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By RICK FULLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 10, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando High School was well-represented in the recent 29th annual Red Mule Flatlanders Challenge 5K/10K runs.

Ex-Leopard Andrew Martucci won the 10K in 34:00.

Hernando senior Tyler Maier finished first in the 5K with a time of 17:24.

The top finisher in the women's division for the 10K was Laura Drake and the top 5K finisher was Natalie Durrum.

"It was downhill mostly," said Maier. "Once you came around here it went uphill a little bit. I didn't run this last year. I just ran it today for like, tempo."

Tyler plans to sign with the University of West Florida this week.

"They are offering me a pretty good scholarship," he commented.

Martucci, a freshman of Florida Southern College and ex-Hernando High cross country standout, did not appear winded, "I wanted to run for tempo today actually. I'm going to run Gasparilla next weekend. I was totally comfortable, it felt great."

Drake, winner of the women's 10K, admitted, "I won here last year too. It was a little chilly and I felt really tired so I had to, I don't know. It was like a slow death. It's a 10K, it's not all-out, and so you're just kinda slowly suffering."

The women's 5K winner, Durrum, who moved here from Baltimore, Md. five years ago, said, "I had the strategy, not to die. I knew there were a lot of hills, so I just kinda take those a little bit slower and keep pushing through any pain. I ran it last year and that was my first time and I missed first place by five seconds, this year it was my goal to win it."

HHS junior Joseph Wright was awarded the John Baker Award for the top Hernando County finisher overall in the 10K with a time of 37:26.

The Female Masters Award went to Katherine Van Allan with a time of 47:24, and Male Master's went to Jon Docs finishing at 40:44.

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