Lakehawk Half Marathon Team Concludes Season at 2024 NJCAA Championship

HENRICO, Va. (Half Marathon) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) half marathon team traveled to Henrico, Va. to compete in the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Half Marathon Championship.

The course at Dorey Park was a demanding one, featuring rolling hills and scenic trails surrounded by vibrant fall foliage. Despite just three days since their last race, the team rallied together, drawing strength from one another for five of the six to achieve personal records (PR).

Dylan Royal, Spencer Palmer, and Thatcher Clarke paced each other through the final turnaround, maintaining a steady rhythm and climbing positions without being overtaken. Palmer mentioned post-race that they were not passed by any competitors throughout the race, which was a testament to their pacing strategy toughness.

Head coach Cristy Snellgroves expressed her pride in the team stating, "I am extremely proud of the improvement, teamwork, and camaraderie of this team."

"Their dedication to getting better with each race, their support for one another, and the strides they have made have been truly inspiring to watch. This season was a remarkable start, and I cannot wait to see what they accomplish next," said Coach Snellgroves.

With the 2024 cross country season wrapped up, the team eagerly looks forward to building on this momentum as they transition to the track and field season in January.

Final Results

Dylan Royal – 1:21:04 (PR)

Spencer Palmer – 1:21:06 (PR)

Thatcher Clarke – 1:22:32 (PR)

Jovanni Matos – 1:26:38 (PR)

Owen Kingery – 1:28:48 (PR)

William Petersen – 1:30:49

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