Preps

Hernando and Central pull away

Leopards boys, Bears girls stock up on points to win county meet.

By FRANK PASTOR
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 21, 2003

SPRING HILL -- The Hernando County meet Thursday at Springstead wasn't about times or stars.

It was about points.

The athletes who were most valuable to their teams were not the ones who claimed individual titles or set personal bests. They were those who entered three or four events, often holding back slightly in one to save themselves for another.

No team pulled off the balancing act more effectively than the Hernando boys and Central girls, who won team titles.

Kyle Keene won the long jump, high jump and triple jump to put Central ahead after the field events, but Hernando came back in the running portion of the meet to beat the Bears 76-63. Springstead was third with 38 points.

"I think our kids competed pretty well," Hernando coach Ernie Chatman said. "We had a little area that we thought we were probably ahead, and that was in distance, if we came in and did what we were supposed to, and they probably did a little better than I thought they would."

Rod Roberts, hampered by a strained quadriceps muscle, and Mozell Elder, nursing a sore knee, took the first two places in the 200-meter run. Mike Laird, Logan Emerson and Bret Chatman swept the top three spots in the 3,200.

When a commitment to his AAU basketball team prevented Jeff Brown from staying for the 1,600 relay, Ernie Chatman put him in the 400 for the first time, and Brown won.

Chris Cresser, a late arrival to the team, was second in the 100 in his first outing of the season.

"This was probably the best overall meet that we've had," said Laird, who also won the 1,600 and ran the fastest leg on Hernando's first-place 3,200 relay squad.

The Central girls' 102 points were 581/2 more than second-place Springstead, which was led by Rayna Toole's first-place performances in the long jump and triple jump. Hernando was third with 211/2.

Kerri Costanzo won the 1,600 and 3,200 and was part of the first-place 3,200 relay team. Magen Loew was on the winning 3,200 and 1,600 relays and took first in the 800.

Sarah Rosario (100 hurdles, 400 relay, 1,600 relay) and Jaimie Costanzo (200, 400 relay, 1,600 relay) also earned first-place ribbons.

But the key to Central's victory was the contributions of Teresa Dorman, Nikki Weaver, Felicia Fritz, Chivone Weyde and Tia Gaynor, who scored points in three or more events.

"The kids that did a lot are the ones that no one even hears about," Central coach Richard Ortiz said.

The Hernando girls were hindered by the absence of distance runner Leela Hadsock, who was ill. Hadsock would have been among the favorites in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

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