36th Annual Ft. Myers Optimist Invite, Lehigh Acres, FL

Not your typical mid-september morning in southwest Florida with temps in the low 70s, a nice breeze and overcast skies blocking the sun's burning rays.The humidity was still hovering around the 85 to 90% range, but the harriers of the 36th Annual Ft. Myers Optimist Invite were definitely enjoying the break from the double whammy of heat and humidity. The course was in great shape, having avoided the heavy rains that swept across the counties just south of Veteran's Park in Lehigh Acres. However the course is tough with grass, some deep, throughout and an impressive hill that must be navigated twice over the 3.107 miles.

It is not a meet for great times but one for great toughness. 42 High School and Middle School teams arrived before dawn to set team tents and warm up before the 7:35 am first gun.

The Girls varsity race was first on the line, featuring state contending Estero, Fort Myers and North Port squads. After a 5 minute late start due to a tardy arriving team, the girls sprinted diagonally across the double soccer field to get position before the narrow opening at the far corner The usual front runners pushed to the lead. ECS's Sarah Candiano, Barron Collier's Devin 'Devo' Molloy, Community School's Lindsay Tomaini and Estero's Daley Cline with Fort Myers Krissy Gear right on their heels. After a half loop around a pond and a slow arcing turn around the main fair grounds it was time to charge up the 20 meter tall hill for the first time. Candiano and Molloy were neck and neck with a hard charging Gear trailing just behind. As the girls reached the half way point entering the baseball fields, Candiano and Molloy had dropped the pack and were setting up a repeat of last weeks DDD invite finish.

The hill and humidity were starting to take their toll on the runners and no one was exempt. Sarah tried to shake Devin as she did last week but Devo was having none of it and continued to push. Time was running out though and the gap was to much to overcome with Sarah claiming her second title in as many tries, and Devin just 4 seconds back. Surprise of the day was Kristilin 'Krissy' Gear in her second race ever coming in 3rd in just a tick over 20 minutes flat.

The Estero girls team squeezed past the resurgent Fort Myers squad on their home course by just 6 points.

Varsity Boys were up next with the field featuring Sarasota, Estero and Fort Myers teams though the Sailors were missing their #1 Zack Summerall to ACT Testing. The same mad sprint to the corner ensued as the pack jostled for position at the front. When the dust cleared, Sarasota's Adam Bradtmueller, Fort Myers' Dean McGregor, Estero's Dillon 'Astro' Vallette and Charlotte's Marshall Dillon were up front with Immokalee's Urias Velasquez not far behind. Up the hill in that order for the first time with Adam starting to pull away from the rest. Coming down the hill Marshall got his body out in front of his feet and lost balance, but was able to save it  and keep on running. At the half way point Bradtmueller was out by 50 meters with McGregor and Vallette shoulder to shoulder. Negotiating the hill the second time Marshall was not as lucky. He once again got his body out in front of his feet and paid for it with a full front barrel roll down the incline. No worries though, as he popped right back up and didn't lose a spot. Dean threw a surge and gapped 'Astro' and set aim for Adam but it was to little too late as the Sarasota Junior won by 10 seconds. 

Fort Myers boys took the team title over Estero by 23 points with Sarasota settling for 4th without Summerall in the mix.

Fort Myers boys and girls dominated the JV meets.