High school cross country 2021: FHSAA state championship previews for Northeast Florida
High school cross country state championships
Friday, Nov. 12
At Apalachee Regional Park, Tallahassee
CLASS 4A
Time: 9:10 a.m. (girls), 10 a.m. (boys)
Boys team qualifiers: Bartram Trail, Creekside, Nease.
Girls team qualifiers: Bartram Trail, Creekside, Mandarin, Nease.
Outlook: All eyes turn to Nease senior Rheinhardt Harrison, unbeaten all season and poised to conclude his glittering high school career as the first Northeast Florida runner to win three consecutive boys individual cross country titles. Based on the times, it's hard to imagine any opponents coming close. But there might be more than one trophy coming back to St. Johns County. Creekside and Bartram Trail, paced by Mac Williams and Branden McDonald respectively, charged to the head of the pack in regionals along with Harrison's Nease, and it wouldn't take a drastic change in times to see one of the local schools challenge favorite Viera for the top spot. Area teams aren't as well positioned in the girls race, which shapes up as a contest of Lithia Newsome, Timber Creek, Lakewood Ranch and a much-improved Gainesville Buchholz. But Gateway Conference champion Mandarin, with senior Annie Loehle running the best times of her career, and Creekside have the speed to race into the top 10.
CLASS 3A
Time: 7:55 a.m. (girls), 8:45 a.m. (boys)
Boys team qualifiers: Fleming Island, Ponte Vedra.
Girls team qualifiers: Fleming Island, Fletcher, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine.
Boys individual qualifiers: Ben Koppman, St. Augustine; James Snipes, Ridgeview.
Outlook: It's looking like a special year for the Ponte Vedra girls squad. The Sharks chomped through districts and regionals, with Sofia Bushkell staking her claim as a rising distance star and Ellie Moritz and Amelia Tackling consistently running near the front. The prize could be a first-ever team championship, but they'll have to fight off Miami Lourdes and Seminole Osceola to get it. Also near the front are St. Augustine, in the last high school race for Jackets star Reilly Barber, and Fleming Island. The boys race looks likely to tilt toward Belen Jesuit, always a power from South Florida, but the top five may not be out of reach for Fleming Island or Ponte Vedra. The Golden Eagles are coming off a regional championship, with a personal-best from Alex Bendig and excellent balance throughout, while the Sharks are particularly strong at the front with Grant Doherty.
CLASS 2A
Time: 7:30 a.m. (girls), 8:20 a.m. (boys)
Boys team qualifiers: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Suwannee.
Girls team qualifiers: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Tocoi Creek.
Boys individual qualifiers: Andrew Marello, Wolfson; Jalen Taylor, Paxon.
Girls individual qualifiers: Aislinn Bell, Fernandina Beach.
Outlook: Could this be the year for a Bolles double? The Bulldogs have captured both boys and girls team titles only once before, in 2018, but after sweeping the Region 1-2A meet and sweeping the top seven positions in the boys race, it's a possibility. With exceptional depth and balance, the Bolles boys might be hitting their stride at the perfect moment, with Will Brady, Colin Duhnoski and Aidan Ryan as top threats for the podium. It looks like a showdown with Satellite for first place, and not to be ignored are the Bishop Kenny boys team and senior Alex Jubran. On paper, there's far less suspense for the girls race: Bolles set a low score record last year, and there's every reason to expect the Bulldogs to hold off Gulliver Prep and St. Brendan to chase down championship No. 13. Bolles could pick up both the team and individual titles, with regional champion Jillian Candelino as the favorite. Look for Bishop Kenny and Episcopal, including top runners Mary Biagini for the Crusaders and Lucrezia Gowdy for the Eagles, to finish in or around the top five.
CLASS 1A
Time: 9:35 a.m. (girls), 10:25 a.m. (boys)
Boys team qualifiers: Bishop Snyder, Providence, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph.
Girls team qualifiers: Bishop Snyder, Providence, St. Joseph, University Christian.
Girls individual qualifiers: Essie Melicharek, St. Johns Country Day; Sydney Woods, Harvest Community.
Outlook: Watch the front of the boys race. St. Johns Country Day's Matthew Stratton has come close so many times before, and this could be the senior's time to crown his career with a championship. He's broken the 16-minute mark five times this season, including a 15:16 at the Apalachee Regional Park this fall. A similar time could push the Spartans boys into the team top 10, where the favorites are Circle Christian, Gainesville Oak Hall, Indian Rocks Christian and Pensacola Christian. Based on the numbers, Cambridge Christian and Oak Hall are the chief contenders in the girls field, but Providence could make a push for the top five. Watch for University Christian senior Laci Watford to race near the head of the pack.
Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 2021 Florida high school cross country championships: Jacksonville team previews
