St. Johns Country Day sophomore Kate Staten posted the top Clay County result at the Cecil Field Summer Classic. Staten finished 55th out of roughly 1,200 competitors across all divisions at the Aug. 21 meet in Jacksonville.
Running the girls varsity 5K at Cecil Field Golf Course, Staten crossed the finish line in 20 minutes and 30 seconds with an average mile pace of 6:35.9, according to TFRRS results.
Staten Improved on Last Year's Result
The school's athletics department said Staten's time was 1 minute, 23 seconds faster than her result at the same meet last year. St. Johns Country Day Athletics posted the update on Facebook, calling her the top overall Clay County performer.
Meet Draws Runners From Across Florida
The annual Cecil Field Summer Classic, hosted by Bolles High School, draws runners from across Florida and is one of the state's largest season-opening cross-country meets. The 2026 edition on MileSplit listed results spanning elite, varsity and middle school divisions.
Staten Was Already a Preseason Standout
Staten was already on the radar heading into the fall. The Florida Times-Union's preseason cross-country preview, published Aug. 19, identified her as a sophomore who held a top time of 19:46 and had qualified for three regional track events.
Spartans Placed 12th in Team Standings
St. Johns Country Day, located in Orange Park, competes in FHSAA Class 1A cross country. The Spartans' girls team placed 12th in the team standings at Cecil Field with a combined time of 1:08:37, averaging 13:43 per runner.
