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Pulsifer Advances To State Meet

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By LARRY BUGG Tribune correspondent

Published: November 12, 2007

TITUSVILLE - Wiregrass Ranch High boys cross country coach Chris Loth has this freshman he wants to talk about.

Loth's runner, Ryan Pulsifer, finished 14th with a time of 17:17 at the Class 2A-Region 2 cross country meet Saturday at Chain O' Lakes Park.

Remember that name.

"Ryan is the best freshman running in Class 2A," Loth said. "I know he will be better as a sophomore."

The 5-foot-6, 120-pound freshman is headed to the Class 2A state meet and will run at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Little Everglades Ranch.

Wiregrass Ranch has been around for only two years, but there may be something in the water there. Freshman Ariel Grey took fifth in the girls race and she will be with her team Saturday.

Grey ran a 19:50 so she would qualify as an individual even if her team wasn't going. The girls were fifth with 125 points and their coach is happy.

"We're excited," said Wiregrass Ranch girls coach Don Howard. "They wanted to win the region. They are a great group of girls to run with. I told them 'don't let me down.'

"We had three girls run their personal bests. They all ran really well."

Grey is one of the real success stories of this year's Pasco County cross country season. She won the Sunshine Athletic Conference girls race and has the best time in the county.

She also appears to have taken over for Pasco's Leeann Eble as the premier female cross country runner in Pasco County. Eble won the SAC title two years in a row but sprained her ankle playing soccer and had to watch the conference race while wearing a cast.

Expect Grey and Eble to battle it out next year when Eble is a senior and Grey a sophomore.

The Wiregrass Ranch boys finished 11th with 247 points.

Their coach has reason to expect great things from them next year.

"Four of my top seven are freshmen," said Loth. "They were boys running against men at the regional. I am proud of what they accomplished this season."

Zephyrhills' boys were 14th with 322 points. They were led by Kristofier Fregaso, who was 58th (18:55).

Zephyrhills' Brandy Compton qualified for the regional as an individual. She finished 46th with a time of 22:26.

RESULTS

Team and individuals of Pasco County runners at Class 2A-Region 2 Cross Country Championships at Chain O' Lakes Park in Titusville

Girls

Wiregrass Ranch (fifth, 125 points): Ariel Grey (fifth, 19:50); Lakeisha Brown (24th, 21:13); Taylor Hixson (25th, 21:16); Megan Ibison (32nd, 21:46); Hannah Still (56th, 23:04)

Zephyrhills (runner qualified as individual): Brandy Compton (46th, 22:26).

Boys

Wiregrass Ranch (11th, 247): Ryan Pulsifer (14th, qualified for state as individual, 17:17); Logan Seltzer (47th, 18:30); Ian Cassette (49th, 18:35); John Davis (75th, 19:42); Jose Pena (79th, 20:00).

Zephyrhills (14th, 322): Kristofier Fregaso (58th, 18:55); Thomas Aurie (62nd, 18:58); David Walker (65th, 19:01); Tyler Shea (78th, 19:59); Andrew Patrias (80th, 20:04)

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