Injuries upending the form chart for Southwest Florida high school cross.

We're a third of the way through the march to post-season high school cross countries and injuries are playing a significant roll in two areas. The expectation that Fort Myers High's girl's cross country team will dominate Southwest Florida seems a bit suspect.  Green Wave ace harrier Amy Meng struggled through a summer of  injuries.  Meng is in shape.  Just not the type of shape that conforms to her high standards and that leaves Fort Myers vulnerable.  

Then there are the ongoing calf issues nagging promising sophomore Elizabeth McHugh.  Fort Myers can afford to lose one of these two talented runners but a run to state will be dependent on at least one of these young women getting healthy.  Naples is its usual solid self and Estero is showing signs of life after last seasons disappointments.  Cape Coral and Palmetto Ridge could have a say on who makes to State by seasons end if those squads solidify their number four and five runners.

While Meng is on the comeback ECS junior Ava Povich has ascended to the top of the Southwest Florida cross country scene and it's not even close.  She has the ability to break 18 minutes for 5 kilometers by seasons end. The surprising newcomer of the season is Bishop Verot freshman Mackenzie De Lisle.  A complete novice to the sport, you can see her learning at each meet and growing in confidence claiming her highest finish to date claiming fifth at the Fort Myers Invitational.  If Bishop Verot's four and five show some improvement they certainly lay claim as the best girl's cross country team in Lee County.

The boy's side of things took a nasty tumble Saturday night.  Estero's senior star Kolton Pickard was clipped in a stupid accident when an unknown girl's team led by their ignorant coach tried to cross the narrow course in the middle of the boy's race.  Pickard went down with what appeared to be a nasty hamstring injury.  A minor hamstring issue will take at least two weeks to mend, a major one could take a month or more.

Pickard's misfortune opened the door for Palmetto Ridge junior Bernardo Barnhart to take the win.  Fort Myers #1 Colsen Palmer wasn't far behind in second.  Those three look to be the top trio in Southwest Florida assuming Pickard heals quickly.  The impressive part of Saturday night's race came from Lehigh senior Evan Meyer.  Early in the race he looked out of it but he picked his way through the field to finish fifth behind Southwest Florida's most improved runner, Hayden Tank from SFCA.

The top boys from Dunbar who should figure in the mix have been laying low the last couple of weeks.  The Dunbar team along with Fort Myers and Naples will face off this weekend in North Port.  This race will answer a lot of questions about where things are headed as we make it to qualifying for State in six weeks.