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Only fond memories for Hollis

INVERNESS - There are moments in Myesha Hollis' life that the recent Citrus graduate never will forget.

Such as her most embarrassing moment, when she was young and got a kernel of corn lodged in her nose.

"It was stuck up there for two weeks, and I had to go to the hospital," Hollis said, laughing.

She also recounted her nervousness entering the state meet as a sophomore for the first time. The next season, Hollis took third in the long jump and 14th in the triple jump. As a senior, she was fifth in the long jump, seventh in the 100 meters and ninth in the triple jump.

"I was so amazed by everyone, and it was little old me there for the first time," she said.

Hollis has many other memories. Such as the joy of winning a state championship in band. The sadness when hearing that girls varsity basketball assistant coach and friend Sharon Bomse, who helped Hollis prepare for the ACT and her schoolwork, had died.

Or the happy time at the Region 2 meet in May when she helped a 4x100 relay team made up of friends Brittney Dorsey, Kayla Mast and Kelly King get to state.

"They always wanted to go, and they worked hard for it," Hollis said.

Hollis also will remember her relationship with Citrus coach Tom Darby.

"He believed in me; that helped me a lot," she said.

In turn, Darby has fond memories of the time Hollis set the school record in the long jump as a sophomore, and the recent region meet when she had a "high, high charge."

Darby said he will not soon forget "Hollis' maturity, her ability to focus and stay on task, train hard and stay injury free."

Hollis will attend Central Florida Community College the next two years, but she will continue running for a track club.

She hopes to land at the University of Central Florida and walk on to its track and field team. Edward Waters College in Jacksonville)gave her an application at the state meet, and Hollis said she received some interest from Florida Atlantic.

But she will look back on her high school days with no regrets.

"There are so many memories," Hollis said.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Myesha Hollis, Sr., Citrus - Finished fifth in the long jump, seventh in the 100, ninth in the triple jump at the Class 2A state meet and ran on state-qualifying 4x100 relay.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Tom Darby, Citrus - Led Hurricanes to a region crown.

TAYLOR COOKE, 8TH, SEVEN RIVERS CHRISTIAN: Finished eighth in 3,200 and ninth in 1,600 at Class A state meet.

BREANNA DRIVER, SO., CRYSTAL RIVER: Finished ninth in Class 2A state shot put. KAELA FITZPATRICK, FR., CITRUS: Won a region title in the 1,600. At the Class 2A state meet, she finished 12th in the 1,600 and ran on the 4x800 team that placed 14th. NICOLE GASIOREK, JR., LECANTO: State qualifier in the 400 and was on the 4x800 that finished eighth in Class 3A state meet.

TARA HADDOCK, FR., LECANTO: State qualifier in the 400 and ran on the 4x800 that took eighth at state and set school record.

DENISE JAY, SO., CRYSTAL RIVER: Region champ was 13th in the state 800 and ran for state-qualifying 4x400 relay.

STACEY LOWE, SR., LECANTO: Qualified for region in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and triple jump.

MAGGIE LANIGAN, JR., CITRUS: Was 11th in the state discus. CAITLIN MONTGOMERY, SO., CITRUS: Finished 16th in the state 3,200 and was on state-qualifying 4x800 relay.

AMY RUNDIO, SO., LECANTO: Ran on the 4x800 that finished eighth at state and set school record, plus qualified for region in 800.

HOLLY VANSICKLEN, FR., CRYSTAL RIVER: Region champ placed 14th in the state 3,200. DEIRDRA WITHERSPOON, JR., LECANTO: Ran on the 4x800 that set school record and finished eighth in state and made region 1,600 and 3,200.