Providence (Jacksonville)

Cecil Field. Five-man average 21:57.8, spread 3:51.0.
Emma Akhundjanov 19:43, Sara Palmer 21:02, Katie Cunningham 22:12, Leeza Loftin 23:18, Lyla Frady 23:34, Gigi Akhundjanov 24:03, Calah Drake 25:08.

First in the preseason. Sixth now. The biggest drop on any 1A board this week, and it happened because they showed up.

Providence entered six of their seven state returners at Cecil Field. Only Maggy Koenig, their projected number two at 20:07.8, was missing. Here is what the other five did against a 28.8-second expectation:

| Runner | 2025 state | Cecil Field | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Akhundjanov | 20:18.6 | 19:43 | −35.6 |
| Sara Palmer | 19:57.5 | 21:02 | +64.5 |
| Katie Cunningham | 20:39.0 | 22:12 | +93.0 |
| Leeza Loftin | 21:33.3 | 23:18 | +104.7 |
| Lyla Frady | 22:23.9 | 23:34 | +70.1 |

One runner improved by 35 seconds. Four gave back between 70 and 105 seconds when the class average was 29. Their preseason 1:35.8 spread — the tightest projection in 1A — opened to 3:51.0 on the course.

We are not going to dress this up. A team that races in August and runs badly is treated worse by this method than a team that stays home, and Providence is the clearest case of it in the state. It is also true that they ran badly. The preseason number said 20:31.2; the course said 21:57.8. Both are data, and only one of them is from this year.

5-man average 21:57.8 · 1-5 spread 3:51.0 · finished 6-24-55-95-109 · Cecil Field

Emma Akhundjanov 19:43.0; Sara Palmer 21:02.0; Katie Cunningham 22:12.0; Leeza Loftin 23:18.0; Lyla Frady 23:34.0. Then Gigi Akhundjanov 24:03.0; Calah Drake 25:08.0.

Season average 21:40.8 · 1-5 spread 3:22.4 · finished 9-24-55-59-106 in the class · Horse Park · This week: 18th at Horse Park (513).

Emma Akhundjanov 19:58.5 (20:02.8); Sara Palmer 20:57.2 (21:01.5); Kenzie McCollum 21:55.5 (21:59.8); Katie Cunningham 21:57.7 (22:02.0); Lyla Frady 23:11.4 (23:15.7). Then Gigi Akhundjanov 23:52.0 (23:56.2); Leeza Loftin 25:27.2 (25:31.5).

Eighteenth at the Horse Park with 513. Emma Akhundjanov 19:58.5, Sara Palmer 20:57.2, Kenzie McCollum 21:55.5 in her first race, Katie Cunningham 21:57.7, Lyla Frady 23:11.4. Three points better than Oak Hall in the same race, which is the only reason they are third and Oak Hall is fourth. The virtual race has them fifth. The 3:22 spread is the widest in the top five.

Season average 21:40.8 · 1-5 spread 3:22.4 · finished 10-28-59-62-106 in the class · This week: 1st of 7 at Coach Hope (30). Won in week 4; that run is not held against them.

Emma Akhundjanov 19:57.8; Sara Palmer 21:01.6; Kenzie McCollum 21:59.8; Katie Cunningham 22:04.5; Lyla Frady 23:20.2.

Won the Coach Hope XC Invitational with 30 over Fernandina Beach 2A's 44, seven teams scoring: Sara Palmer second in 21:22.0, Katie Cunningham third in 21:48.9, Emma Akhundjanov sixth in 23:40.5, Calah Drake eighth in 24:00.3, Lyla Frady 11th in 24:24.1. The course reads about 8 seconds slow for girls and the win would lower the figure, so the Cecil Field and Horse Park runs still rank them: Akhundjanov 19:57.8, Palmer 21:01.6, Kenzie McCollum 21:59.8, Katie Cunningham 22:04.5, Frady 23:20.2. Sixth, where they were.

Season average 22:11.7 · 1-5 spread 4:07.7 · finished 7-30-64-161-165 in the class Won in week 4; that run is not held against them.

Emma Akhundjanov 19:53.4; Sara Palmer 21:01.6; Katie Cunningham 22:04.5; Gigi Akhundjanov 23:57.9; Lyla Frady 24:01.1.

Did not race. Emma Akhundjanov 19:53.4, Sara Palmer 21:01.6, Katie Cunningham 22:04.5, Gigi Akhundjanov 23:57.9, Lyla Frady 24:01.1: Cecil Field and the Horse Park, and nothing since September 5. A meet they won in week 4 is not held against them. Sixth to ninth on a 4:07.7 spread, the widest in the ten; the fourth and fifth girls are nearly two minutes behind the third, and Seacoast Collegiate came in above them from Alabama.