Thomas Howell and Marsel Mosley of Niceville claim individual honors, but it's not enough to lead their teams past Fort Walton Beach in the team standings.

Thomas Howell  remembers the first time he ran. It was the mile run in elementary school and it was for a grade. He knew he was quick and as a fifth grader posted the fastest time in the school. Needless to say I'm sure he received a good grade. In middle school his future as a distance runner became apparent when he began winning races his 7th grade cross country season. The Niceville sophomore says from there it was just a gradual climb.

Scoring the 3200 and 1600 meter season best track times from the spring, minus the class of 2011, shows that we're likely to see more battling for state supremacy between Chiles and Lakewood Ranch.  HB Plant and Our Lady of Lourdes are knocking on the door.

Thomas Howell was used to leading races. It had been his strategy all throughout middle school to go out strong and hope he had some juice left in the tank at the end. It was in his seventh grade year when he came across Niceville coach Mike Warren. Warren saw potential in the youngster, but knew it would warrant changing his plan of attack on the cross country course.