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By ANTHONY GAGLIANOMitchell's Jeff Masterson can't keep pace at the USF/Jesuit Invitational.
TAMPA - A few meters separated Jeff Masterson from leader Andy Biladeau as the two hit the track at the USF/Jesuit Invitational. Unfortunately for Masterson, that wasn't the home stretch, and Biladeau pulled away as the course moved into the woods.
Biladeau, a Jesuit junior, beat Masterson by 12 seconds Saturday to win the 5,000-meter run for the second year in a row.
Masterson, a Mitchell junior, clocked in at 15:27 to take second after winning last week's Gator Invitational. Behind Masterson was Land O' Lakes sophomore Steven Bell (15:44). Five runners finished in less than 16 minutes in the elite run, and just trailing that pack was senior Kurt Able of Wesley Chapel.
The duo of Masterson and fellow junior John Tuccio propelled the Mustangs to third place. Tuccio finished in 16:40 to come in 14th.
Host Jesuit took the team title with 58 points, as all five of its runners placed in the top 25. Masterson and Tuccio led Mitchell to a 124 team score with Jeff Surmin, David Steicsek and Nick Ferrer coming in the top 50.
It was a successful day for River Ridge in the boys open race. The Knights placed a pair of runners in the top 10, led by William Gonzalez, whose 17:09 was good for fifth. Not far behind Gonzalez was teammate Brett Litak at 17:22 in eighth, and the Knights finished sixth with 233 points. Jesuit also won the team title in the open run as all five Tigers finished between 12th and 24th.
Zephyrhills' Jose Espinoza had the best time of any Bulldog, dashing in under 18 minutes to finish 18th.
The Wildcats' Stephanie Amerman joined Able in the top 10. The Wesley Chapel junior finished seventh in the girls elite race with 19:40. Land O' Lakes' Danielle Shimer rounded out the top 10 in 19:48.
The teams struggled in the standings, with River Ridge securing the best finish at 13th. The duo of Knights seniors Danielle Coyle, who was third at the Gator Invitational, and Sam Jacobsen finished in 13th and 14th to boost River Ridge.
The girls open run had a pair of Mustangs near the front. Seniors Amanda Palmer and Erica Sloms earned spots among the top 10. Zephyrhills freshman Cassie Wirth was 13th at 22:22.