Ava Curtis leads Vanguard to their 23rd consecutive Marion Conference Cross Country championship
Sports
2025-10-185 min readDynasty Defended: Vanguard Sweeps Marion Conference Titles as Historic Streaks Continue
By Staff Reporter
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BELLEVIEW, Fla. — The pre-dawn darkness still clung to the open fields at Belleview High School when the first runners began their warm-ups on Saturday morning, October 18th. The starting line, marked out across the grass with the surrounding fields stretching wide in every direction, would soon become the launching point for two races carrying the weight of history.
For Vanguard High School, the Marion Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships meant more than another race, another trophy, another chance to add to the program's legend. It meant everything. Twenty-six consecutive boys titles. Twenty-two straight girls championships. Streaks that spanned generations, that had seen athletes come and go, coaches evolve, rivals rise and fall. Streaks that, on this crisp October morning, hung in the balance.
At 7:30 AM sharp, the gun cracked and 50 boys exploded off the starting line, their footsteps thundering across the open field as they jockeyed for position in the early going. The course at Belleview—a challenging 5K that begins in those wide-open spaces before winding around the softball and baseball fields, circling the soccer fields, then climbing the major hill into the woods near the football stadium—would test every runner's mettle.
Luke Lombardo came into the race as the favorite, and for good reason. The West Port senior had run 16:05 just a week earlier at the New World Invitational, posting the fastest time in Marion County so far this season. That performance, against some of Florida's elite competition, had established him as the runner to beat.
From the opening stretch across the fields, Lombardo seized the lead and began to assert his dominance. But he wasn't alone at the front in those early miles. Forest's Zach Vickerman, a senior and one of the county's top runners, pushed the pace alongside Lombardo through the first two miles, helping to drive the tempo as the field strung out behind them.
Vickerman's presence at the front was a reminder that while Vanguard's depth often dominates the team competition, Marion County has no shortage of individual talent. The Forest senior maintained contact with Lombardo around the softball complex, past the soccer fields, and up that punishing hill into the woods before the West Port runner finally broke away.
Lombardo would cross the finish line in 16:32.6, nearly 17 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. While his time was slower than his 16:05 from New World the previous week, cross-country is a sport where courses vary dramatically—some flat and fast, others hilly and challenging. What matters most is not the clock but the head-to-head competition, and on this day, on this course, Lombardo was the class of the field.
It was a commanding victory for the Wolfpack senior, a reminder that even in a conference dominated by Vanguard's depth, individual excellence could still shine through. Vickerman would finish eighth overall in 17:20.1, a strong performance that showcased his ability to compete with the county's best.
Behind Lombardo, the real drama unfolded in the battle for the team title.
Vanguard junior Jacob Rogers led the Knights' charge, finishing second in 16:48.9. Right on his heels came senior Timothy Brannon at 16:51.5, then sophomore Jaylen Blackburn at 16:53.2, and freshman Trevor Berquist at 16:58.1. It was a clinic in pack running, four Knights crossing within 10 seconds of each other, a testament to the program's culture and coaching.
But Belleview had come to fight.
The Rattlers, who had averaged 16:59 just a week earlier at the prestigious New World Invitational against some of Florida's best teams, knew they had the firepower to end Vanguard's streak. Freshman Lachlan Bryniarski led the charge in sixth place (17:09.9), followed closely by fellow freshman Asher Inman in seventh (17:15.7). The two freshmen, former teammates at both Redeemer Christian School and the Ocala Distance Project, had developed their skills together for years before arriving at Belleview, and their chemistry showed as they worked together through the challenging course.
Sophomore Lucas Morrow added a ninth-place finish at 17:30.3, giving the Rattlers three runners in the top 10 and the foundation for what looked like a serious challenge to Vanguard's dynasty.
But what Belleview couldn't match was Vanguard's depth. When Christopher Taylor crossed in 10th (17:31.1) and Alexander Lammens finished 13th (17:48.2), the Knights' scoring five had done their job. Vanguard's total time of 1:25:02—an average of 17:00 per runner—was more than two minutes faster than Belleview's 1:27:20.
Final score: Vanguard 23, Belleview 46, West Port 64.
Twenty-seven straight. The streak lived on.
The Rattlers had brought their best—competitive times, strong performances at major invitationals, and a young core with tremendous potential. On most days, against most teams, it would have been enough. But not against a Vanguard program that has turned excellence into tradition.
By 8:00 AM, the sun had climbed higher, burning off the morning chill as 32 girls gathered at the starting line in the open field. The question wasn't who would win—it was by how much.
Ava Curtis, Vanguard's senior and one of the top runners in Marion County, had been remarkably consistent throughout the season, running between 19:11 and 19:45 across multiple meets. Two weeks earlier at Alligator Lake, she had led the Knights to victory over 26 North Florida teams. Now, on her conference championship course, she was racing for history.
From the gun, Curtis established herself at the front, her form smooth and efficient as she led the field across the open grass and around the softball complex. Behind her, her twin sister Emma settled into second place, the two running a familiar pattern they'd perfected over years of training together. The Curtis twins, both seniors, knew exactly what Vanguard needed from them.
Ava would cross the line first in 19:45.1, a commanding performance that put an exclamation point on her senior season. Emma followed in 20:05.4, giving Vanguard a 1-2 punch that would prove insurmountable. The twin sisters had delivered 3 points—exactly what the team needed to continue its dominance.
But the race for third provided genuine drama.
Lyla Hallick, a freshman from Forest High School, had been running with courage all season, unafraid to take on more experienced competitors. Running just 0.2 seconds behind Emma Curtis, Hallick clocked 20:05.6 to claim third place and announce herself as a future star in Marion County running. The young runner wasn't unfamiliar with the Curtis twins—all three had been teammates on the Ocala Distance Project youth team before heading to high school. For a freshman to run that close to Vanguard's elite seniors signaled that the competitive landscape in Marion County may be shifting in the years to come.
Behind the top three, Vanguard's depth once again proved decisive. Senior Savannah Risner finished fourth in 20:29.4, junior Cierra Mills took fifth in 20:43.4, and junior Reese Cartwright claimed sixth in 21:10.1. When freshman Natalie Lammens crossed in seventh at 21:25.7, Vanguard had placed a remarkable six runners in the top seven.
The final score told the story: Vanguard 18, West Port 59, Forest 82, Belleview 83.
With a team time of 1:42:13—averaging 20:26 per runner—the Knights had won their 23rd consecutive conference title.
As the awards ceremony concluded and teams began breaking down their camps, the focus naturally shifted to what comes next. This weekend, many of the area's top runners will make the trip north to Tallahassee for the Pre-State Invitational at Apalachee Regional Park. The meet will provide a crucial test against some of Florida's best teams and give runners a chance to preview the course that will host the state championships.
For these Marion County athletes, Pre-State represents more than just another invitational—it's a measuring stick, a chance to see where they stand among the state's elite and to experience the venue where they hope to compete on November 22nd when the state championships return to Tallahassee. Only the top teams and individuals from each region will earn those coveted spots at the state meet, making every race between now and then critically important.
For Vanguard, the conference championships represented both an end and a beginning—the preservation of historic streaks, but also a stepping stone toward the postseason. The boys team, which had averaged 17:21 at Alligator Lake against top regional competition, continues to sharpen itself for the challenges ahead. With senior leadership from Brannon, junior firepower from Rogers, and emerging young talent like freshman Berquist, the Knights have assembled a formidable lineup.
The girls team, having proven once again that their success extends beyond any single class of runners, now focuses on continuing the excellence that has become their trademark. The Curtis twins provide veteran leadership in their final season, while Mills, Lammens, and Cartwright represent the future—a future that looks remarkably bright.
For the other Marion County programs, the challenge remains clear. Belleview's Rattlers came closer than most, bringing times and talent that would have defeated nearly any other program. The development of freshmen like Bryniarski and Inman suggests the Rattlers are building something sustainable.
West Port's Wolfpack showed that individual excellence still matters. Lombardo's dominant victory, backed by his county-leading 16:05 from the previous week, demonstrated that the fastest runner on the day can still claim individual glory even when the team battle tilts elsewhere.
Forest proved they have pieces in place as well. Vickerman's ability to push the pace for two miles in the boys race and Hallick's breakthrough third-place finish in the girls race showed that talent exists across multiple programs.
The influence of the Ocala Distance Project was evident throughout both championship races. In the boys competition, eight of the top 10 finishers—including all five of Vanguard's scoring runners, Forest's Vickerman, and Belleview's Bryniarski and Inman—came through ODP's youth programs. On the girls side, five of the top seven finishers developed at ODP, including the Curtis twins, Hallick, Risner, and Lammens. The youth running program has created a foundation of proper training and race tactics that continues to elevate Marion County cross country.
For Vanguard High School, the Marion Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships meant more than another race, another trophy, another chance to add to the program's legend. It meant everything. Twenty-six consecutive boys titles. Twenty-two straight girls championships. Streaks that spanned generations, that had seen athletes come and go, coaches evolve, rivals rise and fall. Streaks that, on this crisp October morning, hung in the balance.
The Boys Race: Lombardo Powers to Victory
At 7:30 AM sharp, the gun cracked and 50 boys exploded off the starting line, their footsteps thundering across the open field as they jockeyed for position in the early going. The course at Belleview—a challenging 5K that begins in those wide-open spaces before winding around the softball and baseball fields, circling the soccer fields, then climbing the major hill into the woods near the football stadium—would test every runner's mettle.
Luke Lombardo came into the race as the favorite, and for good reason. The West Port senior had run 16:05 just a week earlier at the New World Invitational, posting the fastest time in Marion County so far this season. That performance, against some of Florida's elite competition, had established him as the runner to beat.
From the opening stretch across the fields, Lombardo seized the lead and began to assert his dominance. But he wasn't alone at the front in those early miles. Forest's Zach Vickerman, a senior and one of the county's top runners, pushed the pace alongside Lombardo through the first two miles, helping to drive the tempo as the field strung out behind them.
Vickerman's presence at the front was a reminder that while Vanguard's depth often dominates the team competition, Marion County has no shortage of individual talent. The Forest senior maintained contact with Lombardo around the softball complex, past the soccer fields, and up that punishing hill into the woods before the West Port runner finally broke away.
Lombardo would cross the finish line in 16:32.6, nearly 17 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. While his time was slower than his 16:05 from New World the previous week, cross-country is a sport where courses vary dramatically—some flat and fast, others hilly and challenging. What matters most is not the clock but the head-to-head competition, and on this day, on this course, Lombardo was the class of the field.
It was a commanding victory for the Wolfpack senior, a reminder that even in a conference dominated by Vanguard's depth, individual excellence could still shine through. Vickerman would finish eighth overall in 17:20.1, a strong performance that showcased his ability to compete with the county's best.
Behind Lombardo, the real drama unfolded in the battle for the team title.
Vanguard junior Jacob Rogers led the Knights' charge, finishing second in 16:48.9. Right on his heels came senior Timothy Brannon at 16:51.5, then sophomore Jaylen Blackburn at 16:53.2, and freshman Trevor Berquist at 16:58.1. It was a clinic in pack running, four Knights crossing within 10 seconds of each other, a testament to the program's culture and coaching.
But Belleview had come to fight.
The Rattlers, who had averaged 16:59 just a week earlier at the prestigious New World Invitational against some of Florida's best teams, knew they had the firepower to end Vanguard's streak. Freshman Lachlan Bryniarski led the charge in sixth place (17:09.9), followed closely by fellow freshman Asher Inman in seventh (17:15.7). The two freshmen, former teammates at both Redeemer Christian School and the Ocala Distance Project, had developed their skills together for years before arriving at Belleview, and their chemistry showed as they worked together through the challenging course.
Sophomore Lucas Morrow added a ninth-place finish at 17:30.3, giving the Rattlers three runners in the top 10 and the foundation for what looked like a serious challenge to Vanguard's dynasty.
But what Belleview couldn't match was Vanguard's depth. When Christopher Taylor crossed in 10th (17:31.1) and Alexander Lammens finished 13th (17:48.2), the Knights' scoring five had done their job. Vanguard's total time of 1:25:02—an average of 17:00 per runner—was more than two minutes faster than Belleview's 1:27:20.
Final score: Vanguard 23, Belleview 46, West Port 64.
Twenty-seven straight. The streak lived on.
The Rattlers had brought their best—competitive times, strong performances at major invitationals, and a young core with tremendous potential. On most days, against most teams, it would have been enough. But not against a Vanguard program that has turned excellence into tradition.
The Girls Race: Curtis Twins Dominate
By 8:00 AM, the sun had climbed higher, burning off the morning chill as 32 girls gathered at the starting line in the open field. The question wasn't who would win—it was by how much.
Ava Curtis, Vanguard's senior and one of the top runners in Marion County, had been remarkably consistent throughout the season, running between 19:11 and 19:45 across multiple meets. Two weeks earlier at Alligator Lake, she had led the Knights to victory over 26 North Florida teams. Now, on her conference championship course, she was racing for history.
From the gun, Curtis established herself at the front, her form smooth and efficient as she led the field across the open grass and around the softball complex. Behind her, her twin sister Emma settled into second place, the two running a familiar pattern they'd perfected over years of training together. The Curtis twins, both seniors, knew exactly what Vanguard needed from them.
Ava would cross the line first in 19:45.1, a commanding performance that put an exclamation point on her senior season. Emma followed in 20:05.4, giving Vanguard a 1-2 punch that would prove insurmountable. The twin sisters had delivered 3 points—exactly what the team needed to continue its dominance.
But the race for third provided genuine drama.
Lyla Hallick, a freshman from Forest High School, had been running with courage all season, unafraid to take on more experienced competitors. Running just 0.2 seconds behind Emma Curtis, Hallick clocked 20:05.6 to claim third place and announce herself as a future star in Marion County running. The young runner wasn't unfamiliar with the Curtis twins—all three had been teammates on the Ocala Distance Project youth team before heading to high school. For a freshman to run that close to Vanguard's elite seniors signaled that the competitive landscape in Marion County may be shifting in the years to come.
Behind the top three, Vanguard's depth once again proved decisive. Senior Savannah Risner finished fourth in 20:29.4, junior Cierra Mills took fifth in 20:43.4, and junior Reese Cartwright claimed sixth in 21:10.1. When freshman Natalie Lammens crossed in seventh at 21:25.7, Vanguard had placed a remarkable six runners in the top seven.
The final score told the story: Vanguard 18, West Port 59, Forest 82, Belleview 83.
With a team time of 1:42:13—averaging 20:26 per runner—the Knights had won their 23rd consecutive conference title.
Looking Ahead
As the awards ceremony concluded and teams began breaking down their camps, the focus naturally shifted to what comes next. This weekend, many of the area's top runners will make the trip north to Tallahassee for the Pre-State Invitational at Apalachee Regional Park. The meet will provide a crucial test against some of Florida's best teams and give runners a chance to preview the course that will host the state championships.
For these Marion County athletes, Pre-State represents more than just another invitational—it's a measuring stick, a chance to see where they stand among the state's elite and to experience the venue where they hope to compete on November 22nd when the state championships return to Tallahassee. Only the top teams and individuals from each region will earn those coveted spots at the state meet, making every race between now and then critically important.
For Vanguard, the conference championships represented both an end and a beginning—the preservation of historic streaks, but also a stepping stone toward the postseason. The boys team, which had averaged 17:21 at Alligator Lake against top regional competition, continues to sharpen itself for the challenges ahead. With senior leadership from Brannon, junior firepower from Rogers, and emerging young talent like freshman Berquist, the Knights have assembled a formidable lineup.
The girls team, having proven once again that their success extends beyond any single class of runners, now focuses on continuing the excellence that has become their trademark. The Curtis twins provide veteran leadership in their final season, while Mills, Lammens, and Cartwright represent the future—a future that looks remarkably bright.
For the other Marion County programs, the challenge remains clear. Belleview's Rattlers came closer than most, bringing times and talent that would have defeated nearly any other program. The development of freshmen like Bryniarski and Inman suggests the Rattlers are building something sustainable.
West Port's Wolfpack showed that individual excellence still matters. Lombardo's dominant victory, backed by his county-leading 16:05 from the previous week, demonstrated that the fastest runner on the day can still claim individual glory even when the team battle tilts elsewhere.
Forest proved they have pieces in place as well. Vickerman's ability to push the pace for two miles in the boys race and Hallick's breakthrough third-place finish in the girls race showed that talent exists across multiple programs.
The Ocala Distance Project Connection
The influence of the Ocala Distance Project was evident throughout both championship races. In the boys competition, eight of the top 10 finishers—including all five of Vanguard's scoring runners, Forest's Vickerman, and Belleview's Bryniarski and Inman—came through ODP's youth programs. On the girls side, five of the top seven finishers developed at ODP, including the Curtis twins, Hallick, Risner, and Lammens. The youth running program has created a foundation of proper training and race tactics that continues to elevate Marion County cross country.
sports
cross country
high school
Vanguard
Belleview
West Port
Forest
Marion County
Ocala Distance Project
athletics