GAINESVILLE (November 20) – Steven Cross, a senior at Merritt Island High School, and Bailey Hertenstein, a senior at Riverview High School, have been named the 2015 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. and Miss Cross Country in a vote by the state’s district cross country chairmen.In addition, Winter Park Trinity Preparatory School’s Kenneth Vinal and Winter Park’s Kristin McWilliams have been named the state boys’ and girls’ Cross Country Coaches of the Year.

Cross captured the Class 3A state title in boys’ cross country with a winning time of 15:30.63 for the 5K event, crossing the finish line more than 16 seconds ahead of the runner-up and more than 14 seconds faster than any of the other three state champions. Hertenstein ran away with the girls’ Class 4A title as well, winning the championship race in a time of 17:32.55, more than 30 seconds faster than any of the other three state title winners.

The other three state champions on the boys’ side, senior Adam Bradtmueller of Sarasota (4A), Charles Cook of Winter Park Trinity Prep (2A), and Tucker Hindle of Boca Raton Christian (1A), were named Runner of the Year for their respective classifications. The other girls’ state champions, Brittany Gill of Ft. Lauderdale Dillard (3A), Alyssa Pujals of Pine Crest (2A), and Hannah Brookover of Calvary Christian School (1A), were named Runner of the Year in their classifications.

Trish Butler of Fort Lauderdale Aquinas (4A), Erik Frank of Creekside High School (3A) and Sue O’Malley of Daytona Beach Father Lopez Catholic (1A) each claimed Coach-of-the-Year awards for their respective classifications in boys’ cross country while Scott Gowan of Tallahassee Chiles (3A), Tony Ryan of The Bolles School (2A) and Mark Caulfield of Winter Park Circle Christian (1A) won Coach-of-the-Year honors in the other girls’ classifications.

The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers' commitment to the state's youth. This marks the 24th year of these unique awards as we honor the state's top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports.

The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.