UPDATE: I found Matt Farnen, Largo, 9:14.76/9:18.00, 1984, Class '85, Leto Postal within 24 hrs of release of the Nason Line, now stands at 132. This places Farnen 68th right behind fellow Largo runner Ed Palmer.
Why do a list like this? Simply, first, the 2 Mile, than later becoming the 3200 in 1989, is the track event that best transcends distance between cross country and track. After all it once was the distance for the Florida State Cross Country Meet during much of the early days of the sport. A kind of traditional throw back, a nod to once was, so to say.
Secondly, I had come across partial lists emphasizing the top ten, sub 9:00 performances and so on. I noticed there were runners missing from the lists that I knew should be there. With further reading I would also run across numerous articles, blogs and posts that there were often state many different times for the same runner or even suggesting others many have achieved these times, however, without supporting details.
Finally, I have personally always loved the 2 Mile and so explains my interest in the event. Personally, I only ran 4 'balls-to-walls' 2 mile races in my prep career, 2 on course, 2 on track, one of races which I ran ill. All were run during the cross country season. I always had wished to run more of them.
During my research I've learned a great deal about the event and many of the runners over the years. I also felt a need to be more inclusive, not only listing top ten but many others whom over the years strived with their devotion, dedication, tenacity with blood, sweat and tears to be the best they could be for themselves, coaches and their teams, all 132 of them to date.
SCHOOLS
Largo, Largo, Pinellas, Tampa Bay 12 9.09% 1972/1988
Leon, Tallahassee, Leon, 5 3.79% 1978/2013
Jesuit, Tampa, Hillsborough, Tampa Bay 4 3.03% 2005/2009
Boone, Orlando, Orange, Central Florida 4 3.03% 1976/2011
Winter Park, Winter Park, Orange, Central Florida 4 3.03% 1983/2012
St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Tampa Bay 3 2.27% 1974/1977
Lakewood, St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Tampa Bay 3 2.27% 1977/1989
Lyman, Longwood, Seminole, Central Florida 3 2.27% 1976/1990
Chamberlain, Tampa, Hillsborough, Tampa Bay 3 2.27% 1973/2010
Bishop Kenny, Jacksonville, Duval 3 2.27% 2005/2010
Holy Trinity, Melbourne, Brevard, Space Coast 3 2.27% 2004/2012
Trinity Prep, Winter Park, Orange, Central Florida 3 2.27% 2011/2012
There are 11 different teams with 2 runners that's 1.52% each meaning that 57.58% of those runners were from schools with multiple runners making the list, while the top 12 teams accounted for 40.91% of the runners on this list.
What this shows first, is that Largo's Coach Brent Haley's quality coaching and subsequent running culture that developed, helped to nurture the Pack throughout those years producing so many runners able to make this kind of list. It also had a side effect on others in the Region making the competition better.
Second, this shows that there is a shift of quality runners and teams from public to private and it is real. Between 1968-2001 only 3 runners from private schools run well enough to make this list, Kevin Holzwart, 62nd, from Bishop Barry later know as St. Pete Catholic in 1973, Billy Convey, 5th, from the independent school of Ransom Everglades in 1983, and finally, Jamie Barretto, 106th, from Tampa Catholic in 1997. So that would be 3 in 78 and would only account for 3.8% of the runners over those 34 years. Conversely, 19 of 54 accounting for 35.2% nearly a tenfold increase in just the last 12 years. Four private schools are among the top 12 teams listed above, that is 33.3%, but the larger glaring issue showing this shift is that all 4 of those teams had no runners on this list until 2004.
The 2 Mile is barely hanging in with 48.85% of the list while 3200 is at 48.09% with 4 undetermined yet. So it is likely that this 2014 will be the year that 3200 overtakes the 2 mile.
There are 12 runners who have broken 9:00.00 at 3200 that is 9.09% of the list, seven ran the 2 mile & five the 3200.
The most popular run to the second is 9:21 as 12, 9.09%, runners matched that number, next was 9:10 with 10, 7.58% and 9:15 & 9:18 with 9 each, 6.82%.
From 1972 through and including 1984 that era raked in 13 straight years in a row with a listed runner reached their best. The current streak was started off the line in 1999 and presently is now running 15 straight years.
The decade of the '70's had 41 runners, 31.06% while the '80's had 23, 17.42%, with the best of 6 in '83 & '84, the '90's had only 6 runners , 4.55%, that would make the list at all and all of these runners they would reach the list separate years including 4 years when no one made the list at all. Between 2000 to 2009 was the only decade to have a runner make the list every year, never less than 2 but peaked only at 6 in 2005 for a total of 31 for 23.48%. Currently this decade, 2010 to now, has 29 runners for 21.97%. This latest run is the best since 1976-79 which had 27 runners, 20.45% reached the list. The best year to date was 2010 with 10 runners followed by 1977 & 79 with 8 each, 7 in 2012 and 6 in each, 1974, '76, '83, 2005, '11 & '13. Things tailed off in 1985 which was the first year since 1971 that failed to produce a qualified runner, from then through and including 2000 no more than 2 runners in any given year and with 5 goose eggs to boot. Of course the '60's only produce 1 runner on the list and that was Jack Nason.
GEOGRAPHY
CITY
Largo 12 9.09% 1972/1988
Tampa 11 8.33% 1972/2010
Orlando 11 8.33% 1968/2013
Tallahassee 9 6.82% 1970/2013
St. Petersburg 8 6.06% 1970/1989
Miami 8 6.06% 1983/2013
Winter Park 8 6.06% 1983/2013
Jacksonville 7 5.30% 1984/2010
County
Pinellas 23 17.42% 1970/1989 1/8/9/15/21=54, 25/30
Orange 19 14.39% 1968/2013 2/3/15/26/31=77, 36/37
Hillsborough 13 9.85% 1972/2010 12/14/18/19/24=87, 39/47
Dade 11 8.33% 1975/2013 4/17/22/28/34=105, 45/46
Leon 9 6.82% 1970/2013 5/7/10/35/41=98, 43/47
Duval 7 5.30% 1984/2010 6/11/13/32/36=98, 49/53
Broward 6 4.55% 1976/2011 19/27/29/33/44=152, 51
Brevard 6 4.55% 1980/2012 23/40/42/50/52=207, 54
Regions
Tampa Bay 42 31.82% 1970/2012 Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee &Hillsborough
Greater Orlando 23 17.42% 1968/2013 Orange & Seminole
Greater Miami 20 15.15% 1975/2013 Palm Beach, Broward & Dade
Leon 9 6.82% 1970/2013 Leon
Northeast Florida 8 6.06% 1984/2010 Duval & St. Johns
Space Coast 6 4.55% 1980/2012 Brevard
Southeast Florida 5 3.79% 1975/2013 Charlotte, Collier & Lee
Okaloosa 4 3.03% 1977/2013 Okaloosa
The Geography analyst shows that top runners stay or come from larger metropolitan areas which is no surprise. The surprises here is that no a single runner from the Pensacola area that would seem to be a statistical impossibility, yet true. Collectively the Florida panhandle had 14 runners, 10.61% and all but 1 are from 2 counties of Leon and Okaloosa. Also it may be stated the Leon county and been influenced heavily by the Wills Family at both the running and coaching levels, You may also believe that having the U of Florida in Gainesville that they could have influenced the local community into having more than just two runners over the years. The largest glaring surprise is that Pinellas once the center of the Florida distance universe has falling off the map and into the Gulf, since no one has reached the Nason Line since 1989. All other major country's have had a representative runner within the last 4 years. However, if you run a meet county vs county Pinellas stills defeats all others, really showing how strong the programs were in that county.
MEETS
4A State Meet 23 17.42% 1968/2011 Various Sites
FSU Relays 20 15.15% 2008/2013 Florida State, Tallahassee
3A State Meet 11 8.33% 1977/2003 Various Sites
Florida Relays 10 7.58% 1972/2012 UoFlorida, Gainesville
Arcadia Invitational 8 6.06% 2002/2010 Arcadia HS, Arcadia, CA
Brandon Postal 6 4.55% 1972/1975 Brandon HS, Brandon, FL
Atlanta Classic 4 3.03% 1970/1979 Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Golden South 4 3.03% 1979/1990 Various Sites, Orlando Metro
MEET TYPES
Championships 48 36.36% 1968/2012 State, Region, District & Conference
Major Meets-U 33 25.00% 1972/2013 Majors Meets, College Level Sponsor
Postal's 11 8.33% 1972/1984 Cross Country run Postal's on track
Post Season Outstate 9 6.82% 1970/2010 Meets run after state outside Florida
Outstate 9 6.82% 2002/2010 Meets run outside Florida during season
Major Meets- HS 7 5.30% 1973/2013 High School Sponsored Major Meets
Post Season In-state 6 4.55% 1979/2012 Meets run after state inside Florida
While reviewing the meets records in shows that many runners are reaching their best for when it counts, in championships, as they should be. The FSU Relays has become the premier meet for runners of this distance in such a short time, the last six years, generating 20 personal best by runners. This fact I place on the shoulders of FSU Head-Coach Bob Braman, a member of this list, for his fine work and efforts to put on a high quality event at what I feel is a cooler, faster venue to run in. Postal's the long forgotten track events run during the cross country season have also made a huge effect on the numbers here.
Anyone is welcome to comments, also you may request to join the Facebook page "Florida's Top Prep 2 Milers & 3200 Runners". Please, if you have any insight, corrections or additions not yet brought to light let me know!