TALLAHASSEE - With familiar names leading the boy's field at the FSU Pre-State Cross Country Invitational on the FHSAA state cross country course in Tallahassee, defending two-time state champion and three-time FSU Pre-state champion Patrick Koon of Leon and Belen Jesuit's Joshua Ruiz were, as usual, finishing 1-2 with both clocking spectacular sub-16 minute splits on the hilly course.

The third piece of the upcoming state meet puzzle is Fleming Island's Graham Myers, who was third at last year's state championships in Class 3A behind the pair.

Myers, who was third to the pair with just Koon registering his course record at the time 14:56.70 to win over Ruiz, finished in 13th with a 15:38.60. Myers, third in Class 3A last year to the pair in 15:42.10, has had faster times this season.

Ironically, also in the top 10 chase of the Koon-Ruiz front, were two more Ruiz siblings; Justin and Joseph, who were ninth and 10th for the defending 3A team champions with splits of 15:33.60 and 15:34.70, respectively, to give Belen Jesuit another top team in advance of the Class 3A championship race on the same course in November. Fleming Island, with Myers third last year, finished third in team points behind Fort Myers HS, 125-144, just ahead of Leon's 168 for fourth. Nease was third at FSU behind Brother Martin of New Orleans, but Nease is a Class 4A top team.

For the Golden Eagles, one key to repeating a top five or top three, is senior John Keester IV, who was 22nd at FSU's meet in 15:54.00, and 21st last year at the state meet in 16:32.60. Keester has maintained a stone's throw of most of this season's lead pack with an eye on keeping Myers in his sights and his finish will be critical for Fleming Island's team points.

Myers, the region champion last year with Koon seventh, and Keester, ninth at regions, as well as coaches David Allen and Jason Poole, all know the keys to the castle belong to the 3-4-5 finishers with 800 meter fourth at state (1:56.28) Roman Mollicone Fleming Island's third finisher at FSU in a distant 16:46.10 for 100th place with sophomore Andrew Boyer at 139th in 17:07.30. Mollicone, with a handful of sub-2 minute 800s, is a big meet gamer and could be the hero of Fleming Island's region and state attacks.

That gap from two to 3-4-5 left Fleming Island in 12th place at FSU with 376 points; behind Ponte Vedra (8th, 313 Pts), a top region challenger with Leon (2022 region finish: 1. PV, 2. FIHS, 3. Leon, 1-2-3, 42-54-64).

In other area races, Ridgeview, under the tutelage of returning Paul Grybb, has slowly inched toward the front with its five runners and took third at the Coach Hope Memorial race in Fernandina Beach behind Fletcher and West Florida. St. Johns Country Day School was fourth behind senior Richard Nichols 18:17.50 for the top area finisher in fifth place. Ridgeview's Brandon Anderson, a senior, was seventh for Grybb in 18:19.6. Fletcher took the top three spots with 17:28.8 winning.

In the girls race, won by Fernandina Beach sophomore Mikaela Nichols, ironically, in 20:43.8, Ridgeview's Emily Turner edged St. Johns' Rebecca Stratton for top area finisher with her eighth place in 22:19.1 to Stratton's 10th in 22:49.2.

In team points, Fernandina Beach held the home course advantage with 23 points to win over Fletcher's 105 with St. Johns taking third with 113 points to Ridgeview's 156. Middleburg was fourth for the girls with 168 points.

At Matanzas High School at the Paradise Landscaping Run Matanzas Cross Country 5K, Oakleaf's boys team finished third ahead of Keystone Heights in fifth and Clay at 12th.

Keystone Heights' senior Tyler Griffin was the top area finisher in eighth in 18:24.16 with Oakleaf sophomore Grant Keppel 12th in 18:39.03. Clay's Jacob Sanders was 13th in 18:51.30.

For the girl's race, Oakleaf was fourth behind team champion Master's Academy with Clay ninth and Keystone Heights 10th.

For Keystone Heights, another Griffin, sister Olivia Griffin, topped Morgan Wade of Oakleaf for eighth place and ninth for Wade with splits of 22:14.1 and 22:15.13. Clay's Erika Martinez was 14th in 22:32.67 with teammate Kaygen Williamson just 32 seconds behind her in 16th place.

Middleburg High School hosts the Middleburg Classic on Sat., Oct. 7 on the school campus.