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Plant's Kennedy Running Into A 2-Sport Dilemma

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By JEFFREY JONES, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 8, 2007

TAMPA - Plant runner Michaela Kennedy has found herself in a bit of a pinch.

Thursday at the Class 3A-District 4 championships in Lake Park, Kennedy finished first in 20 minutes, 11 seconds (a personal best), helping the Panthers capture the title with 26 points.

The state playoffs are in full swing for Plant, with 3A-Region 2 competition Saturday at Brooksville Central High.

But for Kennedy, the cross country postseason couldn't come at a worse time. Plant's soccer season has started, causing a conflict for the young runner.

"I haven't been able to try out for the soccer team at Plant yet," Kennedy said. "I'm hoping I do make it, and I'll try out soon as cross country is over."

According to Kennedy, soccer was her favorite sport until she got to high school. Then she tried cross country as a way to stay in shape, and ended up liking it.

That was Kennedy's freshman year at West Springfield High in Virginia, where cross country was in the fall, and soccer during the spring.

A year later and a little farther south, Kennedy finds herself as one of the top runners on one of the best programs in the state, where the temperature is a bit different than in the hills of Virginia.

"Last year, my times were better, but this year I'm feeling I'm working a lot harder to get the times that I'm getting," Kennedy said. "I'm really not used to the heat yet, the first few weeks of cross country I was dying."

Aside from the difference in climates, the Panthers are in better shape with the help of Kennedy's times, especially with the loss of last year's No. 1 runner Brigithe Moreno (who decided not to run this year) and the transfer of Carly Quick to Chamberlain.

"It's been a nice surprise getting her," said Panthers coach Roy Harrison. "She's capable of running in the 18s and being one of the best in the state."

But much to Harrison's disdain, there is that other sport that seems to get in the way. Kennedy plays for the a local soccer club, the Clearwater Chargers, and their practice has been an inconvenience for the Panthers coach.

"She hasn't run enough mileage, so I was real worried about her fading at the end of the year," Harrison said. "She misses a lot of her practices because of club soccer.

"She ran real well at district, but she rested - she didn't run for four days, and all the others did."

Harrison likes for his runners to peak at the state final, which is two weeks away. But due to a Chargers' practice and Kennedy's grandfather's 90th birthday, the sophomore spent some time away from the team, right before district.

"Thursday I had soccer, and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday I went to Alabama for my grandfather's birthday," Kennedy said. "It was real fun, we got to see all of the family."

Despite the absence of Kennedy, the Panthers seem to be in good shape for region, although they will have stiff competition from local teams Newsome and Wharton.

"They are all starting to peak; we don't overrace," Harrison said. "I've only put them in four meets before district. That's why we race our best at the end. Our goal all year was to make state, that would make it 20 years in a row."

Even though Kennedy's admiration for soccer is evident, she remains adamant that she will give her best effort the next couple of weeks and help her team reach state.

"I have this commitment first, and I need to give it my all, and then I can start soccer," Kennedy said.

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