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4A State Meet Preview - Florida FHSAA State Cross Country Championships 2015 - DyeStatFLPublished by
4A State Meet Preview
by Dean Headley
Girls 4A - Start time 7:55AM
Looking back to the 2014 State Finals, the early races were run on on a frost-covered ARP course. We are not expecting frost this Saturday but if we were, the 2015 4A girls would burn it off in no time.
Runners to Watch
Rafaella Gibbons, Soph, Winter Park
Defending State Champ, Won Pre-State, 27th at NXN 2014
Coming off of a comfortable-looking 17-second victory over Urzua and DeLay at Region 1 Saturday. Has had great experiences at this course.
Daniella Urzua, Jr, Lake Mary
Won the Florida Mountainn Dew Invitational, 4th at Pre-State, 2nd to Gibbons at Region 1. 8th at 2014 Finals
Showed she can run with Rafaella.
Kayley DeLay, Jr, Fletcher
2nd at Pre-State, Won at least 5 races this year, 4th at 2014 Finals.
Brought the right attitude to Region 1 Saturday - Halloween makeup and a witch hat.
Bailey Hertenstein, Soph, Riverview
Flrunners Champ (18:02), Undefeated in 2015, 15th at 2014 Finals.
Daesha Rogers, Jr, North Miami
Beat Alexa Cruz at Region 4 (19:26), Two 2nd's and a 3rd at State Finals.
Alexa Cruz, Sr, St. Thomas Aquinas (Alabama commit)
4th at Mtn. Dew, 17:54 at District, 2013 State Champ.
Predictions
Gibbons to defend her title but will have company heading up "The Wall" for the final left turn.
The Winter Park girls will defend their 2014 State Championship. Winter Park finished 4th at PreState, with Dr. Phillips finishing 6th.
Winter Park also won the Coach Benson Double Dip at Marist HS in Atlanta with Dr. Phillips finishing 4th.
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Battling for 2nd will be Dr. Phillips, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sarasota, Mandarin. West Orange, Lourdes, and Winter Springs will round out the top 8.
Boys 4A - Start time 8:45AM
Runners to Watch
Joshua Jacques, Sr, Lyman
Defending State Champ, 3rd at PreState, 3rd at Flrunners, 3rd at Florida Mountain Dew
15:15 Season Best.
Adam Bradtmueller, Sr, Sarasota
2nd PreState (SB 15:23), 11th Flrunners, 8th Florida Mountain Dew.
Jordan Armstrong, Sr, Lyman
7th Florida Mountain Dew, 7th Pre-State, 8th 2014 Finals.
Justin Pacifico, Sr, Flagler Palm Coast
20th Pre-State, 9th Florida Mountain Dew.
Carlin Berryhill, Sr, Coral Reef
10th Pre-State, Runner-Up at 2014 Finals.
Predictions
Joshua Jacques in a squeaker defends his 2014 Title.
I expect the guys from St. Thomas Aquinas will hold off Mandarin, Winter Springs, defending State Champs Lyman, Sarasota, Coral Reef and Ferguson for the 2015 crown.
Notable - If Coach Becker can put it all together, Coral Reef boys may be in the hunt. Finals runner up the last 2 years. This is Becker's final hurrah as he says he is retiring. No Miami-Dade public school has won a State championship in 52 years thus Becker is extremely motivated to go out on top. More news |
