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Mitchell freshman steals spotlight

Jeff Masterson passes teammate Danny Sheehan at the 2-mile mark, cruises to the title and sets a school record.

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 23, 2001

NEW PORT RICHEY -- In the brief history of Mitchell High, junior Danny Sheehan had set every school record and never finished second to a teammate. He was perfect in two races this year, creating an air of invincibility early in the season.

All that's gone now.

In a stunning and impressive showing, Mitchell freshman Jeff Masterson stalked his teammate and then blew by him with a mile to go to win the boys title at the Gulf Invitational on Saturday.

When Masterson came into view at Des Little Stadium over the final one-eighth of a mile, he was in a smooth sprint and finished strong in 16 minutes, 8 seconds, breaking Sheehan's school record of 16:25. Masterson finished 32 seconds ahead of Sheehan after finishing second to him in the first two meets this year.

"I wanted it bad ... real bad," said Masterson, who was reminded by a parent before the race that after the season opening Gator Invitational, Sheehan commented in the newspaper that he almost let Masterson win before remembering he was just a freshman.

"That got me going," he said.

Sheehan led the first 2 miles, trailed by Wesley Chapel sophomore Kurt Able and Masterson. When Masterson whipped by him at the 2-mile mark, Sheehan said he had little left to respond. "Wednesday I ran my best ever at practice ... but today I just felt a little congested and weak. When he passed me, I just yelled 'Go!'. It's good competition we have. It'll make me work harder."

Which is just what Masterson expects.

"Sheehan's coming back," he said. "Don't doubt Sheehan. He'll probably come out Monday (at practice) and beat my butt."

Able held on for third.

Masterson and Sheehan's 1-2 finish, combined with a fourth-place from Brandon Steiner, a sixth from John Tuccio and a 16th from Jarrod Madonna, gave the Mustangs their third consecutive title with 29 points. Hudson's Chris Hurtado was seventh to lead the Cobras into second and Dunnellon was third.

In the girls race, the favorites were winners as Ridgewood's Lizzie Sheridan won the individual title in a career-best 19:44, and Gulf won the team title.

The Bucs' Cindy Wade ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Sheridan until the final half-mile before the Ram pulled away to win by 11 seconds. Gulf's Melissa Dattoli was third in 19:58, followed by Amber Shuhart (fifth), Christina Angelillo (12th) and Milli Ugrenovic (15th) to give Gulf 36 points.

River Ridge was second with 67 points and Dunnellon was third.

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