SHADY HILLS - Jeff Masterson was first across the finish line, as usual. Then Mitchell teammate John Tuccio. Zephyrhills' Jose Espinoza, Land O'Lakes' Steven Bell, Gulf's Tommy Accaria and Land O'Lakes' Steven Lang all followed.
See where this is going?
Pasco County males grabbed the first five spots and seven of the first 10 in Saturday morning's Gator Invitational in a surprising early-season show of force at Crews Lake Park.
But the best showing belonged to Tuccio, whose second place and time of 17 minutes propelled the Mitchell boys to the title, scoring 98 points to beat a touted Plant squad by seven.
"He just ran an incredible race," Mustangs coach Jacki Wachtel said. "He ran his race, he did exactly what he needed him to do, and everybody behind him came through and it was a great day."
Gaither's Amanda Quick dominated the girls' field, running a 19:49 and winning by 36 seconds. Wesley Chapel's Stephanie Amerman was second, (20:25) beating a surging Leela Hadsock of Hernando by five seconds.
Despite her high finish, Amerman was disappointed with her time. She echoed a common complaint: the course was just ... slow.
"The course wasn't what we expected," Amerman said. "We thought it would be a fast course but at the mile you're basically stopping to get through it. It was a tough course."
Masterson was all alone and all business when he hit the finish line, but he didn't skip a beat after running 16:26. He kept going to the parking lot, where he had to thank someone: his father, George, who died of cancer in October.
"I wanted to make it a tradition," Masterson said. "I want to make a habit of right after a race just going off and thanking God for the abilities he's given me and thanking my dad."
Gaither won the girls title with 58 points, eight better than Largo. Hadsock and 10th-place Danielle Coopman (22:38) led Hernando to third (107). Gulf's Nichole Berkey was eighth (21:53), leading the Bucs to fourth (115). Land O'Lakes' Bell (17:14) and Lang (17:34) led the Gator boys to third (107).
SATURDAY'S RESULTS: GATOR INVITATIONAL AT CREWS LAKE PARK
BOYS
Team scores - Mitchell 98, Plant 105, Land O'Lakes 107, Hernando 121, Largo 126, River Ridge 147, Wesley Chapel 155, Central 180, Gulf 191, Ridgewood 205.
