Harriers RaeAnne Tutton and Drew Birx win as Pensacola Christian sweeps 1A Region 1

Each year, the top class 1A high school harriers gather at the Region 1 meet to determine who deserves to compete in the State Championship. This year, the Regional test was in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday morning, 28 October 2022, and eight girls' teams and eight boys' teams would advance. On the girls' side, the best team was the squad from Pensacola Christian, putting up a winning score of 28 points. Pensacola Christian Warrior junior RaeAnne Tutton edged teammate Jaimee Tutton for the individual title, both runners clocked in 18:39. The Pensacola Christian boys won their race as well, scoring a mathematically unbeatable 27 points behind the first-place finish of their senior ace, Drew Birx. Birx cruised the 5K course in 16:19.


The girls' 5K was scheduled for 9:00 AM. By the end of the race the two Tuttons--junior RaeAnne and frosh Jaimee--were well ahead of the rest of the field, as they raced (as they had all season) within a step of each other. Leading everyone else by nearly a hundred meters, RaeAnne and Jaimee crossed the finish line one-two, both in 18:39 with RaeAnne slightly ahead. It was the same finish as in the 2021 Region 1 meet, where the Tuttons had taken first and second in 18:54. Behind the two Tuttons, Maclay junior Susan Koeppel took third in 19:02.


Maclay, the defending Region 1 champs, put three more athletes in the top ten--frosh Lillian Koeppel (5th, 19:16), frosh Caroline Couch (6th, 19:19) and sophomore Kassidy Moninger (8th, 20:02). But Pensacola Christian also had four in the top ten--RaeAnne Tutton, Jaimee Tutton, frosh Reagan Smith (4th, 19:08), and senior Jessica Chappell (7th, 19:46). Maclay's fifth scorer, sophomore Payton Thumm, was across the finish line twelfth in 20:35, giving the Marauders 33 points. The fifth Warrior had to score less than nineteen points to get Pensacola Christian the win.


She did. Pensacola Christian's number five, frosh Karissa Keyser, raced home fifteenth in 20:43, scoring fourteen points and giving her team a winning total of 28. Maclay was a close second with 33. Providence, led by sixth-grader Emma Akhundjanov (13th, 20:38), placed third with 88 points.


The other five teams that advanced to the State Final were Baker (4th, 154 points), Saint Johns Country Day (5th, 182 points), Paxton (6th, 187 points), Community Christian (7th, 189 points), and Port Saint Joe (8th, 197 points).


Team Standings, 2022 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Girls' Cross-Country Championships

1. Pensacola Christian, 28
2. Maclay, 33
3. Providence, 88
4. Baker, 154
5. Saint Johns Country Day, 182
6. Paxton, 187
7. Community Christian, 189
8. Port Saint Joe, 197
9. Bishop Snyder, 246
10. Saint Joseph, 246
11. Christs Church, 279
12. Freeport, 316
13. Jay, 339
14. Altha, 340
15. Rocky Bayou Christian, 390

* Qualified for the State Final


Top 15 Girls, 2022 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championships

1. 18:38.9, RaeAnne Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 11
2. 18:39.0, Jaimee Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 9
3. 19:01.7, Susan Koeppel (Maclay) 11
4. 19:07.7, Reagan Smith (Pensacola Christian) 9
5. 19:15.2, Lillian Koeppel (Maclay) 9
6. 19:18.7, Caroline Couch (Maclay) 9
7. 19:45.7, Jessica Chappell (Pensacola Christian) 12
8. 20:01.8, Kassidy Moninger (Maclay) 10
9. 20:07.8, Paige Brammer (Saint Joseph) 10
10. 20:24.4, Truth King (University Christian) 11
11. 20:31.7, Teresa Meli (Community Christian ) 12
12. 20:34.9, Payton Thumm (Maclay) 10
13. 20:37.5, Emma Akhundjanov (Providence) 6
14. 20:41.0, Kira Casane (Saint Joseph) 11
15. 20:42.5, Karissa Keyser (Pensacola Christian) 9

The boys raced at 9:30 AM ET. Pensacola Christian senior Drew Birx had finished fifth in the Region in 2021, but this Warrior was determined to end his career a winner. Coming off a win eight days earlier in the 1A District 1 Meet, Birx finished the race at New World Golf first in 16:19, nearly 80 meters ahead of the next runner. Another Pensacola Christian Warrior, junior Andrew Sheppard, was second in 16:33. Warrior senior Micah Sleeth was third in 16:45. The parade of Warriors was finally interrupted by Christ's Church seventh-grader Tyson Manley, fourth in 16:48.


Pensacola Christian sophomore Dominic Litchfield also broke into the top ten, placing eighth in 17:15. Eighth-grader Jed Fears completed the Warriors' score, taking twelfth in 17:30. The Pensacola Christian boys had 26 points and the Region 1 title for the second year in a row.


The Providence boys took second with 101 points, led by frosh Walker White, fifth in 16:56. Tallahassee Community Christian placed third with 124 points; their top runner was junior Carson Freeland, eighteenth in 17:43. The remaining five teams that qualified for State were Blountstown (4th, 152 points), Maclay (5th, 157 points), Milton Central (6th, 225 points), Saint Joseph (7th, 226 points), and Jacksonville Trinity Christian (8th, 249 points).


The top eight teams in each race earned the right to advance to the State Championship Meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday morning, 5 November 2022. The 1A girls' 5K is the first race of the morning, scheduled for 7:50 AM ET. The 1A boys compete at 8:40.


Team Standings, 2022 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Boys' Cross-Country Championships

1. Pensacola Christian, 26
2. Providence, 101
3. Community Christian, 124
4. Blountstown, 152
5. Maclay, 157
6. Central (Milton), 225
7. Saint Joseph, 226
8. Trinity Christian (Jax), 249
9. Malone, 253
10. Jay, 262
11. Christs Church, 274
12. Rocky Bayou Christian, 300
13. Bishop Snyder, 302
14. Saint Johns Country Day, 305
15. Baker, 323
16. Laurel Hill, 389

* Qualified for the State Final


Top 15 Boys, 2022 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championships

1. 16:18.3, Drew Birx (Pensacola Christian) 12
2. 16:32.3, Andrew Sheppard (Pensacola Christian) 11
3. 16:44.5, Micah Sleeth (Pensacola Christian) 12
4. 16:47.2, Tyson Manley (Christs Church) 7
5. 16:55.8, Walker White (Providence) 9
6. 17:00.3, Caleb Locklin (Milton Central) 12
7. 17:10.1, Ashton Akam (Saint Joseph) 11
8. 17:14.4, Dominic Litchfield (Pensacola Christian) 10
9. 17:15.4, Lucas Mauch (Maclay) 12
10. 17:15.7, Sean Cunningham (Providence) 8
11. 17:28.7, Jackson Welch (Malone) 10
12. 17:29.1, Jed Fears (Pensacola Christian) 8
13. 17:35.5, Daniel Penley (Pensacola Christian) 12
14. 17:35.6, Richard Nichols (Saint Johns Country Day) 11
15. 17:37.5, Tucker Hershberger (Pensacola Christian) 12

FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Champions, 1999 - 2022
Boys
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
13 November 1999	Maclay, 25	15:36, Ryan Deak (Maclay) 9
11 November 2000	Maclay
10 November 2001	Maclay, 20	16:20, Caleb Carmichael (Florida State) 12
16 November 2002	Maclay, 15	??:??, Ryan Deak (Maclay) 11
1 November 2003	Episcoal, 31	16:32, Justin Jackson (Episcopal) 12
30 October 2004	Episcopal, 82	16:32, Michael Anderson (P K Yonge) 10
5 November 2005	P K Yonge, 72	16:37, Geoffrey Anderson (P K Yonge) 11
4 November 2006	P K Yonge, 36	15:42, Michael Anderson (P K Yonge) 12
10 November 2007	Maclay, 41	16:11, Whitney Strickland (North Florida Christian) 11
15 November 2008	P K Yonge, 33	16:17, Whitney Strickland (North Florida Christian) 12
14 November 2009	P K Yonge, 21	16:21, Patrick Swain (Maclay) 11
12 November 2010	Maclay, 23	16:37, Patrick Swain (Maclay) 12
12 November 2011	Maclay, 25	16:48, Travis Covert (Maclay) 11
10 November 2012	Maclay, 43	16:05, Griffith Rutherford (North Florida Christian) 11
2 November 2013	Maclay, 52	16:38, Griffith Rutherford (North Florida Christian) 12
8 November 2014	Maclay, 34	16:39, Micah Kemp (Jay) 12
31 October 2015	Maclay, 52	16:35, Jackson Neri (Bishop Snyder) 12
28 October 2016	Maclay, 69	17:00, Clay Milford (Maclay) 10
4 November 2017	Providence, 70	16:31, Sean Snyder (Saint Joseph) 12
3 November 2018	Providence, 69	15:47, Junious Brown (Maclay) 11
2 November 2019	Maclay, 70	16:00, Junious Brown (Maclay) 12
7 November 2020	Maclay, 36	15:53, Matthew Stratton (Saint Johns Country Day) 11
5 November 2021	Pensacola Christian, 43	15:06, Matthew Stratton (Saint Johns Country Day) 12
28 October 2022	Pensacola Christian, 26	16:19, Drew Birx (Pensacola Christian) 12
Girls
Date	Team Champs	Individual Champs
13 November 1999	Maclay, 40	18:11, Kara Scanlin (Episcopal) 10
11 November 2000	Episcopal
10 November 2001	Maclay, 51	17:33, Kara Scanlin (Episcopal) 12
16 November 2002	Oak Hall, 40	??:??, Robyn Debenedet (Episcopal) 11
1 November 2003	Oak Hall, 31	18:56, Robyn Debenedet (Episcopal) 12
30 October 2004	Episcopal, 36	19:40, Emily Ingham (Episcopal) 10
5 November 2005	Maclay, 26	19:42, Meghan Roberts (P K Yonge) 8
4 November 2006	Maclay, 29	19:06, Meghan Roberts (P K Yonge) 9
10 November 2007	Maclay, 27	19:13, Alicia Fenley (Maclay) 10
15 November 2008	P K Yonge, 67	18:27, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 11
14 November 2009	Maclay, 46	18:21, Jana Stolting (Maclay) 12
12 November 2010	Oak Hall, 39	18:53, Brittney Olinger (Oak Hall) 9
12 November 2011	Providence, 34	18:17, Stefanie Kurgatt (Maclay) 11
10 November 2012	Providence, 49	19:27, Eden Meyer (Providence) 11
2 November 2013	Providence, 22	19:30, Eden Meyer (Providence) 12
8 November 2014	Maclay, 37	18:53, Maya Espinosa (Baker) 7
31 October 2015	Maclay, 49	19:10, Maya Espinosa (Baker) 8
28 October 2016	Maclay, 52	19:45, Caroline Willis (Maclay) 12
4 November 2017	Maclay, 47	19:55, Audrey Woods (Providence) 11
3 November 2018	Maclay, 48	18:24, Gianna Forte (Bishop Snyder) 12
2 November 2019	Maclay, 23	19:42, Ella Porcher (Maclay) 9
7 November 2020	Maclay, 49	18:40, Laci Watford (University Christian) 11
5 November 2021	Maclay, 35	18:54, RaeAnne Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 10
28 October 2022	Pensacola Christian, 28	18:39, RaeAnne Tutton (Pensacola Christian) 11
The 1A Region 1 meet was run at Port Saint Joe High in Port Saint Joe in 1999. The meet was run at the Miccosukee Greenway in Tallahassee in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The meet was run at Maclay School in Tallahassee in 2001 and 2002. The meet was run at Florida Community College in Jacksonville in 2003. The meet was run at Summit East in Tallahassee in 2004. The meet was run at Sainte Fe College in Gainesville in 2009. The meet was run at Oak Hall High in Gainesville in 2010. The meet was run at Sunnyhill Farms near Tallahassee in 2012 and 2014. The meet was run at Alligator Lake in Lake City in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The meet was run at Escambia Equestrian Center in Pensacola in 2016. The meet was run at New World Golf in Jacksonville in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The meet was held at The Oaks Equestrian Park in Lake City in 2017 and 2019.

Links

• Complete results of the 2022 FHSAA 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championship Meet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ3_VGycfCFRHPcESSj533Wyn1x1DzhgrGOO2XQiHLbc5Q8_clZXBrqmT0o1r8JMxalekiAwGoCpU4F/pubhtml
  
  
• Trouble Afoot! coverage of 2022 FHSAA Region 1 cross-country
  
  • 1A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/10/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2022.html
    
  • 2A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/10/fhsaa-2a-region-1-2022.html
    
  • 3A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/10/fhsaa-3a-region-1-2022.html
    
  • 4A: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/10/fhsaa-4a-region-1-2022.html
    
  
  
• 2021 story, “Matthew Stratton blazes a 15:06 win in the 1A Region 1 Cross-Country Championship”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/11/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2021.html
  
  
• 2020 story, “Laci Watford and Matthew Stratton win at 1A Region 1, but Maclay sweeps team honors”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/11/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2020.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Led by Junious Brown and Ella Porcher, Maclay paints Region 1 blue”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/11/fhsaa-1a-region-1-2019.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Region 1 cross country, Sunny Hill Farms and the road to State”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/11/fhsaa-regon-1-2012.html
  
  
• Find a cross-country, road, or track race for your schedule on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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