by Tim Ferrell
East Ridge Senior Caleb Melendez capped off a record-breaking season by breaking several East Ridge High School Cross Country records on Friday at the State Finals in Tallahassee, Florida. In what were about the closest thing to perfect weather conditions (in stark contrast to the Regional race the week before) at the perfect cross country course in the state, Appalachee Regional Park, Melendez was able to finish his Senior season in record-breaking fashion.
Melendez finished the race in a time of 16:14, which placed him 20th overall in the highest classification in the state of Florida. His time broke his own 5k record that he set on September 25th at the West Orange Invitational (16:24). In addition, it marks the highest individual place at a state meet in school history. He ran a very consistent race, clocking in at the first mile in 5:05 and in the 21st spot. By mile two, Melendez had moved up one spot to 20th in a time of 10:15. At approximately the 2.5 mile mark, Caleb met “The Wall” for the second time, in which he traversed with zero problems. At this course, there is a sizeable 0.16 mile steep hill in which the runners hit twice.
The runners are very aware of this particular hill, but Melendez was not deterred. Throughout the year, East Ridge runners have a huge advantage as they train on the hills of Clermont. It is the hill training that prepared Melendez well for this race. All running publications predicted Caleb to finish well outside the top-20 for the state race. Melendez proved all of his doubters wrong and finished in the top 20. Caleb Melendez finishes the 2021 cross country season as the most decorated cross country runner East Ridge High School has ever had. He holds every major record at the school. He holds the overall 5k time (16:14), in addition to the fastest times ever run at a District meet (16:24), Regional meet (16:40), and state meet (16:18).
Melendez also leaves East Ridge as one of only two runners who qualified for the state meet multiple years (Mark Holsbeke being the other). He is also one of only two runners (his teammate for four years, Hansel Lugo Ramos) who competed in a Regional race all four years of his running career. He finished in the top-10 of races an astounding NINETEEN times, with every race but the Regional and State meet of 2021 at least a top 4 finish individually, while earning team MVP three of the four years he ran at East Ridge.
