Sports

SAMS girls cross country qualifies for first state meet

By Land O' Lakes-Lutz Courier staff · October 1, 2026 · 1 min read

Lightweight running shoes and a race bib on a grassy field. — Running shoes and a race bib rest on a grassy cross country course. AI-generated illustration / Surround Sound Media

Sports

SAMS girls cross country qualifies for first state meet

By Land O' Lakes-Lutz Courier staff · October 1, 2026 · 1 min read

Sports

SAMS girls cross country qualifies for first state meet

By Land O' Lakes-Lutz Courier staff · October 1, 2026 · 1 min read

The Sunlake Academy of Math and Science girls cross country team has qualified for a state championship for the first time in school history.

The Lutz K-8 charter school announced the milestone on its website, confirming the team earned a berth in the Florida Youth Running Association (FLYRA) Middle School State Cross Country Championship. SAMS will compete in the Charter School Girls Championship division.

The race is set for Saturday, Oct. 31, at 9:30 a.m. at Holloway Park, 2402 Holloway Park Dr., Lakeland. Runners will cover a 3,000-meter course.

The FLYRA championship separates middle school competition by school type: charter, public, private and club. Qualifying is required for all championship division races, meaning the SAMS girls earned their spot through earlier competition this fall.

SAMS operates under Hillsborough County Public Schools.

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Megan O'Neill

Editor

Megan published her first poem in the Sun Sentinel at the age of 11 and has been locked in ever since. She attended UF and FIU and has a degree in Communication Arts. Her professional background includes photography, editing, writing, translation, and graphic design. Megan enjoys learning language, art and vegan foods.

Megan O'Neill

Editor

Megan O'Neill

Editor