All-News4Jax girls cross country: Candelino paces record finish for Bolles

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Is the best yet to come for the Bolles cross country team?

That’s scary to even think about considering just how special their performance was this season.

Historic. Recordbreaking. Unbelievable.

Jillian Candelino, the All-News4Jax girls runner of the year, said this season only ups the stakes even further. For one of the two best programs in state history, how high — or how low — can the Bulldogs go?

This year, that number was 18 points for Bolles’ five top runners in the Class 2A state meet. In cross country, the lower the score the better.

On a 5K or a 3-mile course at the state championship, no girls or boys team has scored that low.

Candelino finished as state runner-up on the 5K course, clocking a time of 18 minutes, 42.4 seconds. Teammates Ella Mickler and Maxine Montoya went 3-4, Madelyn Popp took seventh and Layne Rivera was 10th.

“I hope it puts the standards a little higher I guess you could say, but it just felt so good,” Candelino said. “I feel like it can make us work stronger and harder and be more confident going into races knowing what we can accomplish.”

For Candelino, individual accolades are fine as long as they lead to team success. She said that she prefers celebrating accomplishments with teammates rather than anything that singles her out.

That’s difficult to do as the headliner on a team that tore through the postseason like it did.

Bolles runners finished 1-7 at the district meet, with Montoya winning and Candelino taking runner-up. Candelino won region and Montoya took second as the Bulldogs repeated that feat, going 1-7. Then state happened. Bolles not only won its 12th championship, tying Tampa Plant for most in state history, but placed three underclassmen in the top seven.

Candelino raved about the outgoing seniors like Montoya and Rivera, but added that the younger runners in junior varsity and middle school were exceptionally strong and would help keep the tradition rolling.

“We were definitely really shocked that we had even done that,” she said of the surge through the postseason. “We weren’t really expecting to do it. We kind of had going into mind to work as a team to win the state title if we could win as an individual that would be great, too, but definitely win as a team first, with that record breaking thing was really exciting on top of that.”

First team

Reilly Barber, St. Augustine, Jr.

Why she’s here: Season-low time of 18:02 came at the Katie Caples Invitational. Was unbeaten this season until region runner-up finish. Finished 18th at Class 3A state meet. Two-time All-News4Jax selection.

Jillian Candelino, Bolles, So.

Why she’s here: Area’s top runner ran a PR of 18:19.57 at the Alexander/Asics Invitational. District runner-up. Region champ. Class 2A state runner-up for the most dominant team finish in state finals history.

Elizabeth Iliff, Creekside, Sr.

Why she’s here: Last season’s runner of the year. Top run this season came at state in 18:57.30, good for 7th.

Ella Mickler, Bolles, So.

Why she’s here: Finished 3rd in Class 2A state meet. Season-low of 18:42.5 came during 4th-place finish in region.

Maxine Montoya, Bolles, Sr.

Why she’s here: Her 2020 best came with a 18:30.30 in a region runner-up finish. Fourth place in state meet.

Maddie Popp, Bolles, Jr.

Why she’s here: Finished 7th at 2A state tournament. Season-best of 18:23.85 came at the Alexander/Asics Invitational.

Laci Watford, University Christian, Jr.

Why she’s here: Won region with a season-low of 18:39.6. Three No. 1 finishes this season. Took 6th in Class 1A state meet.

Second team

Leila Bata, Bolles, Fr.: Ran a personal-best 19:11.22 at the Alexander/Asics Invitational. Took 15th at state.

Gabriella Berardi, Ponte Vedra, Sr.: Season-best came with a 19:37 at the New World Fall Spectacular. Finished 21st at state in 19:47.50.

Lauren Bing, Ponte Vedra, Sr.: Her best run of the season came at state, taking 10th in 19:01.60.

Naila Etique, Nease, Sr.: District champ who ran a low of 18:59 at the New World Fall Spectacular. Finished 14th at state.

Emma Millson, Fleming Island, Sr.: Her season-best time was a 19:27 at the Katie Caples Invitational. Took 4th at district, 6th at region and 25th at state in 19:52.70.

Layne Rivera, Bolles, Sr.: Season-best of 18:56.15 at the Alexander/Asics Invitational. Took 10th at state.

Jada Williams, Flagler Palm Coast, Jr.: Won one meet this season. Top time of 19:06 came at the New World Fall Spectacular.

Honorable mention

Grace Adams, Fleming Island, So.

Mei Chiang, Fleming Island, Jr.

Lauren Conover, Mandarin, Jr.

Elizabeth Csikai, Bolles, So.

Marisa Kortright, Fleming Island, Sr.

Karah McElhone, St. Augustine, Sr.

Ellie Moritz, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Emma Mussante, Middleburg, Sr.

Hadley Ropp, Bolles, So.

Alyssa Wyatt, Mandarin, Jr.

Note: Teams are selected based heavily on state series performances. Times from FHSAA and FLRunners.com.


About the Author:

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.