Muller, Dempsey Run Away with Individual Titles, Lead Squads to Inaugural Stampede Sprint Team Trophies 

Wesley Chapel, Fla. — Perfect racing conditions and a loaded field set the stage for the inaugural Stampede Sprint, hosted by Florida Sports Coast at the state-of-the-art Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The venue brought back memories of the once-popular Run with the Bulls meet, which Wiregrass Ranch High School last held nearly a decade ago—making Saturday’s return to big-time racing in Pasco County all the more climactic.

From a team perspective, the event quickly turned into a showdown among some of the Tampa Bay area’s strongest programs.

Girls Race

From the gun, it was clear the girls’ race would be a two-athlete battle. Wiregrass Ranch junior Natalia Gaona-Zelaya and Sarasota Riverview sophomore Maddie Muller surged well ahead of the field just a mile in. By the midway point, Muller had opened a decisive 150-meter gap and never looked back, cruising to victory in 17:55.5—the third-fastest time in Florida this season.

Gaona-Zelaya held on for second in 18:47.1, while Steinbrenner sophomore Madison Stubbs, a recent North Carolina transfer, claimed third with a personal-best of 19:09.9. Rounding out the top five were Zephyrhills junior Lydia Vincent (19:27.5) and Steinbrenner senior Ainsley Aeschleman (19:30.0), who broke the 20-minute barrier for the first time in her career.

The girls’ team race was just as thrilling, with only 20 points separating the top four programs. Sarasota Riverview, powered by Muller’s front-running performance, captured the title with 93 points. Steinbrenner was close behind with 96, followed by Geneva Classical Academy (102) and Newsome (113).

Boys Race

The boys’ race featured more drama. King High School senior Mason LaBlance charged to the front early, but Geneva Classical Academy senior Oliver Dempsey took control by the halfway point. By two miles, Dempsey had built an insurmountable lead, storming to the finish in 15:48.4, his first time ever going under 16 minutes. 

In perhaps the biggest surprise of the day, Wiregrass junior Bogdan Anghel finished runner-up in 16:03.7—a stellar debut in his first-ever cross country race and the fastest Pasco County time this season. His teammate, junior Avi Bhatia, followed closely in third (16:19.1), edging Osceola junior Spencer Mehltretter, who clocked a personal-best 16:22.8. Geneva Classical sophomore Benaiah Lawton broke the 17-minute barrier for the first time to secure fifth in 16:29.1. LaBlance, after pushing the early pace, faded to eighth in 16:37.8.

On the team side, Geneva Classical Academy dominated with a low score of 41 points. Wiregrass Ranch edged Newsome for second, 93–96, while Osceola finished fourth. In one of the day’s tightest battles, Cypress Creek slipped past Wharton for fifth, 181–182.

Looking Ahead

With August in the books, the cross country season is officially in full swing. Many of the region’s top athletes and teams will shift their focus to one of two invites this weekend: either the 12th Annual Florida Horse Park Invitational, presented by B3R which will be held in Ocala, or the East Hillsborough Invite being run in Lithia. Both races are set to go off this Saturday, September 6th.