Ellis & Jose

 This is the first year Ellis Has been a member of the Gliders.  He enjoys being with and contributing to the team.  His first experience in running was the 2004 Smile Mile which he has run every year since.  One of his personal goals was to one day win the Smile Mile for his age group.  This year, on his last attempt before he was too old to run the race, he took first place in the 11 year old boys division improving on his previous years time by over a minute.  Also, Ellis participated in the 2007 Track Shack Grand Pre where he finished second behind his step-brother in the 8 -10 year old division.  He has also been one of the top runners of his schools running team, the Speedy Stangs, for the past two years.  Ellis is a very accomplished student.  He will enter Middle School having been a Straight A student all of his elementary years.  Last year in forth grade Ellis earned the highest FCAT score in the school.  Also, Ellis is one of only five students in his school to be nominated to participate in the National Young Scholars Program.  He will be going away this summer to join some of the best young minds in the nation in a seven day academic program.   Ellis hopes to one day work in Wildlife Conservation or Zoology. 

 This is Jose's second season with the Gliders.  He was fortunate enough to be a part of the Gliders 2007 Bantam Boys National Champs in Virginia Beach.  His first experience with running was also in the 2004 Smile Mile which he has run every year since.  In 2007 Jose took second place in a hard fought Smile Mile.  In 2008 Jose dedicated himself and accomplished his long time goal of winning the Smile Mile with his best mile time of 5:38 in the 10 year old boy division.  Also, Jose accomplished another goal when he won the 2007 Track Shack Grand Pre for the 8 - 10 year old division.  He worked very hard for this accomplishment as it required him to compete in seven races throughout the year and earn the most points which accumulate over all the races.  Jose is an Honor Roll student and has earned distinction by never losing a race on his school running team called the Speedy Stangs.  Jose desires to continue, improve, and build on his running career.  He aspires  to earn a college scholarship to Oregon University like his late Olympic idol Steve Prefontaine.