Key Returners:
Key Teams:
Watch for - Holy Trinity Academy
A majority of the 2017 top runners in the FHSAA 1A girls classification will be returning for the 2018 season.
Grace Blair, former two-time 1A cross country state champion for Oak Hall School, will be continuing her athletic career for the University of Florida. Blair and Olivia Watt, out of Marco Island Academy Charter, are the only two recent graduates to finish top 15 at the 2017 state championship.
There is a young crowd leading the classification with Sinkenesh Parker, a sophomore from Circle Christian School, leading the rankings. Parker was runner-up to Blair at the 2017 state championship. She has run personal records of 11:18 in the 3200m and 5:15 in the 1600m this past track season, steadily improving and showing she is a top contender this upcoming season. Parker is joined by teammate Brooke McEwen to put Circle Christian in a strong pre-season lead as a team.
Among the returners, is Carly McNatt, an eighth grader from Holy Trinity Academy. For her first recorded cross country season, McNatt placed 6th at the state championship, clocking a time of 19:07. This past track season she ran 11:08 for the 3200m, improving her 3200m time by close to a minute. McNatt is joined by teammate Sasha WiecheckiVergara to make Holy Trinity a team to watch this season.
Sydnee Calder and Jessica Edwards are two more athletes to look out for this cross country season. Edwards gained a state title this past track season running a 2:13 in the 800m, adding some middle distance speed to this top group.
This season will have many new names and young athletes to keep an eye out for.