The 17th Annual Wickham Park Jamboree was contested by a record 460 finishers under clear, calm, humid conditions on a smoking fast course, mowed low and devoid of any moisture like seasons past.

The lengthened course, 75 meters from 2015 according to Meet Director, Satellite's Coach Butler, precluded any serious attempts at the meet records which will hold for another year.  17:46 by Holy Trinity's Kayla Hale in 2007 and more recently, Brandon Marquez's equally impressive 15:23 from 2014.

The Boys race was first to get underway promptly at 7:30 am.  The consensus favorite going in was Titusville senior Mason Jones.  Those that saw Mason's gutsy deuce on the track at the 2A State Championships back in early May would likely have agreed, Titusville's Jones is full of fight.

With 600 miles over the summer, Mason said he "felt really strong and just figured he would go out there, no watch or anything, and see what he could do".

As the leaders headed out of view, rounded the lake and made their way back to the midway, it became even more clear that Mason was all in.  The chase pack, fearful of the heat and the torrid early pace, was a good 5 seconds back 4 1/2 minutes in, led by Jupiter Christian's Joshua Skielnik, The Pine School's Chase Hyland, and Winter Spring's Justin Czurak.

Mason Jones leads the First Mile mark in 4:56

Mason covered the first mile in 4:56.  Over the course of the ensuing 400 meters from the 4 1/2 minute mark, the chase pack had a new leader, Satellite's Trevor Kattenberg who made a considerably strong move, briskly moving into striking position probably sensing it was now or never if he was going to close down the distance.

Trevor passed the mile in 5:02 with Hyland, Czurak, and Skielnik in tow.  Still off the back of the chase pack was Satellite's Johnny Cacciatore, Egan Kattenberg, and Winter Springs Matt Doyle along with Rockledge's Troy Smith who said, "I was just trying to stay with the front pack, with Egan and Trevor and John, trying not to separate from them."

Surging over the last 400m, Trevor Kattenberg moves into 2nd at the Mile

As the harriers converged on the midway once again, Mason's lead had grown even more.  Asked if Mason was attacking the course and making a run at Brandon's meet record 15:23, Titusville Boys Coach Robb Jones set the record straight, "we're just trying to get through the summer and have a good first meet, that's all he's looking for today."

With Jones already out of view, The Satellite trio of Egan, Trevor and John were now running three abreast as they made their way back out of sight and around the distant lake once again.  Lurking, never too far off the pace, hanging on in 8th was the Rock's super sophomore, Troy Smith.

In Troy's post-race interview, he said "I was just hoping that I didn't fall back at all", "because if that happens, I'd never be able to catch back up to them".

With less than 800m to go, Smith was still on the tail-end of the chase pack looking to pounce when the time presented itself. 

Never in doubt, as his lead stretched farther and farther, Mason garnered the win in 15:51 but the race was on for 2nd between Egan Kattenberg and Troy Smith. 

Titusville's Mason Jones wins the 2016 Wickham Park Jamboree in 15:51

Smith had moved up into runner-up contention slowly and deliberately.  As they headed down the final straight-away shoulder to shoulder, Smith was a clear second at the line with Kattenberg half a torso behind.  Both runners clocked at 16:06.

Troy Smith grabs 2nd, Egan Kattenberg finishes third, both in 16:06

Rounding out the top 7 was John Cacciatore in 16:09, Joshua Skielnik in 16:12, West Shore's Austin Camps in 16:24 and Chase Hyland in 16:30. 

SEE FULL MEET RESULTS HERE

Girls Recap coming...