Junior Orange Bowl Festival Kicks Off With Annual Cross Country Invitational
Posted on 22. Oct, 2010 by john.maxsween
in Cross Country
From left to right: Chairman Rusty Hill, Lauren Gonzalez, Rachel Licea, Liliana Garvalosa, Coach Ryan Raposo, Natalie Concepcion, Katrina Santiago and Viviana Perello, and Executive Director Mark Pidal
(CORAL GABLES, OCT 2010)- The 2010-2011 Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival got off to a running start on Friday, October 15th with their annual Cross Country Invitational at Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Southwest Miami-Dade. Celebrating its 12th year, the race featured hundreds of high school and middle school runners from around South Florida.
The Junior Orange Bowl Cross Country Invitational was the first of many athletic, artistic and multi-cultural events that make up the 2010-2011 Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival. The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is best known for holding its annual Junior Orange Bowl Parade, which will take place on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011 in Downtown Coral Gables.
This year’s Junior Orange Bowl Cross Country Invitational was a huge success, consisting of 28 middle schools and 31 high schools from all over South Florida. Schools such as John I. Leonard High School came from as far as West Palm Beach to participate in the meet. “The Junior Orange Bowl Committee is always looking to expand its audience for the Cross Country Invitational and attract the best competition. This year’s event had an impressive number of over 1,800 participants,” said Rusty Hill, the Chairperson for the event.
The Junior Orange Bowl Committee (JOBC) continues to go above and beyond when hosting this event. Bananas and oranges, donated by Publix on Le Jeune Road, were given to the runners. Title Sports Drink, a new performance beverage on the market, helped keep everyone hydrated and refreshed. Miami Children’s Hospital, an official sponsor of the Junior Orange Bowl Festival, had a tent at the finish line to administer first aid if needed. Following the conclusion of the races, the JOBC hosted an awards ceremony in which the top 20 individual runners from each race received medals, and the first and second place teams received trophies. The overall individual winners received their medals on marble plaques.
High School Results (5k Run):
- Varsity Men’s team winner, John I. Leonard and runner-up, Miami Sunset. Individual winner, Ryan Pickering from John I. Leonard with a time of 15:57.60.
- Varsity Women’s team winner, Ferguson and runner-up, Carrollton. Individual winner, Joanna McCoy from Coral Shores with a time of 19:19.99.
- Junior Varsity Men’s team winner, Varela and runner-up, Miami Sunset. Individual winner, Christian Cruz from Miami Sunset with a time of 19:01.07.
- Junior Varsity Women’s team winner, Ferguson and runner-up, Coral Reef. Individual winner, Daniela Cosio from Carrollton with a time of 22:53.80.
Middle School Results (2.1 Mile Run):
- Varsity Men’s team winner, Ransom Everglades Middle and runner-up, Carver MS. Individual winner, Kurt Convey from Carver MS with a time of 11:42.48.
- Varsity Women’s team winner, Ammons MS and runner-up, Ransom Everglades Middle. Individual winner, Lauren Gauvlic from Ammons MS with a time of 13:42.71.
- Junior Varsity Men’s team winner Hammocks MS and runner-up, Ammons MS. Individual winner, Eric Sanchez from Jorge Mas Canosa MS with a time of 13:01.08.
- Junior Varsity Women’s team winner, Ransom Everglades Middle and runner-up, Jorge Mas Canosa MS. Individual winner, Sabrina Quijano from Glades MS with a time of 14:58.35.
The JOBC would like to thank Chairman Rusty Hill and Coach Larry Wooten, Director of the Cross Country Invitational, as well as volunteers Maggie Hill, Larry Baile, and Orlando Garcia. The JOBC would also like to give recognition to its President-Elect, Dallas Brown, for coming out to the event as well as its Executive Director, Mark Pidal and Communications Coordinator, John Maxsween. Without their help, the event would not have been possible.
The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners. The JOBC, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that serves the community of South Florida and the Youth of the world by providing opportunities for wholesome, competitive and multi-cultural experiences. For more information, please call the Junior Orange Bowl Committee at 305-662-1210 or visit our website at www.jrorangebowl.org.
