BOYS INDIVIDUAL RACE
Also as in prior years, the boys race is still very much up for grabs. Here are ten runners who should exit the woods with a shot at the title:
Adrian Bichara, Miami Elite. He's the fastest returner in both XC and track (runner-up in both XC and the 3000m) and this year he's the fastest two-miler in the State (11:07 at flrunners.com). If there's a favorite, it's him.
Alvaro Canarte, Miami Elite. He's the sixth-fastest returner in XC, and was fifth in the 1500 on the track. And he was only two seconds behind his teammate at flrunners.com last month, which is nice.
Carlos Catala, Miami Elite. On one hand, he's the third-fastest returner from last year's State Meet. On the other, he's only the third-fastest runner on his team this year. But, hey, that's why they run the race!
Cole Rutkowski, Bolles. Posted a relatively modest winning time in his win at the Alligator Lake 3K, but ran a fantastic 17:58 5K in the high school race at Florida Horse Park (Ocala). His high school 5K season should give him a huge advantage heading into Saturday's race.
Esteban Moreno, Immokalee MS. Ran the state's fastest 3K time (10:19) in a loaded Ft. Myers High Hoptar Invite field on September 10, but hasn't raced since.
Zach Harrigan, Hillsborough Harriers. No one is hotter than this guy right now - season-ending wins at the Bay Area and Nature Coast championships against tough fields in the last two weeks, and has run the second-fastest 3K time in the state. Trending very positive.
Liam Holston, Elite Runner Ft. Myers. He's the fifth-fastest returner from 2015, was runner-up on this course at last month's Holloway Park Jamboree, and is this year's Lee County Champion. Will definitely be in the mix.
Austin San Juan, Belen Jesuit. He's the fourth-fastest returner, and the top runner on an always-loaded Belen Jesuit team. Won the state-wide Catholic School championship last week, so he's a proven winner.
Ethan Bhatt, Hillsborough Harriers. Posted the fourth-fastest 3K time in the state, and is coming off runner-up finishes at both Bay Area and Nature Coast. His first race as a sixth-grader was a 16:08 on the Holloway Park 3K course; his last race could earn him a State medal.
Anton Machev, Unattached. One of the top returners from 2015, he posted top-three finishes in each of the three races he ran this year (Horse Park, Alligator Lake, Holloway Park Jamboree). Hasn't raced in over a month, so expect a hungry runner on Saturday.
As good as those ten are, don't be surprised if the winner comes from this talented group - the boys race is insanely deep:
Luke Bilger, Destin MS
Will Brady, Providence School
Griffin Cooney, Creekside MS
Elante Hay, Destin MS
Deyvi Inestroza, Emerald Coast MS
Tristan McWilliam, Nolan MS
Marvens Merisier, Ft. Myers Middle Academy
Kevin Vasquez, Elite Runner Ft. Myers
Elijah Wolsefer, Unattached