Niceville

Cecil Field, and they won the Girls Elite race. Five-woman average of 19:47.8, spread 1:16.0 — the tightest pack of any team in this top 14. Riley Marise 19:17, Anais Almonte 19:18, Harmony Holland 19:43, Lola Jackson 20:08, Carolina Ramos 20:33, with Delaney Diehl 21:15 and Courtney Gehringer 22:09 behind them.

Here is the striking part: one Niceville girl ran the 2025 state meet. Marise, and she was 19:11.3 there. Almonte, Holland, Jackson and Ramos are all new to the board, four scorers who did not exist in the preseason projection, which is why Niceville was not in the 4A returner top 12 at all and is No. 1 now.

That also means there is no November baseline for four fifths of this team. They beat Creekside head-to-head on the same course on the same afternoon, which is the strongest kind of evidence available in August, and they have the least corroboration of anybody in the top five.

Cecil Field, Elite race, all six back. Average 16:56.8, spread 1:42.0. Bryant Olson 15:44, Reid Sadowski 16:56, Sebastian Riemer 17:17, Brody Mathis 17:21, Carson Jackson 17:26, then Brayden Riemer 17:34 and Christopher Dinan 17:35.

The preseason returner rankings had Niceville as the 4A favorite at 37 points, on six returning state runners and a 0:28.1 spread. On Saturday, Olson took 26 seconds off his state time and the other five ran 16 to 56 seconds slower than theirs, and the spread went to 1:42. Method here is the same for everyone: a team that raced is stuck with what it ran, so they are sixth. At their state-meet fitness they are a top-three team in this class, and there is nothing in one August result that says they are not.

The best team in Florida that can prove it.

19:47.8 average, 1:16 spread — the tightest one-through-five of any ranked team, and the tightest of anyone in Florida averaging under 21:00. Riley Marise 19:17, Anais Almonte 19:18, Harmony Holland 19:43, Lola Jackson 20:08, Carolina Ramos 20:33.

And the fact that makes them the most interesting team on this list: Marise is 30th in the merged field. Niceville ranks second without a single runner inside the top 25, and does it with one returner from the 2025 state meet. They are not in our preseason team projections at all — they did not have the returning bodies to project.

Every other team in the top four is running roughly the group it was expected to run. Niceville built a new one.

The most uncomfortable entry on this page, and the best illustration of what this method does.

Niceville is our projected 4A team favorite at 37 points, built on six returners averaging 16:22.3 with a 0:28.1 spread — a tighter pack on paper than Bishop Kenny's. If they had stayed home, this method would have entered them at 16:22.9 and scored them 237 — third in Florida, ahead of Flagler Palm Coast.

They raced instead. Bryant Olson ran 15:44 for fifth overall, twenty-six seconds better than his state time as a sophomore. Then 16:56, 17:17, 17:21, 17:26 — a 1:42 spread from a group whose state times say 0:28.

Tenth is where the weekend put them. Third is where the paper puts them. The gap between those two numbers is the single largest disagreement on this list, and August is not the month that settles it.

5-man average 19:40.4 · 1-5 spread 0:01.3 · finished 22-23-24-25-26 · Pine Forest (Aug 29)

Anais Almonte 20:04.0 (19:39.8); Harmony Holland 20:04.2 (19:40.0); Riley Marise 20:04.3 (19:40.1); Sophie Clapp 20:05.1 (19:40.9); Carolina Ramos 20:05.3 (19:41.1). Then Lola Jackson 20:08.0 (19:43.8); Avery Selvage 21:34.0 (21:09.8).

5-man average 16:45.9 · 1-5 spread 1:02.7 · finished 13-44-55-59-70 · Pine Forest (Aug 29)

Bryant Olson 16:13.6 (16:02.7); Sebastian Riemer 16:57.5 (16:46.6); Carson Jackson 17:06.8 (16:55.9); Brayden Riemer 17:09.8 (16:58.9); Brody Mathis 17:16.3 (17:05.4). Then Reid Sadowski 17:29.2 (17:18.3); Christopher Dinan 18:21.5 (18:10.6).

Two meets, two wins, and the two of them say slightly different things about the same team.

At Cecil Field they won the girls' elite race with 152 — by two points over Chiles and Creekside, who tied on 154 — with a five-man average of 19:47.8 and a 1:16 spread. That is a race, against the best field in the state, and they won it.

At Pine Forest on August 29 they won with 15 points and the pack finish described above: a converted average of 19:40.4 on a 0:01.3 spread. Anais Almonte, Harmony Holland, Riley Marise, Sophie Clapp and Carolina Ramos, all within a second and a half of each other.

The board takes the better of the two, which is the pack run, and that number should be read for what it is. Their No. 1 ran 19:17.0 at Cecil and jogged 20:04 at Pine Forest; their No. 5 ran 20:33.0 at Cecil and ran 20:05 at Pine Forest. The front is faster than this average and the back is slower. What both races agree on is that no other team in Florida has five girls this close together, and in cross country that is the whole game.

Niceville is not entered at the Florida Horse Park, so the next chance to check this is not next Saturday.

They did the one thing we said they had to do. A week ago Niceville's two-through-five went 16:56, 17:17, 17:21, 17:26 behind Bryant Olson and it cost them. At Pine Forest on August 29 they won with 25 points and a converted average of 16:45.9 on a 1:02.7 spread — Olson 16:13.6, Sebastian Riemer 16:57.5, Carson Jackson 17:06.8, Brayden Riemer 17:09.8, Brody Mathis 17:16.3 raw.

Eighth at Cecil, seventh now, and this is the version of Niceville the preseason projection was built on. Under the swing scenario they are fourth.

Season average 19:39.7 · 1-5 spread 0:19.5 · finished 19-20-27-28-34 in the class · Pine Forest (Aug 29) · This week: 1st at Pace Patriot (20). Won in week 3; that run is not held against them.

Riley Marise 20:04.3 (19:40.1); Anais Almonte 20:04.0 (19:39.8); Sophie Clapp 20:05.1 (19:40.9); Harmony Holland 20:04.2 (19:40.0); Lola Jackson 20:08.0 (19:43.8). Then Carolina Ramos 20:05.3 (19:41.1); Avery Selvage 21:34.0 (21:09.8).

Three wins in three weeks: Cecil Field by two points over Chiles and Creekside, Pine Forest with 15, Pace with 20. The Pine Forest run is the one that ranks them, Anais Almonte 20:04.0, Harmony Holland 20:04.2, Riley Marise 20:04.3, Sophie Clapp 20:05.1, Carolina Ramos 20:05.3, and blended with Cecil the season averages 19:39.7 on a 19-second spread. Nobody else in Florida has five girls that close. What the clock has not been shown yet is the front of this team racing: Marise ran 19:17.0 and Almonte 19:18.0 at Cecil.

Season average 16:44.4 · 1-5 spread 1:39.3 · finished 2-48-75-83-98 in the class · Pace Patriot · This week: 1st at Pace Patriot (42).

Bryant Olson 16:07.8 (15:28.9); Sebastian Riemer 17:16.0 (16:37.1); Brayden Riemer 17:35.4 (16:56.5); Carson Jackson 17:46.3 (17:07.4); Reid Sadowski 17:51.9 (17:13.0). Then Brody Mathis 18:21.3 (17:42.4); Luke Sadowski 18:32.6 (17:53.7).

Won the Pace Patriot Invitational with 42, 52 clear of Gulf Breeze: Bryant Olson 16:07.8, Sebastian Riemer 17:16.0, Brayden Riemer 17:35.4, Carson Jackson 17:46.3, Reid Sadowski 17:51.9, on a slow course. Three meets, three races with the same five. Olson is the No. 6 individual in Florida. The 1:39 behind him is what keeps this team third instead of second.

Three wins in three weeks: Cecil Field by two points over Chiles and Creekside on opening night, Pine Forest with 15, Pace with 20. The Pine Forest run is the one that ranks them, Anais Almonte 20:04.0, Harmony Holland 20:04.2, Riley Marise 20:04.3, Sophie Clapp 20:05.1, Carolina Ramos 20:05.3, and folded together with Cecil the season averages 19:39.7 on a twenty-second spread. Nobody else in Florida has five girls that close.

Saturday's Pace run was another pack finish, on a slower course, and it is left out for the plain reason that they won it. What the clock has not been shown yet is the front of this team racing: Marise ran 19:17.0 and Almonte 19:18.0 at Cecil. Bishop Moore is the team they have not seen, and until they meet, this is the argument of the season.

Won the Pace Patriot Invitational with 42, 52 points clear of Gulf Breeze: Bryant Olson 16:07.8, Sebastian Riemer 17:16.0, Brayden Riemer 17:35.4, Carson Jackson 17:46.3, Reid Sadowski 17:51.9, on a slow course. Three meets, three races with the same five, and the season averages 16:44.4. Olson is a top-ten individual now. The 1:39 behind him is what keeps this team fifth instead of third.

Season average 19:39.7 · 1-5 spread 0:19.5 · finished 22-23-29-30-36 in the class Won in week 3; that run is not held against them.

Riley Marise 19:32.4; Anais Almonte 19:32.5; Sophie Clapp 19:40.9; Harmony Holland 19:41.0; Lola Jackson 19:51.9.

Was entered at Nights of Thunder and the varsity race never ran. Three wins in three starts, and the Pine Forest run ranks them because the Pace win would lower the figure: Riley Marise 19:32.4, Anais Almonte 19:32.5, Sophie Clapp 19:40.9, Harmony Holland 19:41.0, Lola Jackson 19:51.9, a 0:19.5 spread that no other team in Florida is within 25 seconds of. First, by 21 points, and the Chiles rematch has now been rained out once.

Season average 16:44.4 · 1-5 spread 1:39.3 · finished 3-48-75-84-102 in the class

Bryant Olson 15:32.7; Sebastian Riemer 16:46.9; Brayden Riemer 17:03.6; Carson Jackson 17:06.7; Reid Sadowski 17:12.0.

Was on the line at Nights of Thunder when the varsity race was called off; the JV won with 30 and is not scored. Cecil Field eighth, the Pine Forest and Pace wins. Bryant Olson 15:32.7, then Sebastian Riemer 16:46.9, Brayden Riemer 17:03.6, Carson Jackson 17:06.7, Reid Sadowski 17:12.0. Third, where they were.

Season average 19:39.7 · 1-5 spread 0:19.5 Won in week 3; that run is not held against them.

Riley Marise 19:32.4; Anais Almonte 19:32.5; Sophie Clapp 19:40.9; Harmony Holland 19:41.0; Lola Jackson 19:51.9.

Were entered at Nights of Thunder and the varsity race did not run; the JV race is not rated and not scored. Three wins in three starts, Cecil Field by two over Chiles and Creekside, Pine Forest with 15, Pace with 20. The Pine Forest run ranks them, Riley Marise 19:32.4, Anais Almonte 19:32.5, Sophie Clapp 19:40.9, Harmony Holland 19:41.0, Lola Jackson 19:51.9, a 0:19.5 spread that nobody else in Florida is close to. Bishop Kenny and Bishop Moore are the two teams they have not seen.

Season average 16:44.4 · 1-5 spread 1:39.3

Bryant Olson 15:32.7; Sebastian Riemer 16:46.9; Brayden Riemer 17:03.6; Carson Jackson 17:06.7; Reid Sadowski 17:12.0.

Were on the line for the Nights of Thunder varsity race when it was called off for lightning; the JV race they won with 30 is not rated and not scored. Cecil Field eighth, the Pine Forest win, the Pace Patriot win with 42. Bryant Olson 15:32.7 and then Sebastian Riemer, Brayden Riemer, Carson Jackson and Reid Sadowski between 16:47 and 17:12. Fifth, where they were.

Season average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5 · finished 19-23-25-26-30 in the class · This week: 2nd of 19 at the Southern Showcase (77). Won in week 3; that run is not held against them.

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Second at the Southern Showcase championship race with 77, behind IMG Academy's 34 and ahead of 17 out-of-state programs: Jackson eleventh in 18:56.9, Holland twelfth in 18:58.2, Clapp 19th in 19:19.5, Almonte 21st in 19:28.4, Marise 25th in 19:36.1, and Carolina Ramos 27th as the sixth. Huntsville reads about half a minute fast for girls. The 20.5-second spread on the season is the tightest of any team in the state, and three of the five are freshmen. First, by 81 points in the virtual race, and the week 3 win is not held against them.

Season average 16:37.8 · 1-5 spread 1:12.9 · finished 7-32-36-51-74 in the class · This week: 6th of 28 at the Southern Showcase (227). Won in week 2, week 3; that run is not held against them.

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:37.2; Reid Sadowski 16:42.9; Sebastian Riemer 16:52.6; Carson Jackson 17:04.5.

Sixth of 28 in the Southern Showcase championship race with 227: Bryant Olson sixteenth in 15:27.6, Brody Mathis 46th in 16:02.9, Reid Sadowski 53rd in 16:14.8, Sebastian Riemer 68th in 16:22.2, Carson Jackson 97th in 16:34.7. The course read about 25 seconds fast. The Pine Forest and Pace Patriot wins are not held against them. Second for a second week: three points ahead of Nease in a virtual race of only 4A teams, and behind Nease on the Cecil Field result until the two meet again.

Season average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5 · This week: 2nd of 19 at the Southern Showcase (77). Won in week 3; that run is not held against them.

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Second at the Southern Showcase with 77 behind IMG, ahead of 17 out-of-state programs. Jackson eleventh in 18:56.9, Holland twelfth in 18:58.2, Clapp 19:19.5, Almonte 19:28.4, Marise 19:36.1. The five have a 20-second spread on season figure, the tightest of any team in the state.

Season average 16:37.8 · 1-5 spread 1:12.9 · This week: 6th of 28 at the Southern Showcase (227). Won in week 2, week 3; that run is not held against them.

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:37.2; Reid Sadowski 16:42.9; Sebastian Riemer 16:52.6; Carson Jackson 17:04.5.

Sixth at the Southern Showcase with 227: Olson 15:27.6, Mathis 16:02.9, Sadowski 16:14.8, Riemer 16:22.2, Jackson 16:34.7. Held third, eight points behind Nease in the virtual race and behind them on the Cecil Field result, 158 to 341 on August 21, the one time the two have met.

Converted average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5 · finished 21-23-25-26-31 in the class

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Did not race. Second at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 19, after wins at Cecil Field, Pine Forest and Pace Patriot. Harmony Holland, Lola Jackson, Sophie Clapp, Anais Almonte and Riley Marise are separated by 21 seconds on the season, a spread no other team in the state is close to. First.

Converted average 16:37.8 · 1-5 spread 1:12.9 · finished 7-32-36-48-70 in the class

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:37.2; Reid Sadowski 16:42.9; Sebastian Riemer 16:52.6; Carson Jackson 17:04.5.

Did not race. Sixth at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 19, after winning Pine Forest, Pace Patriot and Nights of Thunder. Bryant Olson is the front runner, and Brody Mathis, Reid Sadowski, Sebastian Riemer and Carson Jackson sit inside 30 seconds of each other on the season. Niceville is a hair ahead in the 4A-only virtual race, but Nease beat them at Cecil Field and they have not met since. Second.

Season average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Did not race. Second to IMG at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 19 with 77. Holland, Jackson, Clapp, Almonte and Marise sit inside 20.5 seconds of each other on figure, the tightest five in the state. First by 66 points in the virtual race.

Season average 16:37.8 · 1-5 spread 1:12.9

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:37.2; Reid Sadowski 16:42.9; Sebastian Riemer 16:52.6; Carson Jackson 17:04.5.

Did not race. Sixth at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 19 with 227: Olson 15:27.6, Mathis 16:02.9, Sadowski 16:14.8. Fourth, eight points behind Nease in the virtual race, and behind Nease and Bolles on the Cecil Field result.

Converted average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5 · finished 21-22-24-25-32 in the class · This week: 1st of 7 at the Wildcat Invitational (18).

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Won the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday with 18; Anais Almonte and Lola Jackson crossed together in 20:34.0. Second at the Southern Showcase on September 19. First.

Converted average 16:30.8 · 1-5 spread 1:00.2 · finished 7-19-35-42-48 in the class · This week: 1st of 11 at the Wildcat Invitational (22).

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:22.3; Sebastian Riemer 16:40.9; Carson Jackson 16:47.2; Reid Sadowski 16:51.8.

Won the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday with 22, going one-two-three behind Brody Mathis. Sixth at the Southern Showcase on September 19. Best in the class-only virtual race; second here.

Season average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Won the Wildcat Invitational at the University of West Florida with 18. Anais Almonte and Lola Jackson, both freshmen, crossed together in 20:34.0, and Sophie Clapp was third. The tightest top five in the ten on the season: 20.5 seconds from first to fifth.

Season average 16:30.8 · 1-5 spread 1:00.2

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:22.3; Sebastian Riemer 16:40.9; Carson Jackson 16:47.2; Reid Sadowski 16:51.8.

Won the Wildcat Invitational at the University of West Florida with 22, going one-two-three: Brody Mathis won in 17:05.5, with Brayden and Sebastian Riemer behind him. Sixth at the Southern Showcase on September 19. Third in the virtual race.

Converted average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5 · finished 23-24-26-28-33 in the class

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Did not race. Won the Wildcat Invitational on October 3 with 18, and was second at the Southern Showcase on September 19. First.

Converted average 16:30.8 · 1-5 spread 1:00.2 · finished 6-18-35-41-49 in the class

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:22.3; Sebastian Riemer 16:40.9; Carson Jackson 16:47.2; Reid Sadowski 16:51.8.

Did not race. Won the Wildcat Invitational on October 3 with 22, and was sixth at the Southern Showcase on September 19. Best in the class-only virtual race; second here.

Season average 19:44.2 · 1-5 spread 0:20.5

Harmony Holland 19:33.5; Lola Jackson 19:36.8; Sophie Clapp 19:47.7; Anais Almonte 19:49.2; Riley Marise 19:54.0.

Did not race. Won the Wildcat Invitational at the University of West Florida on October 3 with 18. Anais Almonte and Lola Jackson, both freshmen, crossed together in 20:34.0, and Sophie Clapp was third. The tightest top five in the ten on the season: 20.5 seconds from first to fifth.

Season average 16:30.8 · 1-5 spread 1:00.2

Bryant Olson 15:51.6; Brody Mathis 16:22.3; Sebastian Riemer 16:40.9; Carson Jackson 16:47.2; Reid Sadowski 16:51.8.

Did not race. Won the Wildcat Invitational at the University of West Florida on October 3 with 22, going one-two-three: Brody Mathis won in 17:05.5, with Brayden and Sebastian Riemer behind him. Sixth at the Southern Showcase on September 19. Third in the virtual race.