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Hernando Today

NCT Repeats At Kiwanis

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Nature Coast's Antwan Story blistered the field in the 100-meter dash during Thursday afternoon's Kiwanis Invitational Track and Field Meet at Hernando High's Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 26, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - When Nature Coast Technical took the Kiwanis Invitational for the first time last season, it marked the beginning of the program's rise to prominence.

Having gone on to win a district crown and rolling toward higher goals this year, the Sharks continued to build their new legacy in Thursday night's 2009 edition of the Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando High.

Nature Coast scored 127 in the team standings, well ahead of second-place Wesley Chapel (105). Central finished sixth (77.5), Hernando eighth (32) and Springstead ninth (27).

"It means a whole lot," Nature Coast Head Coach Ryan Wilson said. "I think it gives them more confidence heading into districts. I'm proud of them."

Williams: triple threat

Senior Howie Williams paced the Sharks' championship performance, as the 2008 state qualifier captured all three jumping events.

He repeated as champion in the high jump with a leap of 6'4". He added that to firsts in the long jump (21'11") and triple jump (43'9 1/2").

"I feel accomplished tonight," Williams said. "I handled my business. That's what I thought I needed to do.

"...Coach (Rudy) Story, he pushed me everyday in practice to the limit. And I had a lot of fans today. I had to push myself to the limit."

He smiled at the realization that his win in the high jump vaulted Nature Coast ahead of Wesley Chapel into the top team spot.

"I feel like we're really focused," Williams said of repeating. "We've come together more as a team this year. If one of us is down we have to come together more to win."

Antwan Story also earned a first-place ribbon in three events, including the 4x100 relay plus the 100 and 200.

He combined with Britt Langley, Isaac Bailey and Avery Clemmons for a 42.37, then ran a 10.77 in the 100 and 21.93 in the 200.

"The 4x1, not so good; the 200, 100 I ran to the best of my ability," Story said. "I need work out of the blocks still but that's what we've got practice for.

"We're very focused (on repeating). It's all Coach (Wilson) talks about. We've got to keep our image and work hard. We don't like losing."

Nature Coast also excelled in the distance events, with Matt Lambert, Tyler Harrison, Britton Cox and Michael Muoio taking the 4x800 in 8:29.

Bruce Federico came in second in the 1,600 (4:34) and third in the 3,200 (10:10).

Harrison won the 800 (2:03.64), and credited the work of cross country coach Armen Merjanian and the closeness of the distance runners for their overall success.

"I feel like I did the best I could have done for the day," Harrison said. "We've been training hard everyday, going out there working hard."

Kiwanis Invitational Boys Team Results
1. Nature Coast (NCT) 127, 2. Wesley Chapel (WC) 105, 3. South Sumter (SS) 87, 4. Wiregrass Ranch (WGR) 83, 5. Land O' Lakes (LOL) 80.5, 6. Central (CEN) 77.5, 7. Pasco (PAS) 38, 8. Hernando (HER) 32, 9. Springstead (SPG) 27, 10. Berkeley Prep (BP) 4.
Kiwanis Invitational Boys Individual Results: Top 8 individuals score team points (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1), top 6 relays (10-8-6-5-4-3)
LJ - 1. Williams (NCT) 21'11", 3. Frazier (CEN) 21'1", 4. Read (CEN) 20'9", 9. Barron (SPG) 19'4 1/2", 18. Bronson (HER) 17'8 1/2".
4x800 - 1. Lambert, Harrison, Cox, Muoio (NCT) 8:29, 6. Central 9:13.
110 HH - 1. Neal (SS) 15.71, 5. Clarke (SPG) 16.31, 10. Alderman (HER) 17.29, 11. Sheffield (CEN) 18.41, 13. Fredrick (NCT) 18.80.
100m - 1. Story (NCT) 10.77, 5. Frazier (CEN) 11.44, 7. Walker (CEN) 11.45, 8. Jackson (HER) 11.48, 20. Callaghan (SPG) 12.74.
SP - 1. Joyer (WC) 55'1", 4. Hines (HER) 40'11", 5. Emerson (NCT) 40'7", 6. Davis (CEN) 40'2", 19. Kodesky (SPG) 33'10".
HJ – 1. H. Williams (NCT) 6'4", 2. Philippeaux (SPG) 6'2", 3. Torres (NCT) 5'10", 8. Rodriguez (CEN) 5'8", 10. Alderman (HER) 5'4".
DIS – 1. Joyer (WC) 136'4", 2. Tyson (CEN) 134'2 1/2", 5. Pritz (HER) 127'6", 8. Buckley (SPG) 120'2", 13. Clemmons (NCT) 113'2 1/2".
TJ - 1. Williams (NCT) 43'9 1/2", 5. Byrd (NCT) 39'8 1/2", 6. Farace (CEN) 39'3", 15. Stephens (HER) 35'8 1/2".
PV - 1. Kazanski (WGR) 12'6", 2. Ralph (CEN) 11'0". 3. Davalos (HER), Sheffield (CEN) 10'5".
1600m - 1. Soto (LOL) 4:31, 2. Federico (NCT) 4:34, 5. Lambert (NCT) 4:42, 6. Jarrett (CEN) 4:46, 9. MacKenzie (CEN) 5:02.
4x100 - 1. Story, Langley, Bailey, Clemmons (NCT) 42.37, 5. Central 44.52, 6. Jackson, Adams, Delaine, Woods (HER) 44.87.
400m - 1. Burgos (WGR) 52.92, 3. Robinson (CEN) 53.04, 4. Watson (SPG) 53.30, 5. Wilson (HER) 53.32, 7. Baker (NCT) 54.28.
800 - 1. Harrison (NCT) 2:03.64, 2. Muoio (NCT) 2:05.31, 3. Jarrett (CEN) 2:06.69, 7. MacKenzie (CEN) 2:12.57.
200 - 1. Story (NCT) 21.93, 5. Jackson (HER) 23.30, 6. Woods (HER) 23.43, 7. Read (CEN) 23.59, 15. Wendelstedt (SPG) 24.22.
300 IH - 1. Wozniak (WC) 40.99, 4. Clarke (SPG) 41.96.
3200 - 1.Soto (LOL) 9:55, 3. Federico (NCT) 10:10, 7. J. Shannon (CEN) 10:58, 8. Cox (NCT) 10:59.
4x400 - 1. South Sumter 3:32.95, 3. Central 3:35.86, 4. Nature Coast 3:36.19, 5. Springstead 3:38.57, 6. Hernando 3:42.27.

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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