FHSAA Cross Country State Finals 2011

Vanessa Valentine led out the charge, but Olivia Ortiz takes it home.

Colonial junior Andres Arroyo won the 4A State Championship in 15:13.74.

Cocoa Beach senior Shelby Davidson won the 2A State Champion in 17:55.87.

Trinity Prep senior Ryan Gousse and junior Daniel Salas finished first and second at the 1A State Championship in 15:32.98 and 15:43.87 respectively.

Seventh grader Daesha Rogers of American Heritage finished second at the 2A state championships in a time of 18:08.79.

Maclay junior Stefanie Kurgatt finished as the 1A runner-up in a time of 18:31.89.

Chamberlain senior Max del Monte finishes an impressive career with a second place showing at the 3A State Championships.

Chris Godwin of Buchholz finished as the 4A runner-up in 15:37.40.

One man down, hang on for third place behind Holy Trinity and Trinity Prep.

Boys got second in the 1A division with Ryan Gousse and Daniel Salas going 1-2 individually.

Melbourne senior Vanessa Valentine made her move and led the 3A race, but wasn't able to hang on as she finished seventh.

Lily Williams and Carly Thomas of Chiles ended their cross country careers just short of a state title finishing second and third respectively in impressive times of 17:48.29 and 17:53.77.

  Now's your chance to show everyone your knowledge of the sport (or just your powers of prediction)... Introducing our 2011 XC State Meet Prediction Contest... and you have just three days to enter. Ready... set... go!

Here are my picks and thoughts on Saturday's meet. Links to meet info and other coverage inside also.

Information packet from the FHSAA published for coaches, but good info for all.

Luis Martinez, Erin Hooker, American Fork, Fort Collins win NXN SW; Daniel Vertiz, Madi McLellan, South Lake Carroll win NXN S.  Much more inside!

We were on site Saturday for the state meet in Dade City. Lots of great races and a few upsets.

What can you say about a performance like that of Belen Jesuit yesterday? The Florida cross country hardcore knew they were witnessing one of the greatest team performances in state meet history.

Davidson earns first state championship over challenging Rogers! Carrollton earns title, while Bolles shows grace by handing American Heritage their second place trophy.

Colonial does it! They achieve their mission of winning the school's first ever team title in any sport. Andres Arroyo led the Grenadiers with an individual championship of his own.

Ryan Gousse of Trinity Prep upsets for the individual title, but Holy Trinity notches yet another team state championship. 

Bert Irigoyen repeats as the 2A state champion and leads Ransom Everglades to the team title.

Dr. Phillips' junior Bridget Blake runs away with her second straight 4A title. Plant wins a heated battle for the team title with 73 points, two more than runner-up Ferguson, and four more than third place finisher St. Thomas Aquinas.

Wollrath wins, St. Stefanie gets second.

After winning championships at last weekend's state meet, four coaches ascended higher on the all-time winning most coaches list maintained by former FACA XC Chair and Spanish River coach Rick Rothman. 

We asked you to show your knowledge and predict the top runners at the 2011 XC State Meet. Some of you were spot on and some of you were way off! See who takes home some awesome prizes.