Scouting Report: Bolles Girls

Florida XC 2014: Scouting Reports
Todd Grasley

2007. That was the last year the Bolles girls cross country team didn't make the podium. From 2008 - 2013 they have tallied three state titles and three runner-up finishes and have finished in the top five the last TWENTY years.The Bulldogs look to make it three state titles  in a row in 2014 and will have their top four runners back, plus a plethora of talent behind them. Junior Mackenzie Wilson has made five Cross Country Finals appearances dating back to when she was a sixth and seventh grader at the Geneva School and as an 8th grader at Episcopal. She has finished in the top thirty everytime. In 2012 she was the 2A runner-up and in 2013 finished fourth. Behind her is a corp of young, but experienced runners. . In 2012 she was the 2A runner-up and in 2013 finished fourth. Behind her is a corp of young, but experienced runners. Rachel Shapiro, Ally Hajda, and Suzanne Dannheim along with Ashley De Hechavarria, Annie Pentaleri, Aoife O Riordan, and Brittany Wilkinson round out the top group..

Not only can the girls get the job done on the cross country course, but they had arguably the best track season of any cross country program. According to our list of the top teams based on track data, the Bulldogs have a stable of stud 1,600 and 3,200m runners. Number one runner Mackenzie Wilson had the fastest times on the team with a 5:03.57 1,600m and 10:50.95 3,200m. She was the state champion at 3,200m and runner up at 1,600m. Seven girls clocked season bests of 5:30 or lower. That is moving!

This summer the squad put in a good two months of steady miles. Twenty girls went to Brevard Running Camp with Coach Pentaleri and 23 girls went to the team's three day mini camp in Tallahassee where they ran on the state meet course  and had some quality runs with Maclay. That showing of girls at those camps this summer was the most  they have ever brought which shows the dedication to their training, to the program, and to success.

The Bulldogs be at Pine Crest by 13 points and are predicted to claw it out with the Panthers again.  Our 2A team rankings  give a seven point nod to the Jacksonville school, but this could be anyone's game. The two school's average time is separated by less than four seconds (18:58.33 to 19:02.26). The 1-5 splits are even closer; less than five tenths of a second (1:24.52 to 1:24.99).  Pine Crest should have three in before Bolles has three, but the difference will come in the four and five runners with Suzanne Danheim and Annie Pentaleri. However it plays it out, it should be a shootout!
 
At Bolles, they don't rebuild they reload, and that is bad news for the rest of the state.  Wilson returns next year for her senior season and with a slew of sophomores and underclassmen on this team, success is guaranteed in the years to come.

Coach Ryan Says...

"One of the main strengths of this team is that there is a great team unity. We put a lot of emphasis on our younger runners and our JV runners. We want them to know that this team is not just about the top 5-7 girls. We feel that every girl has a role to play and if each girl works hard and pushes herself, she will improve the team as a whole. Our varsity girls will compete in four regular season meets: UNF,  Katie Caples, Bale-n-Trail, and Pre-State. We will add two more meets for our JV runners, since their season will end much sooner. Our team goal every year is to stay healthy going into the post-season, run our best races of the year in the post-season, and hopefully put ourselves in a position to be in the hunt for a state title."

 

2014 Returner's Top Times

Bolles HS (FL) 36
  1) Mackenzie Wilson   18:09.00 1
  2) Ally Hajda   18:31.94 5
  3) Rachel Shapiro   19:11.29 8
  4) Suzanne Dannheim   19:25.89 10
  5) Annie Pentaleri   19:33.52 12
  Average Time: 18:58.33 Total Time: 1:34:51.64 1-5 Split: 1:24.52
  6) Aoife O'Riordan   19:53.00 18
  7) Ashley DeHechavarria   20:27.70 35

Girls 3,200 Meter Run
 
10:50.95 Wilson, Mackenzie FHSAA Outdoor State Finals, Friday 2014-05-02
11:21.80 Hajda, Ally FSU Relays 2014-03-21
11:24.06 Shapiro, Rachel FHSAA Outdoor State Finals, Friday 2014-05-02
11:40.78 DeHechavarria, Ashley FHSAA 2A District 4 2014-04-10
11:45.91 O'Riordan, Aoife FSU Relays 2014-03-21

Girls 1,600 Meter Run
 
5:03.57 Wilson, Mackenzie FHSAA Outdoor State Finals, Friday 2014-05-02
5:11.76 Hajda, Ally FHSAA Outdoor State Finals, Friday 2014-05-02
5:19.81 Wilkinson, Brittany FHSAA 2A Region 1 2014-04-17
5:21.13 O'Riordan, Aoife FHSAA 2A Region 1 2014-04-17
5:21.89 Shapiro, Rachel Bolles Bulldog Classic 2014-03-07
5:25.50 Dannheim, Suzanne FSU Relays 2014-03-21
5:30.49 DeHechavarria, Ashley Mustang River City Distance Carnival 2014-04-04


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