The Plant boys cross country team had a great season in 2011 after finishing third at the 4A Cross Country Finals. This year the Panthers will look a little different after losing their top four runners and five of their top seven.
Circle Christian boys cross country team is looking to make the podium in 2012 after a fourth place finish in 2011. Holy Trinity looks to be the team to beat in 1A, but the Centaurions could sneak into second. Coach Tim Chapman says it is their largest team ever with a lot of new talent coming in and a very strong summer of training which involved a team trip to Beech Mountain for a week of bonding and training. The group is led by senior Jordan Foster.
Miami Sunset is looking to make a splash in 4A this year after a 15th place finish in 2011. The team returns four of their top five from last year including sophomore team captain Nick Diaz and a pair of transfers.
Ever since Garrett Westlake has run for P.K. Yonge as an 8th grader in 2009, the Blue Wave have not finished lower than fifth at the 1A Cross Country Finals. The senior has finished in the top fifteen individually the past three season and will be a contender for an individual title in 2012.
Trinity Prep and Holy Trinity have had some intense battles in 1A over the past five years. The Saints are coming off a runner-up finish to Holy Trinity in 2011, after beating the Tigers in 2010 and 2009. If Coach Ken Vinal's squad wants a chance at the top spot again it starts up front with senior leader Daniel Salas.
Coach Roy Harrison has built a dynasty at Plant High School. The girls' cross country program has qualified for the state meet 25 years in a row and won ten team titles (most for a girls' team in state history) including back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011. Last year the Panthers title run didn't come easy.Three teams were separated by six points. They lose two members of that team including number one runner Danielle Kissel who placed third at state and number four runner Kara Halfaker who placed 25th. The five returners are led by a pair of seniors Scarlett Fox and Julia Rodriguez.
As a freshman at Bishop Kenny, Michael Barr got a taste of what it was like to win a state championship. Now a senior, Barr is hoping to win an individual title and in the process lead the Crusaders to another team title.
The Hagerty girls' cross country team returns four of it's top seven runners from a 2011 team that finished as conference champions, district champions, region runner-up, and sixth at the 4A state meet. Coach Getty's squad also will receive Bryce Seymour back for her senior year after transferring to Circle Christian as a junior.
Bolles girls cross country team finished last year with runner-up medals. At least for a little while that is. After a chip mishap with an American Heritage runner caused them to go from second to fifth, Bolles jumped up from third to second. The Bulldogs ended up giving their medals to the rightful team in which can only be described as a very emotional exchange. This year the team loses only two girls from their top fourteen, Rachel Rice who is now at East Carolina University and Micayla Costa. Leading the way for Bolles 2012 team is junior Lily Arnold and transfer Mackenzie Wilson.
The Cocoa Beach boys cross country team just missed the top three in 2011. The squad finished 17 points behind Berkeley Prep to finish fourth. The Minutemen return five of their top seven runners from last year including senior Cory Sayyeau.
Providence proved it was the best team in all of 1A last year when they won the Cross Country Finals at Little Everglades Ranch. This year the team looked poised to possibly repeat as champions until their number one runner decided to transfer for her freshman year. Danielle Van Liere who finished sixth last year as an 8th grader has switched schools to Fletcher. The good news for Providence coach Jeanie Jackson is that four of her top five return for 2012.
The 2012 Olympia Titans have the perfect mix of youth and experience. After finishing fourth in 2011, the team returns six of its top seven runners. The squad loses senior leader Alyssa Hammel who has gone on to run for the University of Central Florida. After breakout freshman campaigns Emily Headley and Taylor Watson return for their sophomore seasons.
In 2011, Estero made the jump from 2A to 3A. The change didn't effect the girls team, but the boys delved into some unfamiliar territory. Jose Cartegenas and Alex Hernandez were members of the 2009 team that finished second in the state and were joined by Steven Briner, and Adam Sommer on the 2010 state championship squad. Coach Jeff Sommer returns five of his top seven from last year's third place team led by Jose Cartagenas.
Holy Trinity has become accustomed to making the podium the past several years. The Tigers won the 1A state tile in 2009 and 2010, and finished third in 2011. The squad is led by 2011 individual champion Julie Wollrath. She leads a program that returns six of it's top seven from a year ago.
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.
Powerhouse program, dynasty. Those are words that can be used to desciribe the Belen Jesuit cross country program. The team has won five state championships (three in 2A, two in 3A) and has had one runner-up finish (2009) in the past six years. 2011 could have been the best year of them all.
Bishop Kenny returns five of it's top seven runners from the 2011 season. The team finished fourth in a tight battle with Jacksonville rival Bolles and Cocoa Beach. The Crusaders are on a mission this year to crank the podium and will be lead by a trio I like to call the "MA" girls.
Wiregrass Ranch returns all seven girls from its 7th place team in 2011. The Bulls are led by senior Nikita Shah. who surprised some people finishing fourth at the state meet after finishing 27th the year before. Shah could compete for an individual title this year, but for her team to make the podium, numbers two to seven need to step up.
In the past five years, the Holy Trinity boys cross country team has finished either first or second. It had been a fight with Trinity Prep for the top spot in 2009 and 2010, but the Tigers got the job done in 2011. The team placed four of it's top five runners in the top nine. Numbers five and six finished 17th and 21st. Coach Butler's squad loses three members of the state championship squad to graduation, but has a strong four-some of seniors leading this year's group.
Estero girl's cross country team placed 24th in 2008 before a resurgence of talent came sweeping through the halls. Led by freshman Kacy Smith, Katy G. Solis, and Maria Frank, the Wildcats finished third in 2009. In 2010, Estero placed their top five in the runners in the top twenty, including individual champion Kacy Smith, and beat runner-up Bolles by 83 points. Their team average was an outstanding 18:47. For an encore in 2011, the team upset three-time 3A champions Chiles to win their second consecutive team championship. Is a three-peat in 2012 in the cards?
Maclay just missed out on a podium spot in 2011 after finishing fourth behind Holy Trinity, Oak Hall, and champion Providence. The Marauders return one of the top individuals in 1A, senior Stefanie Kurgatt. Kurgatt finished second at last year's Cross Country Finals and is coming off an exceptional outdoor track and field season.
Columbus High School has a tradition of winning. The Explorers took home the top prize at the Cross Country Finals in 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2011, they fell just short of the four-peat losing to Colonial by 17 points. This year's team is led by a strong senior class and as always looks to be a contender when the state meet rolls around in November.
The Colonial High School boy's cross country team is coming off a state championship in 2011. The Grenadiers brought home the first team championship in any sport in the school's history. Junior Andres Arroyo won individual gold in 4A finishing in a time of 15:13.74. Coach Rene Plasencia returns five of his top seven from last year.
Perenial powerhouse Our Lady of Lourdes returns all but one of their varsity team from last year's 4A fifth place team.
Oak Hall has finished in the top four at the Cross Country Finals the past three seasons including back-to-back runner-up spots in 2011 and 2010. The Eagles have a great chance to take home the top spot on the podium in 2012 due to the experience of their top five.
The Fort Myers Green Wave boys' cross country team is looking to make a big splash in 2012. Last year, the team placed fifth at states, four points behind Palmetto Ridge. Coach Yancey Palmer loses his number three and five runners, but returns Ace Brown for his senior season. Brown finished 11th at the 3A Cross Country finals a year ago.
St. Thomas Aquinas finished their 2011 cross country campaign with a third place finish at the 4A Cross Country Finals. The squad was just four points outside of the top spot finishing behind Plant and Ferguson. Coach Trish Butler loses her number two, four, six, and seven runners from a year ago, but has a strong core in sophomores Megan Schloss who finished seventh as a freshman and Brianna Rischar.
In one of the closest team battles for the 2011 cross country season, the Ferguson Falcons finished second in 4A; just two points behind champion Plant. The Falcons placed four of their top five runners in the top twenty. Unfortunately they lose two of those, Lauren Gonzalez and Natalie Concepcion, to graduation. How will Coach Raposo's squad look in 2012? Check out our team preview on the Ferguson Falcons girls' cross country team.