Scouting Report: Ft. Myers Boys

Florida XC 2012: Team Scouting Reports
Todd Grasley

The Fort Myers Green Wave boys' cross country team is looking to make a big splash in 2012.  Last year, the team placed  fifth at states, four points behind Palmetto Ridge. Coach Yancey Palmer loses his number three and five runners, but returns Ace Brown for his senior season. Brown finished 11th at the 3A Cross Country finals a year ago.  His 1600m, 3200m , and 5000m  times lead the team in those respective categories.

Junior Tyler Bennett will be the team's number two runner. Bennett finished 25th as a sophomore with a time of 16:21.58. Bennett seems poised to break that sixteen minute barrier afer  posting a 4:43 1600m and 9:48 for 3200m this outdoor season. A dark horse on the team could be newcomer Stephen Fedec. Fedec who is an incoming freshman placed fifth in the 3000  at last year's Middle School State Championship as an 8th grader, and 6th in the event as a 7th grader with a personal best of 10:24.30. He looks to factor into the mix as a number four or five runner for 2012.

It will be tough for Fort Myers to reach the top of the podium . Belen Jesuit is always loaded and has created a cross country dynasty the past four to five years. Fort Walton Beach comes in with one of the best teams they have had in years. Those two are not just the top teams in 3A, but the top two overall teams in our computerized team rankings. In our rankings, the Green Wave sit at number four overall which put them as definite content to take bronze in Tallahasse when the time comes for the state meet. Look for a battle between them and neighbor Estero in the most important race of the year.

 

Coach Palmer Says...


"The team looks really good right now, but I don’t push real hard in the summer. We tend to continue our mileage and intensity increasing all season. So hopefully we look better in late Oct and November:
 
"We have a few freshman that look like they will contribute in future years, but probably not this season. Although until we start racing, nothing can be for sure. Our top newbie is Stephen Fedec."
 
"We preach doing something extra each year to improve, i.e. more miles, core work, diet, sleep/rest, etc. So I am expecting our returners to do something extra to improve from 2011. Team goals are like every year, we want to do better than people are expecting. We would like to win conference, district and region. Then at the state meet, try to compete with the other top programs in FL. Belen Jesuit, FWC, Estero, etc. Maybe we can get lucky."
 
"Key meets we plan on going to  are of course FLrunners (my favorite) and Pre-State. Pre-State is our homecoming week, so I am not sure about our focus that meet."
 


2012 Returner's Top Times

5K XC

 

Fort Myers HS 467
  1) Aesop Brown   15:42.00 9
  2) Tyler Bennett   16:21.58 60
  3) Brendan McGonagle   16:30.80 80
  4) Dean McGregor   16:49.50 146
  5) Alex Bautista   16:55.53 172
  Average Time: 16:27.88 -- Total Time: 1:22:19.41 -- 1-5 Split: 1:13.53
  6) Hamdi Alhaddad   17:33.90 402
  7) Greg Wagner   17:40.32 439

 

Boys 3200 Meter Run
 
9:35.52 Brown, Aesop FSU Relays 2012-03-22
9:48.98 Bennett, Tyler FHSAA 3A Region 3 2012-04-26
10:13.14 McGonagle, Brendan FSU Relays 2012-03-22
10:37.46 Wagner, Greg Lee County Athletic Conference Championships (LCAC) 2012-03-30
10:39.24 McGregor, Dean FSU Relays 2012-03-22
10:48.91 Long, Tyler Wally Keller Invitational 2012-04-13
10:49.88 Alhaddad, Hamdi Wally Keller Invitational 2012-04-13

 

Boys 1600 Meter Run
 
4:27.43 Brown, Aesop USF/George M. Steinbrenner Invitational 2012-03-17
4:41.16 McGonagle, Brendan 51st Annual Fort Myers Edison Relays 2012-03-09
4:43.14 Bennett, Tyler USF/George M. Steinbrenner Invitational 2012-03-17
4:44.77 McGregor, Dean FHSAA 3A District 12 2012-04-20
4:49.92 Wangure, Mwakadua FHSAA 3A District 12 2012-04-20
4:50.79 Roy, Robert Wally Keller Invitational 2012-04-13
5:01.26 Alhaddad, Hamdi Lee County Athletic Conference Championships (LCAC) 2012-03-30
5:01.52 Wagner, Greg Tarpon Invitational 2012-03-23
5:06.32 Long, Tyler Tarpon Invitational 2012-03-23


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