Cross Country Roundup: Northwestern Girls Win First District Title

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Miami Northwestern is making a name for itself in cross country.

The most dominant girls' track and field program in the state won its' first district cross country title Thursday at Larry and Penny Thompson Park.

The Lady Bulls won the District 16-3A crown with 42 points ahead of Mater Academy (55) and Doral (70).

The team, coached by Hall of Fame coach Carmen Jackson, is enjoying its' finest cross country season in the program's history. The Lady Bulls won their first major invitational at the inaugural Westminster Christian Warrior Invitational at Coral Reef Park. They finished runners-up at the GMAC Championships and won their second invitational at the 18-team 305 Classic.

The Lady Bulls relied on pack running to win the eight-team district championship. Its first five runners were in the top 11.

The team's finishers were: senior De'Andreah Young, sixth, 21:46; junior Ayoola Gbolade, seventh, 21:46; sophomore Nina Burgos, eighth, 21:47; senior Zaria Jackson, tenth, 21:59; junior Antravia Snow, 11th, 22:00; and freshman Lakeria Gathers, 12th, 22:07. Gathers is the niece of Miami-born Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

The team's average was 21:52, an improvement over its early season average of 22:16.

Gbolade ran anchor leg on the Lady Bulls' winning 4x800-yard relay that won in 9:17.86 at the State 3A meet in May when the Lady Bulls won their eighth consecutive state crown and 13th title overall.

Northwestern has had a cross country program since Jackson started coaching at the school in 1990-91 and is now building another winning tradition.

Mater Academy freshman Valerie Lastra won the individual title in 18:17.

Belen Jesuit won the boys team title with a perfect 15 points, sweeping the top six spots and placing nine runners in the top 10. Junior Joshua Collins won the boys title in 16:50.

Other Belen finishers were: junior Christopher Garcia, second, 16:57; sophomore Henrique Souza, third, 17:10.11; sophomore Sebastian Roa, fourth, 17:10.45; sophomore Lucas de la Hoz, fifth, 17:15; freshman Gabriel Nunes, sixth 17:21; freshman Vicente Sanchez, eighth, 17:34; sophomore Cesar Aguzzi, ninth, 17:43 and freshman Eduardo Morasso, tenth, 17:52.

BROWARD

Pine Crest had the most impressive district performance among Broward County teams.

The Panthers boys team won the District 15-2A title for the seventh consecutive year with a 27-point margin of victory (26) over runner-up Calvary Christian (53) led by individual winner Danny Ferro (16:20).

The team averaged 16:58, its' fastest since 2015 at the state meet. Six runners finished in the top 10 and seven in the top 13. Michael Kennedy was second overall in 16:25 for the third year in a row. Michael Cabral tied his personal best with a 16:47 for fourth place. Matthew Stein also ran his best time in 16:52 for fifth place.

The girls' team won its' fifth consecutive district title and second consecutive win with a perfect 15 points after sweeping the top seven places with a school record team average of 18:52. Freshman Tsion Yared won the individual title in 18:00 followed by Maya Beleznay, 18:36; Mahdere Yared, 18:38; Emily Faulhaber, 19:28; Amanda Schwartz, 19:40; Simone Vreeland, 20:07; Samantha Meade, 20:36 and Libby Torregrosa 21:41 for 14th place. The team posted five personal bests and one season-best. Cardinal Gibbons was runner-up with 56 points.

In other district meets:

District 12-4A: Douglas won the girls team title with 28 points among the five-team field at Quiet Waters Park. Monarch junior Nicole McConnell won the 3.1-mile race in 20:53. Coral Springs, led by runner-up Khiro Hoilett, won the boys team title with 41 points. Junior Brandon Flagler was top finisher in 16:55.

District 13-4A: St. Thomas Aquinas swept the boys and girls team titles at Plantation Heritage Park. The Raiders had seven in the top 10 and finished with 15. Junior Bridget Alex won the girls race in 20:14. The boys swept the top seven spots with junior Nicholas Rischar winning in 16:12.

District 14-4A: West Broward boys (40), led by individual winner Charlie Eaton (17:33) and Cypress Bay girls (32) won team titles at Markham Park. Senior Hannah Patten of Cooper City won the girls race in 22:45.

District 15-4A: Coral Gables won the boys team title with 33 points at Larry & Penny Thompson Park. Its' top runner Cavan Wilson won the race in 17:12. Our Lady of Lourdes won the girls team title with 15 points. North Miami's Daesha Rogers won the girls individual title in 20:23.

District 16-4A: Ferguson, led by individual winner Guillermo Rojas (16:29), won the boys team title with 45 points at Larry & Penny Thompson Park. Ferguson also won the girls team title with 31 points. Its top finisher was senior Jazmyn Martinez (19:49). Southridge freshman Rahyah Andressohn won the girls' race 19:07.

District 15-3A: Boyd Anderson swept the boys (21) and girls (57) team titles at Mills Pond Park. Cobras junior Nikyia Wooten won the individual title in 21:06. Ely sophomore Sueil Foucha won the boys race in 18:00.

District 16-2A: St. Brendan (39) won the girls team titles and Key West (32) won the boys at Larry & Penny Thompson Park. Key West sophomore Owen Allen won the boys race in 17:19. Gulliver Prep freshman sensation Natalie Varela won the girls race in 18:38. Ransom Everglades finished second in both races.

District 14-1A: Westminster Academy swept the boys (15) and girls (28) team titles at Mills Pond Park. South Florida HEAT girls were just two points behind. Westminster Academy freshman Jasmine Hincapie won the girls race in 20:34. Senior Patrick Sastre of Westminster Academy won the boys race in 17:28, less than a second ahead of junior teammate Saahr Edouard.

District 15-1A: Miami Country Day won the girls (23) and Doctors Charter (37) won the boys team title by two points ahead of Miami Country Day at Greynolds Park. Doctors Charter senior Tristan Cravello won the boys race in 17:49 and Miami Country Day sixth grader Lauren McGaffic won the girls race in 21:15.

District 16-1A: Westminster Christian won the girls (20) team titles and swept the top three places including individual winner Kyra Wells, a freshman in 22:01 at Coral Reef Park. Marathon won the boys team title (24) and Florida Christian junior Andres Del Valle won the boys race in 17:48.

REGION MEET SCHEDULE

Region 3-4A: at South Fork High School, (South Fork host), Saturday, 8 a.m.

Region 4-4A: at Larry and Penny Thompson Park, (Coral Reef host), Thursday, 4 p.m.

Region 4-3A: at South Fork High School, (South Fork host), Saturday, 7:30 a.m.

Region 4-2A: at Mills Pond Park, (Pine Crest host), Saturday, 8:15 a.m.

Region 4-1A: at Mills Pond Park, (Pine Crest host), Saturday, 8:50 a.m.