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Bauer Powers To Top 10 At State

Photo by Bill Ward for Highlands Today

Sebring junior Connor Bauer surges to an eighth place at Saturday's Class 2A state high school championships at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. Bauer covered the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 59 seconds.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: November 22, 2008

Updated:

DADE CITY - From the beginning of the season, Sebring junior Connor Bauer knew he'd need a peak performance at state in order to reach his goal of a top-10 finish.

On Saturday morning at Little Everglades Ranch, Bauer reached his pinnacle - for this season, at least.

Bauer ran a personal best time of 15 minutes, 59 seconds - nearly a minute faster than his run last year - to take eighth place out of 180 runners at the Class 2A state cross country meet.

"I didn't expect to run that fast today," said Bauer, whose previous personal best was a 16:13 he turned in earlier this year. "I wasn't thinking too much about time, I was sitting around 13th or 14th place, and I knew I had to make my move."

Bauer said his kick to the finish was one of the fastest he'd ever had: He went from 13th to ninth place in the final 200 yards, and passed one more competitor in the final 25 yards.

"I had my parents and Sebring coach Jeff Shoemaker right at the home stretch, and they helped me kick it in," Bauer said. "It was nice to see that clock at the finish. I couldn't believe it, I just remember looking up and saying, 'Whoa, that's awesome.'"

Bauer wasn't the only one feeling that way: A proud Shoemaker said Bauer took nearly a minute off his 2007 state time (he finished 19th overall in 16:58), which qualified him as a National Gold Standard runner. The longtime Sebring coach said Bauer was outstanding over the last mile to run one of the fastest times a Blue Streak has ever recorded on a 3.2-mile course.

"He's just a gamer," Shoemaker said. "He knows how to bring it, and he doesn't falter."

Bauer said he "got lucky" with a quick start and jumped out in front with a lead pack. He then conserved some energy after a five-minute opening mile and hung in the back of the lead pack, attempting to draft a bit on the windy course.

"I made a few key movements that caught me up with the bigger groups," Bauer said. "Then right around the final turn, I kicked it in.

"I almost had a full sprint going, and I really don't know where that came from."

Wherever it came from, Bauer is looking to find it again: Minutes before receiving his medal, he was already talking about next season.

"I can't wait to start my training," Bauer said, noting he'll dabble in some triathlon training over the school year and summer. "I really want to kick it in for my senior year, but it all depends on what I do in the offseason."

NOTES: Junior Michael Wallace of Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) won the state title in 15:19. He was followed by junior Erick Montoya of Estero (15:22) and senior Joseph Dorfman of Belen Jesuit Prep (15:36). ... Bauer finished fifth among non-seniors ... Belen Jesuit Prep won the boys team title with 45 points. ... Bishop Kenny won the girls competition with 46 points.

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

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