East Ridge High School Cross County Team Archives | South Lake Tablet

East Ridge High School Cross Country Fall Spectacular Recap

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:39:49 +0000

By Coach Grant Mollett, East Ridge High School

October 11, 2025 – Jacksonville

Seeking an opportunity to race against some Class 4A state rivals, the East Ridge Knights traveled to Jacksonville to compete in the Fall Spectacular held at New World Sports Complex. East Ridge is no stranger to New World, as they have now competed at this venue five times in the last three seasons. New World presented a flat and fast course while October in northern Florida presented crisp fall temperatures. Couple those things with state level competition and you get some fantastic performances. At New World, results for the Knights produced one current season second best performance, two current season best performances, and six career personal best performances!348 total girls and forty complete teams 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, 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 62 degrees at race time.

Senior Rhyen Foley leads the Knights’ Charge at New World; photo by team parent

The first Knight to come across the finish line was senior Rhyen Foley. Foley, who is continuing to work hard to regain her leg strength and her conditioning, led her team with a 19:06 performance! This was a near 45 second improvement from her performance at the Cecil Field Summer Classic in August at New World! This was Foley’s second fastest performance of the current season and is now the seventh fastest result clocked at New World by a Knight. She will continue to prepare herself over the next few weeks in an effort to have her best performances late in the season.

Junior Jessie Volz sets a new career personal best at New World; photo by team parent

The second Knight through the chute was junior Jessie Volz. Volz, last season’s recipient of the team’s most improved award, decided that she was due for even more improvement this season. New World presented itself to be her opportunity, as she rounded the first loop of the course in close proximity to Foley. Volz trusted her training and conditioning, and pushed herself to race at a faster pace than she had been used to previously. She retained her pace, as she completed the second loop, and charged the long straightaway to the finish line. Volz finished in an impressive 19:28! This was a near two minute improvement from her performance at New World last season! Volz is now just the sixth girl to break the elusive 20:00 5K finish! Her performance on Saturday has made her the fourth fastest girl in the school’s twenty-four year history!

Senior Veronica Peterson at New World in Jacksonville; photo by team parent

The third Knight to finish was senior Veronica Peterson. Peterson, also one of East Ridge’s most decorated runners in the school’s history, pushed to a season best performance at New World. She finished in a time of 19:43, which was a near forty second improvement from her performance at the Cecil Field Summer Classic in August earlier this season.

Freshman Hortance Sallault sets a new career personal best at New World! photo by team parent

Up next was East Ridge’s talented pack of runners who have been the bane for many opponents’ this season. Leading the pack was freshman Hortance Sallault, who pushed herself to a new career personal best performance when she clocked a 20:01 finish time at New World! Sallault’s performance on Saturday was more than a minute improvement from her performance at Cecil Field earlier in the season! Her performance also made her the eighth fastest girl in the school’s history!

Junior Taylor Walker sets a new career personal best at New World!; photo by team parent

Rushing the finish line in close proximity to Sallault was junior Taylor Walker. Walker rounded out the Knights’ scoring positions by clocking an impressive 20:05 finish time! This was Walker’s new career personal best performance and she improved on her time at New World last season by nearly thirty seconds!

Senior Adriana Mustin at New World in Jacksonville; photo by team parent

Senior Adriana Mustin and sophomore Helen Robertson, two other talented runners in the Knights’ chase pack, rushed the finish line nearly in tandem! Both finished in 20:29, as the official results did not account for the tenths and hundredths of a second differential. For Mustin, her result was a new season best performance and a near twenty second improvement from her finish time at Cecil Field earlier in the season!

Sophomore Helen Robertson sets a new career personal best at New World!; photo by team parent

For Robertson, her result was a new career personal best performance, as she improved by more than a minute and a half from her finish time at Cecil earlier in the season! Robertson is now the thirteenth fastest runner in the school’s history!

Junior Lexi Whitehead sets a new career personal best at New World!; photo by team parent

Career personal best performances were to be had by both junior Lexi Whitehead and freshman Jamie Volz, as they were the final two finishers for the Knights at New World. Whitehead finished in a swift time of 20:51 – a new career personal best performance by 25 seconds! This was also an improvement by more than a minute from Whitehead’s performance at New World last season! Whitehead is now the eighteenth fastest girl in the school’s history!

Freshman Jamie Volz sets a new career personal best at New World!; photo by team parent

Volz, who has now had six career personal best performances over her last six races, finished in an impressive time of 21:26! That is a near five minute improvement from her performance at Cecil Field earlier this season! Volz is now the 26th fastest girl in East Ridge’s history!The Knights took tenth 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 Buchholz, Lake Minneola, Sarasota, St. Thomas Aquinas, Doral Academy, Boca Raton, Wiregrass Ranch, Flagler Palm Coast, Nease, Fletcher, and Bartram Trail. In fact, only Creekside and Spanish River were the 4A teams who finished ahead of East Ridge. IMG Academy was the team champion in the elite division, as they placed their five scorers in the first nineteen finishing positions. Freshman Annabella Tomasic from Bishop Moore was the individual champion. Tomasic finished in a swift time of 17:25.For full results from the New World Fall Spectacular visit: https://fl.milesplit.com/meets/665235-new-world-fall-spectacular-2025/results/1227785/formatted/.

East Ridge will compete in the Hawks Last Chance Open on Saturday October 18th at Lake Minneola High School. The first race is the girls varsity race at 7:30 am.

The post East Ridge High School Cross Country Fall Spectacular Recap appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Girls Cross Country Wins at Astronaut! Foley, Peterson, And Warren Lead The Charge While Walker And Lugo Finish It!

Michelle Delaney — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 20:43:15 +0000

September 7, 2024 – Titusville

Article by Coach Grant Mollett, East Ridge High School

On Saturday morning the East Ridge High School girls cross country team traveled to the Space Coast to compete in the Astronaut Invitational at the Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville, Florida. The wetlands of Chain of Lakes made for a saturated Saturday, and if one looked out at the pond one would have seen some alligators with their heads slightly emerged, looking at the commotion made by more than 700 athletes! The relatively flat grassy course took the runners around two lakes before entering a near 600M finish area. The temperature sat in the mid to high 70s for most of the morning, and the humidity stuck to the runners the entire way too.

Knights Varsity Team from L to R: Taylor Walker, Rhyen Foley, Neelyanis Lugo, Veronica Peterson, Hanna Warren, Jessie Volz, Avery Post, and Lexi Whitehead.

This was the fifth time the Knights had competed at the Astronaut Invitational at Chain of Lakes, and had not been back since 2019. However, their return was nothing short of epic!

Junior Rhyen Foley leading the charge for the Knights at Astronaut! Photo by Jeff Warren of South Lake Photography

Girls from 22 complete teams throughout Eastern and Central Florida participated in this morning’s meet. East Ridge’s first runner across the finish line was junior Rhyen Foley. Foley quickly found her district, region, and state rival, Addison Elwell from Viera High School, in the long starting area of Chain of Lakes. Foley and Elwell swiftly moved ahead of the rest of the field of runners, testing each other along the course. Passing the first-mile marker, Elwell trailed Foley by about six seconds. As the duo rounded the second pond and approached the second-mile marker, Elwell had put herself in lock-step with Foley. Elwell pushed the throttle a little more and entered the long finish chute ahead of Foley. Foley followed her through the chute and crossed the finish line in a swift time of 19:10, as she finished runner-up out of a large field of 161 varsity runners! This morning was the fourth time that Foley and Elwell had gone head to head in a cross-country race. Foley defeated Elwell at last season’s Pre-State Meet in Tallahassee. These two elite eleventh graders will have more chances to square off in the latter half of the season.

Junior Veronica Peterson keeping her lead against an opponent from Roswell at Astronaut! Photo by Jeff Warren of South Lake Photography

The second Knight through the chute was junior Veronica Peterson. Peterson had an impressive performance, as she secured fourth place overall and finished in a swift time of 19:50! She was able to beat two opponents from Satellite High School and two opponents from Roswell High School, which helped to put the Knights in a position to potentially win the meet!

Senior Hanna Warren crossing the bridge at Astronaut! Photo by Jeff Warren of South Lake Photography

Senior Hanna Warren was the third Knight to cross the finish line, as she took ninth place overall and finished in a time of 20:12! Warren was able to edge out district rival Alyssa Klyce from West Orange High School. Furthermore, she was able to finish ahead of Satellite’s third and fourth scorers and Roswell’s third scorer, to increase East Ridge’s likelihood of winning the meet! Both Peterson’s and Warren’s performances enabled them to join Foley in the medal line!

Sophomore Taylor Walker surging ahead of an opponent from Holy Trinity at Astronaut! Photo by Jeff Warren of South Lake Photography

Sophomore Taylor Walker was the fourth scorer for the Knights this morning. Walker placed 21st overall and finished in a new season personal best of 21:30! More importantly, Walker was able to finish ahead of Satellite’s fifth scorer and Roswell’s fourth scorer, further increasing East Ridge’s chances of taking the field!

Senior Neelyanis Lugo surges past an opponent from Vero Beach at Astronaut! Photo by Jeff Warren of South Lake Photography

What sealed it for the Knights was senior Neelyanis Lugo’s performance! Lugo ran in close proximity to Walker for the entire race, and in the final mile, she too was able to finish ahead of Satellite’s fifth scorer. As the Knights’ final scorer, Lugo placed 25th overall and clocked a finish time of 21:42 – a new season personal best!

Junior Avery Post was the sixth Knight to finish. Post placed 62nd overall and finished in 23:32 – her second-fastest time of the season. Sophomore Jessie Volz, in her first varsity race of her career, finished seventh for the Knights. Volz placed 78th overall and finished in a time of 24:14 – her second-fastest time of the season. Sophomore Lexi Whitehead was the eighth finisher for the Knights. Whitehead placed 81st in a time of 24:26 – her second fastest time of the season.

The total team effort put out by the Knights was enough for them to take top honors at the Astronaut Invitational! East Ridge beat several district and regional rivals, to include Viera, Hagerty, Vero Beach, West Orange, Melbourne, and Toho. Satellite High School was the team runner-up, and Viera’s Addison Elwell was the overall individual champion. Elwell finished in a swift time of 18:49.

Knights Junior Varsity Team from L to R: J’Mariana Douglas, Sara Garzon, and Daniela Garzon

The Knights had three runners compete in the junior varsity race this morning at Astronaut. Freshman Sara Garzon placed fifth overall in the junior varsity girls’ race, which earned her recognition in the ribbon line! This was Garzon’s second-fastest time of the season. Freshman Daniela Garzon finished in a time of 26:52, which was her second-fastest time of the season. Senior J’Mariana Douglass finished in a time of 27:03, which was her second-fastest time of the season.

For full results from the Astronaut Invitational vist http://results.tfmeetpro.com/Elite_Timing_and_Event_Management/Astronaut_XC_Invitational_2024/.

The girls’ cross country team will participate in the West Orange Invitational on Saturday, September 14 at West Orange High School with the girls’ varsity race scheduled to start at 7:15 AM.

The post Girls Cross Country Wins at Astronaut! Foley, Peterson, And Warren Lead The Charge While Walker And Lugo Finish It! appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The East Ridge Girls Cross Country Team Was Breaking Records And Making History At The Regional Meet!

Michelle Delaney — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:42:24 +0000

by Grant Mollett, East Ridge High School

October 29, 2022 – Gainesville, Florida

The East Ridge High School girls’ varsity cross country team participated in the Class 4A Region 1 Championships on Saturday morning at Santa Fe State College in Gainesville. The last time the Knights had the opportunity to compete at this venue at the regional level was in 2019. That year the Knights finished in fifteenth place out of nineteen regional teams, ultimately not qualifying for the state championships. Just like in 2019, this season the top eight teams at the regional meet moved on to the FHSAA Class 4A State Championships. However, this time around, the Knights competed far more closely with the region’s top teams! East Ridge placed fifth among the sixteen regional teams, making it the second team to advance to the state championships in the school’s twenty-one-year history!

Girls from sixteen different schools competed Saturday morning in the Class 4A Region 1 Championships. The girls’ race went off at 7:45 AM. The large field of state-hopeful teams and individuals darted across a long and descending straightaway, into a path that took to the perimeter of the campus, and into an out-and-back straightaway affectionately known as “the Tunnel” since so much of the straightaway is ran between rows of tall trees. The runners made two-and-a-half loops around Santa Fe’s campus before taking a left turn down the middle of the field to rush the near 300 meters to the finish line. Conditions were a runner’s delight, as the temperature sat at approximately 63 degrees and was chilled with a slight, but unobstructed, breeze in the air.

Freshman-Veronica-Peterson-on-the-course-at-the-regional-meet.

For the sixth time this season, freshman Veronica Peterson was the first finisher for the Knights! Veronica’s first time exiting the Tunnel, approximately three-fourths of a mile into the course, she had swiftly put herself amidst the top twenty-five runners in the region. Coming back to re-enter the Tunnel, she had made headway on some of her opponents, and was spotted in the top twenty positions. Exiting the Tunnel the third time, just slightly past the two-mile mark, Veronica held her side for a brief moment. “Fight, Veronica! Fight!” yelled Coach Tim Ferrell. Re-entering the Tunnel, now merely two-thirds of a mile from the finish line, Veronica fought – and kept fighting! Along the slight but long incline back into the Tunnel, Veronica surged past three more opponents! One last time around half of the perimeter of the campus, Veronica darted down the middle of the field, rushed the finish line, and secured an impressive thirteenth place out of 116 regional-qualified varsity runners!

Senior-Bre-Peine-congratulates-Freshman-Veronica-Peterson-on-her-thirteenth-place-medal

Veronica’s performance at the regional meet broke two long-held school records! The fastest regional performance by a Knight was 20:00, which was set by Anita Green in 2011. Veronica’s regional performance was twenty-seven seconds faster! Moreso, the fastest individual 5k on record for East Ridge High School was 19:44, which was set by Kelsey Arellano in 2006. Veronica’s regional performance shattered that record, as she finished in an impressive time of 19:33!

Sophomore-Hanna-Warren-on-the-course-at-the-regional-meet

The second Knight to finish was sophomore Hanna Warren. Hanna placed 29th overall and finished in a time of 20:18, her third-fastest performance of the season!

Senior-Bre-Peine-on-the-course-at-the-regional-meet.

The third Knight to finish was senior Bre Peine. Bre was a freshman on the 2019 team that raced at Santa Fe at the regional meet. Her performance this time around was a near minute-and-a-half improvement from her performance on the same course in 2019! Bre placed 52nd overall with a 20:54 – her third-best time of the season!

Freshman-Rhyen-Foley-on-the-course-at-the-regional-meet

The fourth Knight through the finish chute was freshman Rhyen Foley. Rhyen finished in 57th place in a time of 21:01 – a new career personal best time by fourteen seconds!

Freshman-Adriana-Mustin-on-the-course-at-the-regional-meet

The fifth finisher and final scorer for the Knights was freshman Adriana Mustin. Adriana finished in 60th place in a time of 21:20 – her second fastest time of her career!

The sixth finisher for the Knights was sophomore Madi McCormack. Madi finished in 74th place in a time of 21:45 – her third-fastest time of the season! The seventh finisher for the Knights was sophomore Neely Lugo. Neely finished in 98th place in a time of 22:44 – her third-fastest time of the season!

1 of 2

East Ridge High School took fifth place out of sixteen complete teams, which qualified the team for next Saturday’s FHSAA Class 4A State Championships in Tallahassee! This was the second time in the school’s history that a team has qualified for the state meet! The last time a team qualified for the state meet was in 2011. That year, East Ridge competed in Class 3A, making this year’s team the first to qualify in Class 4A in the school’s history. Buchholz High School out of Gainesville earned their regional championship by placing four of their finishers in the first eight positions. Niceville High School was the regional runner-up, as they placed four of their finishers in the top eighteen positions. The overall individual winner for the girls’ varsity race was senior Olivia Niewald from Spruce Creek High School. Niewald finished the regional race in a swift time of 18:28.

Varsity Team after the Race

1 of 2

The Knights will compete in the Class 4A State Championships on Saturday, November 5 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. The gun time for the 4A girls’ race will be 9:55 AM. For information regarding the FHSAA State Championships, visit: https://fhsaa.com/documents/2022/10/27//2022_FHSAA_XC_State_Championship_Meet_Information.pdf?id=3536.

For full results for the Class 4A Region 1 girls race visit: https://fl.milesplit.com/meets/505078-fhsaa-4a-region-1-2022/results/861556#.Y15sgnbMI2x.

The post The East Ridge Girls Cross Country Team Was Breaking Records And Making History At The Regional Meet! appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

East Ridge Girls Cross Country Team Is Sending Individuals To The Regional Championships!

Michelle Delaney — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 01:19:15 +0000

Article and Photos By Grant Mollett, M.ED
East Ridge High School

October 30, 2020 – Winter Garden

The East Ridge High School girls varsity cross country team participated in the Class 4A District 6 Championships on Friday morning at West Orange High School. West Orange High School has played host to the district meet for the past four years. One year ago, almost to the date, was last season’s district meet, in which the Knights qualified as a team for the regional championships. This year, the girls team participated in a smaller, but competitive district. Unfortunately, some late season injury and muscle fatigue hindered some of the team members’ performances at the district championships this year. The top three placing teams at the district meet qualified for the regional meet, but unfortunately, the Knights came in fourth place in the team scoring. However, the Knights did have two individual runners qualify for next week’s regional meet!

Bre and MacKenzie show their ribbons

Girls from six different schools throughout Central Florida competed in the Class 4A District 6 Championships on Friday morning. Senior Mackenzie Hill led the Knights as she competed with the other elite runners in Central Florida. In the first mile, Mackenzie was spotted in fifth place, as she passed the first mile marker. Round the second mile marker, Mackenzie maintained her position at fifth place. In the third mile, Mackenzie was out of striking distance from the fourth place runner and had made quite a distance between herself and the sixth place runner. Mackenzie finished in fifth place out of a field of 43 varsity runners! She finished in a swift time of 20:24, which was an improvement by more than two and a half minutes from her performance at last season’s district meet! Today’s performance was also a career personal best for Mackenzie! The second Knight through the chute was sophomore Bre Peine. Bre finished in tenth place and also set a new career personal best. Bre finished the district race in a time of 21:54 – nearly an entire minute faster than her performance at the district meet at West Orange High School last season!

Senior Heidy Castillo was the third Knight to cross the finish line on Friday morning. Heidy placed 22^nd overall in a finish time of 23:21. In spite of some late season knee pain, Heidy’s performance at the district meet this season was an improvement by over a minute from her performance at last season’s district meet! The fourth Knight to finish was sophomore Alanis Melgar. Alanis placed 33^rd overall, and finished in a time of 24:58. The fifth runner for the Knights was junior Keira Votava. Keira placed 35^th and finished in a time of 25:17. Senior Olivia Peine was the sixth runner for East Ridge on Friday morning. Olivia placed 36^th overall and finished in a time of 25:24. Freshman Addison Dodd was the seventh runner in for East Ridge, and she finished in a time of 27:22 and secured the 39^th position overall. Addison’s performance was a new career personal best! The eighth runner to finish for the Knights was sophomore Alexandra Dimitros. Alexandra posted her second best time of the season with a 30:21.

East Ridge placed fourth as a team at the district meet. West Orange High School took first place in the district by placing four girls in the top thirteen. The overall winner for the girls varsity race was freshman Ella Klyce from West Orange High School. Ella finished the race in a time of 19:28. Windermere High School and Olympia High School came in second and third in team scoring, advancing to the regional championships next week.

The Team After The Meet

Although the Knights did not qualify as a team for next week’s regional championship, two individuals did qualify for the regional championships! This season the advancement requirements changed, as the top placing four individuals who are on non-qualifying teams qualified for the regional championships. The Knights claimed two of those four spots! Senior Mackenzie Hill and sophomore Bre Peine actually claimed the first two of those four spots, and will be competing at next week’s Class 4A Region 2 Championships on Saturday November 7 at Hagerty High School in Oviedo. The gun time will be 8:00 AM. This will be the fourth consecutive year that either the girls team or individuals have qualified for the regional meet. As well, this is the ninth season out of the school’s nineteen-year history that only individuals have qualified for the regional meet. The last individual to qualify for the regional meet was alumnus Reagan Parks in 2017.

For full results from the Class 4A District 6 Championships visit http://elitetiming.net/live-results/2020/20201030-wo/?fbclid=IwAR02X1CcGBickcFCtR3dY-zjJV5VutKtDEg5XtAp3lxdd4_7ootSXciL9wI#event6.

The post East Ridge Girls Cross Country Team Is Sending Individuals To The Regional Championships! appeared first on South Lake Tablet.