The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) Cross Country season came to a close last week at the district meet in Live Oak, FL. This year's team included 11 student-athletes from the Blind and the Deaf Departments, ranging from 6th-12th grade. They ran on a 5 kilometer (5K) course, which is 3.1 miles.
Due to Hurricane Dorian, the 2019 season was delayed, causing the cancellation of several meets, including a home match. The team's first meet took place on September 12 in Crescent City. They traveled to three more events until they were able to host the final meet on the FSDB campus.
On October 3, FSDB welcomed teams from Crescent City High School, Interlachen High School, Palatka High School, and Peniel Baptist Academy. Daniel Alvarez Ovando, an eighth-grader in the Deaf Middle School, placed second with a time of 20:16, a personal best for the season. Deaf High School sophomore Javin Smereczynsky took third place with a time of 20:35.
The FSDB team had several weeks to prepare for the district meet held at the Suwannee Country Club in Live Oak on October 23. The cooler weather that morning helped the runners push themselves through the challenging course. Despite their best efforts, FSDB runners did not qualify for regionals.
FSDB Head Coach Anna Tutak stated, "The team is dedicated to training on their own throughout the year and is motivated to work harder for next year's season! We appreciate all of the support from volunteers assisting at the home meet, guided runners, interpreters, and our team manager, Ling Martinez."
Congratulations to all the runners and another successful Cross Country season!
Best 2019 Season Personal Times
Addison Allen 34:24
Daniel Alvarez Ovando 20:16
Brendan Fadden 27:01
Jack Fuller 23:56
William Hollimon 35:03
Veronica Hyatt 29:15
Luis Lopez Martinez 25:00
Jason Lubin 25:48
Sean Meyers 25:03
Josiah Roberson 23:44
Javin Smereczynsky 20:35
About FSDB
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is a tuition-free state public school and outreach center available to eligible Pre-K and K-12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind. At FSDB, students learn how to do more, be more, and achieve more, fulfilling our vision of preparing them for a lifetime of success. FSDB gratefully accepts private donations to support vital programs that directly benefit students and are not paid by state general revenue funds. For a campus tour or to inquire about eligibility for enrollment, contact FSDB Parent Services at 904-827-2212 voice or 904-201-4527 videophone. For more information, visit www.fsdbk12.org