Preps

Cross country: In hot pursuit

By IZZY GOULD
Published October 31, 2007

Plenty of great racing is anticipated Thursday afternoon when the cross country postseason gets under way across the state. Locally, there will be a pair of meets with fierce competition. Local favorites in the hunt for district titles include Land O'Lakes junior Felix Soto and Wiregrass Ranch freshman Ariel Grey. In team competition, the Land O'Lakes boys will battle Wharton for district supremacy. It should all make for the start of an exciting three weeks of cross country action.

When: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (girls) and 5 p.m. (boys)

Where: Oscar Scherer State Park

Host: Sarasota Riverview

Schools: Alonso, Bloomingdale, Countryside, Durant, East Bay, East Lake, Gaither, Largo, Mitchell, North Port, Palm Harbor University, Pinellas Park, Plant City, Riverview, Sarasota Riverview, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Sickles

Boys: Sickles enters as the team to beat with arguably three of the top runners in the Bay area. Gaither should also be strong. The Mustangs are led by junior Sebastian Ruiz, sophomore Josh Gutierrez, senior Brad Chapman and junior Harry McCarthy.

Girls: Again, Sickles and Gaither look strong with Sickles as the better team at this point in the season. Mitchell is led by Shelby Wright and Madeleine Wagner.

Class 3A, District 3

When: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (girls) and 5 p.m. (boys)

Where: Crews Lake Park

Host: Land O'Lakes

Schools: Belleview, Central, Ocala Forest, Freedom, Gulf, Hudson, Ocala Lake Weir, Land O'Lakes, Leesburg, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Groveland South Lake, Springstead, Ocala Vanguard, Wesley Chapel, Wharton

Boys: Land O'Lakes should take its first step toward state going head-to-head in a compelling battle with defending district and region champion Wharton. Gators junior Felix Soto comes in with the North Suncoast's top time of 16:21 and has nice strength along with teammates Matt Schwartz and Jake Proudfoot. Ridgewood teammates Steven Landreth and Dean Stupar should provide a nice punch. Soto will have to fend off Wharton junior John Grellner (16:36). Central has three runners - Robert Davis, Brad Henderson and Alex Yettaw -capable of finishing strong.

Girls: There should be a competitive balance featuring four teams - Vanguard, South Lake, Gulf and Wesley Chapel - ranked among the flrunners.com Top 25 Class 3A poll. Six of the top 35 runners in the poll will compete. Sunshine Athletic Conference champion Gulf could have a good showing led by Jaci Pustelnik and Brittnie Bennett. Wesley Chapel should also be strong with Jessica Furst and Shelby DeLoach.

Class 2A, District 3

When: Thursday, 5 p.m. (girls) and 5:30 p.m. (boys)

Where: McKethan Lake

Host: Hernando

Schools: Citrus, Crescent City, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Hernando, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Lecanto, Nature Coast, Citra North Marion, Pasco, Alachua Santa Fe, Sunlake, The Villages, Ocala West Port, Williston, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills

Girls: The Wiregrass Ranch girls begin their quest for a district title and a state berth. They'll have to go head-to-head with Crystal River, which appears to have several solid runners and is the clear favorite. The Bulls are led by freshman sensation Ariel Grey, who holds the top girls time on the North Suncoast (19:44) and the top time in the district. With Pasco junior Leeann Eble sidelined with an injury, Grey is the favorite.

Boys: Host Hernando should be in the thick of things, but again it appears Crystal River is the front-runner. Nature Coast improved throughout the season and schools such as Zephyrhills, Pasco and Sunlake have a shot at advancing to region.

Class A, District 5

When: Thursday, 3 p.m. (girls) and 3:45 p.m. (boys)

Where: Taylor Park

Host: Keswick Christian

Schools: Academy at the Lakes, Admiral Farragut, Winter Haven All Saints', Bayshore Christian, Berkeley Prep, Bishop McLaughlin, Calvary Christian, Canterbury, Indian Rocks Christian, Keswick Christian, Lakeland Christian, Lakeland McKeel, Northside Christian, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic, Shorecrest Prep, Tampa Baptist, Tampa Prep, Lake Wales Vanguard, Avon Park Walker Memorial

The skinny: One of the tougher districts has several top 10 teams competing for the title. Berkeley Prep appears to be the leader for the girls followed closely by Canterbury and host Keswisk Christian. For the boys, Berkeley Prep and Shorecrest Prep will compete for the title.

Who advances?

The top eight teams if 15 or more teams have five or more runners entering the race. Six teams qualify if 14 teams or fewer begin the race. The top 15 individuals also advance.

Honor roll

Boys

1. Felix Soto, Land O'Lakes, 16:21 (Zak Lukas)

2. Tyler Maier, Hernando, 16:31 (Her/Cit)

3. Joe Wright, Hernando, 16:43 (Her/Cit)

4. Rob Davis, Central, 16:49 (Her/Cit)

5. Alex Mason, Nature Coast, 16:56 (Her/Cit)

6. Steven Landreth, Ridgewood, 16:58 (Gator/Zak)

7. Matt Schwartz, Land O'Lakes, 17:04 (Zak Lukas)

8. Brad Henderson, Central, 17:07 (Her/Cit)

9. Alex Yettaw, Central, 17:10 (Her/Cit)

10. Jake Proudfoot, Land O'Lakes, 17:24 (Without Walls)

Girls

1. Ariel Grey, Wiregrass Ranch, 19:44 (Bradenton)

2. Leeann Eble, Pasco, 20:05 (Disney)

3. Jaci Pustelnik, Gulf, 20:35 (Zak Lukas)

4. Jessica Furst, Wesley Chapel, 20:37 (Without Walls)

5. Shelby DeLoach, Wesley Chapel, 20:42 (Zak Lukas)

6. Brittnie Bennett, Gulf, 20:57 (Zak Lukas)

7. Jillian Browne, Ridgewood, 21:02 (Zak Lukas)

8. Courtney McAuliffe, Gulf, 21:07 (Zak Lukas)

9. Renae Porsch, Land O'Lakes, 21:12 (Zak Lukas)

10. Jaclyn White, Springstead, 21:19 (Her/Cit)

[Last modified October 30, 2007, 23:32:42]