If you read the Fort Myers News-Press/Naples Daily News preview of the upcoming high school cross country season, you have a pretty good idea of the athletes who should be making an impact this fall. The News-Press changed my copy a bit because I declared that the King and Queen of Southwest Florida XC are coming back this fall. That would be Kolton Pickard of Estero and Amy Meng of Fort Myers, both seniors.
I don't see anyone challenging Pickard for supremacy on the boys side this season. The next two, three, four and five will be a real interesting mix of some pretty solid seniors. Evan Meyers of Lehigh and Colsen Palmer of Fort Myers seem like the two guys of giving Pickard a real run for his money. Meyers has took Pickard's scalp once last season. Then if Dunbar coach Ray Romero peaks his guys like he did last season, Ryan Livingston and Ivan Marin-Padilla will have a say in the matter.
The thing that could hurt Pickard this season is a lack of a supporting cast. The ranks on the boys side at Estero are painfully thin. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the girls team is loaded with talent and should make a run at making it to Tallahassee for States.
The strongest team boys or girls on paper should be Fort Myers. The Green Wave return a stellar top three with Meng, Olivia Olney and Elizabeth McHugh. The next two, Lily Harris and Rory Pandini are no slouches either and Dinah Ceilley along with Elsa Marcet will give them depth. And don't get me started on the incoming freshmen.
The cross country talent across Lee County is strong. The fireworks begin this Saturday with the Dunbar Tiger Jamboree. Running 5,000 meters in the August heat is insane but that's what makes it interesting, it's like Survivor, you find out who's really smart and fit.
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