3A Boys Rankings

By: Eric Pino, Christopher Columbus HS, [email protected]           

Team Rankings:   

Commentary: Being new to this and not too familiar with the 3A classification, I thought the best way to come up with ranking was using a combination of FLRunners database tools such as a 3A Virtual meet (all teams), a virtual meet of last year’s State Meet (using only those teams), as well as mile and 2 mile times from Track Season.  If there were transfers or additions that I’m not aware of, I will be after the racing gets underway.  These rankings were done prior to any week 1 training.

This year seems to be a 2 team race for the win, followed by two, 2 team pockets fighting amongst each other to round out the top 6.  The field opens up from there.

Rank. (Previous Rank) Team, Region = Comments

1. (N/A) Belen Jesuit, 4 = Mirror images of Creekside as I see it.  There is a 2 sec difference in total time (based off PR) over Creekside which is incidental.  Each runner is separated by less than 7 seconds (5 of the 7 are less than 3 secs apart).  I give Belen a slight edge right now because of the amount of seniors they have and how often they’ve competed at the highest level (plus I know they have a farm of runners that can step up).

2. (N/A) Creekside, 1 = Mirror image of Belen (see notes above).  5/7 runners are juniors which is a could be dangerous for Belen if the boys matured physically and make that jump sometimes seen Soph to Junior year.  What Creekside does have on Belen is 1-5 split that is 5 secs faster (based on PR). Is 5 secs a big deal? Probably not but when it’s this close, it may be enough.

50 point drop on different virtual meets to the next tier.

3. (N/A) Ocala Vangaurd, 2 = They’ll lead the chase pack behind the front 2.  The are in sight of the top teams up front but as 4,5,6 start to tally up they begin to fall behind.  If you look at their team average it is 7secs behind the front 2 but that’s because of the amazing work that Fitzpatrick puts in the front with a 15:35 PR.  With 4 under 16:35 they’ll be up top all year.  Sometimes this can be a good motivation for the rest of the train to shorten the gap.

4. (N/A) Chiles HS, 1 = The difference between Ocala & Chiles is the 1 & 5.  Runners 2,3,4 are neck and neck.  The gap to Joey is hard to close but #5 & 6 can always make big moves.  They also seam to have a deeper team by having their 6 & 7 under 18 as opposed to their counterparts in Ocala.   Another team to be applauded with 4 under 16:35.  

50 point drop on different virtual meets to the next tier.

5. (N/A) Fort Myers HS, 3 = The leader of the next small pocket.  This is closer than the Belen/Creekside battle up top.  The first 3 guys are identical to BTs and though their 4 trails by a little they do have the faster 5 and when the 5 is going to score in the 100s, it’s usually the faster 5 that seems to win.

6. (N/A) Bartram Trail, 1 = Just steps behind Ft. Myers & also with 3 under 17 is BT. They do have the better 4 over FM  & their 6 & 7 are faster in case anyone should go down throughout the season but the role of the 5th is what decides things in these place ranges.

100-130 point drop on different virtual meets to the next tier.  I have 3 different virtuals with 3 completely different results for the next 5.  Needless to say, it’s going to be a close top 10 rounding out.

7. (N/A) Liberty HS, 2 = They are way ahead of the next 4 teams if you go 4 deep…and even though you don’t I still think the gap is big enough for them to hold off the rest (I know it contrary to my previous argument but different circumstance).  They are lower on some virtuals and breakdowns but once it becomes a 24 team race it changes the circumstance.  

8. (N/A) Niceville, 1 = A very close pack of 4 leading the way just 16s apart gives them the chance to stay in the top 10 but what holds them back is missing a front runner.  They have the 2nd slowest #1 time out of the top 18 schools.  The upside of this is having more runners with an opportunity to make up ground.  Most programs have a 1 that even with a large improvement only makes up a few points, Niceville has 4 guys that together can make up a lot of ground.

9. (N/A) Ponte Vedra, 1 = Having 2 guys in the 16s gives them a chance to make the top 10.

10. (N/A) Gainesville, 2 = The fastest 1-2 punch of the pack but they are also the only team in the pack scoring over 100 with their 4 & 5.

11. (N/A) Viera, 4 = They have a nice team average with their 2-5 coming in 20 seconds apart but they need to move up the pack to get in the top 10.

12. (N/A) Pace, 1 = 1 guy way clear of the 17 mark and the rest of the floating around with a 1730 avg is good but needs to continue to progress to crack top 10.

13. (N/A) Fort Walton beach HS, 1 = 3 in the 16s is only something that 8 teams in 3A can do.  As most teams around this level, they need some of the 4-7 to step up.

14. (N/A) Land O’Lakes HS, 2 = 38 sec split 1-5 and only 10 more to their 7th is awesome.

15. (N/A) Leon HS, 1 = 1 in the 15s, and 2 in the 16s is great.  4 & 5 cannot be in the top 18s to contend for a top 10 spot.  They need those guys to shoot down to have a chance.  Perhaps an incoming freshman could help.

Individual Rankings:

Commentary: I went with a virtual meet on this one, using some “compare athletes” functions to do some close calls.  If there was injury keeping the athlete back I apologize for not being informed.

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

1. (N/A) Steven Cross, 12– Merritt Island HS = 15:01 Best in the state. 15:01.

2. (N/A) Joey Fitzpatrick, 10 = 15:35 Ocala Vanguard = spent most of the season in the 16:00s and then dropped into the 15s for states and the post season.

3. (N/A) Adam Wallenfelsz, 12 – Leon HS = 15:35 Was a bit inconsistent with times in the 15,16,& 17 last year.  Shows the impressive potential when he’s on.

4. (N/A) Nicholas Deal, 11 – Creekside HS = 15:59 Spent the last 6 races of the season in the low 16 & shined brightest at regions and footlocker.

5. (N/A) Jaime Lopez, 12 – 16:01Belen Jesuit Preparatory School = Edges out Joshua because head to head  record against each other.

6. (N/A) Joshua Collins, 10 – 16:01.20 Belen Jesuit Preparatory School = Always within 10s of his team mate.  As he matures we’ll likely see large strides.

7. (N/A) Jonathan Jackson, 12- Nease HS = 15:49 Great PR but that was 26s faster than any other time he ran all year.

8. (N/A) Marshal Dillon, 12 – Charlotte HS = 16:01.85 Amazingly consistent season spending the majority of the year in the 16s and then PRing when it mattered at the ARP.

9. (N/A) Matthew Clark, 11 – Creekside HS = 16:04 Another athlete whose best attribute may be his consistency.  16s all year and a 16:04, 16:05, & 16:06 in 3 of his 4 post season races.

10. (N/A) Austin Dodson, 12 – Chiles HS = 16:05

11. (N/A) Blake Lowery, 12 – Gainesville HS = 16:06

12. (N/A) Austin Camps, 11 – West Shore = 16:12

13. (N/A) Jordan Bubar, 12 – Bartram Trail HS = 16:12

14. (N/A) Stephen Fedec, 12 – Ft. Myers HS = 16:17

15. (N/A) Sam Shaffer, 12 – Viera HS = 16:17

16. (N/A) Redondo Beauplan, 12 Bellview HS = 16:19

17. N/A) Matthew Cashin, 11 – Leon HS = 16:22 He was 2:2 last year vs Bruno so he gets the nod

18 (N/A) Bruno Zayas, 12 – Belen Jesuit Preparatory School = 16:22

19. (17. (N/A) Gavin Gresham, 12 –Ponte Vedra = 16:22

20. (N/A) Joseph Storey, 11– Creekside HS = 16:24