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Packers make a clean sweep

The Largo boys and girls claim titles in their own invitational.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 10, 2002

LARGO -- For the first time in its history, the Largo Invitational was indeed the Largo Invitational.

With Deanna Drugash and Layla Hall leading the girls team and the boys team following Brian McClymont, the Packers swept the team titles for the first time. The Packer girls, ranked No. 4 in the state, beat Seminole 55-75 to win the meet for the second time since girls began competing in 1994. The Warhawks had won the past four meets since the Packers last won in 1997.

Drugash finished second, Hall fourth and Abby Hunter 10th, the three Packers coming in before the first Seminole runner and offsetting the fact that all five Warhawk scorers finished before Largo's fifth runner.

The boys also put an end to Seminole dominance, edging St. Petersburg Catholic 64-73 for their first title since 1994. The Warhawks, third this year, had won every year since. The Packer boys relied on their depth. McClymont finished seventh and Matt Timm ninth, but the Warhawks and Barons had better finishes from their top two runners. But Largo placed all five scorers in the top 18, the only team to do so.

"That's huge," Largo boys coach Dave Koehler said. "Our kids didn't know how to react, we've finished second here so many times. And it was nice to win both championships. It's a fun year for cross country at Largo High."

Individually, Clearwater Central Catholic's Kevin Lyons -- the defending champion -- and up-and-coming St. Petersburg freshman Kerry Allen captured titles.

Though the course was markedly slower than in recent years due to a curve-filled, sandy detour to lengthen it to 5 kilometers, Lyons still completed the race in 16 minutes, 3 seconds, winning by 23 seconds over Admiral Farragut's John Biffar. It was the first meeting this year between the county's top two runners. St. Petersburg Catholic's Tony Cormier was third, 49 seconds behind Lyons.

Allen, who became the third girl to break 20 minutes this season, trailed defending champion Drugash for the first 2.2 miles before pulling ahead and then away to win in 19:58 -- the county's second-fastest time. Drugash's time of 20:05 was her best this season. Rebekah Lindsey of Palm Harbor finished third in 20:25.

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