Make or Break

The task ahead appears simple enough.
Either Central High's boys and girls cross country teams finish sixth (or an individual must finish in the Top 15) or better in Saturday's Class 3A, Region II meet at Winter Haven's Polk Community College - or their respective seasons are over.
 
Bears: long shots
 
In this same position last year, Head Coach Eric Milholland's thinclads competed on their home course in Brooksville.
Despite the familiarity with the surroundings, CHS - saddled with a flu bug - finished 10th in the 14-team field.
A year later, CHS is ranked eighth going into Saturday's Polk County meet.
Defending champion and always-tough Tampa-Plant will be joined by 2007 3A-II runner-up Lakeland-George Jenkins. Tampa-Wharton, Tampa-Newsome, Lakeland-Kathleen, Lake Alfred-Lake Region, Ocala-Vanguard, Tampa-Chamberlain and Land O'Lakes each finished ahead of the Bears last fall.
After back-to-back team victories during the Bear Invitational and the Citrus/Hernando Distance Classic this year, CHS slipped to sixth last week in the 3A-3 meet at McKethan Lake.
Last year in this meet, Josh and Mike Shannon and Mason MacKenzie all competed. The finished 54th, 65th and 90th respectively. Each, however, has improved dramatically.
"Our three guys up front are very dedicated," explained Milholland, a math teacher in his fifth year at the helm. "All those guys have been in the front of the pack for us. Our freshman (Ed) D'Angelo has really helped us. So has Jawara (Jarrett)."

What's Saturday's plan?

"Last week, I didn't think we ran a real smart race," insisted Milholland. "We went out a little too fast. We want our top three guys to slow down at the first mile marker and then kick it in across the final two miles."
What will it take for the Bears to reach states for the first time under Milholland?
"In order to get there, we've got to beat George Jenkins," pointed out Milholland. "They're ranked sixth. So our guys know who we have to beat. We'll give it our best shot."
What about the PCC course?
"We don't know anything about the course," Milholland said. "I don't think knowing or not knowing (the course) will hurt us. Actually, maybe a new course is what we need to change some attitudes and results."
 
Lady Bears vs. stacked deck
 
In the early varsity girls race, CHS's chances of achieving states are a long shot at best.
Tampa-Newsome won this meet last year at Central High, followed by Wharton, Plant, South Lake, Vanguard and New Port Richey-Gulf.
Head Coach Erin's Courtney's squad, which did not reach regionals in 2007, qualified this year by finishing fifth in the 3A-3 meet at McKethan Lake.
The Lady Bears are led by sophomore Mikayla Bogulski, who fashioned the county's fastest 3.1-mile time last week in Brooksville in 20:44.00.
 
AT A GLANCE
WHAT - Class 3A, Region II Cross Country Championship Meets.
WHO - Central High's boys and girls qualified.
WHERE - Winter Haven's Polk Community College course.
WHEN - Girls race is set for 9 p.m., boys race to follow.
AT STAKE - Top 15 individuals and top six teams qualify for Saturday, Nov. 22's 62nd annual FHSAA Class 3A State Finals at Dade City's Little Everglades Ranch.