1A Girls Rankings

By: Mark Caulfield, Circle Christian School, [email protected]   

       
Team Rankings:

Commentary: We start this first poll looking at the Top 10 teams to begin 2015. Since some teams have not quite started their season yet, our first Poll with be a hybrid of first week results and pre-season projections. While Holy Trinity lost a number of athletes following the departure of their 20 time State Championship coach, the Top 3 remained and enough talent from a deep pool to hold onto the top spot going into 2015. They looked good opening up with a win at the Spikes and Spurs Meet las week. With a top 3 capable of finishing in the top 10 at State, that is a great place to start building a champion.  Last year’s runner-up Oak Hall has the talent, depth and experience to win it all as well. They return all 7 from last year’s team in addition to a top returner from their 2013 State Runner Up team.  The Eagles started 2015 slowly though finishing 3rd at the Jim Ryun Invitational just behind fellow Class 1A Circle Christian School and just ahead of the First Academy (Orlando). But with so much talent and a rich history of success, it is just a matter of time until fitness catches up. The Maclay School, which finished 4th in last year’s State Championship, also returns all seven runners. The Mauraders have plenty of depth and will need it as 2 of their top 7 runners work through some early season injuries. As always though, the team will be there when it counts. Circle Christian School, with a solid summer of training and a nice mix of experience and talented youth, make perhaps the biggest jump in the poll following an impressive opener at the Jim Ryun Invitational. The First Academy (Orlando) has consistently been a top team. This year the Royals return 6 from last year’s 8th place team and adds a talented middle schooler to make a run at the Top 3. This year should be an epic battle for the championship. Good luck to all!

Rank. (Previous Rank) Team, Region = Comments

1. (NR), Holy Trinity, Region 3 = 2014 State Finish: 1st; Spikes and Spurs (1st / 20:43 avg. / 3:22 split).

2. (NR), Oak Hall, Region 2 = 2014 State Finish: 2nd; Jim Ryun Inv. (3rd / 21:44 / 2:29 split)

3. (NR), Maclay School, Region 1 =  2014 State Finish: 4th; Returns Top 7 /  Partial Team at Cougar XC.

4. (NR), Circle Christian, Region 3 = 2014 State Finish: 11th;  Jim Ryun Inv. (2nd / 21:52 avg. / 1:31 split)

5. (NR), First Academy, Region 3 = 2014 State Finish: 8th; Jim Ryun Inv. (3rd / 22:05 avg. / 1:26 split)

6. (NR), Bishop Snyder, Region 1 = 2014 State Finish: 18th (2A); Bob Hans (4th / 22:17 avg, / 1:48 split)

7. (NR), Community School, Region 2 = 2014 State Finish: 6th; Riverdale Inv. (3rd / 21:57 avg. / 5:15 split)

8. (NR), Westminster Christian, Region 4 = 2014 State Finish: 5th; Park Vista (3rd / 23:10 avg. / 1:56 split)

9. (NR), Calvary Christian, Region 3 = 2014 State Finish: 7th; Returns Top 6 / Ran at Jim Ryun without Top 2

10. (NR), Miami Country Day, Region 4 = 2014 State Finish: 19th;  TKA Inv. (2nd / 23:08 avg. / 1:29 split)

Early Watch List:

St. Johns Country Day (Region 1); Providence School (Region 1); Benjamin School (Region 3); Boca Raton Christian (Region 4); The Kings Academy (Region 3); Shorecrest Prep (Region 2);  Father Lopez (Region 3)


Individual Rankings:

Commentary: In Class 1A State Competition there has not been a girl runner under 18:00 since 2010. In addition there has never been a year where Class 1A has put more than 3 girl runners under 18:00. This year one or both of those may fall. Freshman Rebecca Clark of Mount Dora Christian heads a strong and talented group into the 2015 season. Clark is the reigning State Cross Country Runner-up and was also Runner-up in Track in the 3200m. With 5 time State Champion Sarah Candiano now graduated, the door opens for a new champion. With an 18:29 cross country best from 2014 and a 10:57 PR in track for the 3200m, Clark seems poised to pursue the title. She opened up the 2015 season with an impressive 18:24 personal best at the Deland Invitational. Behind Clark there is a strong field of talented athletes capable of pushing one another toward fast times and potential state titles  lead by Senior Shelby Smith of Holy Trinity who boasts the fastest returning time of 18:05. She is followed by fellow Senior Hannah Brookover of Calvary Christian (Clearwater) who holds an 18:19 personal best and a 10:47 PR for 3200m on the Track. These three finished 2-3-4 last year at the State Cross Country Championship and look to continue that battle for the top spot now. Chief contenders looking to get in the mix include talented 8th grader Maya Espinosa of Baker High School (18:48), Sophomore Grace Blair of Oak Hall (18:49), Senior Lindsay Tomaini of Community School of Naples (19:07), Samantha Folio of Holy Trinity (19:19), and Caroline Willis of Maclay School (19:19).

This year could shape up as a classic for the girls. Good luck to all!

Rank. (Previous Rank) Name, Grade – Team = Time / Comments

1. (NR), Rebecca Clark, 9th, Mount Dora Christian = 2014 State Finish: 2nd; 18:24 (2nd) at Deland Inv.

2. (NR), Shelby Smith, 12th, Holy Trinity  = 2014 State Finish: 3rd; 19:30 (2nd) at Spikes & Spurs.

3. (NR), Hannah Brookover, 12th, Calvary Christian = 2014 State Finish: 4th; No 2015 Results; 18:19 PR (2014)

4. (NR), Lindsay Tomaini, 12th, Community School = 2014 State Finish: 8th; 19:27 (2nd) at Riverdale Inv.

5. (NR), Grace Blair, 10th, Oak Hall = 2014 State Finish: 6th; 20:14 (1st) at Jim Ryun Inv.

6. (NR), Samantha Folio, 11th, Holy Trinity = 2014 State Finish: 10th; 19:40 (2nd) at Warrior Jamboree.

7. (NR), Caroline Willis, 11th, Maclay School = 2014 State Finish: 9th; 20:15 (1st) at Cougar XC Inv.

8. (NR), Maya Espinosa, 8th, Baker School = 2014 State Finish: 5th; No 2015 Results; 18:48 PR (2014)

9. (NR), Sydney Smith, 12th, Holy Trinity Academy = 2014 State Finish: 19th; 20:16 (9th) at Spikes & Spurs.

10. (NR), Olivia Rovin, 11th, Shorecrest Prep = 2014 State Finish: 13th; 20:44 (5th) at Jim Ryun Inv.

11. (NR), Jasmine Hinapie, 8th, Boca Raton Christian = 2014 State Finish: 17th; 20:38 (1st) at Park Vista Inv. 

12. (NR), Sophie Barry, 12th, Community School = 2014 State Finish: 14th; 20:48 (3rd) at Riverdale Inv.

13. (NR), Kaytlyn Buschman, 10th, Pensacola Christian = 2014 State Finish: 36th; 20:37 (4th) at Pace Inv.

14. (NR) Karah Hammontree, 12th Circle Christian = 2014 State Finish: 68th; 20:49 (7th) at Jim Ryun Inv.

15. (NR), Lindsey Rosenberg, 9th, Oak Hall = 2014 State Finish: 37th; 21:14 (12th) at Jim Ryun Inv.

16. (NR), Ekaterina Loshkareva, 12th Community School = 2014 State Finish: 40th; 21:00 (5th) at Riverdale Inv.

17. (NR), Kenzie Farrish, 11th, Holy Trinity Academy = 20:58 (19th) at Spikes and Spurs

18. (NR), Caroline Crist, 10th, First Academy = 2014 State Finish: 24th; 21:12 (5th) at Warrior Jamboree

19. (NR), Michaela Scurti, 12th, Bishop Snyder = 21:09 (9th) at Bob Hans Inv.

20. (NR), Marcella Perez, 11th, St. Francis HS = 2014 State Finish: 45th; 21:09 (10th) at Bob Hans Inv.

Early Watch List:

Brooke Santiesteban, 12th Calvary Christian (Clearwater); Natasha Stump, 11th, Westminster Christian; Aubrey Woods, 9th, Providence School; Lauren Perry, 11th, Oak Hall; Jaden Ault, 9th, Circle Christian School; Lindsay James, 7th, Maclay School; Sierra Oliveira, 8th, Evangelical Christian