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Sebring Cross Country Has Early Wake Up Call

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

The Sebring girls cross country team and sophomore Connor Bauer hope to qualify for state in today's Class 2A-Region 3 meet in Fort Myers.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: November 9, 2007

SEBRING — Hopefully, the girls on the Sebring cross-country team are early risers.
They'll need to be if they want to qualify for next week's state finals, as today's Class 2A-Region 3 competition at Estero Community Park in Fort Myers begins at 7:30 a.m.

"That's awfully early to run and I've never seen anything like it," said Blue Streak coach Jeff Shoemaker. "That's all right, though, because the girls have trained hard and will be ready to go."
Sebring sophomore Connor Bauer is also competing in today's meet, after qualifying sixth individually at the district meet with a time of 17:09.

"Connor has been running well and has a lot of confidence right now," Shoemaker said. "If he runs his race and stays focused, he has a real good chance of qualifying for state."

The regional meet features 12 teams, with the top six teams and top 15 individuals advancing to state.
The Blue Streak girls, who finished fifth in last week's district meet, were led by Heather McIntyre, Sydney Ruble and Maxine Copley.

McIntyre ran a 21:56, which was close to her personal-best, while Ruble came in at 23:37 and Copley crossed the finish line in 24:08.
"We have to get more production out of the other runners if we want to go to state," the veteran Sebring coach said. "The girls know what they have to do and I know they will give it their all."

The Blue Streaks spent Thursday night in Fort Myers to get acclimated to the grass course and to be rested for today's early event.

"The course should be a little slow and that works to our advantage," Shoemaker said. "There is definite room for improvement, but it will take a heck of an effort for us to qualify for state because there are some very talented teams in this regional.
"But if we have a great day, we could do it."

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