Mount Dora Christian Academy’s Colynns Niles has made history as the youngest and highest-finishing athlete at the FHSAA State Cross-Country Championships this year. At just 11 years old and in her first year of competitive running, Niles placed 32nd out of 230 runners in Class 1A posting a time of 20:26.60. What makes this feat so amazing is that Niles is a 6th grader at MDCA. The next nearest 6th grade finisher was Providence School’s Bonnie Lockwood who finished 64th.

Her finish not only cemented her as a standout in her age group but also as a top competitor statewide, regardless of age. The budding star has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young athletes in Central Florida. Niles finished less than one minute from taking a top 10 in the class.

“This is a massive accomplishment for Colynns, especially considering she only started cross-country earlier this year,” says MDCA Megan Ziegelhofer. “Her dedication and perseverance, even while battling shin splints, have been nothing short of inspiring and she’s just an incredible young athlete with a bright future.”

(Despite being one of very few 6th graders to qualify for the State Championships, Niles showed up and out performed expectations finishing 32nd and became Florida’s top finishing 6th grade cross-country runner.)

Niles comes from an athletic family. Her father, Dustin Niles, was a standout baseball player at Eustis High School in the early 2000s. Her own sports journey, however, extends beyond running. She has been a competitive dressage rider for three years and balances her time between the track, horseback riding, and baking cookies—a hobby she enjoys when she’s not training.

Despite her busy schedule, Niles finds inspiration in her role model, Parker Valby, a University of Florida long-distance runner who qualified for the Olympics in Paris in 2024. “Watching Parker inspires me to push myself harder. She’s so amazing and watching her compete at the Olympics this year inspired me to want to be like her one day.” Niles said.

(Niles career is just getting started but she will be one to watch as she continues to get stronger and faster.)

Looking ahead, the young phenom plans to compete in track and field this spring. Her impressive debut in cross-country suggests she could dominate long-distance events in the upcoming season. While she has another six years to grow and mature, Niles is for certain one of the most impressive 6th graders we have seen in quite some time.

Colynns has put everyone in Lake County and beyond on notice. She’s just getting started, and her potential is limitless. While she is still very early in her career as a runner, we are very proud of her representing Lake County and competing with some of the top runners in the state.

As she continues to grow both as an athlete and a young woman, Niles is poised to become a name to watch not only in Florida but potentially on the national stage in the years to come. We wish her the best of luck in her upcoming outdoor Track & Field season.