The areas best challenged the course at the Lely Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.

More than 700 runners took part in varsity, junior varsity or middle school races, with hundreds of parents and fans cheering.

With 20 schools competing at the varsity level, it still came down to Lely’s Amber Imm of Marco and Immokalee’s Joane Pierre in the girls race.

Although Imm was having a problem with spasms around her diaphragm, she gallantly ran stride-for-stride with Joane Pierre of Immokalee, until Pierre surged ahead for the win in the last 100 yards. She toured the three-mile course in 19:34, topping Imm by just seven seconds at 19:41.

“It was hard to breathe at first, but as the race went on it got better,” Imm said. “We’ve been one-two in most races. I needed to get more space because at the end of a race she really closes fast.”

“Me and Amber always seem to go head-to-head,” Pierre said. “We’re friends and we push each other. She ran hurt today and I hope she gets better because she is a good example and a really dedicated person.”

Lely coach Mark McGarity was impressed with Imm’s effort.

“She started having the spasms Friday night, but she is a gutsy runner and did an outstanding job on Saturday,” he said. “She has a couple of glitches physically, but even with those she is running faster. She is right where she needs to be (for time) and she will be faster by the end of the month for district competition.”

Community School placed five runners in the top 10 to win the girls race, totaling the lowest score with 37 points.

Two sets of twins and an eighth grader led the way. Chandler Barfield raced to fourth, while sister Taylor was sixth, with eighth grader Vivian Grimes in between at fifth. Twins Kathryn and Erika Flueher claimed the ninth and tenth spots.

In second was Naples, 114, Canterbury third, 124, Fort Myers fourth, 149 and Cypress Lake fifth with 152. The Lely team finished ninth.

The Lely girls couldn’t generate enough runners in the top 25 to contend. Following Imm were Jade Dwarkin, 41st in 22:23; Devon Imm, 45th in 22:37; Mercedes Farhat, 58th in 23:18; Sabrina Carrender, 59th in 23:21, all from Marco and Sarah Stacey, 76th in 23:59.

In the boys race Estero’s Erick Montoya pulled away from Community School’s Kyle Carufe for the victory.

The Naples boys bunched their runners enough to edge Fort Myers for the team title. Joseph Hebel came in third, Jeff Marvel 10th, Ulises Escobar, 12th, Max Shumake, 16th and Stefan Underwood 17th.

Lely was led by Andy Martinez, who finished 13th, with a personal best time of 17:38 as the Trojans placed eighth.

Teammates following Martinez were Brandon Fisher, 32nd in 18:22, Darryl Townsend, 18:43, Sam Walker, 50th in 18:59, Christian Tateo, 59th in 19:17 and Chad Snyder, 62nd in 19:23.

“The boys and girls had an excellent meet,” McGarity said. Only three of the varsity and JV runners didn’t record their best personal times.”

Girls team results

1. Community School, 34; 2, Naples, 114; 3. Canterbury, 124; 4. Fort Myers, 149; 5. Cypress Lake, 152; 6. North Fort Myers, 178; 7. Lely, 185; 8. Barron Collier, 238; 9. Ida Baker, 247; 10. Estero, 249; 11. Palmetto Ridge, 269; 12. Mariner, 293; 13. Evangelical Christian, 366; 14. Seacrest, 377; 15, South Fort Myers, 443; 16, Gulf Coast, 468; 17. Clewiston, 472; 18. Gateway Charter, 510; 19. Golden Gate, 520; 20. Bishop Verot, 578.

Girls individual results

1. Joane Pierre, Immokalee, 19:41; 2. Amber Imm, Lely, 19:41; 3. Kinsley McEachern, Naples, 20:03; 4. Chandler Burfield, Community School, 20:04; 5. Vivian Grimes, Community School, 20:05; 6. Taylor Burfield, Community School, 20:07; 7. Emily LaBarbera, Mariner, 20:15; 8. Wally Rosario, North Fort Myers, 20:18; 9. Kathryn Fluehr, Community School, 20:18; 20. Erika Fluehr, Community School, 20:19; 11. Darlene Hanlon, Ida Baker, 20:43; 12. Emily Edwards, Canterbury, 20:45; 13. Juliette Gordette, Cypress Lake, 21:00; 14. Sarah Spann, Fort Myers, 21:01; 15. Brooklyn Berry, Fort Myers, 21:02; 16. Alexandra Arroliga, Palmetto Ridge, 21:09; 17. Kaitlyn Martin, Cypress Lake, 21:15; 18. Jennifer West, Fort Myers, 21:16; 19. Hannah Lewis, Naples, 21:18; 20. Haley Emerson, Canterbury, 21:20.

Boys team results

1. Naples, 58; 2. Barron Collier; 3. Immokalee 117; 4. Estero, 119; 5. Community School, 157; 6. North Fort Myers, 184; 7. Bishop Verot, 185; 8, Lely, 197; 9. Gulf Coast, 199; 10. Fort Myers, 217; 11. Golden Gate, 304; 12. South Fort Myers, 310; 13. Cypress Lake, 355; 14. Palmetto Ridge, 356; 15. Evangelical Christian, 432; 16. Gateway Charter, 458; 17. Mariner, 458; 18. Clewiston, 462; 19. Seacrest, 485.

Boys individual results

1. Erick Montoya, Estero, 16:34; 2. Kyle Carufe, Community School; 3. Joseph Hebel, Naples, 17:00; 4. Gorman Moran, Immokalee, 17:02; 5. Zack Kovacek, North Fort Myers, 17:05; 6. Brian Alexander, Barron Collier, 17:25; 7. Argeo Cruz, Immokalee, 17:16; 7; 8. Patrick Ryan, South Fort Myers, 17:25; 9. Trent Craig, Cypress Lake, 17:31; 10. Jeff Marvel, Naples, 17:34; 11. Nick Gunns, Estero, 17:35; 12. Ulises Escobar, Naples, 17:36; 13. Andy Martinez, Lely, 17:37; 14. Chris Butler, Bishop Verot, 17:38; 15. Junior Destine, Immokalee, 17:41; 16. Max Shumake, Naples, 17:44; 17. Stefan Underwood, Naples, 17:45; 18. Thomas Guevara, Golden Gate, 17:47; 19. Mike Stephens, Gulf Coast, 17:49; 20. Sean Barry, Barron Collier, 17:53.

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