Scouting Report: Fort Walton Beach Girls

Florida XC 2012: Team Scouting Reports
Todd Grasley

Fort Walton Beach girls cross country team finished the 2011 season with a fifth place showing at the state meet.  The Vikings return six of the top seven from last year including senior Ivy Chastain. Chastain led the team with a 9th place finish. Her season best time of 17:53 is one of the top returning times in 3A. Behind Chastain will be juniors Rhianna Moller, Kayla Rodgers, and April Polite, and sophomore Autumn White. Chastain's sister Anna Laura looks to be the team's number six this season. The biggest news for the team could be the addition of incoming freshman Emma Rudman. Rudman is a familar name on the middle school circuits and will be soon in the panhandle region and on the state level. She comes into high school as the defending middle school state champion outdoors at 3000 meters and as the middle school cross country state champion. Rudman has run personal bests of 10:28.28 for 3000 meters and 5:07.39 for 1500 meters. 

Rudman wasn't the only one who had a succesful track season. Chastain is coming off personal bests in both the 3200 meters and 1600 meters. She finished 6th in a very tough region running 11:20.47 for 3200 meters. She placed second in districts with a new personal best 5:21.55 for 1600 meters. Rhianna Moller, Kayla Rodgers, April Polite, and Autumn White teamed up on the Viking's 4x800 meter relay team which placed sixth at regionals.

The girls have logged countless miles over the summer and are ready to to get higher than a third place finish which they've achieved twice. Fort Walton Beach is currently listed as the second best team in 3A based on 5k times from 2011. They trail only Estero so the goal of finishing first or second should be achievable. The Viking's quest for a state title starts with their top two runners. If Chastain can continue her momentum from last year's 9th place finish and Rudman can live up to the hype she created in her 8th grade year at Liza Jackson, the top two spots on the podium are within reach. The rest of the squad will have to step up as well with Mohler, White, and Polite, setting the example in the middle of the order.
 

Coach Fields Says...

"Joining the squad is a terrificly talented Freshman and current Middle School Cross Country State Champion Emma Rudman.  We expect her to be right there with Ivy and believe she will be the top freshman this year. We also add Ivy's sister Anna Laura who has worked very hard this summer and is running well enough to be our number six."

"Their best performances came at the Panhandle, District, and Region Champs with low 19:30 averages and they hope to better that this year as well."
 
"While they are focused on District, Region, and State, they are very anxious to test themselves against Chiles and Estero.  Their first goal is Region Champs and next up a top two finish at state. They've done the work and now want to prove they have the medal to get it done."
 

2012 Returner's Top Times

5K XC


Fort Walton Beach HS 380
  1) Ivy Chastain   17:53.00 7
  2) Autumn White   18:51.00 32
  3) Rhianna Moller   19:19.00 66
  4) April Polite   19:46.40 127
  5) Kayla Rodgers   19:56.08 148
  Average Time: 19:09.10 -- Total Time: 1:35:45.48 -- 1-5 Split: 2:03.08
  6) Tina De Vaux   20:09.70 190
  7) Christina DeVaux   20:19.00 208

Girls 3200 Meter Run
11:20.47 Chastain, Ivy FHSAA 3A Region 1 2012-04-25
12:45.39 Polite, April 31st Annual Frank Lay Patriot Invitational 2012-03-09

Girls 1600 Meter Run
5:21.55 Chastain, Ivy FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-04-19
5:41.77 Polite, April FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-04-19
5:44.11 Rodgers, Kayla FHSAA 3A District 1 2012-04-19
       

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