Wellington High School had a pair of senior cross-country runners — Aubyn Gopie and Cameron Shelby — participate in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 4A state cross-country meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee on Saturday, Nov. 14.
In the boys race, Gopie finished 73rd with a time of 16:36.4. He was the fifth-fastest runner in that race from Palm Beach County, trailing four runners from Spanish River High School in Boca Raton. The winner of the boys race was senior Gino Palazzolo from Gainesville’s Buchholz High School. His winning time was 15:23.6.
This was Gopie’s first time participating in the FHSAA state championships. His time of 16:36.4 was his second-best time in the race. His previous best time was 16:31.4 at the regional championship race the previous Saturday. This spring, he will be running track at WHS, specializing in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter races. He may also run in the 400-meter and 3,200-meter races.
In the girls Class 4A 3.1-mile race, Shelby was 22nd with a time of 18:54.7. The winner of the girls Class 4A race was Mackenzie Roy from Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange. Her winning time was 17:19.5. Shelby was the fastest runner from Palm Beach County in the race.
This trip to the FHSAA’s Class 4A state cross-country meet was Shelby’s second in as many years. As a junior last year, her time was 19:49.0. Her fastest 3.1-mile cross-country time is 18:31.0. Shelby will continue to run for WHS this spring when she plans to be a member of the school’s track and field team. She plans to run in the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200-meter run.
