High school cross country 2021: Northeast Florida regional championship previews

Qualification: Top eight teams, top three individuals to state

Region 1-4A

At Santa Fe College, Gainesville

Nov. 6, 8 a.m. (girls), 8:30 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Bartram Trail, Creekside, Mandarin, Nease.

Girls team qualifiers: Bartram Trail, Creekside, Mandarin, Nease.

Boys individual qualifiers: Adrian Abercrombie, Atlantic Coast.

Girls individual qualifiers: Sierra Barrera, Oakleaf.

Outlook: There's no question about the boys individual favorite: Nease senior Rheinhardt Harrison, who looks ready to win everything in sight. How many local teams and runners will join him in the state finals? Based on times, there's every chance that Bartram Trail, led by Branden McDonald and Nolan Hemmen, and Creekside, paced by Jesse Benavides and Mac Williams, will challenge Nease for the top spot on the team podium, and Mandarin also has a shot at the top eight. Mandarin and Creekside have excellent top-five chances in the girls race, with the Mustangs' Annie Loehle, the Knights' Brooke Vlaun and Nease's Audrey Singletary among the most likely picks for high individual finishes.

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Region 1-3A

At Majette Park, Panama City

Nov. 6, 10 a.m. (girls), 10:45 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Fleming Island, Middleburg, Ponte Vedra, Ridgeview, St. Augustine, Stanton.

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

Boys individual qualifiers: Juan Bruce, Fletcher; Ryan Jones, Menendez; Nicholas Terry, White.

Girls individual qualifiers: Riley Reinhold, Menendez; Hope Carter, Orange Park; Alexandra Richmond, Stanton.

Outlook: Brace for a Shark attack. Led by freshman Sofia Bushkell, Ponte Vedra's girls have grown into a statewide force, and it'll be a major surprise if they don't win the region. The contest shapes up nicely for area schools, especially for Fleming Island, St. Augustine and Fletcher with their top runners Allie Knotts, Reilly Barber and Tessa Massa. There likely won't be anybody catching Leon's Patrick Koon for the top individual boys spot. But Ponte Vedra and Fleming Island both have a chance to challenge the Lions for team honors, and if Grant Doherty and John Keester IV are at their best, they could race into the top five. Ridgeview and St. Augustine have fairly good qualifying chances as well.

Region 1-2A

At New World Sports Complex

Nov. 5, 7:30 a.m. (girls), 8 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Fernandina Beach, Keystone Heights, Wolfson.

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

Boys individual qualifiers: Troy Winkler, Baker County; Tristan Holder, Bradford; Jalen Taylor, Paxon.

Girls individual qualifiers: Ymira Passmore, Palatka.

Outlook: There's every reason to expect a repeat of districts and another Bolles rout. The Bulldogs simply have too much depth and too much speed for the field, with Aidan Ryan and Jillian Candelino among a host of overall title contenders in blue and orange. Safe to say, though, that Bolles won't be the only Jacksonville team marching to finals. Bishop Kenny and Episcopal should qualify both their boys and girls squads, with Eagles freshman Lucrezia Gowdy particularly fast in the girls race, with Fernandina Beach, Suwannee, Tocoi Creek and Wolfson also in the running for the top eight.

Region 1-1A

At New World Sports Complex

Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m. (girls), 9 a.m. (boys)

Boys team qualifiers: Bishop Snyder, Christ's Church, Providence, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph, Trinity Christian.

Girls team qualifiers: Bishop Snyder, Harvest Community, Providence, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph, University Christian.

Boys individual qualifiers: Roberto Torres, Florida Deaf.

Girls individual qualifiers: Sarah Love, Danielle Raulerson (both Christ's Church); Mikayla Johnson, Trinity Christian.

Outlook: First, the easy part: Matthew Stratton should run away with this regional for St. Johns Country Day, and Graham Myers might even make it a Spartans 1-2. More than likely, that's enough to qualify the Spartans for the state meet, where Bishop Snyder, Providence and St. Joseph have a good chance to join them, even though Pensacola Christian is the overall favorite. The girls race is tougher to call, though University Christian's Laci Watford is a contender in her final regional. Bishop Snyder, Providence and St. Johns are the top local teams, with Harvest, St. Joseph, and UC also in the qualifying mix. The top spot likely comes down to Pensacola Christian or Tallahassee Maclay.

Region 2-1A

At Santa Fe College, Gainesville

Nov. 6, 9 a.m. (girls), 9:30 a.m. (boys)

Boys individual qualifiers: Caleb Baker, Peniel Baptist.

Outlook: Baker, the lone area qualifier, would need to substantially reduce his district time of 20:48 to reach the state meet.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville high school cross country 2021 regional meet preview