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Hernando Today

Last dance, or first postseason test?

3A-3 CROSS COUNTRY

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 4, 2009

Wednesday's expected 18-school Class 3A, District 3 Cross Country Championship Meet at Shady Hills' Crews Lake Park offers plenty of intrigue.
The field is expected to feature Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Inverness-Citrus, Dunnellon, New Port Richey-Gulf, Hudson, Candler-Lake Weir, Land O'Lakes, Lecanto, Leesburg, NPR-Mitchell, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Spring Hill-Springstead, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.
The girls' race is set for 4 p.m. followed by boys' race at 4:35 p.m.
Should 15 teams begin the race with five or more runners, the Top 8 finishing teams and Top 15 individuals advance to the 3A, Region II Meet at Withlacoochee River State Park in Pasco County on Saturday, Nov. 14. If less than 15 teams begin, then the Top 6 teams and Top 15 individuals advance to regionals.

Central boys, girls on the cusp

As far as Central High's boys cross country Head Coach Eric Milholland is concerned, last week is over.
As a whole, the Bears struggled finishing fourth under muggy conditions at McKethan Lake during the 7-team Hernando/Citrus Classic.
"Everybody ran terrible last week," described Coach Milholland. "But we've had a good week of preparation this week. Our guys know nobody ran quality last week; there are no arguments to that."
Who are the favorites?
"I see Wiregrass, Land O'Lakes and Nature Coast in the top three," explained Coach Milholland. "Then Ridgewood, Sunlake and then a logjam between Gulf, Mitchell, Citrus and us."
The county's top runner, Central High senior Mason MacKenzie enters the meet with a season-low 16:46.69 clocking achieved at Lukas Invitational on Sept. 26.
The Lady Bears, under Head Coach Erin Courtney, are seeded sixth going into Thursday's race. Meaning CHS is on the bubble as far as reaching regionals.
CHS has finished in the Top 8 in 4-of-7 races.
Junior Melia Orrell paces the Lady Bears with a 21:33.00 clocking ranking third overall in the Hernando County Honor Roll.
Springstead: girls expected to advance; boys not

Fresh off the Eagles' County Championship last Thursday, Springstead High's best-ever female cross country team is attempting to reach regionals for the first time. Head Coach Joel Myers sees his team in a struggle for third place.
"The key for us is everybody has to do their job Thursday," said the third-year mentor. "Our goal is to practice one more week.
"Last year, injuries messed up our chances to go," recalled Coach Myers. "This time, I think we'll finish either third or fourth. Look for Wiregrass and Land O'Lakes to battle for the team title. I think we'll give Mitchell a battle for third. We don't have that one elite runner, somebody in the 19:00's, so we need everybody to pull through. We don't have much margin for error."
SHS senior Jaclyn White and junior Mikayla Bogulski have ranked 1-2 in the county for nearly the entire season.
Springstead boys are not expected to crack the Top 8 and advance to regionals. The Eagles' best bet to advance is senior Drew Fulcher. Fulcher has two Top 10 finishes in seven meets.

NCT boys: who'll compete?

The burning question at press time was whether four of NCT's premier runners, including Bruce Federico, Tyler Harrison, Tyler Moore and David Cross would be allowed to compete after last week's fiasco in Brooksville.
Apparently, Federico, Harrison and Moore opted on their own not to compete. The NCT administration has not decided whether or not to allow the trio to return Thursday. Without the talented trio, NCT had enough firepower to place runner-up at McKethan Lake.
Cross' race status for Thursday is also in limbo. With it go NCT's post-season chances of advancement.
On the girls' side, Head Coach Amanda Kling's squad has struggled placing 10th or higher in 5-of-7 races.
The most consistent runner has been junior Jazmin Turney, who ranks eighth in the Honor Roll with a personal-best 22:45.78 clocking.

AT A GLANCE
WHO - The expected 18-team field features: Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Inverness-Citrus, Dunnellon, New Port Richey-Gulf, Hudson, Candler-Lake Weir, Land O'Lakes, Lecanto, Leesburg, NPR-Mitchell, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Spring Hill-Springstead, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.
WHAT - Class 3A, District 3 Cross Country Championship Meet.
WHERE - Shady Hills' Crews Lake Park.
WHEN - Girls race at 4 p.m. followed by boys race at 4:35 p.m.
AT STAKE - Should 15 teams begin with five or more runners, the Top 8 finishing teams and Top 15 individuals advance to the 3A, Region II Meet at Withlacoochee River State Park in Pasco County on Saturday, Nov. 14. If less than 15 teams begin, then the Top 6 teams and Top 15 individuals advance to regionals.

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

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