Running Neck-And-Neck

When the four county teams run against one another, as they will at Hernando High's Zak Lukas Invitational today that essentially opens the season, there might not be much of a difference in score.

Nature Coast Technical has the county crown and was the only team to reach regionals last year, yet Central, Hernando and Springstead all have additions that should help even the playing field.

Central has two major newcomers, including senior Anna DeAngelis, a Nature Coast transfer who finished third in the county last season, and sophomore Mikayla Bogulski, a state qualifier in track and field.

They join returnees such as Caroline Northup, Melia Orrell, Bryana Eady and Michelle Manning to give fourth-year Head Coach Erin Courtney a strong line-up.

"We have a team right now that's running very well together," Courtney said. "They're doing a good job. I'm hoping this year to make it all the way to states. It's a very obtainable goal as far as the teams we've run and times we're run."

Springstead should benefit greatly from freshman Kailey Genrich, who had a sensational eighth-grade season at Powell Middle School, as well as the addition of sophomore Sasha Spalding.

Seniors Mirelys Pizarro and Caroline Monzo, who claimed the top two spots at the county meet last year, are back in the fold along with classmate Taylor Tuomey and junior Jackie White.

"As a team it's more mental than physical now," said Head Coach Joel Myers, who calls this the best girls' team in school history. "We're capable of getting out of the district, which has never happened for the girls at this school."

Senior Emi Stephens is hardly a new face at Hernando, but after she battled injury last season, Hernando Head Coach Mike Nicholson said his top runner is back and healthy, along with fellow seniors Jamila Gabisch and Kayla Bufalo.

Nicholson, in his third year, believes those three can get the Lady Leopards past the district meet and they could receive some help from newcomers.

"We have three new runners that look like they have the ability to run and with training they'll have the times we need to get out of the district," Nicholson said. "All we need is two or three more runners to pick it up."

As for Nature Coast, Head Coach Tyson Graham left after just one season, by far the most productive in the program's otherwise nondescript history.

Amanda Kling, a former Springstead and University of South Florida runner, has taken over a program that must make up for the loss of DeAngelis.

Candice Lopez, Kristen Turney, Jazmin Turney, Solianna Herrera, Brittany Aemisegger and Traci Wood are all back from the county's best team in 2007.

"I hope we can do well," Kling said. "I'd really like my girls to accomplish great things, do the best they can, stay healthy and run their best."

CENTRAL LADY BEARS

Head Coach: Erin Courtney (4th year)

District: 3A-3

2007 finish: 3A-3 meet (9th).

Key losses: Gabby Vasquez, Elizabeth McGeehan.

Key returnees: Caroline Northup (Sr.), Melia Orrell (So.), Bryana Eady (Jr.), Michelle Manning (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Mikayla Bogulski (So.), Anna DeAngelis (Sr.), Devon Rennie (Fr.), Kady McCandless (Sr.).

Coach's outlook: "We have a team right now that's running very well together. They're doing a good job. I'm hoping this year to make it all the way to states. It's a very obtainable goal as far as the teams we've run and times we're run."

HERNANDO LADY LEOPARDS

Head Coach: Mike Nicholson (3rd year)

District: 2A-3

2007 finish: 2A-3 meet (NTS).

Key losses: Michelle Martin, Amber Hoffman, Rachael Wright.

Key returnees: Emi Stephens (Sr.), Jamila Gabisch (Sr.), Kayla Bufalo (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Marenia Maier (Jr.), Kacey Holcomb (Fr.), Kearstin Harmon (So.), Kassandra Brower (So.), Victoria Stackpoole (Fr.), Jerika Jones (Jr.).

Coach's outlook: "We have three new runners that look like they have the ability to run and with training they'll have the times we need to get out of the district. All we need is two or three more runners to pick it up."

NATURE COAST LADY SHARKS

Head Coach: Amanda Kling (1st year)

District: 2A-3

2007 finish: 2A-Region II meet (10th).

Key losses: Anna DeAngelis.

Key returnees: Candice Lopez (Jr.), Kristen Turney (Jr.), Jazmin Turney (So.), Solianna Herrera (Sr.), Brittany Aemisegger (Sr.), Traci Wood (Sr.).

Key newcomers: none.

Coach's outlook: "I hope we can do well. I'd really like my girls to accomplish great things, do the best they can, stay healthy and run their best."

SPRINGSTEAD LADY EAGLES

Head Coach: Joel Myers (2nd year)

District: 3A-3

2007 finish: 3A-3 meet (13th).

Key losses: Rachel Flynn.

Key returnees: Jackie White (Jr.), Taylor Tuomey (Sr.), Caroline Monzo (Sr.), Mirelys Pizarro (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Sasha Spalding (So.), Kailey Genrich (Fr.)

Coach's outlook: "As a team it's more mental than physical now. We're capable of getting out of the district, which has never happened for the girls at this school."