Cypress Bay cross-country runners Richie Bonilla and Emilie Amaro captured the BCAA boys and girls cross country championship titles.  Both runners were ranked the number one cross-country runners in Broward County prior to the championship meet.  Richie Bonilla made the meet interesting by falling down within fifty meters of the finish line.  However, Richie had built a comfortable lead over runner up Alvaro Costillo from Flanagan High School.  Richie got up and staggered across the finish line.

The course conditions were difficult for all the runners.  The course was heavy from an entire day of rain.  Prior to the start of the races the sun came out creating a sauna like condition.  Runners had to deal with a heavy course and high humidity in the air.

For Bonilla this was his first BCAA Cross Country Championship.  The title has eluded the Lightening senior the past three years.  Bonilla led the Lightening to their first county won cross-country championship title.  Bonilla finished the race with a winning time of 16:22.  The top five boys finished were, Bonilla (Cypress Bay) 16:22, Alvaro Castillo (Ft Lauderdale) 17:00, Billy Zenga (Coral Glades) 17:12, Kevin Ganiel (Cypress Bay) 17:16 and Stephen Dassin (Ft Lauderdale) 17:20.  The top five boys teams were Cypress Bay, St Thomas Aquinas, Stoneman Douglas, Ft Lauderdale and South Plantation.

Emile Amaro, sophomore at Cypress Bay won her second consecutive BCAA county championship title.  Emile dominated the field with a time of 18:38.  The St Thomas Lady Raiders won the over all ladies title.  Emile ran away from the field, the second place runner finished over one minute behind the winning time.  The top five finishers were Emilie Amaro (Cypress Bay) 18:38, Christal Washington (South Plantation) 20:14, Jessica Butler (St Thomas Aquinas) 20:28, Nicole Suarez (St Thomas Aquinas) 20:46, and Lindsay Lucas (Taravella) 20:47.  The top five-team standings were, St Thomas Aquinas, Cypress Bay, Cardinal Gibbons, Cooper City and Coral Springs High.

Emilie Amaro is the number 1 cross-country runner in Broward County.  As a freshman last year she finished #2 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championship.  She finished third at the Florida Runner’s Invitational Race of Champions featuring the best high school runners in the state of Florida.  We caught up with Emilie at Trade Winds Park after she won her second consecutive BCAA championship.

Q: Today, you won your second consecutive BCAA cross-country championship.  How did you find the course?
A: The course was very heavy from all the rain, however the killer was the high humidity.

Q: How did you prepare for the race today?
A: I drank lots of liquids all day and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.

Q: What is your goal this year?
A: My goal is to be best in the state.  However, I love to run, I get pleasure form running.

Q: What do you still need to work on?
A: Always looking to increase my speed.  Through my workouts I a run 400’s, 800’s and 1 mile repeats.

Q: What was your summer running like?
A: I would run in the morning, do gym work in the afternoon and run in the evening.

Q: What’s your schedule for the remainder of the season?
A: Compete in districts, regional and state.  I plan to compete in the National Footlocker Cross Country Championship to be held in North Carolina.