By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
On Oct. 25, Johnathon Hartley, ranked second in the state of Florida, led Harrison Moore, Elliot Lasota, Caleb Ramjohn, Cole Ristau, Hudson Austin, and Chris Sima to a boys’ elementary state championship by one point.
“They worked hard as a team pushing each other to victory,” said Jill Benavides, co-founder of the No Excuses Running Club. “Each one played a vital role in their first ever state championship.”
Hartley, Moore, and Lasota medaled individually placing them in the top 20 in the state.
The next morning, Danny Itkin (ranked No.12) led the No Excuses Running Club middle school boys’ team of Zach Thomas, Chase Petrick, Austin Courson, Harrison Lafser, Graham Moore, and George Hoch to a middle school boys’ club state championship for the fifth time in a row. Itkin, Thomas, Petrick, Courson, and Lafser all medaled, placing them in the top 20.
“Summer foundational mileage and relentless cross country season training paved the way once again to victory,” said Benavides. “The NERC middle school boys have dominated the club division since 2020 when the club began. Now on to track!”
Photo courtesy Jill Benavides
Club boys state champs 2024.
