Belen Jesuit’s Ryan Rodriguez paces Boys’ Junior Orange Bowl Classic Invitational
Cross-country is usually more of an individual sport. It’s one versus the clock. But, senior Ryan Rodriguez of Belen Jesuit, came into the Boys’ Junior Orange Bowl Classic Invitational on Friday with more of a team mindset. He and three of his teammates swept the top four of the meet, placing in five out of the top six results.
“Today was more of a team go, trying to make the gaps a little tighter,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t really go out to race anyone because I knew there wouldn’t be much competition. I just wanted to push my teammates and close the gap that we have.”
Rodriguez finished with a time of 16:29, his teammates Jaime Lopez, Joshua Collins, Nicolas Roca and Bruno Zayas each came in under 17 minutes.
Staying together and running races as a team is something that Rodriguez said they need to work on as they move forward and preparing for state competition.
Meanwhile, senior Aylwyn Hernandez of Ferguson flew past the competition in the Girls’ Junior Orange Bowl Classic Invitational 5K, finishing with a 19:37. Sophomore Daesha Rogers of Northwestern finished second with a 19:55 time.
Hernandez wanted to keep with the pack initially and then make her move.
“My strategy was to go out with the pack and after the first mile, I started pushing the pace and tried to drop whoever was with me,” Hernandez said.
She was also nervous that people were going to catch her at the end of the race.
“In middle school, in the last 100 meters, someone would always kick and then pass me without me knowing.”
Freshman Antravia Snow of Homestead won the Girls’ 5K Open and senior Matthew Mullin-Garcia of Belen won the Boys’ 5K Open.
RESULTS
Boys Invitational Top Teams: 1. Belen Jesuit (16), 2. Ferguson (57), 3. Columbus (107), 4. Key West (145), 5. American (163), 6. Coral Gables (213), 7. Mast Academy (243), 8. Miami Country Day (245), 9. Gulliver Prep (259), 10. Archbishop McCarthy (269).
Top Individuals: 1. Ryan Rodriguez (Belen) 16:29, 2. Jaime Lopez (Belen)16:33, 3. Joshua Collins (Belen) 16:45, 4. Nicolas Roca (Belen) 16:56, 5. Everrett Wagner (Key West) 16:59, 6. Bruno Zayas (Belen) 17:00, 7. Williams Shine (McCarthy) 17:03, 8. Jeremy Farrell (McCarthy) 17:05, 9. Adrian Bermudez (Ferguson) 17:08, 10. Leonardo Rodriguez (Ferguson) 17:17, 11. Abiel Payano (Ferguson) 17:23, 12. Guillermo Rojas (Ferguson) 17:25, 13. Nick Cummings (Mater Academy) 17:26, 14. Alexander Elortegui (Coral Gables) 17:27, 15. Adrian Crespi (Ferguson) 17:33.
Girls Invitational Top Teams: 1. Ferguson (68), 2. Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (83), 3. Westminster Academy (112), 4. Northwestern (126), 5. Carrollton (179), 6. Coral Reef (184), 7. St. Brendan (186), 8. Miami Country Day (195), 9. Mater Academy (229), 10. North Broward Prep (264).
Top Individuals: 1. Aylwyn Hernandez (Ferguson) 19:37, 2. Daesha Rogers (Northwestern) 19:55, 3. Lauren Gavulic (Ferguson) 19:57, 4. Jinah Mickens (Mater Academy) 20:06, 5. Lianna Farnesi (Lourdes) 20:07, 6. Katie Pinnell (North Broward Prep) 20:16, 7. Victoria Hoppe (Westminster) 20:23, 8. Sabrina Quijano (Lourdes) 20:30, 9. Natasha Strump (Westminster) 20:31, 10. Briana Vergara (Coral Reef) 20:32, 11. Shiree Hinds (Northwestern) 20:50, 12. Isabella Allen (Country Day) 21:02, 13. Alejandra Moros (St. Brendan) 21:06, 14. Yanisel Stuart (McCarthy) 21:09, 15. Mariana Gonzalez (LaSalle) 21:10.
Football
▪ Mater Academy vs. Mourning, PPD.: Friday’s game between Mater Academy and Alonzo & Tracy Mourning at North Miami Stadium was postponed until 2 p.m. Saturday.
Game officials failed to show for the game, so Greater Miami Athletic Conference executive secretary Cheryl Golden decided to reschedule the game.
All fans with their ticket stubs from Friday will be admitted Saturday.
Jim McCurdy
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
▪ TERRA d. South Dade (25-18, 25-20, 24-26, 24-26, 15-13): Grace Cope 14 kills, 2 blocks. Nikki Dequesada 11 kills, 4 blocks. Katelyn Barrow 33 assists, 2 kills, 2 aces. TER 18-4.
▪ Mourning d. SLAM (25-5, 25-3, 25-7): Amanda Rey 2 kills, 13 assists, 12 aces. Mary Shelow 7 kills, 5 digs. Karla Schaefer 3 kills, 8 aces, 8 assists. ATM 18-3.
▪ Divine Savior d. Archimedean (25-16, 25-12, 25-14): Alejandra Rodriguez 20 kills, 13 aces, 15 digs. Andrea Santiago 31 digs, 5 aces. Vicki Caldera 7 kills, 10 digs, 2 aces. Ana Sofia Diaz 21 assists, 7 digs.
▪ Westminster d. Carrollton (25-21, 25-21): Sammy Ceballos 8 kills, 9 digs. Jess Moo Young 11 points, 11 digs. Courtney Clausell 6 kills, 2 blocks. Kia Benitez 9 kills, 2 blocks.
▪ Westminster d. Lely: Carlin Labuzan 11 assists, 6 points. Quinn Blanco 13 assists, 18 points, 5 aces. Prissy Hernandez 8 kills. Cici Hernandez 6 kills, 5 digs.
▪ Late Thursday — St Brendan d. American Heritage (25-14, 25-23, 25-15): Caro Caram 6 kills, 7 digs, 4 aces. Sophie Sires 10 assists, 4 digs 2 aces. Carmina Delfino 4 kills, 11 assists, 3 digs. SB 13-10.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
FOOTBALL
South Miami vs. Columbus (Tropical Park), 7
North Miami vs. Hialeah (Traz), 2
Village Academy vs. Westminster Christian (WC), 1
This story was originally published October 18, 2014 at 1:08 AM with the headline "Belen Jesuit’s Ryan Rodriguez paces Boys’ Junior Orange Bowl Classic Invitational."