Estero girl's cross country team placed 24th in 2008 before a resurgence of talent came sweeping through the halls. Led by freshman Kacy Smith, Katy G. Solis, and Maria Frank, the Wildcats finished third in 2009. In 2010, Estero placed their top five in the runners in the top twenty, including individual champion Kacy Smith, and beat runner-up Bolles by 83 points. Their team average was an outstanding 18:47. For an encore in 2011, the team upset three-time 3A champions Chiles to win their second consecutive team championship.
Coach Sommer loses no girls from the 2011 team to graduation, but three of the top seven will not be coming back in 2012. Maria Frank has decided to move on for personal reasons, Aja Curth, the team's number six is shifting her focus to soccer, and Alexa Cline the team's number seven is participating in swimming instead. Smith, Solis, Jenkins and Slater will have to carry the load this season. Smith finished 8th last year with Solis and Jenkins close behind in 11th and 12th. Slater, the junior finished in 18th. Her sister Meg Slater and incoming freshman Daley Cline, sister of Alexa, will be counted on in the fifth and six spots. It will be hard to replace Frank and Curth, and Cline. Coach Sommer is disappointed to lose those girls because he felt they really had a chance to be something special this year.
Estero still has a great group of talented, experienced runners. Could they be better than last year's group? That remains to be seen. Is a three-peat out of the question? Definitely not. Chiles lost two of their top runners, but still returns Rachel Givens. Lakewood Ranch lost some of their top runners to graduation and Olivia Ortiz to injury. Their toughest compeition could be the ladies of Fort Walton Beach who finished fifth last year and have six of their top seven from last year. However, Coach Sommer always finds a way to get the best out of these kids and I don't see this year being any different.
Coach Sommer Says...
2012 Returner's Top Times
5K XC
| Estero HS | 172 | |||
| 1) Kacy Smith | 17:47.21 | 4 | ||
| 2) Bethany Jenkins | 18:19.47 | 14 | ||
| 3) Katy G Solis | 18:26.13 | 18 | ||
| 4) Maria Frank | 19:13.94 | 55 | ||
| 5) Katie Slater | 19:29.22 | 81 | ||
| Average Time: 18:39.19 -- Total Time: 1:33:15.97 -- 1-5 Split: 1:42.01 | ||||
| 6) Aja Curth | 19:29.55 | 82 | ||
| 7) Alexa Cline | 20:08.09 | 186 | ||
Girls 1600 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4:55.37 | Smith, Kacy | Pepsi Florida Relays |
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| 5:12.23 | Solis, Katy G | FSU Relays |
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| 5:16.87 | Slater, Katie | FSU Relays |
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| 5:17.69 | Jenkins, Bethany | Pepsi Florida Relays |
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| 5:26.91 | Frank, Maria | Red Knight Invite |
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| 5:34.65 | Slater, Megan | FSU Relays |
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| 5:45.17 | Curth, Aja | FSU Relays |
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Girls 3200 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 11:07.98 | Smith, Kacy | FSU Relays |
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| 11:13.01 | Solis, Katy G | FHSAA 3A Region 3 |
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| 11:23.58 | Jenkins, Bethany | FSU Relays |
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| 12:13.42 | Frank, Maria | Pepsi Florida Relays |
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