Bears at full strength in win

Central girls coach Juliann Davila wasn't surprised by her team's finish. It was how it got there that caught her off guard.

With the exception of sophomore Katy Miller, who was on a band trip, the Bears had a full complement of runners for the first time this season for Saturday's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference meet.

Central placed five among the top 10 to win, outscoring second-place Lecanto 35-59 at McKethan Lake Park.

"I'm just surprised that we all showed up," Davila said. "Sometimes, one of us is injured or something, but the whole team came out. I'm very, very happy. But it's not like I didn't expect it for them. They're great girls and excellent athletes."

Six Bears set personal bests: fourth-place Magen Loew (21 minutes, 5 seconds), fifth-place Kerri Costanzo (21:08), seventh-place Felicia Fritz (21:31), ninth-place Roxanne Ceccarelli (21:38), 30th-place Christine Strally (24:41) and 35th-place Brianna Mahoney (25:55). Amanda Adams was 10th in 21:44.

"No one was expecting us to do so good, and I think that's what really motivated us," Loew said. "We had no water at the start line, no nothing. We were just going on hopes and hoping we could do our best."

Capturing the conference title feels good, but the Bears know it will not get them to next month's state meet.

"They know this is not the key race," boys coach Richard Ortiz said. "You've got to keep your eye on the prize."

SENIOR LEADER: Philip Dysart, Hernando's only senior, ran his best race of the season to lift the Leopards to the boys title.

Dysart, normally Hernando's No. 4 or 5 runner, was the third Leopard across the finish line and eighth overall in a personal best 17:42.

"I'm so happy for him, because he for a long time looked for that big race for him," coach Ernie Chatman said.

"He worked real hard and comes up short of what he thinks he should be. (Saturday), he had something left and was able to outsprint somebody at the end," Chatman said.

Dysart was one of five Hernando runners among the top 12. Each set a personal best: third-place Mike Laird (17:05), fourth-place Logan Emerson (17:05), 10th-place Bret Chatman (17:44) and 12th-place Zak Lukas (17:49).

The conference crown was Hernando's ninth, seventh under Chatman and first since 1998.

"We did about as well as we could do, I guess, for (Saturday), and hopefully we can build on it," Chatman said. "I think we can."

SECOND FIDDLE: Central's Kurt Lee hoped to challenge for the boys championship until he heard that Citrus' Tony Lyons rescheduled the ACT to enter the race.

"I was just going for top two," Lee said.

He placed second in a personal-best 16:41, 30 seconds behind Lyons. Lee outkicked Laird down the stretch.

"I just tried to stay behind Mike and focused right on his back, because I knew if I was near him at the finish line, I'd outkick him," Lee said. "That's the way it's been the last four times we've raced them."

Bryan Gordon (18:07), Josh DuBois (19:16) and Benjamin Kirchman (20:02) set personal bests for the Bears.

STICKING IT OUT: Every runner established a personal best for the fifth-place Hernando girls, who were hampered by injury and illness.

Leela Hadsock led the way in 21:47. Danielle Churchill and Meghan Murphy finished in 22:05 and 25:32, respectively, despite feeling ill. Nicole Daughtry (22:44) and Kristie Morrill (24:12) also set PRs. Katee Lukas did not run because of an injury.

"They did well, considering everybody's sick," coach Sue Murphy said. "I can't really ask for a whole lot more."

EARNING NOTICE: Springstead's Traci Gimbel made all-conference for the first time by placing 13th in 22:04. Teammates Katie Hardy (25:13), Melinda Robert (23:37) and Lauren Angrick (26:00) each neared or set personal bests.

"For us, it's been kind of a rough season," coach Marsha Eicholtz said. "But for conference to end like this was good."

SHORTHANDED: Springstead, with only four boys and girls runners, did not qualify for a team score in either race. Mike Indimine fractured a vertebrae in a car accident a few weeks ago, and Tom Cacciatore missed the event with a hip injury. Emily Eicholtz was at a softball showcase in Plant City.

"I just hope I can have five healthy ones for district," coach Chuck Boldt said.

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