WATCH 2019 FHSAA 1A STATE MEET REPLAY
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 boys.
Key Returners
Key Teams
Potential Break-out Performers
The 1A boys will see both 2019 state champion, Austin Montini, and runner-up, Matthew Stratton, return for the 2020 season.
Last year the field saw Monitni use an impressive kick to overtake the field with a 15:33 win over Stratton's 15:39. Letting the race come down to middle-distance speed will be tough to beat with Montini's 1:55 800m talent in the race and his passion to lead his team to a state title over Seffner Christian this season.
Not to be overlooked, Adam Nipper and his Seffner Christian team will come back this season to defend their state championship crown that they won with an impressive 1:17 1-5 split in the 2019 season. Although they are losing the Mckenzie brothers this season, the Seffner team comes in with a strong 17:20 team average, but will it be enough to overpower Oak Hall's predicted 16:49 team average?
Nipper comes into the 2020 season after three new PR's in the 800m (2:01.69), 1600m (4:36.64), and 3200m (9:43.84) all before the Coronavirus shutdown. We can expect to see Nipper dip under the 16 minute barrier early this season after a strong summer base.
Tristan McWilliam, Jonathan Pitchford, and George Stark all return after their top ten finish at the 2019 state championship meet with their sub 16:25 performances on the Apalachee Regional Park course.
Keep your eyes on Mitchell Curtis, Riley Novack, Caden Montini, Mateo Luna, Braxton Legg, and Cambridge Christian this season. Riley Novack is cruising into this season with a new 9:42.25 3200m PR as a freshman and could easily dip under 16:30s this season.