19 and Counting

+Sarasota crowns first individual cross-country champion

With an individual state championship on the line, Sarasota High senior Adam Bradtmueller finally had time to breathe. 

Bradtmueller crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 44.83 seconds, finishing nearly six seconds faster than Flagler Palm Coast’s Justin Pacifico, to capture a gold medal at the Class 4A Cross-Country State Championship Nov. 7, in Tallahassee. 

"When I watched Adam come around the corner on the last 400 meters in the lead, I literally got goosebumps," Sarasota coach John Stevenson said. "So much excitement came over me and once he crossed that line, I had tremendous pride and honor to have been able to coach Adam to that state championship." 

Bradtmueller, who was hindered by a stress fracture in his leg last season, became the first cross-country runner in school history to win an individual state championship. Following the race, Bradtmueller received his medal and the shell casing from the starting gun shot of the race. 

Sarasota finished seventh overall with 213 points. 

On the girls side, Sarasota raced to a second-place finish with 116 points. Sage Lyons paced the Lady Sailors, finishing sixth in 18:55.13. Allison Wright finished 13th in 19:19.73 followed by Aubrey Kilduff (19th, 19:43.54), Hadleigh Schwartz (54th, 20:32.58) and Mackenzie Brown (61st, 20:37.89). 

"The girls team really came into their own during the last week of training," Stevenson said. "There seemed to be a switch that was turned on and the girls become more focused and closer as a team. I think their success from the past three years at the state meet helped tremendously. Running fast and placing high at the state meet isn’t new to them.

"The State meet is the greatest single day for Sarasota High cross-country," Stevenson added. "Having both an individual champion and for the girls to place on the podium for the second time in three years just shows how our program is growing and getting better. The success helps bring the sport of cross-country into the limelight at Sarasota High." 

SARASOTA — At any given point during the season, Riverview High senior Robyn Natherson would turn her head and find herself running alongside a different teammate. 

Natherson never knew who would be matching her stride for stride. With a nine solid runners on its varsity squad, Riverview’s top 5 continually rotated throughout the course of the season, which in turn brought the girls closer as they pushed one another to carry on the Rams’ storied tradition. 

For the 19th consecutive season, Riverview advanced to the Cross-Country State Championships. 

“I’m extremely proud of this group,” Natherson said. “These girls have worked so hard this season. Sometimes running isn’t fun, but these girls make it so there’s no other place you’d rather be.” 

Junior teammate Sydnee Berman agreed. 

“As a freshman runner, you look up to the upperclassmen to carry the team on their back,” Berman said. “Now it was up to us to carry the team to state and reflect back on previous state meets.” 

On Nov. 7, the Rams finished 10th out of 24 teams in the Class 4A girls race, in Tallahassee, achieving their goal of improving upon last season’s 11th-place finish. Elayna Goodman finished 58th in 20 minutes, 35.04 seconds followed by Emily Kracht (60th, 20:37.69), Natherson (63rd, 20:40.16), Michaelie Grajalez (68th, 20:44.16), Berman (72nd, 20:50.43), Payton Sabin (80th, 20:56.37) and Sheelagh Dunn (82nd, 20:58.39). Juniors Olivia Kracht and Paige Routh, who didn’t run at the state meet, also were a part of the Rams varsity squad. 

Without a designated No. 1 runner, as in years past, the Rams relied on each other to carry them throughout the season. Every runner on the girls varsity squad was capable of competing for a spot in the top 5, which forced the girls to step out of their comfort zone. 

“When you have one or two really good runners that you learn to count on, it relieves the pressure off of everyone else,” coach Michael Harvey said. “When you have a top 5 that’s different every week, everyone feels the responsibility. Whether you’re the fifth, sixth or seventh runner, you feel the same sense of responsibility. It’s an interesting dynamic. As a team, it’s not something you sort of plan, but it happens.” 

Cross-country season may be officially over, but the Rams are from done training. The girls will continue working out in the offseason in preparation for track season, which begins in January. 

And with six runners set to return next year, Riverview already has started talking about making a run toward the two decade mark. 

“We know next year, it’s up to us to keep it going,” Emily Kracht said. 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].