Running the show: Meet the 2023 All-Big Bend cross country, coaches and runners of the year

Tallahassee is no stranger to cross country, and area high school runners represented Florida's capital city in an impressive way in 2023.

For a historic third year in a row, Leon's Patrick Koon claimed state championship gold, winning the 3A state title with an incredible final time of 15:02.10, just one week after recovering from mono.

On the girls' side, Maclay's Caroline Couch put the state on notice, placing second in the 1A state championship race, posting a time of 18:17.50.

With area runners posting personal best times, winning titles and competing at state, there are plenty of notable athletes that have been selected to the 2023 All-Big Bend Cross Country teams. So without any more waiting, let's run through the teams.

2023 All-Big Bend Cross Country Boys Runner of the Year: Patrick Koon, Leon

There are few names in Florida high school school cross-country history more successful the Leon senior Patrick Koon.

The Stanford signee won his third straight 3A state championship during the fall and made his mark in national races. Only the sixth runner in FHSAA history to win three straight individual state titles, and the second Leon runner, Koon's name will once again be added to the state's record books.

Helping his team finish third at the state meet, Koon won the individual title by finishing seven seconds ahead of the state runner-up.

Adding one more three-peat to his resume, Koon has been selected as the 2023 All-Big Bend boys cross country Runner of the Year.

2023 All-Big Bend Cross Country Girls Runner of the Year: Caroline Couch, Maclay

Maclay's cross-country team continues to grow each year, and one of the recent sparks for the Marauders has come from sophomore Caroline Couch.

Finishing second at the 1A state championships, Couch has been one of the top runners in the state and continues to improve throughout her high school career. Helping lead Maclay to a third-place finish at the state championships, Couch has been a dominant force in the Big Bend running scene, winning both a district and regional title this season.

Breaking the run of Leon runners winning both runners of the year, Maclay's Couch has earned the 2023 girls All-Big Bend Runner of the Year honors.

2023 All-Big Bend Cross Country Boys Coach of the Year: Andrew Wills, Leon

Leon has been one of the most dominant forces in cross country for decades, with the Lions' history spanning generations.

At the heart of that recent success has been head coach Andrew Wills. Once again finishing as the area's highest-placed boys team at the state championships, Leon was a force to be reckoned with in the Big Bend this season. With Koon winning his third straight state title, and three other Lions finishing in the top 50, Wills led Leon to another successful season.

For the second year in a row, Leon's Wills has been recognized as the All-Big Bend boys cross country Coach of the Year.

2023 All-Big Bend Cross Country Girls Coach of the Year: Angie Milford, Maclay

At the heart of Maclay's growth as a cross-country program has been head coach Angie Milford.

Helping led the Marauders to a state title on the track in the spring, Milford followed that up with a third-place finish in the 1A state championship, improving one spot from finishing fourth in the last two seasons. With a young roster, Milford's team has been one of the most successful in the area, winning a district title and finishing in second place at the regional race.

Another back-to-back winner, Maclay's Milford has been recognized as the 2023 All-Big Bend girls cross country Coach of the Year.

2023 Boys All-Big Bend Cross Country First Team

Patrick Koon, Leon, Sr. Avg Time: 15:11.88 PR: 14:46.00

Jackson Rowe, Chiles Avg Time: 15:49.29 PR: 15:34:80

Henry Lewis, Wakulla, Avg Time: 16:18.19 PR: 15:52.00

Matthew Hauser, Lincoln Avg Time: 16:22.56 PR: 15:42.70

Will Winsor, Leon Avg Time: 16:34.91 PR: 16:24.90

Josh Hicks, Chiles Avg Time: 16:34.92 PR: 16:09.40

David Barton, Maclay Avg Time: 16:40.28 PR: 16:17.20

Kasey Mick, Chiles Avg Time: 16:44.90 PR: 16:14.30

2023 Boys All-Big Bend Cross Country Second Team

Xavier England, Florida High, Sr. Avg Time: 16:46.39 PR: 16:14.36

Gabriel Edwards, Chiles Avg Time: 16:46.79 PR: 16:13.80

Jack Fuller, Chiles Avg Time: 16:49.89 PR: 16:31.20

Quin Carrasqullia, Leon Avg Time: 16:51.28 PR 16:18.20

Jonathan Kiros, Chiles Avg Time: 17:00.29 PR: 16:18.70

Cadden Maxwell, Leon Avg Time: 17:01.88 PR: 16:40.70

Jonah Blay, Chiles Avg Time: 17:12.54 PR: 16:47.00

Will Springer, Leon Avg Time: 17:25.21 PR: 16:34.00

2023 Boys All-Big Bend Cross Country Honorable Mentions

Walt Haber, Leon Avg Time: 17:28.34 PR: 16:55.70

Logan Phipps, Maclay Avg Time: 17:41.90 PR: 17:23.00

Landon Reeves, Community Christian Avg Time: 17:46 PR 17:22.70

Charlie Wilson, Maclay Avg Time: 17:48.47 PR: 17:33.00

Mason Romuald, Lincoln Avg Time: 17:56.56 PR: 17:09.70

Theo Mcdonald, Leon Avg Time: 17:58.34 PR: 17:20.90

Enijah Thomas, Lincoln Avg Time: 18:00.34 PR: 17:05.70

Carson Freeland, Community Christian Avg Time: 18:03.00 PR: 17:20.90

2023 Girls All-Big Bend Cross Country First Team

Caroline Couch, Maclay Avg Time: 18:13.75 PR: 18:09.00

Susan Koeppell, Maclay Avg Time: 19:30.40 PR: 19:10.60

Madi Sims, Leon 19:36.41 PR: 19:00.70

Lillian Koeppell, Maclay Avg Time: 19:36.47 PR:19:00.69

Mary Clayton Soto, Maclay Avg Time: 19:42.32 PR: 19:15.70

Isabella Laughton, Wakulla Avg Time: 19:50.20 PR: 19:23.16

Kaia Ables, Chiles Avg Time: 19:53.54 PR: 19:29.60

Haley Heitmeyer, Chiles Avg Time: 20:05.23 PR: 19:09.00

2023 Girls All-Big Bend Cross Country Second Team

Savannah Stanley, Chiles Avg Time: 20:31.65 PR: 19:45.70

Payton Thumm, Maclay Avg Time: 20:46.9 PR: 20:05.00

Leah Boutwell, Florida High Avg Time: 20:55:50 PR: 20:02.00

London Mellen, Chiles Avg Time: 20:56.92 PR: 19:59.30

Maddy Morris, Chiles Avg Time: 21:21.77 PR: 20:21.60

Leah Keller, Florida High Avg Time: 21:30.55 PR: 20:55.00

Brooke McElhenney, Chiles Avg Time: 21:42.17 PR: 20:52.90

Serafina Rietow, St. John Paul II Avg Time 21:45.16 PR: 20:32.30

2023 Girls All-Big Bend Cross Country Honorable Mentions

Taylor Pfeifer, Wakulla Avg Time: 21:49.17 PR: 21:17.90

Julia Robinson, Florida High Avg Time: 21:52.37 PR: 21:38.78

Andi Vilardo, Chiles 21:55.77 PR: 21:21.30

Lana Hawkins, Wakulla Avg Time: 22:04.49 PR: 21:23.20

Analecia Ferrell, Wakulla Avg Time: 22:08.16 PR: 21:35.85

Madison Fulton, Rickards Avg Time: 22:21.47 PR: 21:20.40

Elin Quisenberry, Florida High Avg Time: 22:24.22 PR: 21:56.30

Madeleine Byrd, Florida High Avg Time: 22:30.33 PR: 21:46.70

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Meet the All-Big Bend cross country teams for 2023