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Hernando Today

End of the Road? Or Just the Beginning?

Staff photo by BOB EAST III

THE WRIGHT STUFF - Can Hernando High senior Joe Wright, left, add district champion to his resume? The 3-time state qualifier begins the first leg of the post-season picture this afternoon in the Class 2A, District 3 cross country meet at Brooksville’s McKethan Park. To date, Wright had secured seven Top 10 finishes in seven races including back-to-back victories at the Bear Invitational and last week’s Citrus/Hernando Distance Classic at McKethan Lake.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 6, 2008

Cross country's official second season begins in earnest today with the 18-team Class 2A, District 3 meet set to begin at 4:30 p.m. with a girls' race followed by a boys' race at McKethan Lake.

The 18 schools that comprise 2A-3 include: Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast, Inverness-Citrus, Crescent City, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Lecanto, Citra-North Marion, Dade City-Pasco, Alachua-Sante Fe, Land O' Lakes-Sunlake, The Villages, Ocala-West Port, Williston, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

NCT, HHS: In the mix

In the boys' 5K race, Crystal River is the defending district champion while HHS finished runner-up and NCT placed third last fall.

Both NCT and Hernando, which has captured 11 district titles, understands that only the top eight teams advance to Saturday, Nov. 15's 2A-II Meet at Titusville's Brevard Community College beginning at 9 a.m.

The Leopards are coming off a solid second-place finish in the annual Citrus/Hernando Distance Classic held last week at McKethan Lake.

Second-year NCT Head Coach Armen Merjanian's squad finished sixth last week. But upon closer inspection, the Sharks raced with four freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors. Merjanian elected not to run his top five runners, saving them instead for districts.

"We're coming off a good race," pointed out Hernando High's 27th-year Head Coach Ernie Chatman. "We had seven guys set PRs (personal records) - and that's what you want. It's our home course and weather should be good."

Forecast?

"It's hard to know what we'll do because we did not see Nature Coast (best runners did not compete) last week," replied Chatman. "They'll definitely be here this time and so will Wiregrass Ranch. And Citrus has a young team, but surprised a lot of people last week; so look out for them. It'll be close for sure."

What's the key to advancing?

"We had some inconsistency at No. 4 and No. 5 this year," responded the Hall-of-Fame mentor. "We've got to keep the competition going to get our best results."

What's the goal?

"The ultimate goal is to reach states, that never changes," Chatman said. "But to reach states, the biggest race is regionals. Don't get me wrong, you want to run well in districts, but regions is the most challenging for us. At this point in the season, we try to increase the energy level so we peak at the right time."

Wright stuff

The Leopards are paced by senior Joe Wright.

Wright has been a model of consistency with a county-high seven Top 10 finishes in seven races. Plus, he's captured medalist honors in the Bear Invitational and Citrus/Hernando Distance Classic in back-to-back weeks.

Wright etched a PR last Thursday at McKethan Lake with a 3.1-mile time of 16:39.72 - the county's fastest time this season.

Wright, however, will be pushed by NCT's finest runner, Matt Lambert.

"Joe (Wright) has been consistent all year," described Chatman. "He's been focused on each race since the Lukas Invitational."

Girls' race: tough sledding

On the girls' side, Crystal River is the defending district champion followed by Wiregrass Ranch and Citrus. Both Hernando and Nature Coast will be long shots to qualify for regionals.

NCT advanced to regionals last fall behind a fifth-place finish.

But this year, first-year Head Coach Amanda Kling's NCT squad has produced one Top 10 finish in six races - at the Citrus/Hernando Distance Classic (fifth) - and not one of its 17 varsity runners has cracked the Top 10 individuals in any of its meets.

Perhaps, the Sharks' best bet to advance lies with senior Brittany Aemisegger. Aemisegger enters the race ranked seventh in Hernando County with a 3.1-mile best time of 21:52.57 - achieved last week at McKethan Lake.

As for the Head Coach Mike Nicholson's Lady Leopards, they have not finished in the top six of any of their six races. Only two runners (sophomore Kassandra Brower, senior Jamie Gabisch) have competed in all six meets.

HHS' fastest time belongs to Gabisch in 22:16.62 - achieved last week at McKethan Lake.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT - Class 2A, District 3 Cross Country Championship Meets.

WHO - Eighteen schools comprise 2A-3 including: Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast, Inverness-Citrus, Crescent City, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Lecanto, Citra-North Marion, Dade City-Pasco, Alachua-Sante Fe, Land O' Lakes-Sunlake, The Villages, Ocala-West Port, Williston, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

WHERE - Brooksville's McKethan Park on U.S. 41.

WHEN - Girls' race is set for 4:30 p.m., boys' race is set for 5 p.m.

AT STAKE - Top 15 individuals and top eight teams will advance to Saturday, Nov. 15's Class 2A, Region II Meet at Titusville's Brevard Community College beginning at 9 a.m.

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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