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Coaches Perspectives - Florida State Cross Country Invitational
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Coach Fields - Fort Walton Beach
We work hard all week for the opportunity to celebrate by racing on Saturday. The FSU meet this weekend provides us the opportunity to go head to head with some of the best, if not the best, teams in the state on one of the best courses in the state. We have equally some of the best coaches in the state (Gowan, Whiteside, and Wills to name a few) in the Panhandle and competing against their teams continues to make us better and better each week and each year. This weekend will be no exception.
It's easy to tell the kids that all of these races are just practice and tune ups for the State series, but no doubt that just goes in one ear and out the other. They want to win everytime they step out on the course. This years FWB CC team is easilly the best top to bottom that we've ever had (and that's after having runners like Matt Bevil, Luc Lawrence, and James Uthmeier) and getting to watch them each race is a thrill. This weekend they get challenged once again and I know they are up for it. The girls are also doing great and have really worked hard and they know that the competition is stiff with Chiles in our Region as well. You can't be the best unless you can beat the best and the FSU meet gives us another chance to prove, test, and measure ourselves.
Bottom line is we are excited about the race and ready for the gun!
Coach Gower - Walton HS GA on FSU Invite The Walton girls team are the defending Georgia State Champions in the largest classification (AAAAA). They will be bringing a talented squad of 10 to compete this weekend at FSU. While they will be without their #1 runner, junior Alexa Womack, they are still a very deep team and will be ready to compete against some of Florida's best. Sophomore Emily Bridges will be leading the charge (winner of the Carrollton Invitational AAAAA race) with veteran help from seniors Kelsey Taylor, Lia Sewell, Maddie Seiloff, Jordan Rapowitz, and Tali Brennan. Add in a few young runners in sophomore Sophia Watkins and freshmen Sara Hardin, Christie Sanders, and Katie Sanders, and the Lady Raiders hope to finish high up on the team standings.
Coach Sumner - Godby HS on FSU Invite This is going to be the biggest and best XC meet FSU has hosted. The elite races should be exciting and extremely competitive. There are 39 boys and 38 girls teams scheduled to compete. In the first race of the morning we will get to see the boys square off in an extremely tough team competition. Fort Walton Beach jumped out early this season with a strong showing at the Panhandle XC Jamboree and one of their top guys was not even there. They will be looking to see if they can hang with Holy Trinity, who is projected to be one of the top 5 teams in the state, but both will have their hands full with Georgia powerhouse, Walton HS. Coached by Travis Gower, they are the favorites coming into the race. For those who don’t know Coach Gower, he was the coach of one of Georgia’s greatest athletes, Ben Hubers. The young Timberwolves from Chiles will also be fighting to get in the top 3. These young men had a phenomenal regional meet last year and are focused to bring back a championship to Chiles. This will be a good test for them. I haven’t seen results from 2A favorites Ransom Everglades or 4A power Plant (5th at Deja Vu), but I know these coaches are bringing a team to contend and they should be up there in the top 5. A good preview of 3A Region 1 will include Chiles, Leon, Washington, Niceville, and FWB. As for the individuals, it’s early still so there is no clear cut favorite, but look for Bert Irigoyen of Ransom Everglades, Thomas Howell of Niceville, Brian Sullivan of Walton, Trevor Grant of Lambert, and Daniel Moore of Holy Trinity to lead the way along with many others who are capable of stealing the show.
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