Paige Cooke becomes the first Warrior runner to advance to the region meet.
By LARRY BUGG
Published October 28, 2005
MOUNT DORA - Seven Rivers Christian's Paige Cooke was able to handle some major hills Thursday.
The seventh-grader was not only able to climb the hills but ran a 21:49 and finished sixth at Mount Dora Bible School. Cooke qualified individually for the Class A regional meet Nov. 5 at Melbourne Holy Trinity.
This was the first district contest ever for Seven Rivers Christian and Cooke became the first runner to qualify for a regional. The top six teams and the top 15 individuals qualify for the regional.
Some of the girl runners had to walk up the hills and Cooke, who ran the course in 21 minutes, 49 seconds, had to work through the heights.
"It feels good," said Cooke of her achievement. "They (the hills) were really hard. My legs are really tired."
"She's an amazing kid," Seven Rivers coach Kerri Kitchen said. "She listens. She does what I tell her to do. I said when you go up the hills, just get up them and sprint as hard as you can going down. She's just an incredible athlete."
Kelsey Dunn of Warner Christian won the race in 20:19. Winter Park Trinity Prep won both the girls and boys team titles. The boys scored 38 points, the girls 35. Warner Christian's Daniel Dunn won the boys race with a time of 15:01.5.
Robert Golliher finished 53rd for the highest placing Seven Rivers boys runner.
Neither the Seven Rivers boys or girls teams had five runners so posted no team scores.
