TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Sebring Streaks To Victory

BOYS, GIRLS WIN AT LP CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Vicente Ramos strains for the finish line as Hardee's Murad Ottallah and Sebring's Alex Kennedy close in during Tuesday's cross country meet.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: October 23, 2008

LAKE PLACID - With the Class 2A-District 5 cross country meet just two weeks away, the Sebring boys and girls teams showed they are peaking at the right time in Tuesday's meet at Lake Placid.

The Blue Streak boys finished first in Tuesday's 5k, which was run over hilly terrain and in windy conditions with a score of 19 points.

Sebring junior speedster Connor Bauer, who qualified for state last year, breezed to the win in the boys competition with a time of 16 minutes, 43 seconds.

"It was pretty windy and I didn't have anyone pushing me," said Bauer. "I didn't want to run too fast because we're preparing for districts and this was a good workout for our team.

"There is no need to push myself too hard because I'm in great shape and we'll use next week's last regular season meet at Hardee to fine-tune things so we're running our best at districts."

Lake Placid junior Vicente Ramos finished second with a time of 19:39 to lead the Green Dragon contingent.

"It was a tough day to run," Ramos said. "The wind was against us most of the time and the hills took it out of me.

"I'm going to keep training hard because I would like to make it to regionals."

Hardee placed second in the boys meet with 44 points and was paced by the third-place finish of Murad Ottallah.

Moore Haven, Walker Memorial Academy and Lake Placid did not have enough runners to record a team score.

Sebring's Alex Kennedy came in fourth at 19:53, David Ontermaa ran a 19:56, Michael Polatty had a 20:12 and Donavon White rounded out the Blue Streak scoring with a 20:23.

"It's good to finish first, but we're still training hard and a win or loss doesn't really matter right now," said veteran Sebring coach Jeff Shoemaker. "Connor ran a smart race and the rest of the kids finished close together."

The top six teams and top 15 individuals advance to regionals, and with perennial powerhouse Tampa Jesuit, Tampa Catholic and Frostproof in District 5, the Blue Streaks will need a good day to advance.

"We have the talent and ability to be in the top six teams," Shoemaker said. "We just missed last year by finishing seventh, but this team is stronger and in better shape and I think we can do it if we stay focused and run our race."

Despite the fact that the Lake Placid boys team didn't have enough runners to record a team score, Green Dragon coach Scott Morgan thinks Ramos and some of his other athletes can make it out of the District 6 meet in Estero individually.

"Vicente had a pretty good day and has the talent to make it out of districts," Morgan said. "This course is tough with its hills and he runs faster on flatter courses.

"Because of injuries and lack of depth, we can't qualify for regionals as a team, but Emmanuel Pinillos, Julian Martinez and Brandon Orozco also have the ability to qualify."

Sebring won the girls competition with 23 points, while Lake Placid placed second with 40 and Hardee finished third with 70.

Blue Streak senior Maxine Copley led the way with a time of 21:38, while senior teammate Heather McIntyre placed second at 21:51.

"It was hot, but I ran a faster time than I did a few weeks ago on this course," said Copley. "I moved in front on the second loop and just pushed myself to finish strong.

"Our team did well today, but our goal is to make it out of districts and we have to keep working hard and run our best when it matters the most."

Sebring's Caitlyn Moulds finished fifth in 24:20, Lisa Ontermaa had a 25:25 and Emily Smith rounded out the scoring with a 27:04.

Sebring, which made it to regionals last year, will compete in districts at Lake Park in Tampa on Nov. 6, and Shoemaker thinks the girls team has a strong chance to advance.

"It was great to see Maxine and Heather finish first and second," said the Blue Streak coach. "I was also pleased with the other girls and the depth we showed today.

"We're stronger than last year and I'm real happy with where we're at as a team."

Lake Placid's Erica Resendiz came in third with a time of 22:28, despite battling some shin splints, while Green Dragon Thalia Espinosa ran a 23:43.

"Being the third meet of the season, I'm pleased with some of the girls times," said Lake Placid coach Dennis Berard. "We're in excellent shape and we're looking forward to the district meet.

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT