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In This Case, Second Place Isn't Too Bad For Wachtel

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By LARRY BUGG Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 19, 2008

INVERNESS - Jacki Wachtel isn't used to finishing second in any race.

The Pasco-Hernando Community College women's cross country coach won the Lutz 5K on July 4, and the former River Ridge High standout wins most of the races she enters.

Last Saturday, second wasn't bad.

The conditions were just right during the seventh annual Citrus Summer Showdown, held on a relatively cool, but muggy morning. That allowed for not one, but two women to break the course record set in 2006. The previous top time was 18 minutes, 50 seconds, by Ocala's Kelly Parrish.

Former University of Tampa All-America runner Laura Woznicki won the race with a time of 18:17. Wachtel, last year's Showdown winner, finished second in 18:22.

"This was my first time on the course," Woznicki said. "I like the course a lot. It's very challenging. We were about even for the first mile. I reeled Wachtel in the last bit."
Wachtel wasn't upset that she lost to a collegiate All-American.

"It was good for me," she said. "She did a great job. She helped pull a fast time from me. It's always good to have competition. I admire her a lot. I followed her career at Tampa."

The top two men's runners were both Florida Southern College runners. Lee Stephens of Tampa won the race with a time of 16:57, and Benjamin Martucci of Brooksville was the second runner to cross the finish line, finishing in 16:02.

When he finished the race, Stephens let out a little cheer for himself.

"I have wanted to win this race ever since it started," said the 28-year-old former Land O' Lakes High standout. "I took the lead with 600 meters to go, right on the last straightaway. I wasn't running any extra mileage, but I am going to do some triathlons. The extra cycling and swimming give me better fitness.

"Even though it wasn't hot, everybody was really sweaty. I'm really good at hills. This is a very hilly course."
Martucci faltered a little at the end.

"I feel like I was running really good until the last straightaway," said Martucci, who will be a sophomore at Florida Southern. "It's a really tough course.

"I led two to 21/2 miles. I want to thank God for keeping me in shape and racing good."

Katrina Skinner, a former Wharton High standout, was the women's college winner with a time of 20:37.

Tampa's John Grellner was the men's high school winner with a time of 17:04.

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