FACA 2A Boys Rankings
By: Josh Johnson - coach_johnson_@hotmail.com
Much like a game of poker, the next two weeks are going to be critical, the next two races, bets/bluffs, serious. Will some teams try and stay under the radar, or will they come out full steam ahead! Districts and Regionals will be interesting, a precursor to the big dance, a dance which, im sure, will be one to remember.
Look for packs to be racing packs, team front runners to be going for broke and a team to make history…anything can happen in 2a this year. Tampa the clear cut favorite, Belen the radical challenger, and Bishop Kenny, a tradition that fails to faulter. Great things can happen on one perfect day, in 15-17 perfect minutes, in 1 perfectly executed race plan…anything can happen. The date has been set, the challenge is on, the outcome questionable, yet certain. Only one team can win and only one individual will prevail, good luck…and God speed!
1. Tampa Jesuit- With Biladeau at the helm, and Osborne getting faster every week. This team has the depth and experience to go all the way. TJ remains at the top of the list for yet another week…but watch out, I have a feeling that Belen Jesuit may very well be in the hunt November 6th.
2. Belen Jesuit-This team keeps getting faster and faster. With the Re-emergence of Arguello as a front running competitor and an awesome duo of Santuoso and Fabulous frosh Echarte, this team could be the team that challenges Tampa Jesuit on November 6th. I'm sure they are training with one thing in mind since the Spanish river Invitational, "Beat Tampa Jesuit".
3. Bishop Kenny- Ran well, placing 3rd, at Great American in North Carolina. Ran well on an extremely fast course at Katie Caples taking their first win of the season against mainly local competition, with a front runner like Chris Mullaney and a powerful #2, in Luke Russell, this team solidifies their position at number 3.
4. Bishop Moore- 17:34 average at HTA fall classic. This teams 3,4, guys dropped a minute at HTA and are starting to look ready to compete with the big dawgs come November 6th. Talk about consistency, BM is getting stronger by the week, it seems as though the hurricanes were not a problem for this team.
5. Gulliver Prep-Led by the sharkster this squad has a chance at top 5 if they continue to remain consistent.
6. Bolles- This team dropped a bomb at Katie Caples. Running a great 17:30 average and having a 1minute spread between their 1-5. With the way they are running, I can see this team competing for a top 4 position.
7. Lincoln Park-In the horrifying quake of some rather nasty Hurricanes the boys from Lincoln park are taking a stab at the polls, yet I'm stabbing back. These boys really need to get rolling if they want to stay in the top 10. However with the Hensley brothers leading this crew, any thing can happen. I expect to see them climb back into the top 5 by state when they get a few more races under their belts.
8. Pensacola Catholic-Have not seen any results on this team lately, but, at the moment, I believe they belong 8th in the rankings with the early season results.
9. Lecanto- In a head to head battle against Hernando, Lecanto came out on top defeating their rivals by 10 points. No longer on the bubble Lecanto has showed they are a force to be reckoned with.
10. Hernando- Losing in a close race too Lecanto, Hernando moves down just one spot. I expect these two teams, Lecanto/Hernando, to be dukeing it out all the way to the finish line in Tampa.
1. Andy Biladeau 1. Jeremy Criscione
Ok you all might shoot me for this one but think about it. 9:08 for Biladeau in the Half Time 2 mile postal. Jeremy Criscione ran an awesome 15:40 on a tuff buchholz course defeating 8:59 2miler Justin Harbor by 24 seconds. So can Criscione race the competition, biladeau? Sure he can. In fact, Criscione has gone out of state to race the best the nation has had to offer. He has raced Bumbalough at the Jesse Owens Cross Country Invitational, while biladeau competed at the great American Cross country race. Like I have said all season, Criscione is the one to give Biladeau a run for his money. With both of these athletes racing against top notch competition and competing in fine fashion they both share the number 1 spot in 2A this week.
3. Bryan Sharkey
Ran 9:25 for 2 miles at his 2 mile postal with Holy Trinity. Sharkey is rounding into shape and his losses to James Osborne in the early season, seem as though they may have been a thing of the past. Especially after defeating Osborne at Great American. Sharkey is one to come through when it counts and usually races well when it comes to the big dance.
4. Chris Mullaney
Ran in a separate race then Sharkey and Osborne at Great American and ran only slightly faster than Sharkey. Yet with Sharkey posting 9:25 for the deuce, Chris is to remain in 4th on the rankings. Early season losses are beyond Mullaney now, having won his race at Great American and Running a swift 15:38 for 1st on his home course. Look for Chris to continue to prove himself in the coming weeks.
5. James Osborne
Ran 9:36 for the deuce at the TJ Postal, Kid looks tuff. Ran strong on the hilly course at great American posting a solid 16:09. I'm sure Osborne will be gunning for a top three position at states. Tampa Jesuit will need to place as low as possible to keep a hard charging Belen Jesuit off their backs.
6. Matt Hensley
Henlsey is in shape his 9:48 for the deuce shows everyone that with just 3 races under his belt this kid can compete! Look for Hensley to be toeing the line at the state meet, and making a push for the lead group.
7. Eduardo Arguello
Eduardo's jump to the front of the pack was apparent at flrunners, having run 16:07 their, arguello has followed that race up with another solid race performance. With the way this Belen Jesuit team is gearing up, Argeullo, with a previous PR of 15:18, may be the one to come out on top November 6th.
8. Scott Mackley
This kid is beginning to flirt with the 16 minute barrier, getting faster with each new day, Scott Mackley is certainly trying to prove himself this year. The senior from Lakeland Kathleen looks to be a definitive threat for the top 5 as well.
9. Luke Russell
In Mr. Russell Bishop Kenny has a strong number 2 man. Consistently running in the 16 teens Luke is ready to compete for a top 10 position.
10. Paul Santuoso-Followed closely by teammate, and freshman sensation, Echarte, this is Belens number 2 man. Santuoso has been Mr. Consistent for his squad, dropping a little bit more each week. The only question is, can he continue to stay in the top ten? His team needs as few points as possible and with Echarte nipping at his heels I imagine we will se these two tearing up the course some time soon.