TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bulls Will Arrive In Style At State

ADVERTISEMENT

By LARRY BUGG, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 16, 2007

Wiregrass Ranch High School girls cross country coach Don Howard has no idea what it costs to rent a limousine.

This week, Howard will have to find out.

The coach promised his cross country team that if it qualified for the Class 2A state cross country meet Saturday at Little Everglades Ranch, they would arrive at the meet in a limousine.

The Wiregrass Ranch girls finished fifth at the Class 2A-Region 2 meet Saturday. Freshman Ariel Grey was fifth with a time of 19:50.

For many runners and coaches, just getting to the state meet is the reward. Howard wants his girls to have a respectable finish.

That means, in 2007, Wiregrass Ranch High probably doesn't need to reserve a spot for a state title trophy, although that may come within a few years.

"Our goal is to finish two or three places ahead of where we're seeded," Howard said. "I'm guessing we are seeded 18th or 20th. We are going to be realistic about this. We're excited. They wanted to win the regionals."

Also running at the state meet will be Wiregrass Ranch's Ryan Pulsifer. He was 14th at the regional with a time of 17:17.Land O' Lakes' Felix Soto won the 3A-Region 2 boys race in 16:28.

Land O' Lakes coach Kris Keppel predicted Soto will finish in the top 10. Last year, the junior harrier finished 24th at state. Soto has won two district and two regional titles and has not been pushed in either race.

"He'll be fine," Keppel said of Soto.

Wesley Chapel's Jessica Furst qualified as an individual. She finished 13th at the regional in 20:45.

The Gulf girls can talk about being on the bubble. They finished sixth at the meet at Brooksville Central High with 174 points.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT