All-News4JAX girls cross country ‘24: Creekside star Alyson Johnson keeps getting better

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The target keeps getting bigger and bigger for Alyson Johnson.

The Creekside High School sophomore and All-News4JAX girls cross country runner of the year feels it and embraces it. The more other runners give chase, the more that it drives Johnson to stay in front.

She was accustomed to that spot.

“I like it,” Johnson said of the increased focus she gets in events. “It makes me more confident and makes me work even harder.”

A dual state distance champion as a freshman in track and field, Johnson dialed in on getting faster in cross country. The results were impressive.

Johnson won seven of the 10 events she entered in 2023, including the Class 4A individual state championship to become the first champ from a St. Johns County program. Making that accomplishment even sweeter was that teammate, fellow sophomore Sarah Rose, finished just under 14 seconds behind for a 1-2 finish.

That was significant jump from Johnson’s first year of high school cross country. She competed in eight events and won once.

“I had a really good season. I really enjoyed it and I just tried to keep working hard every race and all my workouts and then at state it was really fun. Me and my teammate got 1 and 2 [at state] it was really good experience.”

Johnson continues to drop her times. Her PR last year was 18:46.8 in a third place showing at region. As a sophomore, Johnson broke the 17-minute mark four times in-season, including a streak of three meets in a row over the Bale n Trail, the FSU Invitational and the New World Fall Spectacular.

Individual girls state XC champions

What did Johnson do differently this season than she did in 2022? She stuck to what she knew. A natural distance runner, Johnson said that she focused on speed and endurance over the spring and summer months. By the time cross country season arrived, Johnson felt fresh.

“I kept doing like a lot of endurance and speed workouts to really maintain and just keep getting more fit,” she said. “And I came in cross country [season] feeling pretty good and definitely stronger than last year. And I kept building throughout the season and everything. It ended pretty good.”

Johnson shaved nearly a minute from her best time as a freshman. With a handful of times in the upper 17-minute range, Johnson said that her goals going into her junior season will be to hit that number more consistently. Only nine runners in Florida history have cracked the 16-minute mark. Bolles star Jillian Candelino, a three-time All-News4JAX runner of the year, has the lowest area time (17:16.23 in 2022).

“Definitely want to get low 17s and maybe get close to breaking it,” Johnson said. “We’ll see. But I want to just keep consistently training and see how far, see how close to 17 I can get.”

First team

Runner, school, class, notable

Estella Bruneau, Bolles, Jr.

PR of 18:40.3 came in ninth place showing at Class 2A state meet. District runner-up and fourth at region.

Alyson Johnson, Creekside, So.

All-News4JAX runner of the year. Won Class 4A state meet with her PR of 17:49.29. Won seven of her 10 meets this season, including district and region titles. Fourth at FSU Invitational.

Tessa Massa, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

Finished 11th at Class 2A state meet with PR of 18:42.5. Fifth at district and third at region. Finished in top 7 in six races this season.

Sarah Rose, Creekside, So.

The other half of the powerful Knights duo with Johnson. Class 4A state runner-up with PR of 18:35.2. District runner-up.

Daisy Ross, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Posted her best time (18:13) in runner-up showing at Craig Speziale Invitational. District and region runner-up. Finished ninth at Class 3A state meet.

Sofie Stam, Bolles, 7th

Rising star won district and finished region runner-up with her season-low time of 18:36.1. Finished seventh in Class 2A state meet.

Lindy White, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Florida State signee. Season-best time (18:24) came in New World Fall Spectacular. District and region champ. Took fourth in Class 3A state meet.

Second team

Runner, school, class, notable

Alaysa Chipunov, Mandarin, So.

The Gateway Conference’s top runner, she took first at three events. PR of 18:51.3 came in fifth place at district. Was 12th in Class 4A state meet.

Stephanie Grden, Bishop Kenny, Jr.

Had her PR of 18:57.6 in the Class 2A state meet, finishing 14th. Four finishes in the top eight this season.

Davis Johnson, Bishop Kenny, Sr.

Consistently in the 19s. Best time of the season was a 19:05.6 at the Bale n’ Trail. Ninth at region and 21st in Class 2A state meet.

Madison Patchan, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

Excellent final season, with a PR of 18:43 to finish sixth in region. Was second at both FSU Invitational and the Alligator Lake Invitational. Took eighth in Class 4A state meet.

Hilaree Vega, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

South Carolina signee. Finished in top 3 in five of her nine races. PR of 18:47 came in a third at district. Added a third at region and 15th at Class 3A state meet.

Emily Wheldon, Bishop Kenny, Sr.

PR came in the Bale n’ Trail at Bartram Trail (18:50.5) where she took third. Was 13th in 2A state meet. Had a third at district and a fifth at region.

Alexis Wilson, Bishop Kenny, So.

Had PR of 19:10 at the Craig Speziale Invitational. Took seventh at both district and region, then finished 16th in Class 2A state meet.

Honorable mention

Eliza Hutton, Fletcher, Fr.

Charlotte Joseph, Bolles, So.

Allie Knotts, Fleming Island, Sr.

Stella Krueger, Episcopal, 8th

Taylor Lawhon, Bishop Kenny, Fr.

Brooke McCoy, Episcopal, So.

Ella McGowan, Ponte Vedra, So.

Kavya Patel, Bolles, Fr.

Brooke Reynolds, Fleming Island, So.

Arianna Slaughter, Flagler Palm Coast, So.

Amelia Tackling, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Lauren Voutour, St. Augustine, Jr.