KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - On a typical hot, steamy Thursday morning in Keystone Heights, Keystone Heights High graduate and cross country and track star Tyler Griffin battled the heat and two state-ranked challengers to place third at the annual July 4 Freedom 5K in Keystone Heights.
"They went out pretty fast, but I don't think they thought Keystone Heights had some hills," said Griffin, a region track finisher in the spring. "I just ran my race and they came back a little, just not enough for me."
In the event, nearly 300 runners made the 5K run one of the biggest in recent years with the benefits going to the Jordan Cooper Memorial Foundation.
Griffin, finished third in 17 minutes, 59.16 seconds with Julian Bautista, of Gainesville, St. Francis Academy, first in 17:37.18. Bautista was a Class 1A cross country state meet finisher; 23rd place in 2021. In second place was Ponte Vedra High's Ray Gottschalk second in 17:52.69. Gottschalk was a junior at Ponte Vedra last year.
For the girls, Meghan Bishop, 43, had to fend off a late challenge from 11-year-old Riley Thomas to win the female title in 22:27.68 with Thomas in at 22:29.28. Third, went to 13-year-old Tinley Guessford at 22:40.79.
In Jacksonville, at the 1st Place Sports Celebration 5Km, former St. Johns Country Day School state cross country and track champion Matthew Stratton, now at the University of Florida, finished second in a near-tie with former Mandarin High standout Sem Sultanov, a former University of North Florida standout, with just one second separating the two; 15:38 to 15:39.
Also in the field was former Ridgeview High and recent Flagler College grad and cross country and track standout Joel Nesi, 23, who was fifth in 16:00.
For the females, Hayleigh Haid, 24, won in a quick 17:36 to out-surge Alyson Johnson, 16, a Creekside High standout and the Class 4A state cross country champion, was second in 17:46 and Johnson's younger sister Sydney Johnson, 14, third in 17:52. Sydney Johnson was the Florida middle school state mile champion and a nationally-ranked 3000-meter track runner.