Packers boys, Hurricanes girls live up to expectations and defend their titles.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published April 8, 2004
SEMINOLE - The Pinellas County Athletic Conference boys and girls titles came down to the usual suspects: Largo and Palm Harbor University.
The Packers have won every major meet they have entered this season and did so again Wednesday, scoring 107 to defend their title.
Palm Harbor University girls scored 105 to win for the second straight year.
"The depth that we have is certainly a luxury," first-year Largo coach Dave Angelo said. "We can compete in almost every event."
The balance showed as the Packers scored in 11 of 14 events.
Dexter McCluster came up big in the field events, winning the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) and taking second in the long jump (22-7). Richard Mohammed won the 110-meter high hurdles (15.74 seconds) and was third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.30). Jose Maclao was second in the 110 hurdles (15.81) and 300 hurdles (41.50). And Kareem Abdelbary was second in the 1,600 (4:34.82) and was part of the winning 4x800 relay team (8:24.85).
"Overall, our distance guys have produced week in and week out," Angelo said. "The hurdlers and McCluster also gave us a lot of points."
Boca Ciega's Leonard Genes won three events - the triple jump, 100 and 200 - to help the Pirates finish as runnerup with 76 points. Pinellas Park's Munir Muwwikkil (discus, shot put) and Seminole's Ken Magee (1,600 and 3,200) were the only other multiple champions on the boys side. Magee tied Tarpon Springs' Michael Knous in the 3,200.
In the girls field the Hurricanes relied on a small group of star athletes to win.
As expected Palm Harbor University's Lauren McNary won the 400 (59.66), Kerrie Savery won the 800 (2:26.41) and Courtney Lacroix won the high jump (5-6). The Hurricanes also won the 4x800 relay (10:12.10) and 4x400 relay (4:12.50).
PHU also got a bonus when McNary won the 200 (25.93).
"I was stressing to the girls that every point means something," Hurricanes coach John Planamenta said. "No matter what seed we were placed, we needed to do something. Everyone contributed."
PHU sealed the meet by taking the top three spots in the 800. Seminole finished second with 84 points, followed by Countryside with 72.
