We continue our Road To State coverage with the 2A Regionals. What teams and individuals will make it through and advance to the Cross Country Finals? We take a look at each region and make our predictions based on our virtual meets that look into both district results and season bests!
2A Region 1 (On-Site Coverage By Jeremy Danzie)
The Bolles girls (pictured above after their district championship) have podium finishes down to a science. The Bulldogs should come close to a perfect score lead by junior Mackenzie Wilson. Wilson, who was 2nd at the 2012 Cross Country Finals and 4th last year, has won the last two 2A Region 1 Championships. She has run under 18:30 in her last two meets and should hit that mark or close to it. Episcopal senior Morgan Lucey, who recently committed to Princeton posted a time of 18:38.12 and 18:38.83 at the UF Mt. Dew Invitational and Pre-State, will also contend for the title. West Florida Tech with a solid 1-3 pack should take the runner-up team trophy.
Connor Vaughan and Mark Edward are a nice front pair for Wolfson High School on the individual front. James Gehret of Bishop Snyder was 5th at the 2A 1 regional last year and should be in the mix for the title. Bishop Kenny senior Husam Ossi was sixth at last year's regional, but hasn't had the best 2014 season. Ossi is BK's number one runner and along with Mason Gerry and Beau Butler should hover at or around 17 minutes and score valuable points to give their squad the team title over Pensacola Catholic and Wolfson.
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
2A Region 2 (On-Site Coverage By David Armstrong, Donald Lamb)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
2A Region 3 ( On- Site Coverage By Jeff Adams)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
2A Region 4
Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville will host yet another race this year as the 2A Region 4 runners make their way to the coast. The top ten on the girls will be dotted with runners from South Florida teams Pine Crest and Ransom Everglades. A week after winning the FLYRA MS XC State Championship in a meet record 10:39 for 3k, Tsion Yared is back at it with her older counterparts. She won the flrunners.com Invitational Race of Champions on this course and owns the fastest time of the field, 18:08.31. Julia Montgomery, younger sister Madhere, and several other teammates figure to be near the top to give PC the team title. Ransom will give them a run with their two studs Beatriz Ruiz and Lauren Archer. Montgomery and Yared were second and third respectively at last year's regional final.
On the boy's side Pine Crest will look to sweep with Michael Kennedy as the team's number one runner. The individual battle will come down to Joel Lacy of Calvary and Gabi Correa of Ransom Everglades. These two have seen a lot during the season and will likely be in the top five at the state meet. Lacy beat out Correa at last year's regional final. Others to watch include Titusville sophomore Mason Jones, Nic Jacobsen of Saint Andrews, and Westshore's Austin Camps, the younger brother of Melbourne standout Garrett Camps.
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On District Results)
Girls Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)
Boys Virtual Meet (Based On Season Bests)