Pushed by the loss of his father, Jeff Masterson wins a state title in the 3,200 meters Friday in Gainesville.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published May 8, 2004
GAINESVILLE - Jeff Masterson the runner has never been the same without George Masterson the father.
The elder Masterson was more than just a dad. He was his son's personal coach, his motivator, his trainer, his strategist and his psychologist. The only thing that could separate the two was cancer. George Masterson passed away at age 48 on Oct. 1, 2003 in the middle of cross country season. His talented son has struggled since.
Until Friday night. Until Jeff Masterson called upon his father one more time.
Masterson won his first state title in an emotional and dramatic 3,200 meters race at the Class 3A championships at Percy Beard Stadium.
The Mitchell junior crossed the finish line with a time of 9 minutes, 20.60 seconds, his finger held aloft toward the sky. After sharing hugs and tears with family and friends, Pasco County's lone state champion could only whisper.
"It's everything I've wanted, you know?" he said. "I've been here before and I've worked hard and every time ... I've fallen short everytime. And everytime my dad's helped me through it.
"I got on the line and I was like "I'm going to give it everything I have, and if I'm meant to win my dad and God are going to help me win this.' "'
Even eight months after his father's death, Masterson still couldn't train. But three times Friday he grabbed the lead, the last time holding onto it from 600 meters out. "There was times when I don't want to run at all and there's times where I feel I can run forever," he said, "and (Friday) night, there's no saying what I did tonight. I just felt like running."
It was a strong night for Pasco County's runners. River Ridge's Danielle Coyle brought back two medals, winning the bronze in the 1,600 (5:11.59) and placing sixth in the 800 (2:20.04) in the senior's first trip to state.
"I feel really good about it," she said. "I'm disappointed in my times because I didn't get the school record in the 1,600, but I'm happy. I made it to states and I did my best. It feels good."
Mitchell senior Nick Ferrer was fourth in the 1,600 (4:20.17), beating Masterson's school record by 5 seconds and Land O'Lakes senior Dani Shimer was fourth in her 3,200 (11:34.55) race. Wesley Chapel senior Kurt Abel was sixth in the 3,200 with 9:45.81.
"I thought it was a great race," Ferrer said. "I really liked it when I kicked it in the end in the last 800. It was incredible. I was ranked 12th coming into the mile so finishing fourth is very good for me."
One of Citrus County's top athletes, Jamal Galloway, closed out his prep career by earning his first medal at the state track meet. The Citrus senior made his second appearance Friday and was fourth in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 22 feet, 6 1/2 inches.
"I was hoping to do better since the competition was better," Galloway said. "But it was the best jump of my career in track. (Medaling) was one of my goals, so I was pretty excited."
Citrus teammate Israel Burton was fifth in the 110 high hurdles (15.17).
Ridgewood's Michael Selfe completed a three-year quest, medaling in the high jump. But he was frank after his 6-4 leap earned him sixth. "I can make a million excuses for myself, but it wasn't there," Selfe said. "I'm disappointed with myself. if I had jumped what I did last week (6-6) I would have gotten third."
Ridgewood's discus tandem, Colter Revak and Natricia Wade, both medaled. Wade was eighth (113-8) while Revak was sixth (152), setting his fourth-straight personal best in as many weeks.
It is Revak's first trip to state and his first season competing in track. Once he came off the medal stand the senior rushed back to Pasco County so the reserve infielder could join his Ridgewood baseball teammates in the Class 4A, District 10 final against Tarpon Springs. Revak pinch hit in the game's last at-bat for the district champions.
Lecanto's Nick Burns was eighth in the pole vault (13-6).
