The Scoop: NXR Regionals, FHSAA, and CIF Southern Sectionals

Senior Koon and Frosh Mantecon Go Head-to-Head at FHSAA, Annabella Tomasic With Fastest Girls Time

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Nothing seems more exciting in cross country than a classic duel of the fastest.

And on Friday morning at the Apalachee Regional course in Tallahassee, we witnessed exactly that.

Looking for a three-peat and a crisp end to his senior cross country season, Leon's Patrick Koon did just that, adding his name to the small list of Florida runners to do so.

For the length of the race, the senior and freshman paralleled each other.

Mantecon held on for as long as he could, no doubt propelling himself faster with the elite runner by his side.

Although being slightly under the weather, Koon chased down the finish separating from Mantecon with the final stretch in sight and winning his third FHSAA cross country title, running 15:02.10, slightly behind his bid from last year.

Koon plans on heading to North Carolina next week for a chance to qualify for Foot Locker in San Diego.

Individual results below for Class 3A.

With Mantecon leading his pack, the Belen Jesuit boys swept the competition as they took the state title with ease, no competition in sight.

Belen Jesuit went 2-5-6-8-12, pumping out an impressive lead of 113 points ahead of the team runner up, Naples High School.

The Belen Jesuit boys are set for needed rest as they travel to North Carolina for NXR Southeast Regional on Sunday. More on that on page 5.

Collecting 10 wins out of her 11 races this season--most if not all being high school races--seventh grader Annabella Tomasic took another on Friday as she clocked the fastest time of the day.

Although she came into the race unknowing the outcome, Tomasic kept up with her "Go, go, go," mentality and landed a certainly favorable outcome.

The seventh grader was just shy of her 17:25 personal best, running 17:32.90 for her first Florida cross country state title, the fastest time of the day across all classes.

With the cross country season now over, Tomasic may be looking onward to run a national meet but overall is looking forward to the Indoor and Outdoor seasons.