2014 FSU Invitational/Pre-State Set Bob Thomas Jan 25, 2014

Florida State's home course - Apalachee Regional Park - will be the epicenter for some of the finest cross country racing in the South this fall when the Seminoles host the 42nd annual FSU Invitational, October 10 and 11, 2014.

FSU to Host NCAA South Regional XC Bob Thomas May 03, 2012

The penultimate event in NCAA Division I cross country is coming to Tallahassee for the first time in 2012 as Florida State has been selected as the host for the NCAA South Regional Cross Country Championships. Tallahassee has also submitted a bid with the Florida High School Athletics Association to host the 2012 state cross country championships at the ARP on November 17.

FSU Men Win, Women 2nd in Controlled Effort Bob Thomas Sep 17, 2011

Under controlled conditions the Florida State cross country teams knocked off some rust in Friday's first full varsity event of the season and came away from the Clemson Invitation encouraged about the future. (via www.seminoles.com)

Dix Earns 2 Silvers; FSU Now Counts 5 Bob Thomas Sep 03, 2011

Walter Dix claimed his second silver medal of the IAAF  World Championships, and in the process made it very clear that he will be a factor in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Dix, the former Florida State star and current US champion in the 100 and 200, finished second to world record-holder Usain Bolt in the 200-meter dash Saturday in Daegu, Korea. His silver medal time of 19.70 was 1/100th of a second off his all-time best (19.69), which he ran as a Seminole in the 2007 NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla.

Makusha Wins Online Vote For The Bowerman Bob Thomas Aug 17, 2011

In the most highly-participated fan voting to date, Florida State’s Ngoni Makusha and Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard were the top earners in online balloting for collegiate track & field’s most coveted award – The Bowerman. With nearly 83,000 total fan votes cast since August 1st, a record by over three times, the duo earned one first-place vote apiece towards the award’s final vote tally. The winners of The Bowerman, determined by this fan vote and paper balloting, will be announced in December.

O'Lionaird, Oh My! 3:34.46 Bob Thomas Aug 04, 2011

Just shy of two months from his lowest moment in an otherwise outstanding senior season at Florida State, Ciaran O'Lionaird thrust himself onto the world scene in a hastily put together 1500-meter race in Oordegem, Belgium. O'Lionaird's life changed the moment he cross the finish line, where the clock read: 3:34.46.

FSU Relays: Wehunt kicks way to 3200 victory, eight go under 9:22 Bob Thomas Mar 27, 2009

 

It's not often the high school 3200-meter race turns out to be the premier race of the day at a major invitational, but the all-star cast assembled for Friday's rain-soaked FSU Relays made that happen.

In a field that included four Florida boys state cross country champions and the runner-up in the mile at the Nike Indoor Nationals, Tampa Sickles junior Derek Wehunt stole the show.

Feature Story | Interview with Derek Wehunt | Interview with Stanford and Mizereck 

Full Results and Coverage...

Buckeye-bound Wallen eyes big finish Bob Thomas Feb 12, 2009

National signing day is a big affair at Miami Northwestern, which regularly turns out Division I football prospects by the dozen each year. Senior Skyler Wallen, however, didn’t mind crashing this year’s party.

One of the state’s top middle distance runners, Wallen shared the stage with her more ballyhooed classmates, signing a national letter of intent with The Ohio State University.

Eutsey taking aim at records, greatness Bob Thomas Jan 23, 2009

Blessed with electric talent and a radiant smile, Miami Southridge sprinter Ebony Eutsey has set her sights on the records of two iconic Florida high school stars.

Given Eutsey’s accomplishments in two seasons, it seems more a question of when - not if - the junior will wipe away the Florida High School Athletic Association state meet records of Sanya Richards and Erica Whipple in the 400- and 200-meter dashes.

Oak Ridge girls gun for record-tying 10th title Bob Thomas Jan 19, 2009

Winning state track & field championships has never grown old for Oak Ridge High girls coach Bill Stamper, who enters his 30th season at the helm of the Pioneers on the cusp of a milestone achievement.

Buoyed by returning athletes who contributed 67 individual-event points to last season’s 3A title - and a solid core of relay runners that added 15 more to the cause - the Pioneers open the 2009 season as favorites to win a state record-tying 10th team title.

Tatnall Strengthens Hold as Southeast's Top Team Bob Thomas Nov 30, 2008

Two months ago, Patrick Castagno’s Tatnall girls cross country team wrestled the Southeast’s No. 1 ranking away from Collins Hill with a sixth-runner, tie-breaking victory at the McDonald’s X-Country Festival at Maymont Park in Richmond, Va.

Tatnall - albeit running as Wilmington (Del.) XC - strengthened its hold on the top spot on Saturday by overwhelming Collins Hill (aka, Suwanee XC), 45-72 for the NXN Southeast championship title. The schools will continue their battle at Nike Cross Nationals this weekend in Portland, Ore.

1A Girls: Hale, CSN cap season with style Bob Thomas Nov 25, 2008

As if Kayla Hale hadn’t done enough for the Melbourne Holy Trinity cross country program over the course of her career, her actions minutes after securing an historic fourth individual state title Saturday, spoke louder than words.

Instead of basking in the spotlight of her record-tying feat - becoming just the fourth runner in state history to win four titles - Hale was in the finishing chute at Little Everglades Ranch, heaping praise on her teammates while helping them to their feet.

2A Boys: BK Bob Thomas Nov 23, 2008

Bishop Kenny junior Michael Wallace repeatedly answered every surge thrown his way by Estero junior Erick Montoya in Saturday’s 2A boys state championship race, en route to the individual title.

Neither Wallace, his BK teammates - nor anyone else in the field, for that matter - had an answer for Belen Jesuit. With Joseph Dorfman and Elliot Clemente fronting the Wolverines’ tight-knit group, Belen captured its third consecutive 2A team title and fourth in school history.

1A boys Surprises and drama galore Bob Thomas Nov 23, 2008

A surprise individual champion, a record-tying team championship and a frightening finish - Saturday’s 1A boys state championship race had a little bit of everything, bringing an incredible day of racing to a close at Little Everglades Ranch.

Maclay sophomore Patrick Swain, one month removed from a de-mystifying diagnosis that he had spent the first half of the season running with mononucleosis, sped to victory over the final 200 meters in 15:51.

3A Girls: Shiver repeats, but Chiles ends streak Bob Thomas Nov 22, 2008

At this stage of Satellite senior Ashley Shiver’s decorated running career, there are few surprises the multi-time state champion can muster.

Yet it was Shiver who provided the biggest surprise in a full day of racing at Little Everglades Ranch, improbably - but successfully - defending her 3A state championship with an out-of-nowhere, personal best of 17:34.

2A Girls: Schappert sails; Jax area teams dominate Bob Thomas Nov 22, 2008

Stephanie Schappert crashed what appeared to be a Jacksonville-area party in the 2A state girls championship race Saturday, with an historic victory over the 5k Little Everglades Ranch course.

Schappert, a sophomore from Boca Raton Pope John Paul II, broke away from seven-runner, lead pack over the final 800 meters to capture her first state championship in 18:10. With her victory, she joins Nicole Schappert - a two-time champion (

From ROTC roots, Sarasota' Lanning marches toward front of the 4A pack Bob Thomas Nov 21, 2008

Jon Lanning didn’t take the traditional route to the world of high school running, but in 2 ½ short years, the Sarasota High senior has worn a path littered with success.

As a high school sophomore, Lanning distinguished himself during ROTC fitness competition team by regularly finishing first in area races comprised of running, sit-ups and other physical fitness tests.

“When it ended in February (of 2007), I went out for track,” said Lanning.

In what amounted to a one-year metamorphosis, Lanning blossomed into one of the state’s premier milers by the spring of ‘08, on the heels of a stunning seventh-place finish at the ‘07 4A state cross country championship in his first season of 5k competition.

Tallahassee is a Distance Running Hotbed Bob Thomas Nov 14, 2008

There is a uniqueness to Tallahassee that separates it from the rest of the Florida when it comes to distance running.

Couple an extraordinary network of running trails, an active and supportive community track club, a county-wide middle school cross country program more than 300-strong with a collection of the state’s most accomplished coaches and you have the blueprint for sustained success.

You could make a compelling argument - without the benefit of lobbyists - that the Capital City is the state seat for high school cross country running, per capita, at least since 1997.

On Her Feet, Schappert Could be Tough to Beat Bob Thomas Dec 31, 1969

Getting to the starting line for Saturday’s 2A state cross country championship race is Stephanie Schappert’s first goal. Staying on her feet through the two-loop, 5-kilometer course comes in a close second.

Those may seem like modest goals for the talented sophomore from Boca Raton Pope John Paul II, who enters the meet ranked third in the FACA 2A individual standings despite posting the fastest time (18:03), but they are very real.