FWB places two inside top 5 at state

For a second consecutive season, the Fort Walton Beach cross country program boasts two of the state’s very best.

Fort Walton Beach’s girls followed the lead of senior Holly Stanton, who set a new school record and turned in a National Elite Gold time (18:55) in guiding the Vikings to a third-place finish at the FHSAA Class 3A Finals in Dade City, while its boys’ team placed fourth thanks to a strong run by senior Luc Lawrence.

But unlike last season, which saw both Fort Walton Beach teams finish third in the state, no other 3A program can boast having a top five team in both fields.

“That’s a pretty cool accomplishment,” Vikings coach Lissette Moller-Fields said. “We were shooting for the stars and hoping for a state title or runner-up (finish). We didn’t train for anything less than going for the gusto but to finish third and fourth is a great ending to our season.”

“I think it’s a good testament to all the hard work we’ve put in over the last few years,” Lawrence said.

Chiles (40) won the girls side just ahead of Lakewood Ranch (62) and Fort Walton Beach (94). Niceville (342) placed 12th.

Stanton’s school-record time was good for ninth individually while teammate Iolani Scanlan (19:33) finished 18th. Ivy Chastain (19:52) placed 25th.

Niceville was paced by super freshman Marsel Mosley (19:35) who capped an impressive debut season with a 19th-place finish at state.

On the boys’ side, the Vikings (152) received another strong run from Luc Lawrence who after finishing 44th a year ago, placed 16th on Saturday.

“I had more of a finishing kick than I had in previous races,” Lawrence said. “It’s a lot better place than I had last year.”

Matt Bevil (16:31) finished 24th for the Vikings which finished behind state champion Leon (59), Belen Jesuit (103) and Charlotte (134) in the team standings. Niceville's boys placed 11th, with its best finish coming from Jason Riggs (17:07) at 66th.

Navarre, which sent its boys team to the meet, placed 17th as Robert Mann placed 19th with a time of 16:26. Choctawhatchee’s Hakeem Tarpley ran as an individual and finished 68th.

In Class 2A, South Walton’s girls finished 21st while in Class 1A, Freeport individual Michael Graziani finished 18th with a time of 16:51.

State Cross Country Meet

Little Everglades Ranch

Dade City

Saturday

Class 3A

Area team results

Girls

3. Fort Walton Beach 94, 12. Niceville 342

Boys

4. Fort Walton Beach 152, 11. Niceville 317, 17. Navarre 421

Area individual results

Girls

FWB: No. 9 Holly Stanton 18:55, No. 18 Iolani Scanlan 19:33, No. 25 Ivy Chastain 19:52, No. 30 Sarah DeVaux 19:59, No. 34 Brittany Long 20:06, No. 51 Briana DeGennaro 20:36, No. 98 Elizabeth Gallagher 21:38; Niceville: No. 19 Marsel Mosley 19:35, No. 27 Laura Nelson 19:55, No. 59 Abby McCool, No. 141 Casey Luzius 22:42, No. 143 Taylor Adams 22:46, No. 156 Samantha Zimmerman 23:15, No. 168 Lauren Ammon.

Boys

Choctawhatchee: No. 68 Hakeem Tarpley 17:11; FWB: No. 16 Luc Lawrence 16:23, No. 24 Matt Bevil 16:31, No. 35 Chris Douglas 16:44, No. 51 Jacob Dearmon 16:55, No. 84 Brian Stanton 17:24, No. 103 Sam Ammons 17:38, No. 112 Brian Day 17:46; Navarre: No. 19 Robert Mann 16:26, No. 69 Callen Nation 17:14, No. 106 Cody Haden 17:40, No. 144 Anthony Herman 18:17, No. 162 Colin Bowyer 18:46, No. 164 Seth Nydam 18:47, No. 169 Marc Torres 18:57; Niceville: No. 66 Jason Riggs 17:07, No. 74 Phillip Cullen Fralix 17:19, No. 82 Patrick Lacombe 17:23, No. 90 Robert Burnett 17:27, No. 92 Cody Skarupa 17:28, No. 99 Joseph Bernier 17:35, No. 109 Michael Cooper 17:44.

Class 2A

Area team results

Girls

21. South Walton 515

Area individual results

Girls

SW: No. 46 Alex Weiner 20:09, No. 110 Julie Williamson 21:50, No. 136 Allysa Bump 22:33, No. 137 Kaley Findley 22:36, No. 138 Jessie Taylor 22:38, No. 147 Stefani Pall 22:53, No. 154 Malorie Leach 23:24.

Class A

Area individual results

Boys

Freeport: No. 18 Michael Graziani 16:51.