BAKER — Expectations are high for first-year Baker School cross country coach Chad Lawhon as the Gators prepare for Thursday’s District 1-1A meet at Freeport.
Lawhon — who expects the boys and girls teams to be competitive — rates the Lady Gators as one of the teams to beat.
"(The girls team) is shaping up very well,” he said. “It’s a lot better than I could ever dream of, this being my first year. We have an opportunity to win it, as long as all of our girls come out and bring their A game."
However, he said, "I am worried about Pensacola Christian Academy, and Paxton is next in line, if I’m not mistaken. But PCA and us are almost neck and neck. If they miss a step, we win and if we miss a step they win.”
Lawhon believes Pensacola Christian is the team to beat on the boys side as well.
“PCA’s boys team is phenomenal,” he said. “They have a good strong team. It looks like we will be coming in second if we bring our A game.
“Paxton’s boys and us are rivals for that second-place spot. If we are healthy, we have a good chance of beating them.” (Paxton)
Baker's girls are led by sisters Maya and Gabi Espinosa. Maya — an eighth-grader who for two years has been turning heads at the varsity level — is the defending district and region champion.
“Our third-fastest now varies between Alex Haven and Tressie Adams,” Lawhon said. “Anna Scott is usually our fifth girl.”
Another Espinosa, brother Ian, battles Gregory Chaitha for the boys' top spot.
“Greg is our number one runner most races,” Lawhon said. “Ian, Greg and Isaac Kimbrell — those three are always neck-and-neck with each other. It seems whatever place the first one comes, it seems like the next two are them.
“In the local meets, they are usually first, second and third, but they haven’t run against PCA yet.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker athletes eye district cross country title