Jungle Runner II
Golden Gate's Alejandro Pedraza is the boys cross country athlete of the year. Here, he is seen in portrait off 25th Avenue Southwest Thursday, Dec. 3, 2013 in Naples. Pedraza is relatively new to running having only competed for only three years. His best placing was 11th at the boys 3A FHSAA cross country championship, with a time of 15:37.88, just 29.27 seconds off the leader. Pedraza says he's looking at colleges to continue his running. "My goal this year was to try to do everyone meet I could do. Try to PR (personal record), do the best I could do," Pedrazza said. "I didn't know I had natural ability inside of me, run as long as I do, and get some good times." In 2012 he took state titles in the 2A for boys cross country and 3,200 meter run before making the jump to a higher class. (Corey Perrine/Naples Daily News)