BRANDON - Running in humidity as thick as the sand on the Don Bishop Invitational 3-mile course, Plant's Jeremy Meyer breezed to the victory in the boys cross-country race Saturday.
The senior finished in 17 minutes, 19 seconds despite sticky 88-degree weather.
"I kind of struggled in the back," Meyer said. "It's hot out on the course and sandy in the back. That kind of slowed me down.
"The best thing to do is just lift your knees and go as hard as you can on the smooth parts of the course," he said.
Meyer's strategy helped spur the Panthers to a win. Jeremiah Matthews' 18:21 performance contributed to the team's 66 points.
By the first mile, in which he completed in 4:40, Meyer gave himself a safe lead from the rest of the pack.
"I broke (from) the guys in the back and coasted all the way in," Meyer said.
His daily training routines paid off in battling through the sandy portions of the course, Meyer said. "Every day, seven days a week, I go run out by Bayshore."
Placing second was Bloomingdale's Alex Regar, 17:28. Regar along with Kyle Koontz's 18:13 showing helped give the Bulls a score of 87 and the runner-up spot.
Sparked by two top-10 finishers, Riverview was third. Matt Sprigg took fifth (17:36), and Stephen Wilson was eighth (18:18).
