Ridgewood runs away with boys, girls titles

Each team wins six events to vault into the top spots.

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published March 10, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Chanellica Ranson's Pirates finished in sixth place overall in the Suncoast Relays on Friday, but it was smiles like hers - after leading Pasco's 4x100-meter relay team to a blue ribbon in 52.05 seconds - and the smiles of others that had coaches seeing bright spots on a night most deemed a good second-meet workout.

"I don't know much," said Ranson, a freshman. "I just told (teammates) when I came in here, 'I don't know about you, but I was going to do good.' And I did."

Ridgewood's Chelsea Alicea turned in a notable effort. The junior finished third in the mile, gutted out a win for the Rams in the 4x400 relay, and guided the 4x800 team to another one of six event titles as the Rams won both the girls and boys titles at Des Little Stadium at Gulf.

The Ridgewood boys had nice depth throughout the night and also won six events. Throws and jumps were averaged for a team score. Pasco's Demetrius Larry jumped 21 feet and River Ridge's Chris Lansdown threw the discus 143 feet, both for easy individual wins.

The Royal Knights were led on the girls side by good runs from Kira Forbes, Lindsey Guercio and Danielle DiMarte, and with Dianne Cannon's individual win in discus (89-11) they finished behind Ridgewood 132-92 and just above Gulf (85).

"I love these meets. But I didn't expect to run this hard. I kind of wrung it out there at the end," Alicea said. "This is a meet that's really all about team, and that teamwork is important in track."

Action heated up for the co-ed races with Gulf notching wins in the distance, shuttle hurdles (back and forth) and throwers (runners had to be in a field event) to help the boys finished second with 102 points behind Ridgewood (112).

River Ridge took home an equally exciting sprinter medley (100-, 200- and 400-meter exchanges), putting their boys in third (88).

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 00:14:05]