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New event no problem for runners
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer Maybe it's time somebody built a steeplechase in Pasco County. The county made its mark in the event at Saturday's Bert M. Warden Golden South Classic in Orlando. Mitchell freshman Jeff Masterson and Wesley Chapel sophomore Kurt Able both medaled in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, an event they had never before competed in. "I think they had a lot of fun," Wesley Chapel coach Brian Colding said. Masterson finished third in 6 minutes, 35.71 seconds. Able finished fourth in 6:43.85. The winning time was 6:26.23, run by Orlando Timber Creek's Edwin Lugo. "They both were competitive from the outset," Colding said. "I think they both had fun with it. "Any time I see a Lap two with a smile on Kurt's face when he goes over that water barrier, that's a pretty good indication he's having fun, and I think they ran very respectable times for running their first steeplechase ever." That was the best showing for the county. Several athletes made their first appearance at one of the nation's most prestigious prep meets and did so after a two-week layoff. Also medaling in a new event was Wesley Chapel's Kenny "Junior" Roberts, who placed sixth in the 400 hurdles in 57.40, less than four seconds off the winning pace. There weren't enough competitors in that race to warrant preliminaries, saving Roberts a grueling qualifying race. But Colding said there were still adverse conditions. "Even though he didn't have to run that extra race, he was still sitting around all day, and it was as hot as all get out," the coach said. "And I don't think you can say enough about how tough the competition was." Running in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, Wesley Chapel junior Angela Medvid, the Sunshine Athletic Conference co-athlete of the year, placed seventh in 74.52. Colding compared her race to sophomore B.B. Roberts' race in the 400. B.B. Roberts turned in a 52.77 in the preliminary round and did not advance to the finals. Both athletes entered the race after taking a break from track season, and both faced difficult conditions. For Medvid, it was an extra 100 meters and two hurdles. For Roberts, it was one of the toughest fields of any Golden South event with Florida and Alabama state champions finishing 1-2, respectively. "You're talking about going a couple of weeks without training," Colding said. "We trained last week, but that's still almost a two-week layoff. "But I think for them to go out there and get that experience, I think that was worth it for them. "But Angela just ran out of gas, and it was the same kind of situation B.B. was in." Wesley Chapel senior Autumn Yanchunis finished ninth in the pole vault with a leap of 9 feet, 6 inches, tying three other competitors. Gulf's Michelle Mendonca was 15th with a leap of 8-6. Colding's biggest disappointment at Golden South was that he didn't bring more athletes. The meet has elite qualifying standards, but when Colding arrived, he said there were several open events he could have placed athletes in. But the coach said this trip fulfilled his athletes' primary objective: experience. "We went into it with the same approach as the Florida Relays (in Gainesville)," Colding said. "It's the first time, let's see what we can do, so next year when we go, we'll know what to expect."
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From today's Pasco Times Editorial Letters |
