Coach: Panthers are in the running again

The Lecanto boys squad will enter today's meet at Gulf with confidence.

Although Citrus was believed to have won an eight-team event the Panthers hosted Feb. 28, Lecanto coach Dan Epstein said his squad came out on top when the scores were tallied again.

"That kind of gave the guys incentive because they haven't won a meet in like six years," Epstein said. "It's nice it's starting to come together again for the Lecanto track team."

The top Panthers include Jon Edge, who ran the mile in 4 minutes, 40 seconds; Matt Simmons (100-meter dash) and D.J. Wheat (400).

"I'm hoping he can get his time around 4:30," Epstein said of Edge. "He's got the mental focus."

The program's 4x800-meter relay team also has been solid, and Epstein is hopeful Phil Reed will break the school record in the shot put today.

THEY'RE BACK: With the end of their basketball season Tuesday, the Citrus boys will be coming out to track practice Monday.

Hurricanes coach Tom Darby is expecting Jamaal Galloway, R.J. Cobb, Mike Bass, Mike Brown, Donnie Ross and Andrew Dupree.

"We'll plug them in somewhere," Darby said.

Citrus ran Thursday at Ocala West Port, and had performed well at early meets. Darby said he does not even look at how the 'Canes finish.

"We haven't really excelled in any areas," he said. "We're kind of really average right now, boys and girls. We're working on getting better."

BUNCH ON MEND: Crystal River's Chris Bunch, who took sixth in the 400 meters in last year's Class 2A state meet, sustained a broken wrist during the basketball season. He was to be evaluated by a doctor Thursday, and could be on the track soon.

"He was in real good shape from basketball, so I anticipate him rebounding quickly," Pirates coach Tim Byrne said. "It's a matter of being able to control his run with a small cast on his hand and if the doctor releases him."

Among Bunch's hoops teammates is Chianta Smith, a junior who's exceeding 41 feet in the triple jump and 6-foot in the high jump.

Senior Ryan McNally (100, 200 and 4x400) also competed in Saturday's Crystal River Invitational.

YOUTH SERVED: On the Crystal River boys and girls teams, Byrne said about 70 are freshmen and sophomores.

Not that the Pirates are acting their age.

Freshman Danielle Tincher won the 300 hurdles in 53.00 in the Crystal River Invitational, and freshman Holly Van Sicklen tied the meet record in the 1,600 with a 5:50.

Sophomore Denise Jay (800 and 400) has been strong, and Byrne looks for Kelly Dominey to be a future star.

Byrne also has been pleased with a good boys contingent, including sophomore Brett Miller (300 hurdles and 110 high hurdles), sophomore Andrew Willes (300 hurdles, 110 high hurdles) and freshman Josh Potter (1,600).

Freshman Shane Martin (3,200) has run a 10:55.

COOKE IS COOKIN': Seven Rivers eighth-grader Taylor Cooke had a good showing in Tampa in the Steak 'N Shake Invitational on March 1.

Cooke ran a 5:49.10 in the 1,600-meter championship and 12:31.19 in the 3,200 to finish sixth in both events.

In last year's Class A state meet, she took sixth in the 3,200 in 12:09 and was 15th in the 1,600 in 5:57.

HISTORY REPEATING? The Seven Rivers girls 4x800 team finished ninth in the Class A state meet last season and is manned by Claire Rosebrough, Rachael Capra, Cooke and Lacey Lyons.

The squad has two firsts and a third this year, and its best time is 11:19. Sophomore Rachel Ebert, who is out with a foot injury until at least the first week of April, was expected to be a member. Coach Scott Lyons said she should be back in time for the district meet on April 21.

The boys 4x400 relay, which finished tied for eighth in last year's state meet, is comprised of Chris Roth, Damian Lyons, Richard Capra and Daniel Woods. Gone are Shawn Allen and Jesse Woods, whose younger brother is Daniel.

"We'll have one of the fastest 4x4 teams around, and we were pretty good last year," Scott Lyons said. "But I think this team is going to be even faster than last year's." Although the Warriors have yet to run the 4x4 this season, the goal is to beat last year's 3:33 time. Roth has run one of the area's best 100 times with a 11.38 in the Lecanto meet. In the Crystal River meet, Damian Lyons ran the fastest 400 in 53.21.

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