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Training Helps Soto Reach New Heights

By LARRY BUGG Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Felix Soto may not climb every mountain, but he is going to run over and around lots of them this summer.

Soto, a native of Durango, Mexico, spends part of his summers back where he used to live before he moved to Land O' Lakes.

His running over the summer may just help him win a state title in either cross country or track next year.

Soto, 18, is The Tampa Tribune's Pasco County Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He has won the Sunshine Athletic Conference cross country Runner of the Year the past two years and won the SAC Track Runner of the Year this year.

The dominant Pasco County runner, he finished sixth in the state in cross country last year.

His Land O' Lakes High coach, Kris Keppel, feels Soto can win a state title or two or three partly because Soto doesn't let up his training.

"I think it is his activities year around," Keppel said. "He stays in shape year-round. He also plays soccer.

"He has a pretty good competitive spirit. It keeps him going from one sport to another.

Keppel feels Soto is ready to make the big step.

"He knows what it takes to win," Keppel said. "Next year, hopefully he can be in the top three or four at state."

Whether or not Soto can take home a state title, Keppel is very happy with what the junior distance runner has already done.

"We're proud of his accomplishments," Keppel said. "He was SAC Runner of the Year in both cross country and track this year."

Running in heat and over mountains is not exactly an easy thing to do and Soto isn't sure what makes him run.

"I really don't know," Soto said. "I just like being No. 1."
Cross country runners like to point out that in other sports, athletes often have to run as some form of punishment.

Runners basically say to punishment, 'bring it on.'

Soto is tough enough to take some heavy workouts.

"I enjoy workouts," he said. "Sometimes, it's hard but it is a lot of fun."

Soto knows that running up and down mountains may help him win those big races next year.

"It is harder than running here," Soto said. "There are a lot of mountains. It is a good place to run."

Soto is grateful for Keppel's coaching and helping him develop as an athlete.

"I appreciate everything he Keppel does," Soto said. "He takes a lot of his time to do things for us."

Running in Mexico may very well help Soto bring those times down and grab some state titles next year.

Running mountains may help Soto climb the mountains he wants to climb and win some more honors and titles.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY FIRST TEAM
Felix Soto, Land O' Lakes

Ryan Pulsifer, Wiregrass Ranch

Steven Landreth, Ridgewood