Caroline Wells
Winter Springs senior
Repeat winner of the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Cross Country award was clearly the state’s best for 2021 and maybe the best ever. Wells’ 16:40.2 time in the Hagerty Invitational broke the state record for 5,000-meter cross country races. The Stanford signee broke the course record for the current state meet site with a 16:56.6 time in Tallahassee. Four weeks after her state meet win, Wells finished 10th at the Eastbay Championships national meet in San Diego with a 17:38.40 time.
All-Area runners Morgan Cox
Trinity Prep junior Buzz:
Clocked career-best 18:52.8 time at state meet to finish sixth in Class 2A. That was nearly 30 seconds better than her previous best and fifth-best area state meet time.
Hannah Douglas Mount Dora freshman Buzz:
Ran ninth fastest ninth grader time (19:15.4) at the state meet to place 12th in loaded Class 2A. Was District champ and region runner-up. Season-best was 19:01.2.
Catalina Edwards Celebration junior Buzz:
Eighth place in Class 4A state meet with 19:14.5 time. She was the Orange Belt Conference champion. Ran personal-best 19:01.22 to place third in 4A Region 3.
Hannah Foley Boone junior Buzz:
Placed 16th in 4A state meet at 19:36.1. Ran 19:08.69 as District 5 runner-up behind Amber Schulz to eclipse previous personalbest (19:13.16) from JT Memorial race win.
Lily Henne
Lake Minneola senior Buzz:
Eighth in 3A state meet at 18:41.8. Clocked senior-best (18:24.3) as sixth fastest Floridian in Eastbay South Regional. Four victories included FACA Senior All-Star Classic.
Emily Knopfle Olympia freshman Buzz:
Fifth fastest ninth grader in FHSAA finals with 18:42.8 time good for third place in Class 4A. That followed Metro Conference, district and region titles. Best was 18:36.29.
Samantha Lorey Bishop Moore freshman Buzz:
Ran 19:13.6 for 14th place in 3A state meet. That made her the eighth fastest freshman across all four classifications. Ran personal-best 18:59.0 time in October.
Amber Schulz Timber Creek senior Buzz:
2020 state champ overcame injury to finish as 4A state runner-up in 18:27.3. Ran season-best 18:15.6 to win Region 3 race after claiming Metro West and District 5 titles.
Michelle Smith Montverde Academy sophomore Buzz:
Top-20 finish in Class 2A state meet with 19:27.6 time. Her best was 19:20 for fourth in FSU Invitational race. Citrus League and Montverde Invitational champ.
Ava Wyant
The Master’s Academy sophomore Buzz:
Ran to fifth place in Class 1A with a 19:04.2 time that was sixth fastest among sophomores at state meet. Lowered personal-best to 18:41.91 at Eastbay South Regional.
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.