Class 4A state final was the fastest for area runners at the FHSAA state meet in Tallahassee. It capped a season in which he set a school record (15:32) previously held by his St. Cloud coach, Kevin Harkema, 25 years ago. Cloud won five of the nine races he ran as a senior — including conference, district and region titles.
All-Area runners
Aiden Arnold, Winter Springs, Jr.
Buzz: Shaved 14 seconds off previous best with 16:17.20 and top-10 showing in 3A state meet.
Jerdary Ayala, Tohopekaliga, Sr. Buzz: Third in Orange Belt Conference behind St. Cloud duo; 16:16.19 for 26th in 4A state meet.
Colton Berquist, West Orange, Jr. Buzz: Ran area-best underclass time (15:53.38) in regional; 16:16.78 at state for 28th in 4A.
Jared Falchook, Celebration, Soph. Buzz: Only sophomore firstteamer ran 16:35.65 and 16:30.89 state meet. at regional in 4A
Kayamo Galloway, Oviedo, Sr.
Buzz: Saved his season-best (15:53.48) for seventh-place finish at the 4A state meet.
Mamush Galloway, Oviedo, Sr.
Buzz: Ran 15:56.48 at regional, and 16:17.44 at state. Now he and his brother are playing basketball.
Hayden Goodsell, Oviedo, Jr.
Buzz: Big addition to Oviedo lineup ran 16:03.18 in regional; 16:13.89 at state for top-25 finish.
John-Anthony Hernandez, St. Cloud, Sr.
Buzz: Broke 16 minutes for the first time at state (15:58.12) to place 11th in 4A.
Onix Ortiz, Windermere, Sr. Buzz: His 15:46.10 best was second only to Cloud. Ran 16:10.62 at state to lead Wolverines.
Liam Pirie, Windermere, Sr. Buzz: Under 17 minutes in final seven races, including 16:13.05 regional, 16:31.91 at state.
Second team Hailemariam Buck, Soph. Mitchell Curtis, Mount Dora Christian, Jr. Noah Ellenback, Windermere, Sr.
Riley Novak, Mount Dora Christian, Fr.
Kai Komatsu, Olympia, Jr. Jai Phillips, Lake Highland Prep, Sr.
Carter Rowe, Windermere, Sr.
Carlos Sabogal, Moore, Sr.47
Ilyas Semlali, Dr. Phillips, Jr. Jose Nazario-Marques, Dr. Phillips, Jr.
Windermere,
Bishop
Sentinel Super Six teams
1. Oviedo: Lions placed fifth in Class 4A with area’s best average time (16:28.76) at state meet.
2. Windermere High: Wolverines, the area lead dog most of the year, were eighth in 4A final.
3. St. Cloud: Bulldogs were third best area team in 4A state meet, placing 17th.
4. Dr. Phillips: Panthers, runner-up behind Windermere in 4A Region 1, were 19th in 4A.
5. Lake Highland Prep: Highlanders ran to fifth in 2A state meet, enough for a ranking.
6. Tohopekaliga: Thirdyear Tigers just missed top-20 finish in 4A state meet.
Second Six: 7. Bishop Moore, 8. Timber Creek, 9. Mount Dora Christian, 10. Olympia, 11. Trinity Prep, 12. Winter Springs