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Wehunt's Work Ethic Takes Him To The Top

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - He was a standard bearer, a distance runner whom nearly everyone in the area measured themselves against and few could beat.

But like many athletes who compete in cross country, Sickles junior Derek Wehunt was driven mostly by his passion for the sport, not the accolades.

"It's hard work to be good at it, and sometimes I feel like it just wears me down," Wehunt said recently. "But even if I didn't race, I'd still want to run for myself."

Wehunt was training so hard and feeling so flat this spring, he had blood work down to ensure he was not anemic. Turns out he wasn't - just fatigued. Wehunt, you see, has a tenacious work ethic when it comes to his running.

Although taxing at times, Wehunt's dedication paid off with a cross country season where he was the Hillsborough County and district champion, regional runner-up and, at the Class 4A state finals, fifth.

For his consistently outstanding performances, Wehunt is The Tampa Tribune's choice for Hillsborough County Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Wehunt says he has learned a lot about training these past three years and when he begins logging miles for his senior season, he says he will be more focused on postseason results. Just one underclassman finished ahead of him at the 4A championships - Melbourne sophomore Brian Atkinson, who went on to win the 4A state crown for the 3,200-meter run in track.

With the right mix of training, tapering and resting, Wehunt should be in the hunt for a state crown his senior season, and another run at the Tribune's top award for cross country.

"Last year during cross country, I did well during the regular season but it really didn't matter," Wehunt said. "It's taken me a while to learn that but I need to shift the season focus to the end. That's what matters. That's what people remember, not what you did during the regular season."

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY FIRST TEAM

Keegan Bixler, Newsome, Jr.

Richard Blake, Berkeley Prep, Sr.

Duncan Hock, Plant, Sr.

Mark Parrish, Chamberlain, So.

Connor Revord, Jesuit, Jr.

Derek Wehunt, Sickles, Jr.

Drew Woodke, Brandon, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Mike Boza, Plant

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