Sports

Coach and runner of the year: Pinellas All-County Cross Country

By TIMES STAFF
Published December 19, 2006

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Runner of the year: Aaron Thomas

Aaron Thomas began his captaincy sounding a little like Nostradamus.

Sitting at the Seminole team banquet after last season, Thomas watched the slide show celebrating the Warhawks' second-place finish at state.

"I don't see any reason we can't be up there again," he told the outgoing seniors.

Several chuckled.

After all, the Warhawks were graduating three of their top five runners, including Times Runner of the Year Tony Nicolosi.

Thomas, however, had the last laugh.

The 6-foot-2, 155-pound middle distance star capped an improbable career transformation - from a cross country novice to region champ - leading the Warhawks to a state runnerup finish.

"Nobody thought we could do it," Thomas said. "But we did."

Why we picked him

The shaggy-haired senior went undefeated in county meets, winning Pinellas County Athletic Conference, district and region titles before finishing sixth at state.

Fun fact

Thomas listens to Eminem's hit Lose Yourself on his iPod before every track and cross country race. The beach bum also loves surfing and fishing.

What's next

Thomas wants to break 4:10 in the mile during track season, where he also will run the 800 meters. Afterward, he'll decide on a college, with the early favorites being Providence, Tampa and Mars Hill (N.C.).

Coach of the year: Larry Rudisill

Larry Rudisill, 37, led the Vikings to their first state meet berth in more than two decades.

Northeast, having lost star twins Jonathan and Matt Mott to graduation, returned just two varsity runners (John Zurek and Matt Adkins), who each hovered around 18:30. But sparked by newcomers such as Russell Snyder, the Vikings won the city meet, finished second at district and third at regions before placing 14th at state.

"It was absolutely above and beyond any expectations we had," said Rudisill, in his fifth season coaching Northeast and 12th overall. "The kids made the dedication to work hard and get new athletes out."

First Team

Russell Snyder, Sr. Northeast

First-year runner was key cog in Vikings' spectacular run, finishing third at state and recording the county's top time (16:13.3).

Christian Homme, Jr. Seminole

Aaron Thomas' right-hand man, Homme was the county's top finisher at state, taking second at 16:20.

Joe Cathey, Jr. Calvary Christian

Cathey won district and region titles, finishing 14th (17:04) at state meet.

Garrett Mackey, Sr. St. Petersburg

Green Devils' top runner led them to state meet berth.

Kyle Vogel, Sr. Seminole

After taking a season off, Vogel was clutch as a third runner.

Wes Reynolds, So. St. Petersburg

Consistent, kept close with Mackey, taking 34th at state (17:04).

Ariel Gonzalez, Sr. Palm Harbor U.

Shined for Hurricanes, taking 10th at region (17:04).

Second team

John Zurek, Northeast

Scott Lee, St. Petersburg

Zachary Christenson, Countryside

Michael Fortney, Osceola

Brian Benjamin, Dixie Hollins

Mark Benjamin, Dixie Hollins

Matt Adkins, Northeast

 

Honorable mention

Admiral Farragut Alexander Banks

Boca Ciega John Fredrick, Philip Connor

Calvary Christian Benton Jones

Canterbury Mitchell Todd

Clearwater Matthew Katte

Clearwater Central Catholic Tobias Probst

Countryside Nicholas Ribble, James Headley

Dixie Hollins Benjamin Beelman

Dunedin Bradley May

Gibbs Timothy Cogley

Indian Rocks Christian Josh Johnson, Marc Szabo

Keswick Christian Steven Thompson

Largo Gabriel Ramos, Thomas McGrath

Lakewood Cameron Miller, Matthew Bloom, Mike Fox

Northeast Joshua Phillippi, Jason Wagner

Osceola Jeffrey Surran, Dwayne Jordan

Palm Harbor U. Christopher Flick

Seminole Kevin Siesel, Julio Silva

Shorecrest Stephen Spanos, Jordan Silver

St. Petersburg Catholic Andrew Kline

Tarpon Springs Matt Levine

[Last modified December 19, 2006, 05:53:29]