At DistancePreps.com our motto is "The Future Runs Now."  As we did in 2013 , we will continue celebrating the XC season by honoring the future stars and dedicated young runners of the sport weekly as "Frosh of the Week".  The first large regular season meets started in earnest and we saw some fine performances and leaders for the next generation of harriers emerge in fine fashion.  For a lot of the freshman across the State, this was their first opportunity to run against upper classmen and, for many, was their first race of their high school careers.  Many more big meets await these runners over the next 4 years and we look forward to following their progress.

Our first weekly award winners are no strangers to fans from across the State.  Over the course of their Middle School years, they  have become close training partners and friends.

Rafaella Gibbons, Winter Park HS (Astronaut Invitational, 18:27.70)

Rafaella Gibbons is our Girls Frosh of the Week

The FLYRA Middle School record holder in the 3K and two time FLYRA State Cross Country champion for Glenridge Middle, Rafaella's emergence as one of the preeminent future stars of the sport has been much anticipated.  Now a Wildcat at Winter Park, Rafaella joins one of the State's best cross-country teams under the tutelage of Coach Kristin McWilliams.  Her first race in the high school ranks was simply spectacular.  Not only did she win the race, but she showed uncanny instinctive racing prowess. 

Rafaella's Race Highlights Video - 2014 Astronaut Invitational

Nicknamed Rafey (RAF-fee), she indicated, "Training is going well and I love being on the Winter Park Cross Country Team! All of the girls are very supportive and running with the girls adds to the experience of being on a team! I was very happy with how I did and how the team did at Astronaut. My goal was to be around 18:30 and I'm very glad that I accomplished that! Also our goal as a team was to win the meet and I'm also very happy that we accomplished that goal! My goals for the season are to run sub 18, win as many races as I can, and medal in State! My team's goals are to win State and to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals!"

Winter Park's Coach Kristin McWilliams adds, "Rafaella is a coach's dream. She is incredibly talented, hard working, coachable, determined, competitive and a total team player. When she steps onto the cross country course or track, she is a fierce competitor and runs with confidence well beyond her years.  Rafey takes care of the little details that are necessary to be a champion. Despite her many successes at a young age, she remains humble and puts her team above herself. Rafey is kind, fun, intelligent and goal oriented. I am so proud to see her wearing the WP orange and black and look forward to four exciting years ahead!"

Photo Credit - Cassie Armstrong, Banner by Robert "Twangster" Brown

Bryce Bell, Lyman HS  (Astronaut Invitational, 16:42.10)

Bryce Bell is our boys Frosh of the Week

Bryce is well accustomed to the rigors of distance racing.  After a stellar career in the Middle School ranks where he competed for South Seminole Middle School, Bryce's first outing for the Greyhounds was extremely significant.  Placing third on the boys team was a huge factor in his team's overall win at the Astronaut Invitational by only 4 points over the Holy Trinity Tigers.  Coach Finke needed a great showing from his #4 and #5 and his young freshman Bryce, solidifyed the middle of his order during his first event at the high school level.  A top 10 finish at Chain of Lakes was just superb.

Bryce's Race Highlights Video - Astronaut Invitational 2014

Bell Bryce notes, "The Lyman coaches and the guys have made my transition from middle school to high school super easy."  It's obvious Bryce came into the season ready to race.  "We've put in a great base this summer, and now we are starting our workouts and they will hopefully take us toward our team goal of placing at state."

Coach Fred Finke at Lyman notes, "Obviously adding Bryce to our program has been a boost athletically, but what is not obvious is the impact he has had on the team. A lot of times when an athlete of his caliber comes into a program, that athlete can have either a positive or negative effect on the team component. In Bryce's case: he came in, fit in with the team right away and every day he is a team player.  He makes everyone want to run better; Not from the sense in racing in practice, but by demonstrating his dedication and work ethic. We already had a band of brothers, and when Bryce came in, the band just grew by one."

There are many factors that come into play when determining the "Frosh of the Week", including; time, place, rank against other freshmen, and overall impact they have on their team. We will not highlight the same Frosh more than once and the honors are purely subjective. If you wish to nominate your athlete for "Frosh of the Week" e-mail us at [email protected] with their name and why they are deserving of the honor.

RELATED - SEE ALL FROSH OF THE WEEK FOR 2014 | 2013