PONTE VEDRA - In a district eye-opening cross country clash, the Fleming Island High boys team said "Hello" at the St. Johns County-strong Craig Speziale Invitationl featuring the likes of Creekside, Ponte Vedra and Bartram Trail with a scintillating four top 10 runners and the team title Saturday afternoon at Ponte Vedra High School.

"Maybe not quite a scorched Earth approach for us, but a good effort," said Fleming Island's newest cross country coach Dave Allen. "We challenged our 3-4-5 guys to run together as a pack and they executed. John Brinkman (out last week with SAT testing) returning as the fifth finisher is a stong group for us."

Top finisher was Kameron Wallizada in second at 16 minutes, 26 seconds with teammate Will Livesay just three seconds behind him as the Golden Eagles stormed the field right from the start.

"We ran hard all week, a 12 miler on Monday, and a little off on Friday; only one thing matters, districts," said Allen. "Keeping Kameron healthy is a big shot in the arm for us."

In their new district 1-4 lineup, Fleming Island now clashes with former 3A powers Creekside (3rd), Ponte Vedra (9th) and Bartram Trail (5th) as well as Nease (7th).

For Livesay and Wallizada, who were a big part of the Fleming Island boys team getting a much-sought after state meet berth last year, the goal is to go big in the new district.

"Kam and I started strong and wanted to keep contact with the Creekside guys," said Livesay. "I turned an ankle about two miles in and my foot went numb. I tried to just run through it and finish strong."

Wallizada stayed up front to battle with the Creekside front runner, eventual winner Owen Taylor in 16:14, while Creekside's second finisher, Mac Williams, fifth at 16:43, tried to hang on to the lead pack.

"I took the lead at the two mile mark in 10:25 and just kept pushing," said Wallizada. "I saw Will like 15 meters behind me and knew I had to go. I opened at 5:08. That first guy hit the first mile in 4:55."

Fleming Island dominated the top 10 places with Landon Opp in at 16:40 for fourth and Jayden Scherer sixth at 16:49. Brinkman would finish at 19th in 17:25.

"We get that fifth guy in, maybe Brinkman, then we get the perfect race," said Livesay.

Livesay noted that running against Creekside, Bartram Trail and Ponte Vedra has its own rivalry set up.

"Last year, the big challenge was Buchholz and us, but now that everyone is together, it makes it more challenging," said Livesay. "It makes us work harder."

Also getting top finishes were Oakleaf High senior Ajani Stokes, who was the Knights top entrant with senior Dylan Nelson nursing an ankle injury, and Middleburg High senior John Scholz.

Stokes, in at 11th in 17:05, has the confidence of coach James Henderson to create a strong duo, with Nelson, in the district championship race.

"He runs right with Dylan all day in practice and just had to keep that confidence when the races come up," said Henderson. "He needed this race as a breakout race to do that."

Scholz, a fast starter for coach Paul Grybb, blasted with Wallizada at the start then battled to a 21st place finish in 17:28.

"I keep attacking from the gun and I keep getting better times," said Scholz, who bettered his 17:40 from the Florida Horse Farm race two weeks ago. "If I can hold on a little longer each race, I should be under 17 by districts."

In the girls varsity race, Middleburg High, led by Emma Mussante's 21:16 for 19th finished 10th with Oakleaf, led by Kylie Loving at 49th in 22:40 finished 12th.

Creekside won the team title with finishers at 1-4-9 with winner Elizabeth Iliff in at 19:09. Fleming Island's varsity girls paced teammates in the junior varsity race.

Orange Park's Emma Brown finished 62nd in 22:42.

Area finishers

1. Fleming Island Hs

2 Kameron Wallizada, 11 16:26

3 Will Livesay, 12 16:29

4 Landon Opp, 12 16:40

6 Jayden Scherer, 11 16:49

19 John Brinkman, 12 17:25

24 Michael Lyon, 11 17:37

26 Jacob Walrod, 12 17:40

Total Time = 1:23:49 Total Places = 34

7. Middleburg Hs

21 John Scholz, 12 17:28

36 Noah Carson, 11 18:14

44 Christopher Donaldson, 12 18:35

60 Dylan Anderson, 10 19:06

61 Juan Flores, 11 19:08

64 Robert Nogales, 11 19:09

84 Hayden Shaw, 11 19:49

Total Time = 1:32:31 Total Places = 222

9. Oakleaf Hs

11 Ajani Stokes, 12 17:05

53 Bryce Stalter, 12 18:57

62 Christian Villanueva, 12 19:08

65 Christopher Polinsky, 10 19:10

77 Sean Zayas, 11 19:33

79 Mason Raymond, 11 19:39

92 Caden Henderson, 11 20:11

Total Time = 1:33:53 Total Places = 268

17. Orange Park Hs

68 Maxim Thomas, 11 19:23

97 Noe Benitez, 10 20:30

107 Davon Bailey, 11 21:50

108 Christian Mayfield, 9 22:13

110 Gehrig Van De Water, 9 23:08

117 Harold Goslee, 12 25:40

118 James McArthur, 12 26:13

Total Time = 1:47:04 Total Places = 490