MIDDLEBURG – Two names emerged at the Clay County High School Cross Country Championships held Tues., Sept. 18 at Middleburg High, and they were not the winners of the races with both pushing Fleming Island’s girls and boys teams to team titles.

Fleming Island High sophomore Kameron Wallizada continued his assault on the running scene in north Florida with a decisive win in the boys race in 17 minutes, 24.64 seconds while Fleming Island freshman Mei Chiang did the same with a 20:54.1 winning time in the girls race.

The “emerging” names belong to Fleming Island’s Will Livesay for the boys, who has followed Wallizada closely in the past two races and who snuck in at fourth overall in the county boys race.

For the girls, junior Jennifer Fliess, who was third Fleming Island finisher at last year’s district 1-4A championship race with a time of 20:05.95 and then fell to a disappointing 23:13 time for 104th at the region 1-4A race, has quietly put herself back into the top five picture with her recent finishes.

In 2018, Fleiss hit a second place 23:13 in the junior varsity race at the Bob Hans Invite at Ridgeview on September 1 then a 22:52 for second in the junior varsity at the Horsepark Invitational in Ocala on September 8.

At the county championship race, Fliess was fourth Fleming Island finisher in 22:28.88 as the Golden Eagles girls took the team title with four finishers in the top five.

Next up for Fliess was the Katie Caples Elite race where she would be up against some of the best teams in Florida at this point in the season. Fliess dropped her time to a quick 21:11 to place fifth finisher for Fleming Island in an effort that secured fifth place for the Golden Eagles.

“Jennifer is my go to girl for any race,” said Fleming Island girls coach Suzanne Baker. “She was never intended for the JV squad this year she just happened to miss the first meet this year so she needed to earn her spot back. She has the crazy ability to run exactly what I ask of her.”

Livesay has crept closer and closer to the top with a 17:22.50 split for 19th at Bartram Trail.

“After his times started dropping at the end of cross country and track last year, I think he realized his potential and really bought into the training,” said Fleming Island boys coach Karen Moritz. “I fully expect to see him dip below 17 minutes as we inch to the post season.”

While Wallizada has pushed his times to near 16:30, Livesay has approached the elusive sub-17 mark that would give the Fleming Island boys team a jolt in team scoring for the upcoming district and region races.

At the Clay County race, Orange Park senior John Bear finished second in 17:37.09 with Oakleaf High junior Dylan Nelson third in 17:39.86. Livesay was fourth with Ridgeview senior Joel Nesi fifth in 18:14.82.

In the girls race, Mussante’s 22:30.47 fifth place finish knocked out a potential shutout race by Fleming Island with freshman Lauren Schaudel finished second in front of sophomore Emma Millson with Fliess, Mussante then Kortright finishing the top six.

Oakleaf freshman Madeline Dahlman finished eighth as she has improved with each race with Ridgeview’s Anna Magruder steady in at ninth in 23:51.24.

Orange Park junior Priscilla Frietze, who ran a 21:26.10 split in the region 1-3A championship race for Middleburg as a freshman two years ago and has been hampered by injuries, showed a strong effort for 11th in 24:09.

Fleming Island High will host their Eagle 5K cross country race on Sat., Sept. 29 at Van Zant Park in Lake Asbury.