Panthers put 4x400 fame on line today

The girls are unbeaten this season, but their best time has been matched by Central and the conference crown waits for the winner.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 14, 2000

LECANTO -- Liz Witherspoon is known as the resident comedian on the Lecanto girls track team. She's the one who keeps things light and encourages teammates when times get tough.

But when coach Freddie Bullock was experimenting and trying to find the right combination for the Panthers' 4x400 relay team, it was Witherspoon, a junior, who got serious and settled the issue.

"Early in the year when we had trouble getting some of them to run it all the time, Liz finally just stepped up and said, "Hey, we're running it,' " Bullock said. "That was it. They might not remember that, but that's when it happened."

What happened was that after more than a year of shuffling, Bullock found the right combination. Witherspoon, Kylene Colasanti, Sarah Hernandez and Kate Wheeler have formed a formidable squad.

The team has won in every meet this season and enters the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships today set for a showdown with Central's 4x400 team. Both have season-best times of 4:14, making the race one of the marquee events.

The meet will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Hernando High.

"It's going to be a challenge, but I like a challenge," Witherspoon said. "It makes me run faster."

Witherspoon and Hernandez ran together all of last season, with Wheeler and Colasanti running the event at different times during the year. The foursome credits familiarity with its success.

"It's very comfortable to run with them," said Wheeler, a sophomore. "We know each other in school and we're all friends. It just feels right. I like running with them and I think we are all better this year."

Hernandez, the lone senior on the team, said their closeness fuels their running.

"We know what to expect from each other and we try to do the best we can for each other," Hernandez said. "I run hard not just for me, but for Kate, Kylene and Liz because I know they expect that from me. And it's the same for everybody else."

Wheeler is the anchor of the team who receives the baton from best friend Colasanti. Hernandez is second and Witherspoon starts things off.

Each has a different role, but all share a common characteristic: fear that leads to extra adrenaline.

Witherspoon, who also has the best 400 time in the county, said she nearly becomes "sick to her stomach" at the start of each race. Hernandez said sometimes "it's like my heart is pounding out of my chest." Wheeler said it "feels like I'm dying" as she stands waiting for the baton.

"Right when I'm on the line I'm like all scared, but when I get it (the baton) I'm not scared anymore," Wheeler said. "I don't know why. I think everyone cheering kind of takes away (her fear)."

The cheering does nothing for Colasanti, who also competes in the 100 and 300 hurdles.

"I'm standing there waiting and the panic just overwhelms me," Colasanti said, laughing at the thought. "I always get really scared. If we are down a little, which we haven't been a lot, I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to cry sometimes. Then the adrenaline kicks in and I just take off and try to go as fast as I can. They say I always run good when I'm nervous and I guess that's true."

Colasanti was lured onto the team near midseason last year when Wheeler had to quit for personal reasons. Her first time out, she ran a 1:01 split. When Bullock came to her and asked if she would run it again this season, she didn't hesitate to say yes.

"It doesn't matter to me what event it is, I just like track," Colasanti said.

With Central offering a mirror image of Lecanto, today's meet will give the Panthers an opportunity to see just where they stand heading into next week's all-important district meet.

"I was pretty sure we were going to win at first because we've won every meet that we've run the 4x400, but coach Bullock told us the other day they have a 4:14 so that means we're going to be right there with them," Wheeler said. "All of us are good in competition so I think we'll get it. At least I hope we'll get it."

It has taken Bullock more than a year to find the combination she was looking for. But as good as this relay team has been, she thinks it can be better.

"If we ever run all four consistent, they're good," Bullock said. "We haven't had all four of them run a good leg (in one race) yet. Kylene and Liz are the most consistent. We need all four to do it. But that's up to them. That's the key here; they know it's up to them and you don't get that often with high school kids. These four know they've got to do it and they want to do it."

GCAC track meet at a glance

• WHO: Citrus, Central, Crystal River, Hernando, Lecanto, Springstead, South Sumter.

• WHERE: Hernando High School.

• WHEN: Today, 3:30 p.m.

• IF YOU GO: Take U.S. 41 south into Brooksville (Jefferson Street), turn right on Howell Avenue. School is about 1 mile on right.

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