The first cross country meet of the season brought hundreds of runners to Lakeland for the 10th Anniversary Jim Ryun Invitational.  After the varsity and JV high school 5k races, the Harriers competed in the middle school 3k events, starting at 10:00am.  It was hard work for the racers who battled the central Florida late-August heat, but the Harriers were ready after spending the latter part of the summer preparing.  The teams won 2nd place overall out of 16 teams (boys) and 5th overall (girls), and both teams had two Top Ten medalists.  Newcomer Nicole Oliveira, 6th grade, received a 10th place medal and earned a spot on the Harriers Top 25 3k Times in her first cross country race.  Eliana Black, 5th grade, was awarded the 1st place medal for her time of 12:14.0.  In the boys’ race, 5th grader Oscar Brown finished in 9th place with 12:00.1, while Brennan Fargher, 7th grade, finished 10th in 12:02.9.

Oscar and Brennan heading toward the last curve before the finishing stretch.

Eliana crossing the finish line.

Results:
(Place/Name/Time)

Boys Middle School 3k
9 Oscar Brown 12:00.1
10 Brennan Fargher 12:02.9
21 Liam Ballard 12:28.3
25 Jack Garcy 12:36.9
34 Daniel Casey 12:50.5
35 Karsyn Darst 12:50.9
40 Kameron Bass 13:11.5
50 Carson Caplinger 13:32.5
53 Cooper Chesser 13:37.9
55 Maddux Hawkins 13:39.4
93 Liam Maloney 14:56.8
99 Eli Riordan 15:02.9
101 Elijah Landers 15:06.1
147 Nadav Egosi 17:19.8
153 Brodie Christensen 17:29.8
180 Gabriel Santos 21:22.1

Girls Middle School 3k
1 Eliana Black 12:14.0
10 Nicole Oliveira 13:48.2
33 Ainsley Aeschleman 14:45.5
61 Alli Laffler 16:16.5
64 Reyne Szabla 16:24.1
116 Carly Henry 19:59.5
137 Fay Brooks 22:07.7
145 McKinley Cassels 23:23.3

Boys Elementary 2k
4 Colin Fargher 9:29.1
5 Colin Maloney 9:47.3
6 Alec Brown 10:21.1

The Boys’ Team and Coach Brian posing with Jim Ryun, pro-runner Ed Cheserek, and their 2nd place trophy.

Next week, September 1st, the Harriers will be at the Lecanto Invitational.