About the finalists:
Hannah Brookover (Senior, Clearwater Calvary Christian)
Hannah Brookover had two top ten showings at the Cross Country Finals heading into 2015, but she may have saved her best for her senior season. Brookover placed sixth or better in her first four meets and then rattled off four straight wins ending with the 1A Cross Country Finals championship. Brookover was 15th at the Nike Southeast Regional in 18:14.60, the second best time of her career behind her 18:13.00 and 6th place showing at Pre-State.
Rafaella Gibbons (Sophomore, Winter Park High School)
When all is said and done in her high school career Rafaella Gibbons has the potential to be one of the Florida greats. Undefeated in the Sunshine State in all of 2014, Gibbons suffered her only loss in-state at the state finals behind fellow AOTY finalist Bailey Hertenstein. Gibbons set the Pre-State course record with a blazing fast 17:44.60 and set a new state leader with her 17:27.15 at 4A Region 1, arguably the toughest in the state. The Wildcat sophomore admitted her fifth place showing at state, despite not being 100% healthy, was a disappointment. She bounced back the following week by improving on her 2014 NXNSE finish, coming in third as an individual, and advancing to NXN in Portland for the second straight year. Gibbons was 40th against the nation's best.
Brittany Gill (Senior, Dillard High School)
If there was a surprise on the girls side it would be Dillard senior Brittany Gill. Gill, a 5:09 1,600m runner showed she can run a 5K as well winning six out of her eight races on the year including victories at the district, regional, and state level. Gill, the 3A state champion, was second at the flrunners.com Race of Champions, behind fellow AOTY finalist Bailey Hertenstein, and was 9th as an individual at NXNSE, with only Gibbons and Caitlyn Collier of Bolles coming in ahead of her from Florida.