Scouting Report: Bishop Kenny Boys Zack Bias Sep 10, 2014

In 2013 the Bishop Kenny boys finished as runner ups in the class 2A State Cross Country finals. This resilient finish was quite unexpected, given the injuries, and setbacks the team had to face all year. However the Kenny boys lost three important members of last year’s 2nd place squad, the key loss being 2013 2A State 1600m Champion, David Yarborough. The Crusaders have a long tradition of excellence; however they will likely be fighting an uphill battle to return to the top in 2014.  

Scouting Reports: Sarasota Boys Todd Grasley Sep 03, 2014

Heading into the 2013 cross country season, the Sarasota High School boy's cross country team thought they might be in a rebuilding year after losing a large senior class. However, juniors Zack Summerall and sophomore Adam Bratmueller stepped up in the leadership role and helped the Sailors finish 8th at the 3A Cross Country Finals. Summerall is back for a final hurrah after finishing third and Bradtmueller hopes to improve his 17th place finish. Only six of the top eighteen in arguably the most competive class return, making Summerall and Bradtmueller top five locks and a potent 1-2 punch.

Scouting Report: Belen Jesuit Boys Todd Grasley Sep 02, 2014

Belen Jesuit has been a powerhouse in boy's cross country over the last decade. The Wolverines have won seven of the last eight state titles, including 2013 where they beat by runner-up Chiles by 30 points. Coach Frankie Ruiz's squad loses three of it's top four, but brings back Ryan Rodriguez, who has experience being on previous state title teams, and will lead a group of juniors, which Ruiz calls the strength of this team. The team will face a tough test in November from the likes of Chiles and Leon who both have very skilled teams. Find out more about Belen and their quest for number eight in our Scouting Report.

Scouting Reports Sarasota girls Todd Grasley Aug 26, 2014

Family. Coach John Stevenson says no matter how much talent his Sarasota girl's cross country team has, they have to believe in each other and support each other. That was the key take away from a 2013 season that saw the Sailors capture the 3A runner-up trophy and fall just 13 points shy of knocking off Estero. The only person that doesn't return from that squad is Emily Harding, who has graduated and is now running for the University of South Carolina. 

Scouting Report: Fort Walton Beach Boys Todd Grasley Aug 26, 2014

A year after finishing third at the 3A Cross Country Finals behind Belen Jesuit and Chiles, Fort Walton Beach will have a tough road ahead of them if they want to compete at that level in 2014. The Vikings proved you don't need a front runner to dominate, but instead used a pack running philosophy to post the fastest 1-5 split in the class of 22 seconds. Unfortunately, the team loses four runnerse from that team and will rely on senior Trey LaNasa who was 22nd at last year's state meet to carry the load.

Scouting Report: Bolles Girls Todd Grasley Aug 25, 2014

2007. That was the last year the Bolles girls cross country team didn't make the podium. From 2008 - 2013 they have tallied three state titles and three runner-up finishes and have finished in the top five the last TWENTY years.The Bulldogs look to make it three state titles  in a row in 2014 and will have their top four runners back, plus a plethora of talent behind them. Junior Mackenzie Wilson has made five Cross Country Finals appearances dating back to when she was a sixth and seventh grader at the Geneva School and as an 8th grader at Episcopal. She has finished in the top thirty everytime. In 2012 she was the 2A runner-up and in 2013 finished fourth. Behind her is a corp of young, but experienced runners. 

Scouting Report: Fort Walton Beach Girls Todd Grasley Aug 22, 2014

The Fort Walton Beach girl's cross country wrapped up 2013 with conference and district championships, a regional runner-up finish, and a fifth place showing at the 3A. Cross Country Finals. The Vikiings will have junior Emma Rudman lead the charge this year. Rudman was fourth at last year's state meet and comes in as the top returner after the top three graduated. She told us earlier this month in her summer training log  that she has been training with the boys and logging hundreds of miles as well as combining swimming and cross training into her daily workouts. She ran a season best of 18:19.81 last year and after an incredible track season that saw her post times of 10:50.96 for 3,200m (3A state champion) and 4:53.36 for 1,600m (2nd at 3A state championship), she has goals of going sub 18 minutes this fall.

Scouting Reports: Winter Park Girls Todd Grasley Aug 20, 2014

When you look at the 4A rankings, Winter Park girl's cross country team comes in at number eight. However, the list doesn't take into account transfers and incoming freshman so you can throw those numbers out the window, as the Wildcats last year's 4A Cross Country Finals runner-up will be a definite title contender in 2014 along with South Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas. Juniors Katherine Kuhn and Emily Nix will be joined by sophomore Hana Herndon, Michigan transfer Elizabeth Jenkins and Lake Highland Prep transfer Maddison Larabee, as well as perhaps the top incoming freshman in the state Rafaella Gibbons to form one of the deepest teams in the state. We caught up with Coach McWilliams to get the scouting report on the 2014 Winter Park Wildcats.

Scouting Report: Seabreeze Girls Todd Grasley Aug 19, 2014

The Seabreeze girl's cross country team was ranked 35th coming into the 2013 season. The Sandcrabs won all their dual meets, were 8th at the UF Mt. Dew Invitational and finished tenth in the flrunners.com Girls Race of Champions. In the post season they claimed a district title and regional runner-up trophy, and were third in a very competitive 3A Cross Counfy Finals. 

Scouting Reports: Lake Mary Boys Todd Grasley Aug 18, 2014

The Lake Mary boy's cross country team escaped the Region of Death in 2013, by clinching the fifth of six spots to advance to the Cross Country Finals. Picked as the ninth best team in their REGION, they finished ninth at the Cross Country Finals, the best finish in school history. This year the Rams return four of their top five from that team including a powerful 1-2 punch in seniors Ryan DeGale and Christian Amans who were 17th and 42nd at the state meet  in 2013.

Scouting Report: McKeel Academy Boys Todd Grasley Aug 15, 2014

New coach Reginal (Reg) Hay will take over the boys cross country coach at McKeel Academy. Although he may be a new face, the Wildcats only graduated one runner from a 2013 team that finished fifth in 2A. A majority of the team has been together for the past three years and have that one last shot mentality to finish out their high school careers on a strong note. The varsity seven consists of Casey Brady, Caleb Brady, Thomas Good, Leif Henrikson, Dakota Jones, Duncan Lippincott, and Dylan Sadowsky. 

Scouting Reports: Evangelical Christian School Girls Todd Grasley Aug 14, 2014

The 2014 cross country season is less than a month away and teams across the state are already preparing. Some are building from the beginning, others fine tuning and bonding with their teammates. At Evangelical Christian School in Fort Myers, the Sentinels are ready to go. The team returns their top five from a 2013 group that was district runner-up, fourth at the regional meet, and seventh at the Cross Country Finals.

Scouting Report: West Orange Girls Todd Grasley Aug 13, 2014

West Orange girl's cross country team accomplished one of their best seasons in school history in 2013. Junior Jayden Davila-McClary became the first runner in nearly thirty years to advance to state for the Warriors. The was 11th at the regional championship and just 22 points shy of qualifying for state.

Scouting Report: Ocala Vanguard Girls Todd Grasley Aug 12, 2014

After a two year drought of not qualifying for the Cross Country Finals the ladies of Ocala Vanguard won a regional championship (3A-2) and finished 9th at the state meet in 2013. For many of the girls it was their first experience running. Another year experience should give their top five the boost they need to improve and finish in the top five or higher. The Knights have a potent 1-2 punch in seniors Audrey Carpenter and Elizabeth Mulford. The duo placed 29th and 31st respectively last year and have the 9th and 14th fastest times coming into the season.

Scouting Report: Winter Park Boys Todd Grasley Aug 11, 2014

Lucky number seven. The Winter Park boys' cross country program has won six state championships including a run of five in six years (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006). After an eight year drought atop the podium, Coach Will Anguish feels confident about this year's team and their chances. The Wildcats looked in control for the first 500 meters last year, but unfortunately it's 5,000 meters and not 500 as they finished in 11th. They will return their top fifteen runners from last season. Talk about depth of a team.

Scouting Report: Columbus Boys Todd Grasley Aug 06, 2014

Christopher Columbus High School in Miami was a cross country powerhouse from 2008-2011 winning the 4A title three times before coming in second in 2011. Since then it's been a different story for the Explorers, who have been in uncharted territory, with three different coaches in the last three years. Dominick Cabera and Eric Pino who ran for Columbus themselves, and served as assistants on those winning teams will be at the helm. After finishing 14th last year, the team hasn't dwelled on the past, instead focusing on the present with the motto, "new season and new goals".

XC Scouting Report: Northport Girls Todd Grasley Aug 05, 2014

In 2012, Northport High School had a team of five girls and didn't have enough points to score at districts. In 2013, the goal was to have enough athletes to compete and score at invitationals. A large group of incoming freshman and a few surprise gave the Bobcats several impressive team performances including a win at the Manasota Track Club Invite, the team's first district championship (4A-8) and a 4A-2 regional runner-up trophy. Coach James Simpson hopes that youth and potential is on display once again this year with a core group that returns all but one senior from last year's fifth place team. Maddie Krstec returns for her sophomore season as the top finisher for North Port at the state meet, where she came in 21st, and boasting a personal best of 19:12.60.