The 20th Annual North Port Invitational lived up to the hype, delivering fast times and exciting competition in both the boys’ and girls’ races. Here’s how the key storylines we previewed played out:
Liam Jordan Breaks 15 Minutes
The spotlight was on Liam Jordan of Berkeley Prep, and he didn’t disappoint. Jordan not only won the race but also achieved the sub-15 minute performance we were anticipating, clocking an impressive 14:57.63. This time solidifies his position as one of the top runners in the state.
Close Competition Behind Jordan
While Jordan took the win convincingly, the race for second was tight:
Blake Young (Indian Rocks Christian): 15:31.05
Andrew Marino (Bishop Verot): 15:34.80
Young, last year’s champion, put up a strong fight but couldn’t match Jordan’s pace. Marino, making his season debut, showed he’s in excellent form with a close third-place finish.
Girls’ Race: Johnson vs. De Lisle vs. Black
The girls’ race lived up to expectations with a thrilling finish:
Alyson Johnson (Creekside): 17:31.58
Mackenzie De Lisle (Bishop Verot): 17:33.42
Madison Muller (Riverview Sarasota): 17:38.33
Johnson continued her dominant streak with a narrow victory over De Lisle, who impressed in her season debut. Surprisingly, Eliana Black (Cambridge Christian) finished 5th in 17:46.70, showing she’s still working her way back to top form.
Team Battles
Boys
Bishop Verot claimed the team title with 130 points, showcasing their depth and potential for the 2A state championship. George Jenkins and Naples rounded out the top three
Girls
In a surprise outcome, Sarasota took the team title with 111 points, edging out Plant (121 points) and Cambridge Christian (198 points). Bishop Verot finished 13th in the team standings.
Race Conditions
The races were held under near-perfect conditions. The girls’ race started at 7:18 am with cool and clear weather, 74°F, and NE winds at 8mph. The boys’ race began at 7:50 am with sunny and humid conditions, 75°F, and NE winds at 6mph.
