Annabella Tomasic was in new surroundings with new coaches and new teammates for her 2025 freshman season of cross country at Bishop Moore.
But once again, winning races was nothing new. The Orlando phenom won all seven of her 5,000-meter meets, including Class 3A district, region and state titles and was the fastest girl across all four classifications on state meet day with a time of 17 minutes, 35.5 seconds.
“Winning the state championship meant so much with my new coaching staff and new teammates,” Tomasic said. “I’m super happy and super grateful with the season as a whole.”
She is the Orlando Sentinel girls cross country Runner of the Year for the third consecutive year and was also named the Florida Dairy Farmers state runner of the year for the second time. Tomasic won that state honor in 2023 as a seventh grade state champion. Her eighth grade year wasn’t as smooth as she was slowed by injury and placed third in the 2A state final.
Again this year she was sidelined for a stretch, this time by left shin issues. After winning her first two races, one in September and a second in October, she was out for four weeks before getting back on track.
“That down time was definitely super difficult,” Tomasic said.
It helped to have supportive teammates and coaches who helped her gain her fitness level back. Tomasic, who ran for Lake Highland Prep as a seventh and eighth grader, signed on with Bishop Moore in time to participate in the Hornets annual summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina. There, she bonded well with Bishop Moore’s girls and boys runners.
“She was really a good influence for our program,” said Hornets head coach Lisa Watson, who coaches both squads. “Her work ethic and her success in racing elevated both of our teams.”
Tomasic, 15, said she was happy with her two years at Lake Highland Prep and very happy with her first season with Bishop Moore.
“For her age, she really has a unique understanding of training and the principles behind the training,” Watson said. “She understands what it takes to be a champion, to put in the hard work. She loves to run and she loves to race.”
Bishop Moore ninth grader Annabella Tomasic, pictured in a regular season victory, won the Class 3A state championship in Tallahassee on Nov. 22, 2025. (Bishop Moore courtesy photo).
Sentinel Standouts
Arabella Duffell, Lake Nona sophomore
Buzz: Clocked 18:36.6 to place ninth in the 4A state meet. That was the day’s second best Orlando area performance. She won five races and ran a best 17:52.7.
Jimena Nava Garcia, Tavares freshman
Buzz: Her 19:22.2 time was good for 19th place in the 3A state meet. She turned in a career-best 18:37.71 at the Hawks’ Last Chance meet for second place.
Rachel Judy, Master’s Academy junior
Buzz: Finished fifth in the 1A state final at 18:46.6. She won five invitationals, including a personal best time of 18:19.8 for first place at the Hawks’ Last Chance Open.
Cecilia Lear, Mount Dora sophomore
Buzz: Placed seventh in 2A with an 18:55.6 time that was fourth best at the state championships. District champ and region runner-up had a season best of 18:19.8.
Kyla Perez, St. Cloud senior
Buzz: Finished 15th in the 4A state final with an 18:58.4 time that is a career best. The Orange Belt Conference champ also won two invitationals.
Lyla McMillen, Montverde Academy sophomore
Buzz: She ran 19:15.3 for 16th place in the 2A state meet. Her best time was 19:08.5 at the Hawks’ Last Chance meet and she was fifth in Region 2 at 19:53.3.
Ella Valentina Valenzuela, Bishop Moore sophomore
Buzz: Clocked a 19:17.1 time for 18th place in the 3A state final. That came a week after she turned in a career-best 18:50.4 for sixth in the Region 2 meet at New Smyrna Beach.
Annabella Tomasic (Bishop Moore), Will Moss (Montverde) FHSAA XC champions
All-area teams consist of FHSAA series participant schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. Selections were made by the Sentinel staff in consultation with area coaches.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.