The 2024 Florida high school girls’ distance running scene is witnessing a changing of the guard, with emerging talents stepping into the spotlight. Following the graduation of last year’s standouts, including 3A state champion Christiana Coleman of Dillard who blazed to victory with a 17:53.4, a new crop of runners is eager to make their mark. The field is led by Coleman’s teammate, the precocious Shynah Collins, who as a 7th grader placed 3rd at the state meet and has already shown remarkable range with a 2:06.51 800m. With a mix of seasoned performers like Ponte Vedra’s Daisy Ross and rising stars such as Tavares’ Cheyenne Thomas, the 2024 season promises fierce competition across both cross country courses and track ovals, as these athletes aim to etch their names in Florida’s rich distance running history.

Here’s a look at the top 10 Florida high school distance runners for the 2024 season:

  1. Shynah Collins (Dillard) – Top returner in 3A, placed 3rd at 2023 state meet (18:26). Impressive 2:06.51 for 800m at Nike Nationals (2nd place) as a 7th grader. Opened 8th grade season with significant improvement, winning BCAA XC- Quiet Waters in 19:41.
  2. Daisy Ross (Ponte Vedra) – 9th at 2023 state meet (18:50), 5th ranked returner in 3A. Consistent performer with 10:17 indoor 3K. 2024 highlights: 5th at Cecil Field (18:28), victories at Middleburg and Florida Horse Park (18:43 and 18:27).
  3. Cheyenne Thomas (Tavares) – Built on strong freshman year (6th at state XC, 2nd in 1600m track) with two wins this season: Jim Ryun (19:13) and Mount Dora (21:06).
  4. Lainee Mercer (Springstead) – Making waves in high school debut. Notable performances: 3rd at Whispering Pines (18:57), 2nd at Florida Horse Park (18:46).
  5. Miley Gill (Dillard) – Key contributor to Dillard’s success. 5th at 2023 state meet (18:29), valuable points in track (5th in 3200m, 11:09) as a 7th grader.
  6. Samantha Lorey (Bishop Moore) – Consistent sub-19 performer. 9th at Cecil Field (18:55), 3rd at Florida Horse Park (18:50). Solid 3200m (11:45) in track.
  7. Pippa Worden (Vanguard) – Showing steady improvement in senior year. Best performance: 9th at Florida Horse Park (19:18), 29 seconds faster than freshman year.
  8. Elyse Carmichael (Pensacola Booker T. Washington) – Strong early season with 2nd place finishes at Gulf Coast Stampede (19:06.50) and Pace Patriot (19:22.50). Capable 3200m runner (11:39.78 at FSU Relays).
  9. Masha Dorofeev (Fort Myers) – Consistent performer in XC and track. 2nd at Dunbar Tiger Jamboree (19:36.50) and DDD Sommer Invitational (19:51.40). 9th in 3200m at state track (11:13.08).
  10. Lucia Castillo-Rios (Lourdes) – Breakout XC season with 20th at Cecil Field (19:36.00) and 5th at Dunbar Tiger Jamboree (19:54.50). Shows speed with 2:19 800m on track.