Florida State High School Cross Country Championship Preview Ed Radice Park Tampa, FL Nov. 8, 2003
by Ricky Quintana
The FHSAA Cross Country Championships return to Ed Radice Park in Tampa, FL for the third consecutive year. Under the direction of former Tampa Leto Head Coach, Bobby Ennis, this meet has seen some great performances as the level of competition has risen to a national class level. This year should be no different.
Several new wrinkles have changed for this year edition of the state meet. First, the cross country season has been shortened by two weeks, hence the earlier than ever, Nov. 8th start. Concerns of hotter than normal temperatures due to change of the season have moved the meet to a night time schedule for the first time in history. Also, coaches will be allowed inside the course while the athletes are running allowing for added encouragement and coaching of their athletes.
CLASS 1A
Boys
Individuals
1. Tim McLeod, junior, Jacksonville, Episcopal. Has state leading time of 15:49 from the first meet of the season. Only one loss to a 1A runner this year. Transferred this summer from Trinity Prep. 2. Steve Curley, junior, Winter Park Trinity Prep. 2nd fastest runner in 1A. Defeated McLeod by 9 seconds at flrunners.com IV Invite (prestate). 1-1 vs. McLeod this year. 3. Austin Joiner, sophomore, Melbourne, Holy Trinity. 2003 state track 3200m runner-up is coming on strong late this season. Looks prepared to improve on his 4th place finish last year. 4. Nathan Holden, senior, Largo, Indian Rocks Christian. Last track season he surprised everyone with a victory in the 3200m at the 1A state track championships. It was over a 20 second PR. He could come up big again.
Teams
1. Jacksonville, Episcopal. The addition of McLeod is the key. His front running gives them the 5th man they need to take the title. 2. Winter Park, Trinity Prep. Still a threat with big guns Curley, Roberts and Truchelut. 4th and 5th man will be the difference. 3. Melbourne, Holy Trinity. Has a good top three with 4th and 5th men competitive with the top two teams. They seem to be coming around at the right time. 3. Largo, Indian Rocks Christian. With Holden up front, this team could make waves. Top 5 just a few steps from being in the top three. 4. Frostproof. Alvarado and Galarza could have big races that could make the difference in their team’s placing.
Girls
Individuals
1. Robyn DeBenedet, senior, Jacksonville, Episcopal. 1A’s top runner this season. 5 victories including the national caliber small schools race at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina in September. No 1A runner has defeated her this year. 2002 state cross country runner-up. 2. Rebecca Zuhlke, sophomore, Melbourne, Holy Trinity. Transfer from 3A Satellite. 2nd fastest runner in 1A. 3. Hailey Mercer, freshman, West Palm Beach, King’s Academy. The 2003 state 1600m and 3200m state track champ. Big time championship racer with great kick. 4. Melissa Kotchman, sophomore, Largo, Indian Rocks Christian. Always near the front and it should be no different here.
Teams
1. Melbourne, Holy Trinity. Only one loss to a Florida team regardless of class this year. Last year’s state champs. Only one sophomore among the top 7. 2. Gainesville, Oak Hall. Great talent, but have yet to put it together. They could surprise, but it will take all five having near personal best days. 3. Jacksonville, Episcopal. DeBenedet scoring in single digits separates them from the rest. 4. Largo, Indian Rocks Christian. Kotchman having a big day could help, but she will need her teammates to run well too.
CLASS 2A
Boys
Individuals
1. Andy Biladeau, junior, Tampa Jesuit. The state season leader at 15:15 for 5k, Biladeau recently ran his third fastest time for 3200m, 9:13 which is also the fastest 3200m in the state. Only one defeat this season against 2A runners and an 8th place finish in the prestigious seeded invitational race at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina in September. 2. Bryan Sharkey, junior, Miami, Gulliver Prep. Took second at the prestate meet with an all-time best of 15:20. A tenacious competitor who is having his best season ever. Has history of breakthrough performances at state. 3. Eduardo Arguello, junior, Miami, Belen Jesuit. Big win at prestate meet was a surprise to all but Arguello. He will need to be at the top of his game to do it again. 4tie. Chris Mullaney, junior, Jacksonville, Bishop Kenny. He made his move into the big time with his performance at prestate. He will be in the hunt. 4th tie. Enoch Nadler, senior, Keystone Heights. In early March, Nadler posted a then state track best of 9:39.39 for 3200m, but an injury kept him out for the remainder of the season. He got off to a slow start this year, but has turned it on as of late to set himself up perfectly for state.
Teams
1. Jacksonville, Bishop Kenny, The Crusaders are seeking their 6th state title in school history. For head coach, Brian Devine, this could be the third state championship in 7 years. Ranked #21 in the nation and #6 in the south by The Harrier. They scored a rare perfect 15 at regionals. 2. Miami, Belen Jesuit. Belen will need their top two runners, Arguello and Cruz, to place in the top ten. Cruz’s injured calf could keep him below 100%. 3. Tampa, Jesuit. They have the depth to keep them in contention for top two. Osborne, Sievers and Boza will need to come through with near PR performances for that to happen. They also scored a perfect 15 at regionals. 4. Miami, Gulliver Prep. Top two runners, Sharkey and Woerner, are big time racers who could possibly place in the top ten. 3rd, 4th and 5th runners will need to back them up with equally big races. The Raiders typically perform well at state.
Girls
Individuals
1. Nicole Schappert, junior, Boca Raton, Pope John Paul II. Schappert has been nursing foot injury all season long, but was able to post a 2A state leading time of 17:56 at prestate. She’s the 2003 state 1600m and 3200m champ. At, 100%, she is nearly unbeatable. 2. Jacqueline Areson, sophomore, Boca Raton, Pope John Paul II. Schappert’s teammate has come into her own. Great combination of speed and strength. 3. Mallory Wellman, junior, Jacksonville, Bishop Kenny. Tough competitor who had big win at region over Marees. 2003 state track 3200m runner-up. 4. Heather Marees, junior, Jacksonville, Bolles. Big time state competitor with potent finish.
Team
1. Jacksonville, Bishop Kenny. The #1 ranked Florida team regardless of class. With a win, they will move into a tie with Tampa Plant for the most team championships (8). If both the boys and girls win, it will be the 2nd time in school history that they have swept two state titles. The last time was in 2000. Only 11 teams in state history have turned the trick. They are also ranked # 7 in the South by the Harrier. 2. Boca Raton, Pope John Paul II. With two of the top runners in the state, they will be knocking on the door. They have a good chance to sneak into the top spot. 3. Jacksonville, Bolles. Due to the FHSAA calendar rescheduling, last year’s frosh track mile phenom, Amy Beth Gallogly ends her swim season a week earlier( 5th in the 200IM 1A finals) than the state cross country meet Bolles will have two runners near the front which should make them tough. 4. Pensacola, Catholic. Always solid at state. Good depth should leave them near the top of the heap.
CLASS 3A
Boys
Individuals
1. Jeff Masterson, junior, New Port Richey, Mitchell. Fastest 3A runner this year. 3rd in the 3200m at last year’s state champs. His time, 9:18.66, was an improvement on his best time by 20+ seconds. Lost father this season to cancer the week prior to the prestate meet, but still competed and finished 6th in the Race of Champions. 2. Alex Miletich, senior, Tallahassee, Chiles. The 2nd fastest 3A runner this year. Beat Masterson at prestate meet by 14 seconds with his 3rd place finish. 4th place in 3200m at state track champs last year, 6 seconds behind Masterson. 3. Justin Harbor, sophomore, Bunnell, Flagler Palm Coast. After a promising freshman season that saw him win his heat of the freshman mile at the adidas high school outdoor track and field championships in Raleigh, NC, Harbor has continued his mercurial improvement this cross country season. There’s no quit in this kid and he’ll be a factor. 4. Steven Bell, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes. At prestate, Bell ran with the pack before fading over the second half to finish in 15th place. With a month’s training, he’ll be stronger this time around and should be able to place high.
Team
1. Tallahassee, Chiles. The state’s best team and the nation’s 16th nationally ranked team. This could be the first team title in the school’s 5th year of existence. Moved from class 2A to 3A this year. 2. Bunnell, Flagler Palm Coast. Vying for their 3rd consecutive state title. A win would put them in a third place tie for the most team championships in Florida history. Historically, save their best for the state championship. 3. Pensacola, Washington. In Eric Mayes, they have one front runner, but a minute gap separates their top five runners. They also will need a great day from their top five as their #6 man is a minute back. 4. Ocala, Vanguard. With four seniors, this team has the experience they will need to do well at state. Nearly all their runners PR’ed at regions and if they can duplicate their efforts, they’ll finish #4 or higher.
Girls
Individuals
1. Laura Bowerman, senior, Tampa, King. The defending 3A state cross country champion got off to a great start, but was slowed by a mid September injury. She hasn’t been challenged this season and will need to get her typical mid race lead to win. Also, the state’s 3200m track champion. 2. Kelly Parrish, Ocala, Vanguard. The sophomore keeps getting better and better. She has a great finish and if she’s able to stay with Bowerman early, she may have a chance. 3. Valeria Rodriguez, senior. Miami, Our Lday of Lourdes. Member of the two time state team champs. 2003 800m state champ who runs soundly at state.
Kathryn Maxson, sophomore, Jupiter. Has improved significantly in one year. Look for her to step it up at state.
Teams
1. Tallahassee, Chiles. The Timberwolves will be looking for their first title and a sweep of the 3A classification. 11 teams in history have turned the trick. Chiles could be the second school of the day to win both. Very strong region showing. 2. Miami, Our Lady of Lourdes. Vying for the 3rd consecutive and fourth overall state championship. A win would place in a tie for 4th for consecutive team championships and 5th for the total number of team championships. 3. Fort Lauderdale, St. Thomas Aquinas. A very close third. They will need to have some PR performances at the front to win. 4. Niceville. A very close fourth. They are nearly even with Lourdes and St. Thomas. It could come down to the wire.
CLASS 4A
Boys
Individuals
1. Coleman Hoover, junior, Winter Park. The top returnee from last year (10th place). The fastest 4A runner this year. With a win, Winter Park will move into a tie for third for the number of individual champions. 2. Bryan Christian, senior, Longwood, Lyman. Coming on strong as of late. Definite threat to win. If he wins, Lyman moves into a tie for number one for the most individual champions. 3. Jake Wilke, senior, Taravella. Hasn’t been tested since prestate where he ran 16:02, a 18 second PR. Could step up big. 4. Alvin Charles, junior, Orlando, Colonial. Too close to call for this place. Possibly as close as last year’s 4A race where the top 7 were separated by seven seconds.
Teams
1. Winter Park. The winners of the last two 4A titles will be looking to add a third championship. A win would put them in a tie for 4th in Florida history for the number of team championships and a tie for 3rd for consecutive championships. 2. Gainesville, Buchholz. All five will have to be have better performances than they had at region. A win would put them in a tie for third in Florida history for the number of team championships. 3. Orlando, Colonial. Finished third behind the top two in 4A’s best region. 4. Longwood, Lyman. Top runner scores one digit. That separates them from the rest.
Girls
Individuals
1. Jenny Barringer, junior, Oviedo. Barringer has had the best cross country season of any high school girl over 5k in Florida history. Her best time this year, 17:23 at prestate, is approaching the legendary 4 time state champion, Betty Jo Springs( Bradenton, 1977), who’s two mile state cross country record, 10:32, equates to a 16:56 5k. She’s been under 18 minutes 4 times this year. No other girl has done that ever. She won last year’s race in a then state meet 5k record, 18:26. 2. Kerry Allen, sophomore, St. Petersburg. The only Florida girl to hand Barringer a defeat over two miles in the past two years. The savvy racing soph may be the only one to keep pace with Barringer. She will be closer than the 42 second loss to Barringer at prestate after a month more of training. 3. Devin Gapstur, senior, Martin Conty. Last year’s state runner-up who lost in the final 200m to Barringer. Very tough competitor who will also give her all to stay with the leaders. 4. Lavera Morris, senior, Orlando, Oak Ridge. The 2003 state 800m champion has had her best cross country season yet. Could surprise if the race becomes tactical.
Teams
1. Boca Raton, Spanish River. Early season injuries cost the Sharks valuable wins, but with everyone healthy, they are finally getting their legs underneath them. There’s a lot of pride at stake for the 6 time state titleist. A win would place them second in Florida history for the number of team championships and in a tie for 3rd for the number of consecutive team titles. They have a habit of coming up with great performances at state. 2. Gainesville, Buchholz. Will be looking to capture their first title in school history. Very solid top six who need to come up big at state. 3. Stuart, Martin County. Off day at regions. They’ll need to have a much better day to crack the top two. 4. Orlando, Oak Ridge. Morris up front and good 2-4 runners. #5 runner will be the key.
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