1A Team Rankings
Rankings By: Joe McKinney- jmcki5@aol.com1. Holy Trinity- The Tigers are unbeatable by anyone in Class 1A at this point in the year. Their team averages have been 20:13 and 20:17 in winning the Katie Caples Invitational and Edgewater meets. Very good pack and lots of depth, not to mention several front runners. Look like the Bucs-- no weaknesses.
2. Oak Hall- The Eagles looked strong in capturing the FSU Invitational with an average team time of 20:41. They I'll need their pack to move up considerably to contend with HTA, but it's early and anything is possible. Surprise of the year thus far, Allison Babb, is making the 2003 track State Champs even tougher.
3. Episcopal- (21:34, 21:24) The gap between # 1 and # 2 may be wide, but the gap between # 2 and # 3 is even wider. The Eagles were sixth at FSU, quite a ways behind Oak Hall, but appear to be the leaders of the next pack. With their top-3 running very well, Episcopal just needs a fourth and fifth running to emerge to contend for the podium on November 8th.
4. Academy of Holy Names- Averaged 21:11 at USF, one week after averaging mid 22s at UF. AHN is led by two very tough front runners and is no stranger to the top-5 in the rankings. Consistency will be key, as will developing a nice pack to compliment its two big guns.
5. Maclay- The Maureders averaged 22:02 at FSU, and have plenty of room for improvement. Sparked by newcomer Katy Swain to add depth, Maclay has a pack that will surely improve.
6. Benjamin- No information yet, and I'll drop them if I don't get any before the next rankings, but Benjamin was awfully tough at the end of last season and reportedly had a strong summer of training. Could move up.
7. Indian Rocks Christian- IRC will only count four runners at most meets, and that's a big bonus. They look tough at the # 2 and 3 spots but need some depth to develop as do most 1a teams, in order to challenge the group ahead of them.
8. Shorecrest Prep- Impressive times from USF, especially from newcomers (to my knowledge) Cori Morris and Pavandeep Birk (AKA the coolest name in 1a girls cross). Team looks to be improving and has done so in recent years.
9. Trinity Prep- The Saints are known for having a strong pack and this year's team in no different. Alicia Ivanhoe leads a team that has all of its top-5 under 23 minutes and looking to get faster.
10. Berkely Prep- A perennial top-10 finisher, Berkley Prep looked solid in winning the Open Division of the USF Invitational. Farrah Elchalal looks like she's rounding into midseason form already and the rest of the group has plenty of time to improve. Teams 7-12 are very close, almost interchangeable.
11. St. John Neumann
12. Ransom Everglades
13. First Academy
14. St. Andrews
15. Keswick Christian
1A Individuals
1. Robyn DeBenedet (Episcopal)- Victory over tough field at Katie Caples, then third-place finish at FSU gives this Eagle and the 2002 runner-up the top nod. Top time this season is 19:09 at Katie Caples.
2. Melissa Kotchman (IRC)- A cornerstone among the top runners in Class 1A, Kotchman looked like her old self at USF, running a PR 18:47. She'll be a strong contender in what at this point looks like a two-person race on November 8th. 3. Adriana Piekarewicz (Maclay)- Strong track season parlayed into a great start to her high school cross campaign. The girl with the long last name, looked wonderful finishing FSU with plenty in the tank at 19:46. Her leg speed could play a factor in Tampa.
4. Rebecca Zuhlke (Holy Trinity)- Could easily be # 2 after her strong run at Katie Caples, but a groin injury is slowing the Tiger to some degree. A 20:36 at Edgewater is uncharacteristic, but expect Zuhlke to rebound with a flourish. Could easily challenge for gold at state.
5. Hailey Mercer (Kings Academy)- 20:21 to easily win Wellington Invitational is the only result that I have for Mercer at this point, but she won that meet by over a minute and we all know about her success in track.
6. Chelsey Joiner (Holy Trinity)- Two very consistent low 20 finishes for this gritty performer. Joiner leads an amazing HTA contingent that will have thinking St. Patrick's Day is in November with all that green.
7. Jade Miller (Holy Trinity)- Right behind Chelsey in both of the Tigers early season battles.
8. Kaela Hale (Holy Trinity)- I have no clue how to discern between #s 6-7-8 after their pack-like running at Edgewater and Katie Caples. Hale's the newcomer to the poll and the youngest, so she gets the hazing. A great competitor and key to HTA's success in big meets against big time teams.
9. Farah Stewert (Jay)- Only a moron would forget her in the preseason poll. Actually, I thought this spectacular Jay athlete had graduated then POOF, she's looking like her normal strong self at FSU. Will challenge Piekarewicz for District 1-1A honors all season.
10. Danielle Abbey (Oak Hall)- Off to a slow start, but Abbey has gotten better in leading the Eagles in each of their first two meets. A typical strong finisher (in races and the season), I'd expect Abbey to be near the top-5 before things are said and done.
11. Sara Petrick (Academy of Holy Names)
12. Allison Babb (Oak Hall)
13. Aileen Fletcher (Academy of Holy Names)
14. Nicole Grothaus (St. John Neumann)
15. Laura Steel (Episcopal)
Honorable Mention (in no particular order):
(Linsdey and Katherine Putnam, Holy Trinity), Lacey Huddleston (Oak Hall), Stevie Uribe (Oak Hall), Kelsey Dunn (Warner Christian), Sara Loveless (Episcopal), Farah Elchalal (Berkley Prep), Cori Morris (Shorecrest), Pavandeep Birk (Shorecrest), Linsdey Myers (Ransom Everglades), Sonya Pu (St. John's Country Day), Alicia Ivanhoe (Trinity Prep)