MIDDLEBURG – Fleming Island High senior cross country runner Andrew Miller blitzed the first mile of the Bronco Bob Cross Country Invitational course then continued his assault on the field with a decisive 16 minute, 41.10 second winning time over a handful of stalwart runners all getting amped for next week’s district race weekend.

Miller, a Class 4A state meet finisher last year, has been putting himself in meets some of the states best runners with recent finishes at the Race of Champions in Lakeland and the FSU Invitational Pre-State Meet in Tallahassee with his finishes and times near the top of the heap in Class 4A.

Regionally, Lyman High out of Orlando seems to be the top challenger for the Golden Eagles to continue their season into the state meet in two weeks.

At Middleburg, Miller topped Bartram Trail’s Sean Popik by nine seconds with Creekside’s Matt Ortiz third in 16:51.20. Bishop Snyder’s Aldren Biala, Columbia’s Yassin Raffay, who ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Miller to the first mile mark, and Nease’s Justin Tackling all finished under 17 minutes in the fast first pack of runners. Creekside is the defending Class 3A champion while Bartram Trail finished sixth.

Fleming Island’s Evan Fuller, also a Class 4A state meet finisher last year, outsprinted Orange Park’s John Bear for the seventh place with Fuller at 17:01.50 and Bear in with a best of season 17:03.10. Fuller has dipped into the 16 minutes-plus range during the season.

Also finished with his best time of the season was Ridgeview junior Joel Nesi who took 13th in 17:21.60.

In the all-important team finishes, Fleming Island, with junior Gage West improving to a 17:46 split for 24th place took third behind Creekside and Bartram Trail. Orange Park was ninth with Ridgeview 11th and Oakleaf 12th. Oakleaf’s top finisher was sophomore Dylan Nelson at 21st in 17:38.60.

Mussante edges

Franzoni at Bronco XC

MIDDLEBURG – Middleburg High freshman cross country runner Emma Mussante was the lone red singlet amidst a sea of Creekside, Bartram Trail and Matanzas shirts as she battled to a tops-in-area 14th place finish at the Bronco Bob Cross Country Invitational held Saturday at Middleburg High School.

Mussante, who finished in 21 minutes, 15.40 seconds, was ahead of Fleming Island High senior Julie Franzoni, who took 17th in 21:24.20 as Creekside won top team honors ahead of Matanzas Nease and Bartram Trail. Creekside’s Claire Openshaw sizzled the course with a 18:45.30 winning time; more than a minute ahead of runnerup Naila Etique of Nease’s 19:50.60.

Fleming Island finished sixth in team points with Ridgeview eighth with Anna MaGruder 25th and Marisa Kortright 27th for Lady Panthers.

Keystone Heights High freshman Camryn Williams had a strong finish with a 29th place in 22:18.90.