Scouting Report: Niceville Girls

Florida XC 2013: Scouting Reports
Todd Grasley
After finishing sixth in 2011, the Niceville girls cross country team went into 2012 with high hopes. Bad news broke in the summer, when they learned that their top runner Marsel Mosley would not be running and their number two Regan McAllister would be out with an injury and miss half the season. Coach Sherman Eller was hoping a front runner emerge, but that didn't materialize. The Eagles were able to keep the 1-5 split to 40 seconds, but it wasntenough to advance out of a very tough region and advance to the state meet. The team returns six of their top seven including five seniors and one junior. Eller, who works with the girls along with Coach Tom Durrenberger, says the strength of this team is the depth and leadership of the upperclassmen. Mackenzie Shinnick, who enters her freshman year at Niceville and  finished 11th in the 3000 meters and 16th in the 1500 at the Middle School State Championship as an 8th grader, will also be in the mix. Fields says this is one of the deepest teams in years and is very impressed with their summer conditioning and training. 

Projected Line-Up: 

1. Haley Smith PR 20:11
2. Regan McAllister PR 19:23
3. Annie Serpa PR 19:23
4. Annie Herrera PR 19:46
5. MacKenzie Shinnick - (11:26 3000m FLYRA MS State Championships)
6. Drew Haggerman PR 20:41
7. Theresa Gunger PR 20:52

Coach Eller Says...

"Sophomore transfer Julia Moreno (21:21 PR)  from Ohio will make an immediate impact. Junior Nicole Escoffier is a return runner, but ran JV last year, will also make an impact based on her past track season and summer training. Freshman Claire Crist (6th PL MS  County CC Championships) and Cenedy Crum (13th PL MS County CC Championships) will also make a run at the top seven."
 
"Our team goal is to win a district championship and then go on to qualify for state. Once there, anything can happen. Our Rrgion is like a state meet, so we have to focus on the final two weeks of the season and use the front half of the season as training and stepping stones to our goal. Our goal once at state is a top five finish."


Top Returner's Times (Previous Seasons)

Girls 5,000 Meter Run
 
20:11.98 Smith, Haley FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-11-03
20:30.16 Serpa, Annie FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-11-03
20:34.35 Herrera, Anna FHSAA 3A Region 1 2012-11-10
20:41.89 Haggerman, Drew FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-11-03
20:52.13 Gunger, Theresa FHSAA 3A Region 1 2012-11-10
20:56.94 McAllister, Regan FHSAA 3A Region 1 2012-11-10
 
Girls 3,200 Meter Run
 
12:17.41 Serpa, Annie FSU Relays 2013-03-22
12:35.55 Smith, Haley 32nd Annual Frank Lay Patriot Invitational 2013-03-08
13:31.68 Herrera, Anna Rutherford Ram Relays 2013-03-09
13:34.91 Gunger, Theresa Okaloosa County Championship 2013-04-08

Girls 1,600 Meter Run
 
5:17.18 Mosley, Marsel Rutherford Ram Relays 2013-03-09
5:41.27 Escoffier, Nicole Andrews Invitational 2013-04-04
5:43.86 Serpa, Annie Okaloosa County Championship 2013-04-08
5:53.97 Smith, Haley Okaloosa County Championship 2013-04-08
       

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