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Talented Runners Could Lead J.P. Taravella Boys’ Cross-Country Team Back to State Championship

by David Volz August 20, 2025

by David Volz August 20, 2025 2 minutes read

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Talented Runners Could Lead J.P. Taravella Boys' Cross-Country Team Back to State Championship

Top J.P. Taravella Cross Country Runners Craig Dennis, JahRee Pierre and Scardy Fils. {David Volz}

Scardy Fils has a passion for distance running and is one of the fastest in Florida.

As the leading runner for the J.P. Taravella boys’ cross-country team, Fils, a junior, is looking forward to a successful season. In July, he competed in the AAU National Club Championships in Jacksonville, Florida, and earned fourth place in the 1,500-meter run for the 17 to 18 age group.

“I am looking forward to this season, and I want to go back to the state championship meet. It takes discipline to become a successful runner,” he said.

JahRee Pierre, the second fastest runner on the team, earned fourth place for the 15 to 16 age group in the 800-meter run at the national meet. A sophomore, he is also looking forward to the upcoming season.

Another top runner is Craig Dennis, a senior who has been on the team for three years and is also looking forward to the season. “I believe we can return to the state meet, but it will take discipline and hard work to get there,” he said.

Coach Dawn Spann believes in this year’s Trojan team. “Last year we qualified as a team for the state meet in Tallahassee, and I believe that if the team is dedicated and disciplined, we can return,” she said.

To be a member of the Trojans is an accomplishment. The athletes must run several miles a day and have the patience to repeat demanding workouts repeatedly. “Cross-country is similar to what their adult life will be like,” said Spann.

This Saturday, the boys’ team will compete in the Kowboy Cross-Country Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida. On September 2, the Trojans will compete in a local meet at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.