Columbus boys, Coral Gables girls secure GMAC cross-country championships
Columbus senior Diego Eseverri and Coral Gables senior Avril Donner each won individual championships and led their respective squads to team titles at the GMAC cross-country meet on Thursday at Tropical Park.
As both squads are preparing for the postseason to begin, both Columbus and Gables secured another major meet victory with strong performances.
Eseverri ran a time of 16:06.5 to finish well ahead of the rest of the field on the boys’ side and help Columbus finish with 32 points. The Explorers placed three runners in the top 10 and finished ahead of Braddock, which finished with 47 points.
Donner also cleared the field by over 40 seconds as she finished with a time of 20:58.0 to help the Cavaliers prevail with 32 points. Gables had four runners finish in the top 10 and also finished ahead of Braddock, which totaled 61 points.
The next major meet for South Florida schools is next Friday with the Junior Orange Bowl meet at Larry and Penny Thompson Park. Districts begin Nov. 3-8.
RESULTS
Boys’ team: 1. Columbus 32; 2. Braddock 47; 3. Coral Gables 70; 4. Coral Reef 132; 5. South Dade 240; Individuals: 1. Diego Eseverri (Col) 16:06.5; 2. Anthony Porter (CR) 16:43.2; 3. Nicholas Garcia (Col) 16:46.2; 4. Jacob Castanedo (Brad) 17:01.6; 5. Lucas Knight (Brad) 17:01.9; 6. Mauricio Escalona (Brad) 17:04.2; 7. Federico Llaguno (Col) 17:04.6; 8. Cooper Piedra (CG) 17:07.0; 9. Jason Norona (CG) 17:12.2; 10. Jeremiah Ellington (CG) 17:24.6.
Girls’ team: 1. Coral Gables 32; 2. Braddock 61; 3. Coral Reef 69; 4. Miami Arts 73; 5. South Dade 151; Individuals: 1. Avril Donner (CG) 20:58.0; 2. Madison Chin (Brad) 21:39.6; 3. Lauren Puig (CG) 21:47.0; 4. Yara Korse (CG) 21:51.6; 5. Sharon Contreras (CG) 21:55.6; 6. Leah Soria (Sun) 22:21.1; 7. Fara Pages (CR) 22:27.4; 8. Martina Buitrago (Brad) 22:30.2; 9. Mikaela Reyes (MA) 22:34.9; 10. Mikaela Buitrago (Brad) 22.49.8.
