We take a look back at 2011 and the highlights of the track and cross country seasons, things we'll miss, and coaching honors.

We take a look at the best of the best from each area and county as chronicled by their respective media outlets.

Two former high school standouts have created a website for Christian athletes to network with one another and share their experiences. Tyler Cardillo and Sarah Spann, now freshman runners at the University of Florida started UndefinedChristianAthletes.com in December. Cardillo says the response from the community has been outstanding.

After much consideration following the untimely passing of her husband Jeff Wentworth earlier this month, Marcia Mansur-Wentworth has decided that Steeple Timing will close up shop. She will be moving to Arizona to be closer to family. Inside this article is a letter from Marcia to the flrunners.com community.

Der'Renae Freeman always loved the Gators growing up. Her high school colors at West Orange were blue and orange. So it came as somewhat of a surprise to those around her when the standout chose to join the Florida State track and field program.  Freeman says it was her relationship with Coach Ken Harnden that sealed the deal.

The University of Tampa Spartans will host their 1st Annual Free Track & Field Clinic presented by Asics on Sunday, January 15th, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.. The event is open to all track and field athletes, parents, coaches and siblings.

Belen Jesuit coach Frankie Ruiz talks with mRuns.com about the upcoming ING Miami Marthon & Half Marathon.

Last January, Indiana junior Andy Bayer was on fire, blazing a 3,000m in 7:48.35--a time that broke the school record and was the fastest collegiate mark of the season. The next week he ran a world-leading 3:57.75 open mile.(via Running Times)

After missing parts of three collegiate seasons for various reasons, Ireland’s Ciarán O’Lionaird has at last started to realize the potential he first showed as a juvenile in his native County Cork in Ireland. (via Running Times)

The latest schedule has been released for the 2012 FACA Track & Field Clinic along with news of a very special guest speaker. 

"I don't know that it will ever truly sink in." That's how Jennifer "Jenny" Simpson describes how it feels, three months afterwards, to be the World champion at 1500m. (via www.iaaf.org)

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanzaa! Joyous Festivus! No matter what holiday you celebrate with your family, we wish you the warmest holiday greetings and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

We conclude our 2011 cross country coverage by honoring the top male harriers of the season. Congratulations to our 2011 All Flrunners Boys Cross Country Team.

We conclude our 2011 cross country coverage by honoring the top female harriers of the season. Congratulations to our 2011 All Flrunners Girls Cross Country Team.

Holy Trinity head cross country coach Doug Butler has more state titles than any other coach in Florida, but that's not the bottom line. (via FLORIDA TODAY)

Cocoa Beach senior Shelby Davidson put an end to her recruitment when she announced she would be attending the University of Florida. Shelby is the second Davidson to become a Gator joining brother Tyler who is currently a sophomore. We had the chance to talk to Shelby shortly after she made her decision about her choice, as well as what she'll remember the most from her high school career.  

The odds of a high school athlete earning a college scholarship in his or her respective sport are small. Mandarin’s Mary Kate Ponder and Nease’s Mac Reynolds beat those odds, just as they have hundreds of competitors this past season on the cross country paths of Northeast Florida. (via jacksonville.com)

The Gainesville Sun announces their All-Area Cross Country Teams. Buchholz senior Chris Godwin is the Boys Runner of the Year while Oak Hall sophomore Britney Olinger takes home the award for the girls.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2011) – Reviving the scarily popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror theme, runDisney unveiled its newest race today,The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, which debuts next year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.

FORT PIERCE — When Kelly Hensley first started running in middle school, it was like doing a chore that was expected of her. After all, she is a Hensley — the fifth and final child in her family to go through the Lincoln Park Academy cross country program. (via TCPalm)

Matt Salis decided in ninth grade he needed a fall sport to keep himself active, so he decided to join the cross country team at Vero Beach High School. (via TCPalm)

I used to run with a GPS watch, and at the time it seemed like a technological marvel. Made by Polar, Garmin, Nike and Timex, global positioning system watches track the distance you have run and your pace, including your average pace and your instantaneous pace. (via www.nytimes.com)

DAYTONA BEACH -- When Hannah Loder was named a team captain for the Matanzas cross country team, she knew it was time to speak up. The three-time runner of the year -- twice in track and once in cross country -- could no longer just lead by example.(via www.news-journalonline.com)

PALM COAST -- Matanzas' David Drumm used to run cross country to enhance his endurance on the soccer field. But the more miles Drumm logged, the more he noticed he was a natural.(via www.news-journalonline.com)

Lakewood Ranch senior Devin McDermott lets us in on her once in a lifetime experience as a National Finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman.

You're out for a run.  Nothing special, just doing your own thing on the sidewalk, trail, or road.  Birds chirping, bees buzzing, dogs barking, when out of nowhere a pickup truck with upwards of nine high school guys whiz by with the windows rolled down and proceed to holler or yell at your sweat soaked figure as you JUMP with fright. (via blog.thinkplanrun.com)

In this second episode of The Fit Runner our host is Tara Gidus, aka the "Diet Diva" and nutritionist to the Orlando Magic. She gives us some solid meal and hydration ideas for before, after, and during a run. This is the latest episode in our series on being a fit runner.

The RRCA started a program called "Runner Friendly Cities" to spotlight communities that are standout for runners as far as routes, races, opportunities, infrustructure, community support, and local government support for runners. Pensacola, FL was named to the third and final round of winners, the only city in Florida to receive the designation.

Desiree Devila, Jeremy Criscione, and the rest of their Hanson  Brooks teammates run the "Marathon Simulator" workout to prepare them for the upcoming 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. The 26.2 km (16.28 miles) workout at Marathon goal pace should have them ready in time for the Trials which are four weeks away in Houston.

Melbourne senior Vanessa Valentine has ended her college search. Valentine has selected Vanderbilt University as her home for the next four years.  Former coach T.J. Woodbury says she is a great fit for the reigning SEC Champions. 

Wharton High School XC needs your help! The Wildcats are finalists for the Pepsi Refresh $50,000 Grant.  The money is going to their S.O.S Save Our Shins Project which will go towards the purchase of a new track and help reduce injuries!  Ten entrants will be chosen for the grant and voting ends December 31st. Here is how you can get involved by voting three different ways.

Northside Christian senior Katelyn Greenleaf and Seminole senior Jacob Hudak are the Times' Pinellas County Cross Country Runners Of The Year. (via www.tampabay.com)

If you asked some high school students to run 55 miles week, they might get a little upset, but for Nikita Shah, a junior at Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), coaches have to beg her and her cross-country teammates to take a week off to rest their legs. (via The New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News)

Congratulations to Coach Frankie Ruiz of Miami Belen Jesuit on his new venture: SoleRUNNERS, a new running specialty shop in Miami. The store celebrates its Grand Opening today (Sunday, December 18, 2011).

Many people don't realize all of the cool features we've got on MileSplit. So I want to start to highlight some of them. One of those is compare athletes, which we recently made much easier to pull up right from the rankings page.

We handed over a Flip Cam to Grace Tinkey (GA) and the South Girls and asked them to have fun and document some of their day.

Few breakthrough seasons have been this stunning. Snyder, who essentially didn’t train over the summer, won her first meet of the year — the Seffner Christian Invitational — in late September, then really took off.  (via www.tampabay.com)

Crossing the line fourth in the Class 3A meet, Shah became the first Bull in school history to medal at state, no small feat for a program that has become the best in the area. Shah avenged her district and region runnerup finishes by beating out champion Anne-Marie Blaney (sixth place) of Belleview at state.(via www.tampabay.com)

One of the state's top distance runners Elliot Clemente has committed to the Florida Gators. The Belen senior becomes the latest in a line of commitments headed to Gainesville most recently Charlotte half miler Ryan Schnulle. Clemente is the 2011 3A State Champion, and Foot Locker and Nike National finalist.

In her three and a half years at Stetson,  Maria Harper has starred on Stetson’s Cross Country team for four seasons, fulfilled all the requirements of her pre-med program, served Stetson as an ambassador par excellence, and still found time to volunteer nearly 1400 service hours to the Deland community that was her temporary  home.

The Academic Team Champions for the fall of 2011 have been announced, as well as the overall classification standings. Each classification and overall sport winner receives a commemorative plaque. 

Ngoni Makusha capped his Florida State track & field career with an NCAA Championship performance to remember in June.

For three decades and counting, Rick Rothman has gotten the most out of his student-athletes when it comes to coaching cross country. (via South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com)

Sadly, the 2011 cross country season has come and gone and now another season in the past. To say the least, it was an action packed competitive season including too many nail biting races to name. As much anticipation awaits for the season to begin, once it gets started it seems that weeks filled with hours of practicing and competitive races fly by. Looking back, over the entire season it has been quite exciting for the sunshine state and I cannot wait to see what the track and field season has in store.

Destinee Gause, a senior at Reynoldsburg High School has decided to continue her academic and running career at the University of Florida. (via Ohio Runners)

Wow. What a weekend. I don’t know where to start! I guess when people told me that I would be having one of the best experiences of my life they truly meant it. I am so lucky to have been able to participate in the 2011 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, not only because I had the privilege of racing 39 of the best high school athletes in the country, but because I made so many friendships that I know will last a lifetime!

BOSTON (Dec 13) – The reigning World Champion at 1500 Meters, Jenny Simpson, will open her 2012 season in Boston and Matthew Centrowitz will make his professional track debut on February 4 at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, organizers announced today. (via trackandfieldnews.com)

Charlotte senior Ryan Schnulle has had a successful high school career for the Tarpons. Last year Schnulle was a part of the second fastest 4x8 team ever assembled placing second at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. He was also second in the 800 and 4th in the 1600 at state leading the Tarpons to another team title. Recently, Schnulle decided to end his college recruitment and commit to the University of Florida.

Just down the street from the University of Florida, in a seafood restaurant where ceiling fans turn lazily and Jimmy Buffet's "Stars on the Water" wafts from speakers in the rafters, former UF runner Brent Schneider shares his dream of resurrecting the once-famed Florida Track Club. (via Running Times)

MIAMI BEACH — Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan ran 1 hour, 9 minutes and 58 seconds to set a new Florida state record and record the fastest women’s half-marathon time in 2011 for an American this morning under warm, breezy conditions at the inaugural Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon.

Affable, amiable and approachable, Shelby Davidson shows another side when she steps to the starting line of a cross country race.“Everything changes,” said the Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High senior who won the state Class 2A championship on Nov. 19.(via FLORIDA TODAY)

Over the course of winning six state team cross country championships, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy has always had a bellwether. This past season was no different as Daniel Moore led the Tigers to a sensational 2011. (via FLORIDA TODAY)

We received terrible news this evening. It is with sadness that I must announce that the Florida running community has lost a friend and tireless servant to the sport. Steeple Timing owner Jeff Wentworth passed away on Sunday.

Olivia Ortiz was the top Florida finisher out of four with 19th place. Lily Williams was 35th and Bridget Blake was 38th. Last minute addition and only boy, Chris Godwin, earned 39th place.

Cheserek held off a late charge by Zeinasellassie after a back and forth battle nearly the whole way.  Seidel was able to make a break with 300 to go after Finn led the race for close to 2.5 miles.  Great races all around from all the athletes!  (Photo by Don Rich)

It's a good thing that the athletes have so much to distract them on beautiful Coronado Island or else their nerves would surely eat them to bits. Although they will have many great races yet in their potential-packed running careers, to them this seems like the most important race of their lives. And in many ways it is.

Jason  is out in beautiful San Diego, California for Footlocker Nationals. Follow him and the rest of the MileSplit team with live Twitter updates on all the action! Pre-Race Interviews, meet coverage, and much more on the way!

Flrunners.com has just been informed by Foot Locker meet personnel that Buchholz senior Chris Godwin will be making the trip to San Diego after North Carolina runner Mark Blackmon (finished 9th at Footlocker South) could not compete in Saturday's event. Godwin finished in 11th at Foot Locker South in a personal best time of 15:10, one spot out of qualifying, and thought his cross country career had ended on that note.

It might be hard to believe, but for all the accomplishments Chiles senior Lily Williams has accomplished — including being a state runner-up three times — she will be making her first appearance in a national cross country meet. (via Tallahassee Democrat)

Lakewood Ranch senior Devin McDermott is one of twelve national finalists for the Wendy's High School Heisman. Follow along with Devin on her trip to New York City and this once in a lifetime experience. She will be tweeting updates throughout the weekend.

Maybe you are at the beginning of your high school career, and you’re fixated on how to do your hair for state (gotta love the Holy Trinity medusa hair), perhaps you’ve begun to think about what running in college might be like, or maybe you’re full force in the middle of confusion.

Wellington 's Lauren Castillo started running track in the eighth grade at Polo Park Middle School on a whim. (via South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com)

We asked you to show your knowledge and predict the top runners at the 2011 XC State Meet. Some of you were spot on and some of you were way off! See who takes home some awesome prizes.

Pole Vault City has announced a new addition to the family. The club focused on training and improving vaulters is now home to an indoor facility in Melbourne. Co-owner and coach Bobby Haeck say now they can focus on training no matter the conditions outside or time of day.

It's the worst-kept secret in running: If you want to improve strength and speed, run hills. (via Running Times)

 Bill Ward of the Tampa Tribune breaks down the All-Hillsborough County Cross Country Teams.(via TBO.com)

RUNNER OF THE YEAR:  Bridget Blake Jr., Dr. Phillips The Buzz: Two-time state champion won 4A title by more than 40 seconds in 18:05.62. Never finished lower than second at state. (via Orlando Sentinel)

RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Andres Arroyo Jr., Colonial The Buzz: The Class 4A state champion (15:13.74) ran state's third-fastest time and became first Central Floridian to go under 15 minutes with a time of 14:59.18.(via Orlando Sentinel)

Two of the top quarter-milers in the country have committed to the University of Florida. St. Thomas Aquinas star Arman Hall, the reigning IAAF World Youth Champion, and Miami Jackson standout Robin Reynolds, who has won double digit state titles, will both call Gainesville home next year.

Trinity Prep senior Ryan Gousse fell in love with William & Mary the moment he stepped foot on campus. Nearly six months after that initial visit Gousse decided to commit to the Griffins.

Lakewood Ranch High School's Olivia Ortiz, will compete in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals on Dec. 10 in San Diego. via www.baynews9.com)

American Heritage 12-year-old Daesha Rogers earned a national championship on Saturday with a one second victory over Julia Bounds of California in 10:43 for 3K.

The meet went off @ 9AM this morning at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Jeff Adams was on-site for flrunners, with Friday photos from the banquet already posted. Today's photos coming soon.

Elliot Clemente runs a strong 15:43.58 on the difficult course for 20th place. Belen doesn't do as well as they hoped as a team with the cold, mud, and hills... finish in 20th place with 353 points.

Todd Grasley of flrunners.com/MileSplit interviewed Elliot Clemente, the NXN Southeast champ from Belen Jesuit, on Friday afternoon. He talks about tomorrow's big race. Stay tuned here and on MileSplit for the latest. And the meet will be streamed live tomorrow.

Mike Leary, a longtime Florida photographer (and father of stellar Florida high school runner Ryder Leary), sent us some of his favorite photos he shot during the high school and college career of local celebrity Jenny Barringer Simpson.

Belen Jesuit landed this afternoon in Oregon. Take the trip along with them with live Twitter updates courtsey of #2 runner Avery Lopez and other members of the team!

FACA Cross Country Chair, Kristin McWilliams, today announced the final rosters for this weekend's FACA Senior All-Star Meet in Tallahassee. The top seniors from around the state were invited to participate in the annual event, representing teams from the four FACA regions across Florida

Twenty-two of the nations' top teams and forty-five of the best individuals will make the trek to Portland, Oregon for Nike Cross Nationals. The teams are comprised of two winners from nine different regions and four “At-Large” berths, decided on by a team of Nike consultants.