(Check out highlights of the girls championship race)
Girls Championship Recap
The Girls Championship race was the last race of the day in Cary, North Carolina and our Florida athletes saved the best for last. University of Oregon signee Kate Murphy ran away from the field early along with Annika Sleenhoff, but after that it was a deep pack of girls thru 2k at around seven minutes including Pine Crest freshman Tsion Yared and Bolles junior Caitlin Collier. Both girls had experience in this meet as Yared was 29th in 2014 and Collier just missed a trip to Portland after a 7th place showing and 3rd place team finish in 2015.
Yared surged in the final 400 meters to pass Collier, who was visibly struggling according to coach Tony Ryan. She finished 4th in 17:42.40, with Collier nabbing 6th in 17:55.90. Since champion Kate Murphy's Lake Braddock team finished runner-up, the Bolles junior captured the fifth and final qualifying spot.
Yared was not only the fastest Floridian in the field, but one of three freshman in the top 60 spots. Her sister, Mahdere, only an 8th grader, was 17th in a new PR of 18:26.40. Of the 256 runners only four were 8th graders, Ella Mickler of Bolles was the only 7th grader.
Girls Championship Team Breakdown
The Niceville girls made their first trip to North Carolina and came away with a 4th place showing. The Eagles, who won the 3A Cross Country Finals, were led by senior UF signee Abbie Harrelson who was 30th overall. As it has been all season, the key to their success was their 1-5 spread of just 50 seconds.
Friendly foes Pine Crest and Bolles who each saw an individual from their squads advance to NXN posed for this picture after the meet. The two programs have ruled the 2A podium for the last five years and finished 5th and 8th respectively at NXNSE. Fort Myers running under the name "Wave Club" finished 24th.