Warhawks' strength in numbers

By BOB PUTNAM
Published October 6, 2005

Individually, the Seminole boys do not have much hope for titles.

Collectively? Then they're tough to beat.

The Warhawks, ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A state poll, have run circles around county competition, often finishing meets with the top-five place winners. Still, Seminole was unsure how it would fare once it ventured outside the county.

The boys got their answer after a strong showing at last week's flrunners.com meet at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

The Warhawks placed third in the prestigious Race of Champions. Warwick Valley Central (N.Y.) took first with 103 points and a total time of 1 hour, 21.39 minutes, followed by Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (185 points, 1:22.47). Seminole scored 214 and finished in 1:24.03. The third-place finish was tops among teams in Class 3A and second regardless of state classification.

"It was very surprising how the boys did," coach Bruce Calhoun said. "We brought our top guys, but you never know what to expect at these type of meets because everything changes from year to year. There was some tough running on our part."

A big reason the Warhawks attended was to get a glimpse of the course, which also will be used for the state meet Nov. 5. The course covers almost all of the ranch's rolling acreage, combining difficulty and variety. There are ponds and fields, hairpin turns and nasty hills. Because of that, many predicted there would not be many personal records.

Seminole dispelled that notion with six runners turning in their fastest times this season. Tony Nicolosi, the Times' 2004 boys runner of the year, ran a career-best 16:21.09. Teammates Aaron Thomas (16:43.29), Dustin Kapper (16:55.67), Christian Homme (16:58.43) and Josh Comer (17:04.78) were not far behind.

It was not enough for any Seminole runner to break into the top 15. But it did show the Warhawks are a team to be reckoned with.

"I think the way we ran surpassed even our own expectations," Nicolosi said. "... The way we ran last week confirmed we have a shot at the state team title."

The Warhawks took the hard road in their climb to the top, training at a summer camp in Boone, N.C., near the Appalachian Mountains. The thin air and rugged terrain the boys encountered in the hillside translated into strength and stamina during the flrunners.com meet.

"Running in the mountains definitely helped," Nicolosi said. "There was one run that was 5 miles up a hill. That was a while ago, but the strength gained from that showed when we were going through some of the hills (at Little Everglades Ranch)."

MOTT ON TOP: Northeast's Jonathan Mott did more than win the individual title in the flrunners.com large school race - he set a career and school record.

Mott, a second-team, all-county selection last year, finished in 16:41.03 to beat Fort Myers Baker's Gilbert Mananzaneres by .92 seconds.

"Jonathan basically led from the start," Vikings coach Larry Rudisill Jr. said. "There was only one other runner in the front pack and Jonathan just pushed and pushed until he made the kid give up hope for first place."

Mott will get his biggest county test today when he faces Nicolosi in the Viking Invitational. The boys meet, held at Crescent Lake Park, starts at 6:40 p.m.

SMALL SCHOOLS: Indian Rocks Christian's Tim Rousonelos ran 17:34.33 to place eighth in the flrunners.com small school race. Calvary's Joe Cathey (18:05) was 18th and Keswick Christian's Ryan Shadowens (18.07.14) 19th.

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]