News Summary

Mackenzie Roy of Spruce Creek has made history by becoming the first individual girls cross country state champion from the Volusia-Flagler area in over two decades. Her impressive time of 17:19.5 at the Class 4A state meet not only earned her the championship title but also secured her spot on the All-Area first team. The upcoming 2024-25 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards will further celebrate her achievement and the outstanding performances of fellow young athletes in the area. This year has been remarkable for cross country in the region.

Spruce Creek’s Mackenzie Roy Breaks Records with a Historic Win in Girls Cross Country

Daytona Beach is buzzing with excitement as Mackenzie Roy, a talented runner from Spruce Creek, made history by becoming the first individual girls cross country state champion from the Volusia-Flagler area this millennium! It’s been quite a while since someone from this region snagged the top honor – we’re talking all the way back to 1999, when Seabreeze’s Mallory Dunn claimed the title!

A Race to Remember

At the Class 4A state meet, held this year, Mackenzie took to the course like a true champion, finishing strong with a stunning time of 17:19.5. This remarkable feat not only makes her a champion but also secures her a coveted spot on the All-Area first team. In fact, it had been decades since a Spruce Creek runner had claimed a girls state title, the last being Carmen Gardner back in 1982. Oh what a moment for Spruce Creek and the entire community!

All Eyes on the Awards

In addition to her impressive win, the spotlight will also shine brightly on several young athletes during the upcoming 2024-25 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards. This exciting event, presented by Halifax Health, is set to take place on June 2 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The occasion will honor remarkable athletes from the area, with awards for boys and girls athlete of the year, team awards, coach of the year, and even the Courage Award recipient. To add to the festivity, former MLB All-Star Dee Strange-Gordon will be the guest speaker!

A Great Year for Cross Country

This year has seen some outstanding performances across the board. Notably, Peyton Cerasi, a freshman from Flagler Palm Coast, placed fourth at the Five Star Conference meet with a time of 18:38.8, showcasing her talent and determination through the postseason. Also from Flagler Palm Coast, Cassidy De Young, a senior, played a significant role in helping her team claim the Five Star team title with impressive rankings, finishing seventh and clocking 20:07.7 at the 4A state meet.

Further showcasing the depth of talent in this area, Anna Grigoruk from Flagler Palm Coast raced to a time of 20:32.6 as a sophomore at the 4A state meet, while Hannah Judge from University secured the 13th place with a great time of 18:30.5. Additionally, Madison Lagarde recorded her best postseason time of 19:57 at the Region 1-4A meet after placing sixth at the Five Star Conference.

Sisterly Love and Team Spirit

We can’t forget about family ties in this success story! Mackenzie’s sister Arianna Roy also had an impressive season, finishing second at the Five Star Conference and third at the Region 1-4A meet, showing that talent runs in the family. Meanwhile, the Spruce Creek girls cross country team, under the guidance of coach Stephon Gallon, finished 16th at the Class 4A state meet and were runners-up at the Five Star Conference and District 2-4A meet.

Looking Forward

Mackenzie Roy’s achievement has not only etched her name into history but also invigorated the local sports community. As she enjoys her well-deserved recognition, we eagerly anticipate what the future holds, both for her and for the other promising athletes in the Volusia-Flagler area. It’s a thrilling time to be involved in high school athletics, and the best is yet to come!

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