WATCH 2019 FHSAA 3A 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 3A girls.
Key Returners
- Caroline Wells
- Kambry Smith
- Christiana Coleman
- Reilly Barber
- Ani Veltcheva
- Alanie Rivera
- Brooke Mullins
- Kana Kosaka
Key Teams
Potential Break-out Performers
Last season, we watched Winter Springs sophomore Caroline Wells race her way to a second place finish, break the 18 minute barrier, and lead her team to a state title. She comes into this fall season ready to take over the 3A crown after running a 10:33 3200m PR back in February. After a short, yet stellar, track season this rising junior will be ready to take over as one of the top overall returners for the state.
Up in the panhandle, Kambry Smith, has been working hard and earning some national titles to her name this summer with a 10:31 3000m national title, 4:51 1500m and 2:17 800m All-American finishes at the AAU Junior Olympic games back in early August. She'll be ready to enter this season in the sub 19-minute range and comes into this fall with an 18:15 Apalachee Regional Park course PR.
Reilly Barber, Ani Veltcheva, Alanie Rivera, and Brooke Mullins are all top returners from last year's state meet to watch in 2020. Expect to see them rise to the top this fall after their sub-19 minute performances in Tallahassee last season.
Class 3A will feature two very fast freshman. Christian Coleman, out of Dillard HS, comes into her first year of high school with a career that features an 18:24 Apalachee Regional Park course PR, 5:05 1600m, 2:18 800m, and 11:40.46. Be sure to watch out for her on the course as she hopes to lead her Dillard Panthers to a state title this season.
Ashley Fitzgerald of American Heritage is another frosh to watch this season. She finished 17th overall at the state meet last season with a 19:15, but her times on the track prove she's ready to dip below that 18:40 mark on the ARP course. In her short track season, Fitzgerald earned three new PR's running 11:06 for the 3200, 5:20 for the 1600m, and 2:21 for the 800m. Expect to see her rise in the rankings this season.
Not to be forgotten, the Leon Lions and Robinson Knights will be the top two teams to watch this season. The Lions are lead by Avery Calabro and Lillian Unger and with an incoming average time of 19:45 and a 1:07 1-5 split, this pack will be tough to beat. Kana Koska and her Robinson Knights will lead the charge for the podium with a 2:25 1-5 split. The Dillard Panthers could also very well be in the mix this season, especially if their no. five can get sub 21 minutes on the ARP.
Needless to say, 3A will feature a major fight for the team title this 2020 season.