By Coach Grant Mollett, East Ridge High School
Jacksonville, Florida – For the East Ridge girls cross country team, yesterday’s meet was supposed to be a local meet at their cross-town rival’s school, Lake Minneola High School. The Hawk’s Last Chance Invitational was supposed to follow two consecutive large and distant invitationals that pinned the Knights against several Class 4A district rivals, including the FL. Runners Invitational in Lakeland and the Pre-State Invitational in Tallahassee. Although the FL. Runners Invitational was able to happen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, unfortunately, the Pre-State Invitational had to be canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Seeking an opportunity to race against Class 4A state rivals this late in the season, the Fall Spectacular, held at New World Sports Complex in Jacksonville, presented itself as that opportunity for the Knights. East Ridge is no stranger to New World, as they competed there earlier in the season at the Cecil Field Summer Classic and last season at the Class 4A Region 1 Championships. However, this was the first time in Knights’ history that they competed in the New World Fall Spectacular, and a flat and fast course, crisp fall temperatures, along with state-level competition made for a special morning for East Ridge. At New World, results for the Knights produced six career personal best performances and four season best performances!
309 girls from 36 schools competed Saturday morning in the New World Fall Spectacular. The elite girls’ race went off at 7:30 AM. The large field of teams and individuals doubled up inside of the starting boxes, and darted across a long straightaway before the course bent like a horseshoe. The runners then made a near-second full loop on the former golf course, now turned, disc golf course at New World, before rushing a 250-meter, slightly descending straightaway to the finish line. Conditions were a runner’s delight, as the temperature sat at approximately 63 degrees at race time.
The first Knight to come across the finish line was junior Rhyen Foley. Foley quickly put herself amidst the other state-level elite runners at New World, including rivals Mary Summers (who ran unattached) and Addison Elwell of Viera – two familiar rivals from previous regular season meets. Elwell and Foley have battled it out three times already this season. Elwell had gotten the better of Foley in those three races, but this fourth battle would belong to Foley! Rounding the first loop of the course, Foley was spotted a few seconds ahead of Elwell, and on pace for a personal best time. Moments later, Foley made the final turn and hit the finish chute, where Elwell was not in sight. Foley flew through the finish chute with everything she had left to ensure that Elwell or any other trailing elite runner with strong finishing capabilities would not catch her.
Foley finished in an impressive tenth place out of a field of more than 300 varsity girls! Moreover, she finished in 18:00 – a new career personal best and a new East Ridge High School girls 5K record! The previous record of 18:33 was set by Foley last year at New World during the regional championships.
The second Knight through the chute was senior Hanna Warren. Warren, one of the Knights’ most decorated runners in East Ridge’s history and the team’s captain, put out a spectacular performance, as well. Seeking a sub-19 minute 5K, Warren did not hesitate to put herself in the company of others who were also striving for that highly coveted time. She placed 29th overall and finished in a swift time of 18:48 – a season-best performance and her second-fastest time in her high school career!
The third Knight to finish was junior Veronica Peterson. Peterson, also one of East Ridge’s most decorated runners in the school’s history, pushed to a season-best performance, as well. She placed 44th overall and finished in a time of 19:07 – which tied her second-fastest performance in her high school career!
Rounding out the scoring positions for the Knights were junior Adriana Mustin and sophomore Taylor Walker, who both dug deep to achieve their swift results. Mustin, the fourth finisher for the Knights, placed 130th and finished in a time of 20:24. Her performance was a season-best effort and tied her career personal best, which she set last season at New World at the regional championships!
Walker, close to Mustin, raced her way to a new career personal best performance! She placed 141st overall and finished in a time of 20:34! Walker’s performance moved her into the Knights’ top ten all-time fastest girls in the cross country program’s history! This means that five of the top ten are held by girls who are on the current team!
The sixth Knight to finish was freshman Kori Lindley. Lindley, who has put together several impressive races early into her high school career, put down another impressive performance at New World. She placed 185th and finished in a time of 21:19 – a new career personal best by more than a minute! Lindley’s performance moved her into East Ridge’s all-time top thirty runners, as she now sits as the 21st fastest girl in the school’s history.
The next finisher for the Knights was senior Neelyanis Lugo. Lugo placed 194th and finished at 21:25 – her fastest time of the season!
Sophomore Jessie Volz was the next finisher for the Knights. Volz placed 195th overall and finished at 21:26 – a new career personal best performance by a minute and a half! Volz’s performance enabled her to crack East Ridge’s all-time top thirty runners, as she now is the 22nd fastest runner in the cross country program’s history.
Junior Avery Post was the ninth finisher for the Knights. Post placed 206th overall and finished in a time of 21:38 – a new career personal best! Post’s performance placed her in the top thirty list, as she now is the school’s 25th fastest runner in its history.
The final finisher for the Knights was sophomore Lexi Whitehead. Whitehead placed 227th overall and finished at of 22:05 – a new career personal best performance! Her performance also placed her in the all-time top thirty list, as she now is the school’s 29th fastest runner in its history.
The Knights took fifth place in the elite division and defeated several other Class 4A teams in the process! Some of the 4A teams that East Ridge was able to defeat included Flagler Palm Coast (Palm Coast), Spruce Creek (Port Orange), and Nease (Ponte Vedra). Only Creekside and Buchholz were the 4A teams who finished ahead of East Ridge. Creekside High School was the team champion in the elite division, as they placed their five scorers in the first 41 positions. Senior Mackenzie Roy from Spruce Creek was the individual champion. Roy finished in a swift time of 17:14.
For full results from the New World Fall Spectacular visit: https://my.raceresult.com/313778/.
East Ridge had six runners participate in the varsity race at the Hawks Last Chance Invitational at Lake Minneola High School. Freshman Sara Garzon placed 79th overall (out of 162 runners) and finished in a time of 23:18 – a new career personal best performance by nearly a minute and a half! Senior J’Mariana Douglas was the second Knight to finish at Lake Minneola. Douglas placed 108th overall and finished in a time of 24:42 – a new season-best performance! Junior Thirsa Cnossen was the third finisher for the Knights. Cnossen placed 126th overall and finished in a time of 26:12. The fourth finisher for the Knights was senior Allie McCleary. McCleary placed 131st and finished in a time of 27:01 – a new career personal best performance! The fifth finisher for the Knights was freshman Daniela Garzon. Garzon placed 132nd overall and finished in a time of 27:05. The sixth Knight to finish was sophomore Yeidy Diaz. Diaz placed 144th overall and finished in a time of 28:37 – a new career personal best performance by over a minute!
For full results from the Hawks Last Chance Invitational visit: https://milesplit.live/meets/608460.
East Ridge will host the Lake County Championships on Saturday, October 26. This will be the final meet of the regular season, and it will showcase the talented athletes throughout Lake County. The first race is the girls’ race at 8:00 am. For tickets visit https://gofan.co/event/1474798?schoolId=FL673. Admission is $7.00 per person.
