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.
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...
"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."
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 |
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11:20.47 | Chastain, Ivy | FHSAA 3A Region 1 |
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12:45.39 | Polite, April | 31st Annual Frank Lay Patriot Invitational |
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Girls 1600 Meter Run |
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5:21.55 | Chastain, Ivy | FHSAA 3A District 1 |
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5:41.77 | Polite, April | FHSAA 3A District 1 |
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5:44.11 | Rodgers, Kayla | FHSAA 3A District 1 |
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