Distirct-by-district preview for the 1A meets that begin on Monday.
1A District 1
This meet is actually being held across the border in Alabama, which is kind of crazy... not sure I recall that happening before! Jay HS will be favored on the girls side, expected to win easily. The individual battle will come down to two sophomores, Jessica Thornton of Jay and Lauren Cochran of Pensacola Christian. Traditionally, Cochran has been the strongest of the two but this season Thornton has come on strong. The two have traded wins this season, 2-2, with Thornton winning easilya the County Championship last week.
For the boys, Pensacola Christian is expected to dominate and is likely put five before anyone else's two! The are led by Joshua Balentine, who could win the meet... if he can keep head of Micah Kemp of Jay.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 2
Wewa should win both team titles by a solid margin over Blountstown. For the girls Wewa will be helped by a likely one point from Hannah Plazarin. Sophomore Thomas Howell of Blountstown (yes, the other Thomas Howell in the Panhandle) is set to win individually, as long as he can fight off Jakob Bidwell of Wewa.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 3
Maclay has been on a role lately and is likely to dominate here just like it did at the Tallahassee City Championships. The girls are led by Kristin Sweeney, who should be able to take the individual gold in under 20 minutes.
The Marauder boys should have a little more of a battle against North Florida Christian, but is still likely to take the team title easily. They will have a single point likely from Travis Covert, who sat out this last meet, but should be back. He has a best of 15:59 from his eighth place effort at the quick Panhandle Championship meet. Maclay's #2 Jack Rutledge is slated as third place in this one, but he beat second seed Griffith Rutherford of NFC this weekend at the City meet.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 4
The Providence girls could potentially score a perfect 15 for the district title with the junior Eden Meyer up front in the low 19s and a tight 1:20 or so 1-5 split. They aren't quite where they were a year ago, but this is a very strong team that is hoping to get on the podium at state. For the boys, it should be Bishop Snyder behind individual favorite of Jonah Wilamowski.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 5
The Oak Hall girls are big favorites with a strong 1-2 punch of Brittney Olinger and Lauren Perry. They are likely to put in six before anyone else gets in one. On the boys side, PK Yonge should be able to hold off Oak Hall by at least a dozen points. They are led by senior Garrett Westlake and junior Joseph Janson, who should go 1-2 in the meet.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 6
Kelly Fahey of Trinity Prep has been having a great season and is projected to be the first finisher. Trinity will need the help, with Geneva School breathing down their neck. By season average the district team title goes to Geneva, but by season best is in Trinity's corner. So it will be a close one that is not likely to be decided until the fifth (or sixth!) runner.
The boys from Trinity Prep will have a much easier time and may sweep. They will be led by national level elite Daniel Salas, who is currently ranked the #4 runner in the state overall and is the 1A State Championship favorite.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 7
The First Academy girls have looked really good this year. They have a team average in the low 21s and are not powered by exceptional strength up front but instead by a strong pack that will break up your scoring and take down any opponents lacking in the depth department. Denae Chapman of Circle Christian is the strong girls individual favorite.
The Circle Christian boys are favored to win the team title with superior depth. Individually it is Troy Clark of Mount Dora Bible as the dominant individual favorite.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 8
Seffner Christian and Indian Rocks Christian will have a tough battle for the team title. Hannah Brookover of Calvary Christian is favored up front, but Sabrina Whiting of Seffner and Bobbi Labrant of IRC have been running well.
It will be a rematch between Seffner and IRC again for the boys side, with Seffner slightly favored behind leader Josh Keenan.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 9
The Lakeland Christian girls are projected to take this one rather easily, with senior Mallory White as their #1 and district champion favorite. As a side note--can't believe Mallory is a senior! We have watched her since she was in the third grade tearing up much older girls!
For the boys McKeel Academy is set to be impressive with five in the top ten over Clearwater Central Catholic. McKeel is led by Casey Brady.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 10
Shorecrest Prep is expected to with the team and individual titles for both genders. The girls are led by a strong 1-2 punch up front in Alex Eaton and Olivia Rovin. Look for Eaton to lead from the gun and never look back. The boys are not as dominant as the girls, but Shorecrest should win this title as well with Josh Porter up front as the individual favorite, freshman Luke Peterson in the 17s, and 3-5 in the 18s.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 11
Unless she falls down, Sarah Candiano should win in a cake walk. Freshmen Lindsay Tomaini will lead the chasers, likely about a minute and a half back from Candiano. Tomaini will be the leader for Community School of Naples who are looking to try to put their top five in the top ten. But if they falter at all, St. John Neumann is waiting in the wings with pack power.
Seacrest County Day is favored for the boys, with their junior Andrew Lemay slated to win individually.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 12
Holy Trinity will almost assuredly sweep the district titles. The girls are led by Julie Wollrath who will likely win by a minute. Second place will come down to a tight battle between Wollrath's teammate Mackenzie Dummer and the strong Brevard HEAT 1-2 punch of Emily Chapman and Holly Wolley. Despite the 1-2 punch, Trinity should be able to fend off HEAT, but both are looking very strong this year and may occupy the entire top ten between the two of them.
For the boys, Holy Trinity is looking to perfect-15 it with Alex Brown and Tristian Kattenberg way up front.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 13
The King's Academy girls are favored, led by freshman Makayla Richardson. Junior Avery Camp of the Pine School is projected to win individually. For the boys, it is a tight one between King's Academy and John Carrol. By season best times, it is Carrol with a slight lead. But if you score it by average time on the year, Kings wins easily. So it will be interesting! King's will likely get on the board first with Scott Simpson (the brother of our summer intern Amy Simpson!) projected to win the individual district championship.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 14
Pope John Paul II will win the girls team title easily, with Christine Sullivan as their leader (who should win by about a minute over her teammates). Highlights Christian Academy's boys are expected to win the team title on a strong pack between 18:30 and 19:30. Charles Otto of Boca Raton Christian will be favored to win by about 30 seconds over Andres' Witzke of Pope John Paul II.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 15
Westminster Academy is favored to win the team title easily, with sophomore Amanda Baker up front. They should also be able to take the boys title, with Brandon Bejarano as Westminster's front runner. The junior is favored to take the individual title. He should be able to fend off Pasha Gulibert of Calvary Christian and Ben Nevils of South Florida HEAT. Bejarano has been consistently stronger all season.
Girls Virtual Meet | Boys Virtual Meet
1A District 16
Westminster Christian and Dade Christian girls will duke it out for the team title and it's almost too close to call. Sophomore Victoria Camargo of Florida Christian is the individual favorite. On the boys side, it is looking to be another close battle, this time between Dade Christian and Miami Country Day. Dade Christian senior Adam Ramos is likely to win it individually.