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FHSAA cross country: 2022 state high school championship meet preview

clayton freeman, florida times-union
·3 min read

High school cross country state championships

Saturday, Nov. 5

At Apalachee Regional Park, Tallahassee

CLASS 4A

Time: 9:55 a.m. (girls), 10:45 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Creekside, Nease.

Girls team qualifiers: Creekside, Mandarin, Nease.

Boys individual qualifiers: Gavin Nelson, Mandarin.

Girls individual qualifiers: Sierra Barrera, Oakleaf.

Outlook: After missing out by tiebreaker to Viera in 2021, is Creekside ready to top the boys podium for the third time? All indications say they have a real chance thanks to  their depth: Jack Dravo, Hudson Finocchio, Jacob Harvey, Tanner Simonds, Mac Williams and Jack Zurn all have excellent times this year. Their primary challengers look like Sunlake, Tampa Plant and Miami Columbus. Also watch for Nease's Matt Ryan to challenge for the individual podium, where Buchholz's Emerson Miller is the favorite. In the girls race, regional third-place finisher Creekside and the rest of the pack appear likely to be chasing Buchholz, a team that also includes an individual contender in Kate Drummond. Creekside could challenge for a top-five finish overall, while the Knights' Alyson Johnson and Oakleaf's Sierra Barrera have the speed for high individual finishes.

CLASS 3A

Ponte Vedra's Sofia Bushkell (right) is among several Sharks contenders entering Saturday's Class 3A cross country championship.
Ponte Vedra's Sofia Bushkell (right) is among several Sharks contenders entering Saturday's Class 3A cross country championship.

Time: 9:30 a.m. (girls), 10:20 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Fleming Island, Menendez, Ponte Vedra.

Girls team qualifiers: Fleming Island, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine.

Boys individual qualifiers: Julio Rodriguez, Ridgeview; John Syla, Stanton.

Outlook: Last year, the Ponte Vedra girls made history by winning the Class 3A team championship, and they're favorites to repeat the feat. Lindy White, Daisy Ross and Sofia Bushkell give the Sharks' girls team a trio of top-10 contenders. Look for Fleming Island and St. Augustine in the top 10 as well, with Katie Thompson heading the Golden Eagles' charge and Rylan Holmquist, Katelyn Lawrence and Lauren Voutour leading the Yellow Jackets. Miami giant Belen Jesuit is the clear top pick in the boys team race, with Tallahassee Leon's Patrick Koon similarly entrenched as individual favorite, but Ponte Vedra and Fleming Island shouldn't be far behind. Ponte Vedra senior Grant Doherty may be poised to close his high school 5K career with a top-10 finish, and Graham Myers and John Keester IV could also find themselves in the head pack.

CLASS 2A

Bolles senior Aidan Ryan (65) leads the field along the St. Johns River during the final mile of the Florida High School Athletic Association District 2-2A cross country meet at Bishop Kenny High School on October 17, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Bolles senior Aidan Ryan (65) leads the field along the St. Johns River during the final mile of the Florida High School Athletic Association District 2-2A cross country meet at Bishop Kenny High School on October 17, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

Time: 8:15 a.m. (girls), 9:05 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Suwannee.

Girls team qualifiers: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Fernandina Beach, Tocoi Creek.

Boys individual qualifiers: Andrew Marello, Wolfson.

Girls individual qualifiers: Addison Sharp, Wolfson.

Outlook: Anything other than two more trophies for Bolles would shock the state. Champion in both the boys and girls races last year, the Bulldogs' teams are loaded, fielding not only the individual favorites in both events (seniors Aidan Ryan and Jillian Candelino) but outstanding depth, including runners like Chris Joost and Andrew McGraw in the boys race and Ella Mickler and Elizabeth Csikai in the girls competition. And Bolles may not be the only Jacksonville team cheering in Class 2A: Bishop Kenny is a legitimate candidate for runner-up honors in both the boys and girls races, and Lucrezia Gowdy gives Episcopal's girls a serious podium chance as well. Also watch for Wolfson's Andrew Marello, competing as an individual with prospects of top-10 finish.

CLASS 1A

Time: 7:50 a.m. (girls), 8:40 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Providence, St. Joseph, Trinity Christian.

Girls team qualifiers: Providence, St. Johns Country Day.

Boys individual qualifiers: Tyson Manley, Christ's Church; Richard Nichols, St. Johns Country Day.

Girls individual qualifiers: Paige Brammer, Kira Casane (both St. Joseph); Truth King, University Christian.

Outlook: The 1A boys team race looks to be heading to Indian Rocks Christian, Cambridge or Circle Christian, but freshman Walker White leads a Providence roster with a real chance at a top-10 team finish and Christ's Church seventh-grader Tyson Manley has a chance to further lower his nation-leading time for the class of 2028. Providence also could push for the top 10 in the girls race, where Cambridge, Gainesville Oak Hall, Pensacola Christian and perennial power Tallahassee Maclay enter with the fastest times.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school cross country 2022: Northeast Florida state meet preview