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Soto Shows Off His Versatility

By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Known as simply a tireless distance runner when cross country season ended, Land O' Lakes junior Felix Soto added a few more superlatives to his growing resume as one of Pasco County's best athletes this past boys track and field season.

The first was versatility. The 1,600 and 3,200-meter dominator began the year with stirring performances in the 4x800, the idea of which came from Gators coach Al Claggett, who didn't want to wear out his star athlete with longer runs early on.

The second was clutch performer. When called upon to run the individual 800 in the Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet at Wesley Chapel in April, the junior came through in what's become his normal fashion - with a victory. It gave the Gators 10 points, and they defeated Wesley Chapel for the boys team title by 5.5 points.

His three SAC victories, combined with his three district titles, one regional crown and two qualifying berths at the Class 3A State Meet, earned Soto the Tribune's Pasco County Athlete of the Year award for boys track, adding to his similar award for boys cross country.

"It was a great year," said Soto, though he was unhappy with his ninth-place state finish in the 1,600 and eighth-place medal in the 3,200. "I wanted to be at least in the top three, but oh well, a medal is a medal. I was pretty upset with my first race, but I have my senior year next year."

Soto had several highlights throughout the season, including the regional win in the 3,200 (9:59.17), a personal record in the 1,600 (4:28.71, second at regionals) and the before-mentioned first state medal in the 3,200. But the race that seemed to get the usually workmanlike Soto most excited was the SAC 800 win.

Since most of his experience in the 800 this past year was as the 4x800 relay anchor, Soto was competing simply to get his team points, and knew it would be his one and only chance to make his mark on the event. Sure enough, he defeated Zephyrhills' Mike Avadikian by nearly two seconds, in a time of 2:02.42. He went on to earn Tribune all-county first-team honors in the 800 as well as his other three regular events, the 1,600, 3,200 and 4x800 relay.

The victory also backed up a prediction made by Claggett before the first meet of the year, on Feb. 25.

"He will anchor the 4x800, and if they're behind, he'll win. The 800, he'll win," Claggett said.

Naturally, with a year of school left, everybody at LOL believes Soto's best races lie ahead, prompting another prediction from Claggett earlier this year.

"I know he has a future in this sport, because I think he's going to win the state championship next year. Not this year, next year," Claggett said. "That's what I think is going to happen."

BOYS TRACK FIRST TEAM

Tyrone Hendrix, Mitchell

Josh Perkins, Zephyrhills

Felix Soto, Land O' Lakes

Jeff Webster, Wesley Chapel
Earon Hicks, Wesley Chapel
Brandon Mundy, Mitchell

Joey Buono, Hudson

Kamran Joyer, Wesley Chapel
Charley Minichino, Ridgewood

Algernon Sampson, Zephyrhills

Tyler Pojolainen, Zephyrhills

Ryan Commodore, Zephyrhills

Josh Browne, Wesley Chapel
Aaron Duncan, Wesley Chapel
Godfrey Boyd, Wesley Chapel
Tommy Cook, Land O' Lakes

Matt Schwartz, Land O' Lakes