Preps

Countryside wins first title

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published April 23, 2004

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ST. PETERSBURG - When Largo coach Mike Beck noticed the official scorers had his girls team finishing behind Countryside at the Class 3A, District 11 meet, he didn't think things added up.

A few discrepancies were discovered after double-checking the results, but it wasn't enough to reverse the outcome.

The Cougars won their first district title, scoring 150 points to beat the Packers by 20.

Forgive Beck for wanting to be thorough. There were not many who envisioned a scenario in which Countryside would be on top. Even the Cougars' coach, Bob Stephens, was unsure how his team would fare, despite its third-place finish at Pinellas County Athletic Conference meet two weeks ago.

"We were really trying to downplay that finish at the conference meet," said Stephens, referring to the third-place finish at PCAC, the program's best showing at the meet. "We would really have to be at our best at district to win."

The Cougars won on the strength of its performance in the field events and hurdles. Danielle Biaso won the shot put and discus and Autumn Matthews won the 100 and 300 meter hurdles. Countryside's Nicole Skinner also did well, winning the 400 and running a leg on the 4x400 relay team that finished third.

"The girls that have been there all season came through," Stephens said. "But we got a lot of other great performances from girls that we didn't count on. It certainly helped with points."

But the meet was not over. The Cougars still had the withstand Largo's considerable depth in the distance races. The Packers had four of the top five place-winners in the 800 and finished in the top two in the 1600 and 3200.

"We did about as well as I could expect tonight," Beck said.

While Largo's girls team fell short, the boys team came up big.

The Packers won their second straight district title, scoring 157 to beat runner-up Boca Ciega (133).

Largo won nine events. Dexter McCluster (long and triple jump) and Jose Maclao (110 and 300 hurdles) were multiple winners for the Packers.

[Last modified April 23, 2004, 01:20:38]

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