The lack of a full 2020 outdoor track and field season will add to the suspense for this upcoming cross country season. While drastic leaps in performances cannot be accurately predicted, we took a look at who could likely make elite moves on the cross country course this fall.
Disclaimer: Individual classes [1A, 2A, 3A, 4A] could and will likely look very different this season with the opt in option given by the FHSAA. This scouting report is based off all the current 1A member schools and individuals.
Here is the scouting report for FHSAA 1A girls.
Key Returners
Potential Break-out Performers
Sinkenesh Parker will toe the line with her fellow Circle Christian girls team this season to defend her individual state title and redeem their second place team performance at the state meet last season against Lauren Jones and her Oak Hall pack.
Cambridge Christian transfer, Caroline Lehman, and her seventh grade teammate, Eliana Black will answer the call for competition and push for a podium title against Circle Christian and defending champions Oak Hall.
Parker and Jones were consistently in the mid to low 18 minute range despite varying courses last season, demonstrating strength ahead of the abrupt 2020 outdoor season. Lehman, will come into this cross country season with a 17:29 5k on the track that she ran back in late Feb. before the shutdown.
Lehman's sub-18 on the track paired with Black's 18:48.38 Apalachee Regional Park course PR will bode well for the Cambridge Christian girls, but will it be enough to hold off Oak Hall's 1:08 1-5 split and Circle Christians 1:58 1-5 split pack running?
Not to be forgotten, Lauren McGaffic and Jessica Edwards are two ladies you do not want to wait for the kick when it comes to finishing a 5k this season. Both ladies hold the top mid-distance talent in the state with McGaffic running a PR of 2:10 for the 800m earlier this track season and Edwards holding a 2:08 PR from the previous 2019 track season.
Keep your eyes out for Lauren Jones, Laci Watford, Ella Porcher, Mary Peck, Moriah Friedman, and Katie Beam as well as the Lakeland Christian girls -- the all have the potential to make a fantastic showing later this Nov. especially after a long base build this year.
More Coverage:
The lack of a full 2020 outdoor track and field season will add to the suspense for this upcoming cross country season. While drastic leaps in performances cannot be accurately predicted, we took a look at who could likely make elite moves on the cross country course this fall.
Disclaimer: Individual classes [1A, 2A, 3A, 4A] could and will likely look very different this season with the opt in option given by the FHSAA. This scouting report is based off all the current 1A member schools and individuals.
Here is the scouting report for FHSAA 1A girls.
