 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Runners enjoyed N.C. trip
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer NEW PORT RICHEY -- Mitchell cross country runner Jeff Masterson is thrilled with being a runner-up in the freshman race at the Foot Locker South Regional. But it seems that sharing a Nov. 24 trip to Charlotte, N.C., with 38 other Florida runners, most of which came from Mitchell, Gulf, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Springstead, Central, Plant, Jesuit and Sickles, meant more. "I couldn't even begin to describe it in words," said Masterson, the Sunshine Athletic Conference Boys Runner of the Year. "It was just awesome. ... the trip of the year. I'm looking forward to next year." Gulf girls cross country coach Dean Lofton, who has organized numerous trips to the annual Foot Locker races, said this year's trip "was more fun than last year. "The weather last year was a big drawback. We had pouring rain with 40-degree temperatures. This year, it was perfect for racing, about 60 to 70 degrees and slightly overcast." Masterson ran the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race in 16 minutes, 31.25 seconds. "I hung on at about fifth for most of the race and passed a few with a kick," Masterson said. Masterson was not the only local runner with a top 10 finish. Former Gulf runner Barbara Carr, a four-time SAC champion who now runs for Florida Southern (Lakeland), placed sixth in the women's open division in 20:54. Carr's former Buccaneer teammate, Valerie Malie, ran 20:55 for seventh in the women's open race. Megan Walker, who also ran at Gulf and is Malie's teammate at Florida State, narrowly missed the top 10 in the women's open. She was 11th at 23:20. Lofton finished 41st (21:37) in the men's open division. Scott Habershaw, a former Land O'Lakes runner who runs for Saint Leo University, placed 26th (17:01) in the men's open race. Gulf's Kyle Johansen and Dawn Selvidge also competed. Johansen placed 187th (19:12) in the sophomore race and Selvidge 110th (22:53) in the junior/senior race. Lindsay Bolt had the best finish among three Springstead runners. She placed 31st (20:13) in the junior/senior class. Ridgewood's Lizzie Sheridan was 103rd (20:30) in the girls seeded race. River Ridge's Samantha Jacobsen placed 51st in the freshman/sophomore race and Knights teammate Danielle Coyle was 75th (21:23) in that race.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times Jan Glidewell |
