Girls
The top name in Florida girls running will wear some new colors this year. Hillary White will transfer from her former Gainesville Eastside to crosstown rival Bucholtz. Eastside will none the less still have a talented team, featuring Anna Brew among others. Spruce Creek will receive some much needed help at the expense of rival Pine Ridge. The transfer of Jennifer Riley to SPC will give the Hawks three solid runners under the 20:00 mark. Natalie Kotula, a member of Bishop Kenny's 1997 state championship team running as Jacksonville's lone representative in the 6A girls meet last year for Sandlewood will once again be a Crusader. Natalie has moved back to Bishop Kenny and could prove to make BK one of the top girls teams in the nation.
Guys
Flagler Palm Coast will practically be scoring 3 runners in nearly every meet this season. With the acquisition of Chris Batista from Pine Ridge, the team boasts the top two runners as listed in the preseason 3A Zone Poll in Batista and sophmore Matt Cianciulli. That could make the difference for FPC and push them deep into the top five. Preseason 2A favorite Atlantic has received some help, and hushed naysayers regarding their lack of a solid number five. Kevin Minshew, formily of Spruce Creek has made the move to Port Orange Atlantic. Minshew will round out the Sharks' top five if all goes well, his previous best was a 17:24 but that could drop significantly under the guidance of Coach Tim Kane. Former Lake Highland runner Mike Swope, who was ranked 4th in the preseason 1A ZONE Poll has transfered to powerhouse Winter Park. It now appears likely that Winter Park will place their entire top seven under 16:40 this season.
New Transfer Notes
Junior Kenny Schappert formily of Pope John Paul, has transfered to Delray Beach Atlantic .. Schappert ran a 17:11 last year at the state meet. This move will likely drop POPE out of the ZONE Poll for the 2A. DB Atlantic also obtained a HUGE asset in a young man from California who is a sub 10:00 2-miler!
Also Meredith Faulkner formily of Wellington will be running for Spanish River, and Nicole Posey of North Florida Christian has transferred to Maclay.