She won many meets and capped her season with second at state.
By JOHN C. COTEY
Published December 2, 2003
St. Petersburg's Kerry Allen ran the best she could on the night of the Class 4A state meet.
But when it was over, her second-place finish wasn't enough to assuage that she was a minute behind winner Jenny Barringer of Oveido.
Man ... second place and a full minute behind the winner?
Now Allen knows what it feels like for every other Pinellas County girls runner this season.
Thanks to her superiority, any local race she ran proved to be no more than a run for second.
Allen won the Largo Invitational, City championship, Pinellas County Athletic Conference title and district and regional crowns for the second straight year. And also for the second season in a row, she is the Times Runner of the Year.
Allen capped the season at state, improving on her 2002 finish (sixth to second) and time (19:06 to 18:09) to further establish herself as one of Florida's top runners. But Allen isn't ready to decree her season a success yet.
Last year, she had no expectations and burst onto the scene. This season, she had more lofty ambitions, most notably qualifying for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals at Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif. She did not, finishing out of the top eight at regionals. "Last year was like a total surprise," Allen said. "I didn't have any expectations. This year at the end of cross country I said I wanted to break 18:20, and I did that. I'm just glad that I'm improved."
Allen started 2003 with a bang, beating 2001 runner of the year Melissa Kotchman in the Largo Invitational in their first match-up. Though it was close early, Allen was able to pull away and win convincingly.
No one came much closer the rest of the season. Allen finished behind only two runners all year - Barringer and Boca Raton Pope John Paul's Nicole Schappert, who were 1-2 at the flrunners.com meet in October. Allen was third. At state, Allen was hoping to pull off the upset over Barringer but never got the chance. The Oveido junior sprinted away almost from the start, and Allen settled for beating the third-place finisher by six seconds.
"I was disappointed about the time that I ran but not disappointed that I didn't win," Allen said. "She's just faster than I am right now."
Not that Allen is giving up on the dream of capturing a state title in 2004 or 2005. A student of the sport, she has examined the times that Barringer ran as a freshman and sophomore, and there is hope: Her performances at the same stage in her career are better than Barringer's.
Great news for Allen. Bad news for everyone else.
ALL-PINELLAS COUNTY GIRLS
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Kerry Allen, St. Petersburg
COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Beck, Largo
FIRST TEAM
Anna Deschryver, Jr., Countryside: Unsung Cougar qualified for state, was 2nd at PCAC
Melissa Kotchman, So., Indian Rocks Christian: Injuries hampered her, but she won third straight district/region titles.
Heather Bailey, Sr., Seminole: Was steadiest of Warhawks; 3rd at Largo, 4th at districts.
Alexandra Crabb, Sr., Lakewood: Her state time of 20:24, a career-best, was bettered only by Allen.
Lauren Vogel, Sr., Seminole: 3rd at PCAC meet, was top finishing Warhawk at state.
Cori Morris, Sr., Shorecrest: Was top local Class A finisher at state, taking 23rd.
Layla Hall, So., Largo: Came on strong at end of year, running 20:38 at state to pace team.
SECOND TEAM
Kerrie Savery, Sr., PHU
Alex Lechner, So., Clearwater
Deanna Drugash, Sr., Largo
Jennan Sappington, So., Seminole
Kaley Matthews, Jr., Largo
Pavendeep Birk, Fr., Shorecrest
Janelle Hewell, 7, Indian Rocks Chr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Boca Ciega - Stephanie Helinger, Lindsey Brooks; Clearwater Central Catholic - Danielle Harris; Indian Rocks Christian - Sarah Mayleben; Mandy Montzka; Keswick Christian - Amanda Miller, Kelly Matthews; Largo - Sara Bass, Amanda Mills; Palm Harbor University - Sarah Wilkerson, Lauren McNary; St. Petersburg Catholic - Lauren Groh, Jennifer Travis; Seminole - Mary Magee, Madeline Parhalo, Amanda Skillen; Shorecrest - Samantha Specht.
