Sophomore Sallault Guides The Knights To Runner-Up Trophy At FCA Pre-Season Invitational
FCA-JV Awards
by Tim Ferrell, East Ridge High School Photos, South Lake PhotographyMost people, when they make their way across the beautiful rolling hills of Clermont to Southern Hills Farm, are looking to pick fresh fruit from their orchards. On Saturday Morning, however, people made their way to the Farm to see the East Ridge Knights picking off opposing runners one by one to finish second at the FCA Pre-Season Invitational. In what is one of the most anticipated seasons in East Ridge High School history, the boys team were able to unveil their talented group of runners for the 2024 season. After a grueling Summer in which the boys worked and prepared to be extremely successful, they started the season on just the right foot. In addition, the Junior Varsity team finished first, showcasing the dearth of talent this group has this year.The Knights were led by the champion of the race, Sophomore Axel Sallault. Sallault is coming off of a record-breaking track season in which he finished 5th at the state meet and has high expectations for himself. Well, he is already firmly meeting those expectations by defeating the entire field of over 140 runners in a time of 16:43. Sallault led from start to finish, defeating the runner-up by 35 seconds.
Finishing in second for East Ridge and 4th overall in a time of 17:29 was Junior Caleb Walker. Caleb began the race firmly entrenched behind his teammate Sallault. However, Jaiden Mckee from West Orange High School and Jacob Finch from Horizon High School (both state finalists in 2023) speedily caught up to Walker by the second mile. This was a very impressive run from Walker as this result was only a few seconds off of his personal best time.Rounding out the scoring for the Knights were Junior Gustavo Vargas, Sophomore Tyce Ertel, and Freshman Aubin Sallault. Vargas, fresh off of his impressive 2023 season continues to improve his time as he ran a solid 18:25 putting him in ninth place overall. Much like Walker, this was less than 30 seconds off of his personal best time. Finishing just behind Vargas was his teammate Tyce Ertel in 11th place overall. Unlike his teammates who finished ahead of him, Tyce was able to achieve a personal best time of 18:30. This was a personal best by over 45 seconds! That is quite a feat, especially considering this is the first race of the season in difficult, sandy terrain. The final scoring Knight was another Sallault, Freshman Aubin Sallault. Aubin made his High School running debut in this race, and what a debut it was. Aubin ran the course in a blistering time of 19:42, placing 40th overall. One of the Knight’s strengths this year is their depth. This was on display in this race as the rest of the varsity runners were within just a few minutes of each other. The first non-scoring varsity runner to cross the finish line was Junior Dylan McCleary in a time of 19:55, which was good for 42nd place. Just 17 seconds behind McCleary was another Knight making his Freshman debut, Watson Dunham. His race placed him in 45th place. Junior James Laack completed his 5k in a time of 20:51, good for 60th place. An additional Freshman Varsity runner making his first appearance in a High School race was Sidney Stewart. Stewart finished 79th with a time of 21:40. Junior Scott Bori placed 92nd in a time of 22:06. That makes all ten East Ridge runners finishing in the top 92.The Junior Varsity Knights were able to bring home the JV team title by finishing in first place. The Knights were led by Sophomore Eli Parks. Parks ran in a time of 21:39, which was a personal best placing him fourth overall. This is a fantastic start for Parks as he looks to continue to improve off of his Freshman campaign. Just behind Parks, making his introduction as a distance runner for East Ridge High School, Freshman Gavan Flaugher. Flaugher finished the course in a time of 21:58, good for 7th place overall. Rounding out the medaling JV runners, also making his debut was Junior Andrew Conway. Conway placed 10th in a time of 22:20. Just being edged out by two seconds for a medaling spot was Sophomore Christopher Stuemke. Stuemke ran an impressive 22:22, good for 11th place. The ever important fifth scorer was Freshman Aiden Floudiotis, also running in his first race as a Freshman. Floudiotis placed 15th in a time of 23:00. Just behind Floudiotis was Isaac Bori, in a time of 23:14 and 18th place. Bori was yet another impressive Freshman to run this race for the Knights. Finishing in 22nd place was Junior Evan DeAnnuntis with a time of 23:40. Sophomore John Hall finished in a time of 24:36 good for 33rd place. Making yet another debut was Junior Daniel Baggett, who finished in a time of 25:09, good for 42nd place. Finishing in 52nd with a time of 26:13 was Freshman Maddox Nickelaou. Nickelaou was yet another first time High School runner for the Knights. Rounding out the JV squad was Junior Chase Ensor who ran a 28:23 (64th place) and Senior Jayden Ramjohn, who was also, you guessed it, making his first High School 5k. Ramjohn completed the course in a time of 31:11 (68th place).The Knights will be in action on Friday the 23rd in the prestigious Cecil Field Invitational. The JV girls will be taking off first at 6:15 pm, followed by the JV boys at 6:45 om. The boys and girls varsity teams will be racing in their respective elite races. The girls elite goes off first at 7:15 pm, followed by the boys at 7:45 pm
The Knights were led by the champion of the race, Sophomore Axel Sallault. Sallault is coming off of a record-breaking track season in which he finished 5th at the state meet and has high expectations for himself. Well, he is already firmly meeting those expectations by defeating the entire field of over 140 runners in a time of 16:43. Sallault led from start to finish, defeating the runner-up by 35 seconds.
One of the Knight’s strengths this year is their depth. This was on display in this race as the rest of the varsity runners were within just a few minutes of each other. The first non-scoring varsity runner to cross the finish line was Junior Dylan McCleary in a time of 19:55, which was good for 42nd place. Just 17 seconds behind McCleary was another Knight making his Freshman debut, Watson Dunham. His race placed him in 45th place. Junior James Laack completed his 5k in a time of 20:51, good for 60th place. An additional Freshman Varsity runner making his first appearance in a High School race was Sidney Stewart. Stewart finished 79th with a time of 21:40. Junior Scott Bori placed 92nd in a time of 22:06. That makes all ten East Ridge runners finishing in the top 92.The Junior Varsity Knights were able to bring home the JV team title by finishing in first place. The Knights were led by Sophomore Eli Parks. Parks ran in a time of 21:39, which was a personal best placing him fourth overall. This is a fantastic start for Parks as he looks to continue to improve off of his Freshman campaign. Just behind Parks, making his introduction as a distance runner for East Ridge High School, Freshman Gavan Flaugher. Flaugher finished the course in a time of 21:58, good for 7th place overall. Rounding out the medaling JV runners, also making his debut was Junior Andrew Conway. Conway placed 10th in a time of 22:20. Just being edged out by two seconds for a medaling spot was Sophomore Christopher Stuemke. Stuemke ran an impressive 22:22, good for 11th place. The ever important fifth scorer was Freshman Aiden Floudiotis, also running in his first race as a Freshman. Floudiotis placed 15th in a time of 23:00. Just behind Floudiotis was Isaac Bori, in a time of 23:14 and 18th place. Bori was yet another impressive Freshman to run this race for the Knights. Finishing in 22nd place was Junior Evan DeAnnuntis with a time of 23:40. Sophomore John Hall finished in a time of 24:36 good for 33rd place. Making yet another debut was Junior Daniel Baggett, who finished in a time of 25:09, good for 42nd place. Finishing in 52nd with a time of 26:13 was Freshman Maddox Nickelaou. Nickelaou was yet another first time High School runner for the Knights. Rounding out the JV squad was Junior Chase Ensor who ran a 28:23 (64th place) and Senior Jayden Ramjohn, who was also, you guessed it, making his first High School 5k. Ramjohn completed the course in a time of 31:11 (68th place).The Knights will be in action on Friday the 23rd in the prestigious Cecil Field Invitational. The JV girls will be taking off first at 6:15 pm, followed by the JV boys at 6:45 om. The boys and girls varsity teams will be racing in their respective elite races. The girls elite goes off first at 7:15 pm, followed by the boys at 7:45 pm
