At DistancePreps.com our motto is "The Future Runs Now" and to help celebrate the 2013 XC season, we have decided to start highlighting our future stars in a segment called "Frosh of the Week".

Maddison Krstec, North Port HS, (Manatee Track Club Invite 19:54.6)

Maddison Krstec is Girls "Frosh of the Week".

Maddison is quickly becoming a force for the Bobcats.  Most recently, at the Manasota Track Club Invite, Maddison was the first finisher for Coach Simpson's girls finishing 2nd overall in 19:54.60 but has a season best of 19:12 at the North Port Invitational presented by Warrior Running Camps the week prior.

Coach Simpson, North Port HS

Thank you for the coverage every weekend of these young kids doing what they do !

For Madison, it started when she was in the 7th grade. She would occasionally come to practice with her brother Adam Krstec who ran for me and is now presently at St. Leo University.

Just as almost every other young freshman of the week, she has a ton of soccer background. Soccer is her true love. I would let her run with the girls team at the time and they would come back and say, "Coach, you have to talk this girl into being a XC girl." So it began.  She joined our AAU North Port Track Club over the summer and had absolutely no racing experience what so ever. I asked if she would like to make an attempt at qualifying for the Junior Olympics and she said sure. We took her to Miami to qualify for the middle school state track meet because her middle school didn't have a track team at the time. Well, what do you know?  This girl could run. She ran a 5:03 1500. We thought, this girl is the real deal!

This young lady just has what it takes to be something special. Soccer is also a really big part of her life as she just recently made an ODP Team. Dang I dislike soccer. Just kidding, just kidding. You can't complain if she's good right. Maddy(Maddison), nicknamed GI, is just a competitor at everything she does.

Right now we split time with soccer. She practices with us all week and also goes to soccer practice a couple times a week. She has a lot on her plate and seems to be handling it well. Race days are crazy for her. Sometimes she runs a race in the morning and then runs to the car to drive 2 hours or so, for a couple soccer matches. Crazy I know, right.

One thing that is awesome to see is that her family is right by her side and supports her in whatever she does. It's also nice that she has a big brother that is at St. Leo running and can support and help out as well. I preach a lot about family involvement here at North Port and it's just nice to see.  Maddy is just a great kid, on and off the field. 

As a coach I look forward to coaching this young lady for another 3 years. She is such a pleasure to be around and we can't wait to see her grow as an athlete and a student. 

Florida...be ready for (GI) Maddison Krstec to make an impact on the running scene.

Caleb Pottorff, Lincoln Park Academy (flrunners.com Invitational, 16:47)

Caleb Pottorff is Boys "Frosh of the Week".

Caleb is no stranger to racing and cross country and is reaping the benefits of getting an early start.  He states,  “To get to where I am today, I have been averaging 55 miles a week.  Also, I use a quote that I like and it says: “There is a difference between having a love and having a passion”.

Caleb is already thinking about what his legacy will be while a Greyhound for Lincoln Park, “My biggest goal for my cross country career is to go to a Division I college on a scholarship.  Also, I would like to break the 15:10 mark before my Senior year ends.”

Coach Moore,  Lincoln Park Academy

Caleb is already a “veteran” runner for the Lincoln Park Academy Boys Varsity Cross Country team.  Caleb made a phenomenal entrance onto the high school running scene here at Lincoln Park Academy by making the Boys Varsity team as a sixth grader in which his season best was 17:36 at the Holy Trinity Fall Classic in October 2010.  

Caleb has dedicated himself to becoming an elite runner.  He frequently contacts me on the workouts for practice. I never have to worry about whether he is going to stay in shape.  He truly leads by example as he is constantly seeking ways to improve his performances.  He has a work ethic that is quite contagious. Many of his fellow teammates feed off his dedication to improving as a runner.  I have watched him develop into a student of the sport of running. Caleb really understands the importance of setting goals and developing a plan to reach them. His stated goals for his freshman year:

5k -16:20

3200 meters – 10:00

1600 meters – 4:40

800 meters – 2:13

There are many factors that come into play when determining the "Frosh of the Week", including; time, place, rank against other freshmen, and overall impact they have on their team. We will not highlight the same Frosh more than once and the honors are purely subjective. If you wish to nominate your athlete for "Frosh of the Week" e-mail us at [email protected] with their name and why they are deserving of the honor.

See all our Freshmen of the Week honorees