Windermere Prep senior wins cross country state title

History repeated itself at the FHSAA Cross Country Finals Nov. 15 in Tallahassee.

Windermere Prep senior Franco Martins won the Class 1A Individual Championship by breezing past the competition with a time of 15:30 — 25 seconds ahead of the Class 1A runner-up, who finished with a 15:55.50.

The impressive mark was an improvement for Martins, who won the state title in 2013. At the 2013 meet, also at Apalachee Regional Mark in Tallahassee, Martins ran a 15:44.23 and just edged the runner-up by about three seconds.

Martins is signed to run for Brown University for his collegiate career.

DP girls place eighth, boys 20th

The Dr. Phillips girls cross country team placed eighth in the state at FHSAA Class 4A Cross Country Finals.

The Panthers were led by junior Annika Sison, who placed 16th out of 187 runners with a time of 19:06.10. Freshman Hannah Waddell set a personal record of 19:22.10 to finish 22nd.

Dr. Phillips’ girls team had an average time of 20:05.14 and is coached by Angie Fleitas.

The Panthers’ boys team placed 20th in the Class 4A boys meet. 

Dr. Phillips had an average time of 17:31.54 and was led by Jean D’Haiti’s time of 16:34.40.

Headley places 13th

Olympia senior Emily Headley, whose record-setting career for the Titans includes several school and course records, finished 13th in the Class 4A meet. Headley ran an 18:58.70 at state and is weighing college options that include Clemson and Auburn.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].