The Niceville girls placed second at the 3A Cross Country Finals in 2015 and return six of their top seven from that team as well as a number of other runners that are waiting in the wings to make that varsity roster. The Eagles are first in our team rankings entering the season, but will face a tough test from defending champion Chiles and a very talented Fort Myers' squad. We caught up with Coach James LaFollette about his team, their training, and the upcoming season.
How did your team fare last season and what did you take away from 2015?
Overall we had great 2015-16 cross country and track seasons. In cross country, being runner-up to Chiles at the State Finals left the girls hungry and motivated. That motivation carried over to track where we had numerous state qualifiers and medalists in the distance events and, overall, a spring filled with solid performances and growth. One take away from 2015 is that I will likely not race my top girls as much as last season.
How is the team looking this year and what are your tentative top five and top seven?
Our team is looking good; We've had a great summer of training and team building. It's going to be a battle to be in the top 7 as we only graduated one from the top 10 and we have a number of new athletes who will definitely be contributing factors.. We were deep last year and it has only gotten more competitive for the coveted top 7 spots. We return Jayda Brooks, Ciara Coger, Claire Crist, Erin Eubanks, Diana LaFollette, Jane Parke, Hannah Schneidewind, Mackenzie Shinnick, and Ally Woodard.
What are the strengths of this team?
Experience, dedication, and depth. We've got a lot of athletes who know what it takes to win and are willing to put forth the daily effort to be successful.
What has the summer training been like and have you gone to any camps?
Our summer training has been great. We took time off after the State Finals through AP Exams and have been running since then. We took 15 athletes, boys and girls, to FSU Cross Country Camp and had a great time!
Do you have any new additions who may contribute or any surprise non-returners?
Yes, we do have some new blood that will significantly contribute to the team. First, senior Alexis Sherwin who placed 2nd in the 800m in the State Finals will be running her first cross country season. Second, senior Abbie Harrelson moved to Niceville from Houston, Texas. Abbie has solid PRs of 18:28 for 5k and 5:07 for 1600. Third, we have 5 freshman girls who all were on Destin Middle School's 2015 FLYRA State Champion Cross Country Team: Halle Bright, Delaney Cookman, Maguire Holahan, Jayden Horne, and Clara Beth LaFollette.
What are the team goals and meets you're keying for this year?
Our main goal is for each athlete to run to the best of her ability. As a team we hope to narrow our 1-5 and 1-7 split and, if we are able to run our best in November, bring a State Championship back to Niceville. Beyond that, we are considering the Nike Cross Southeast Qualifier, but that's a long way off.