The Pirate girls win in a tiebreaker. Lecanto's Tara Haddock and Crystal River's Joe Greer take the individual honors.
By LARRY BUGG
Published October 23, 2005
CRYSTAL RIVER - Crystal River girls coach Lisa Carter tried to hold her excitement.
Carter knew her Pirates just barely won the Citrus County Athletic Conference girls team title.
When she could no longer hold it in, Carter beamed and jumped for joy. Lecanto and Crystal River both had 30 points but the Pirates' sixth runner did better than Lecanto's. It was the first time Crystal River's girls have won a county meet and Lecanto's girls have been ranked in the state.
Not long after, the Crystal River boys also took the team title with 21 points. Coach Tim Byrne said it was the first time in at least 18 years that a Crystal River boys team won a cross country meet.
"The same kids were on the team last year but they worked hard," Byrne said. "They are good kids."
Crystal River's Joe Greer just nipped teammate Brennon McNally to win the boys individual title. Both had times of 17 minutes, 7 seconds.
"This is my best race on this course," Greer said. "We (he and McNally) were side by side until the finish."
Lecanto's Nick Norton was third in 17:17.
Lecanto's Tara Haddock won the girls race in 20:49. Teammate Taylor Cooke was second in 20:54. Crystal River's Holly Van Sicklen fell during the race but recovered to finish third in 21:30.
"We (she and Cooke) push each other in practice and out here we were pushing each other," Haddock said. "It was fun to run with someone on your team. It's really tough because there is a lot of sugarsand and it makes your calves burn."
