In only its third year with a cross country program and its first appearance at the state finals, Seffner Christian Academy finished 15th in the Class 1A boys meet.
The Crusaders were paced by senior Michael Oquendo, who finished 57th in a 5-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 56 seconds in his first season in the sport.
"It's great to finish out with a (personal record) and it's great that Seffner Christian is going to state in only our third year," Oquendo said. "We may not have won, but just being here is awesome."
Seffner coach Andy Holmes couldn't agree more.
"This year we told the team just to have fun - we knew they were going to do well - but more than anything to just have fun because five of our seven runners are seniors," Holmes said. "We're glad that the seniors were able to get here. It's a real memorable moment."
The area's top male and female individual performers hailed from Pinellas County, with Shorecrest Prep's Caelum Schandle taking 31st in the boys race at 17:01 and Northside Christian's Katelyn Greenleaf (19:14) earning ninth in the girls race.
The girls individual winner, junior Kathryn Fluehr, set a course record of 16:59 and led the Community School of Naples to a successful defense of its team title. Winter Park Trinity Prep edged Melbourne Holy Trinity 48-55 for the boys team crown.
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