TALLAHASSEE – Oakleaf High junior Dylan Nelson got to the state meet with an eighth place 16 minute, 33.18 second region 1-4A finish then equaled that effort for a 20th place finish at the Class 4A championship to end one of Oakleaf High School’s most prolific cross country season since the school has opened.

“I had my mind set to go for it at the state meet and try to break 16 minutes for the first time,” said Nelson. “I was in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race, but when we hit the ‘Wall’, I started to feel the course.”

Nelson, who had won three steeplechase national track titles over the summer, credited those championship experiences with getting his mental tenacity in the right spot for cross country season.

“One hundred percent, my summer championship races allowed to me to slow things down mentally and concentrate around all the distractions of top level competition,” said Nelson. “I wanted the top 10 and sub-16, but it didn’t quite happen.”

Nelson noted that the course had its challenges with a big uphill that runners hit three times and some sloshy terrain because of a Friday downpour, but that, for the most part, the course was good for fast times.

“I hit the ‘wall’ the second time in sixth or eighth place and we went through two miles at around 10:18 so I was still on pace to break 16 minutes, but I got the elephant on my back after that last climb of the ‘wall,’” he said. “It was a fantastic experience and there were nine seniors in front of me so I’m looking forward to next year already.”

Also in the county’s individual qualifiers, all first-time state meet runners, were Orange Park High senior John Bear, in the Class 3A championship race, finishing 26th in 16:37.72; Ridgeview High senior Joel Nesi, in Class 2A, finishing 29th in 16:52.29, and Keystone Heights senior Alex Guy, also in Class 2A, finishing 31st in 16:56.72.

“I consider those guys my brothers up until we compete against each other,” said Nelson. “After the races, we hang out together. It was cool that we all made our first state meet this season.”

In the Class 3A race, Belen Jesuit had a 1-2 finish at the top with sophomore Javier Vento beating teammate Adam Magoulas, a freshman, by two seconds with his 15:39.98 split. Top area finisher was Nease High’s Justin Tackling, a junior, at ninth in 16:14.59. Belen Jesuit won with an astounding 35 points with Tallahassee Chiles second with a distant 170 points. Creekside’s boys were third with Bartram Trail fifth.

In Class 3A girls, Tallahassee Chiles won with 45 points over Osceola Seminole’s 94 points. Top runner was Mater Academy junior Valerie Lastra with a 17:17.58 time. Creekside High’s Elizabeth Iliff and Claire Openshaw were top area finishers at 10th and 11th. Gainesville High freshman Ana Veltcheva, who won the Bob Hans Invite in September at Ridgeview High over Fleming Island freshman Mei Chiang, was second in 3A at 17:46.58.

The Class 2A race was won by Bolles’ senior Charles Hicks in 15:29.22 with two teammates, both seniors; Chase Rivera and Benjamin Foltz, at second and third, fueling the Bulldogs team title with just 21 points over Satellite High’s runnerup total of 118.

In the Class 2A girls race, Bolles also won with 66 points over Pine Crest’s 84. Winning the girls crown was Pine Crest junior Tsion Yared in 17:26.63 over Villages senior Rebecca Clark in 17:39.77.