Spotlight to be on runners-up in district track

Behind the favorites will be battles for the three remaining regional qualifying spots.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 2000

INVERNESS -- Nearly every event in the Class 2A, District 5 track meet has a favorite, a No. 1 seed that, at least on paper, is expected to win.

It's the battle for the remaining three regional qualifying positions that is expected to make today's meet one of the more exciting in recent history.

Citrus will host the meet, which begins with field events at 3 p.m. The Hurricanes will be joined by Crystal River, Lecanto, Dunnellon, Lake Weir and Citra North Marion.

"It should be a very competitive meet," Crystal River coach Norris Lightsey said. "It is not so much the front-runners or the best ones who will be there; the best battle will be between the guys trying to get the second, third and fourth places. In some of the races there is a clear favorite, but then after that it gets kind of cloudy. That's where the competitive races are going to be."

It will be competition like no other for the athletes. Only the top four in each event will advance to next week's Class 2A, Region 2 meet at Central. No matter how you view it, that's pressure.

"At this level, with only (four) advancing, you've got to be good," Lecanto girls coach Freddie Bullock said.

The Citrus boys team is favored to win the meet, entering with five No. 1 seeds and two top-seeded relay teams (400 and 800). Brent Mobley is the top seed in the 100 and 200 meters, Cory Presnick is No. 1 in the 1,600 and 3,200, Rick Miller is tops at 800, and John Rogers and Rodney Lacey are top-seeded in the shot put and discus respectively.

But coach Tom Darby isn't convinced his Hurricanes are the team to beat. Citra North Marion comes in with a reputation for having strong sprint and relay personnel -- enough to give Citrus some serious competition.

"Oh yeah, it's going to be competitive," Darby said. "I just hope we can stay on the field with North Marion. We competed in a couple of events with them during the season, but none of the relays. I want to see if we're any good. If we can't beat them, we can't beat anybody else we might meet down the road."

Lightsey said Citrus and North Marion will provide the most excitement of the meet.

"North Marion has speed and Citrus has speed, so that should be a real good mix," he said. "Especially in the sprints, North Marion is the team to beat."

Crystal River senior Tarrence Rhodes is the top seed in the 400 meters, followed closely by No. 2 seed K.J. Atkins of Lecanto. In the pole vault, Lecanto's Jonathan Bilby is the favorite. His vault of 11 feet won the conference title.

In the girls competition, Lecanto and Citrus are among the favorites. The teams finished second and third respectively in Monday's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference meet. Crystal River is expected to be competitive as well, particularly in the 1,600.

"Crystal River has some awesome athletes this year and anytime Citrus is there it's going to be tough," Bullock said. "North Marion is also very good, so it will be competitive. We should beat a few people just by sheer numbers (having a large team)."

Darby said Lecanto is a clear-cut favorite.

"It's hard to tell, but Lecanto will probably run away with it," he said. "At least they should. But you never know what will happen."

Darby spent much of Wednesday preparing for the biggest meet of the season at Citrus. A man who is a stickler for details and routine, he admitted he'll deviate from his normal philosophy today.

"Normally, if the meet is at home I run the meet," he said. "If it's not at home I coach. Thursday I'll do both."

The 800-meter race should be one of the top events, with three athletes having run under 2 minutes this season, including Miller, Lecanto's Shohn Joyner and Crystal River's Mackie Duncan.

"It should be a great one to watch," Lightsey said. "Everyone is close in that one."

2A-District 5 track meet at a glance

WHEN: Today, 3 p.m.

WHERE: Citrus High School.

ADMISSION: $4.

AT STAKE: The top four finishers in each event will qualify for the Region 2 meet April 27 at Central High.

SCHEDULE: Field events begin at 3 p.m., followed by the 4x800 at 3:30. The running preliminaries will begin at approximately 4, and the finals are expected to begin somewhere between 6:30 and 7.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Citrus -- Brent Mobley (100, 200), Cory Presnick (1,600, 3,200), Rodney Lacey (discus), Candice Wright (triple jump, long jump, 100), Melissa Garcia and Sally Lanigan (shot, discus). Crystal River -- Tarrence Rhodes (200, 400, long jump); Mandy Smelko (1,600), Nickie Brown (800). Lecanto -- Kate Wheeler (high jump, 4x400), Kylene Colasanti (pole vault, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Shohn Joyner (800), Jonathan Bilby (pole vault), Angela Berry (discus), Brian Holcomb (3,200).

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