With the cross country season less than four weeks away, FLRunners.com is gearing up our 2012 season coverage. Last year we had Quincy O'Connor of Celebration and Olivia Ortiz of Lakewood Ranch chronicle their seasons in a series we called "Their Own Words." This year we're stepping up our game, giving several more runners throughout the state the opportunity to blog about their seasons, whether it be their training, race experiences, goals or random thoughts as their seasons progress. Get involved in the series -- ask questions, make comments and join the fun. Cross country 2012 here we come!
Our six runners are:
Garrett Westlake - Senior @ P.K. Yonge - Westlake finished 5th in the 3200m this outdoor season. That speed also played a crucial role in his 5th place finish at last year's Cross Country Finals. He looks to be one of top runners in 1A for 2012.
Cory Sayyeau - Senior @ Cocoa Beach - Sayyeau finished 10th at the 2011 Cross Country Finals. He returns this year as one of the top runners in 2A.
Aesop Brown - Senior @ Fort Myers - "Ace" as he is referred to around the state placed 11th at the 3A Cross Country Finals last year. He has a personal best of 15:42 and is hoping to lower that even less this year. He will lead a Green Wave squad that is hopinn to make the podium in 2012 after a 5th place finish last year.
Stefanie Kurgatt - Senior @ Maclay - Stefanie has proven her dominance winning multiple state titles on the track, but she has yet to bring one home in cross country. With several transfers in 1A it will be interesting to see how that class plays out. After finishing second last year, could we see a Wollrath/Kurgatt battle for cross country gold once again this November?
Kacy Smith - Senior @ Estero - Kacy Smith won gold her sophomore year as an individual and has been a part of Estero's run of team titles. Lots of graduations in 3A so the door is wide open once again for Smith. She has a personal best of 17:33.28 and would like to equal that in 2012 in hopes of improving upon her 8th place finish a year ago.
Bryce Seymour- Senior @ Hagerty - Bryce Seymour transferred from Circle Christian back to Hagerty for her senior season. Coach Jay Getty lost Amy Ankli to graduation so it will be Seymour's team to lead. She finshed 4th in 1A last year and 13th in 4A as a member of the Huskies in 2010.
If you have any questions for our bloggers -- anything from what type of shoes they wear, to certain issues you might need help with this season, to general opinions -- drop me a line at tgrasley@milesplit.com and we'll pass that on and make sure they address it in their next blog. We hope you enjoy the series. Look out for the first blogs soon!