The 30th Sharks Invitational took place at Sebastian River High School on Saturday, October 28, 2023, witnessing a turnout of more than 400 athletes across various categories, including varsity, junior varsity, and middle school races.
Out of the twelve teams competing at the varsity level, the Sebastian River Boys Varsity Cross Country team emerged victorious, clinching the championship trophy.
Leading the pack was Caleb Wilkinson, a senior at the school, who finished first overall with a time of 17 minutes and 24 seconds. He is also the current record holder at the school with an impressive time of 16:33, a record he set the previous season. Following was fellow senior Noah McMann, who secured second place with a time of 17:41. In fourth place was Senior Connor McAdams, crossing the finish line at 18:53, while Junior Hunter Pankiewicz was hot on his heels, placing fifth with a time of 18:55. Not far behind, Senior Payton Dipietro claimed the sixth spot with a finish time of 18:59.
The squad impressively tallied a score of 18, narrowly missing the flawless mark of 15.
Originating during the pandemic in 2020, when maintaining distance meant safety, this group found their stride in running, a discipline that has paid off.
Their dedication propelled Sebastian River to the prestigious FHSAA Class 3A State Championship. In 2021, they achieved a notable 15th-place finish among 143 schools across the state, improving to 13th place the following year.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, they will commence their journey in the state series with the 3A District 7 Meet at South Fork High School in Stuart, FL.
