FHSAA Cross Country Season Preview Boys and Girls 1A

Aug 18, 2024

Cross Country season has officially started here in Florida. I have posted a variety of rankings articles regarding overall pre-season returners rankings, individually and for teams. Here is a Preview of 1A. Remember that no ranking system is perfect and no season preview is perfect. One can't account for injuries, big jumps, transfers, breakthrough runners that we haven't seen yet and middle schoolers joining the varsity as incoming freshman, and in the case of some schools being able to run varsity. It is difficult to predict a season but one of the great things about Florida MileSplit is that we have a great ranking database that allows one to quickly and easily view rankings and XC and track PRs. Here is a look at what we may see in 1A this season.

1A Girls Team

The race for the 1A girls' title is a two-team race. The #1 and 2 teams from last year's State Meet should go at it again and it may be close. On paper, Pensacola Christian is still on top. The real changes, however, are at Cambridge Christian where new coach Jeff Vargas has Jr. Eliana Black back. She has transferred back from IMG. However, Sr. Ava Hendrix left Cambridge last spring and will be running for Fleming Island. Black is the #3 ranked pre-season returner in all divisions and the #1 ranked girl in 1A. Hendrix is #6. Adding Black back in the mix and removing Hendrix and adjusting the scores accordingly of the other girls on the Cambridge team and the defending champion Pensacola Christian team, Pensacola Christian stays in the #1 position. They return 6 of their 7, losing only their top runner, RaeAnne Tutton to graduation. On paper, if we were to run the State meet today, the defending champion Pensacola Christian squad would be favored to win. A lot can happen between now and then, but it should be an exciting race to watch.

Here's what it would look like:

1 Pensacola Christian Academy (FL) 98

1) Jr. Jaimee Tutton 18:09.23 4

2) Jr. Reagan Smith 18:11.00 5

3) Jr. Sofia Peterlevitz 19:07.63 11

4) 8th Clara Goncalves 20:01.00 34

5) Jr. Eliana Reynolds 20:11.00 44

2 Cambridge (Christian) School (FL) 106

1) Jr. Eliana Black 17:48 1

2) Sr. Micah Friedman 19:10.80 14

3) Sr. Kaiya Budwick 19:35.82 24

4) Sr. Amirah Johnson 19:38.98 25

5) 8th Brooklyn Friedman 20:10.80 42

1A Girls Individual

The return of Eliana Black to Cambridge certainly changes the pre-season rankings with her getting the top spot with the best returning time of 17:48 and the only girl that has gone under 18:00. Black however, even though she ran sub-18:00, struggled to match her outstanding freshman year when she won the 1A State Championship. Depending upon Black's progression, she will certainly be challenged by the defending 1A State Champion Jr. Sienna Audrey of the Community School of Naples and several other very talented young ladies. Audrey is ranked #2 Pre-Season with an 18:00.89 PR that she ran at Northport last year. Maclay Jr. Caroline Couch is the #3 ranked 1A girl and Maclay is scheduled to run. Couch was 2nd last year at Apalachee Park in 18:17.50. She had an outstanding outdoor track season winning the 1A 3200m in 10:56.20 and taking 2nd in the 1600m in 5:01.08. Another talented young lady is 8th grader Mary Summers of Seven Rivers Christian School. Summers is ranked #7 in 1A and is one of 8 returners who have run sub-19. She has run 18:18.40.

Top 100 1A Girls Returners for the 2024 Cross Country

1A Boys Team

The Providence School was fourth last year in 1A. They return everyone from last year and based on their 2023 times, they would have a 1-5 split of just 31.90 seconds. Sean Cunningham, who by tie, is their 6th ranked runner, was their number five scorer at State last year. Just 9 points back in the rankings, is last year's Runner-Up Cambridge Christian. However, and, not reflected in the rankings is the addition of Sr. Ethan Esposito to the Cambridge roster. Esposito was the #5 runner on the Indian Rocks State champion team last year. He was 35th with a time of 17:03.30. He has a PR of 15:57. Indian Rocks lost their 2, 3, and 4 runners who went 6, 11, and 15 at State, to graduation. They are led by Sr. Blake Young who is ranked 1A #1 but will lack the depth this year to be a team State contender. On the other hand, with the addition of Esposito, the #5 ranked 1A runner, Cambridge looks like the team to beat in 1A this season. Cambridge is led by Jr. Mark Meister who is ranked #4 in 1A with a 15:53.28.

Other teams that will be looking for spots on the podium are Westminster Academy and the Oak Hall School. Westminster will likely battle with the Providence School for the 2nd and 3rd spots. Westminster is led by Sr. Jonathan Pena, the #2 ranked 1A runner.

Below are the Pre-Season top 4 returning teams, without Esposito added to Cambridge. With Esposito, their team score based on last season's times would be 101.

1	Providence School (FL)		162
	1) Walker White	16:26.00	14
	2) Charles Loftin	16:42.50	26
	3) Ellis Halton	16:54.00	38
	4) Harrison Kozlowski	16:55.00	40
	5) Donovan Drake	16:57.90	44
	Average Time: 16:47.08 Total Time: 1:23:55.40 1-5 Split: 31.90
	6) Sean Cunningham	17:19.60	63
	7) Caleb Olan	18:19.70	147
2	Cambridge (Christian) School (FL)		171
	1) Mark Meister	15:53.28	4
	2) Landon Johnson	16:44.20	27
	3) Hunter Friedman	16:44.30	28
	4) Kai Martin	16:53.00	37
	5) Armani Sanchez	17:36.10	75
	Average Time: 16:46.18 Total Time: 1:23:50.88 1-5 Split: 1:42.82
	6) Rico Bjorn	17:57.20	102
	7) Elisha Jones	22:45.90	697
3	Westminster Academy (FL)		176
	1) Jonathan Pena	15:43.30	2
	2) Tanner Pritchard	16:31.32	19
	3) Scott Sanok	17:01.30	46
	4) Tyler Pritchard	17:08.30	49
	5) LUCAS LATIMORE	17:18.90	60
	Average Time: 16:44.62 Total Time: 1:23:43.12 1-5 Split: 1:35.60
	6) Wilson Seeman	17:19.10	62
	7) Cooper Hermann	18:09.00	121
4	Oak Hall School (FL)		186
	1) Peter Peloso	16:14.10	10
	2) Grant Curtis	16:27.00	16
	3) Andrew Eisner	16:37.10	22
	4) Benjamin Gallogly	17:13.30	55
	5) Phillip Peddie	17:44.30	83
	Average Time: 16:51.16 Total Time: 1:24:15.80 1-5 Split: 1:30.20
	6) Matthew Silva	18:30.40	163
	7) Henri Pelletier	18:31.40	165

1A Boys Individual

In 1A, five returners have run sub-16. Seniors Blake Young and Jonathan Pena who were 2nd and 3rd last year at State are ranked 1A #1 and #2 this year with times of 15:48.70 and 15:57.00. Circle Christian Sr. Will Neeld just missed getting under 16 at State last year in his 4th place finish (16:02.10). He is ranked 1A #3 with a 15:53. The other two are the #4 and 5 ranked runners from Cambridge, Mark Meister (15:53.28) and Ethan Esposito who has gone 15:57.00.

Three others to watch for are Seffner Christian Jr. Aiden Davis, St. Francis Catholic Sr. Sam Stone, and Out of Door Academy Jr. Kevin Gyurka. All three ran 16:10 or better and will be pushing to go sub-16.

Top 100 1A Boys Returners for the 2024 Cross Country