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Parrish, Chiefs Live Up To State Ranking

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By BILL WARD wward@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2008

TAMPA - Methodically working their way up the Class 3A state rankings this fall, Chamberlain's boys showed why they deserve the poll's No. 2 spot with a convincing victory at Thursday's Class 3A-District 4 meet at Lake Park.

Led by junior star Mark Parrish, the meet's individual winner, the Chiefs captured their first district crown in what is believed to be more than two decades with a 42-71 win against runner-up Plant.

Parrish led from start to finish for a winning 5-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 21 seconds. That was five seconds ahead of Lakeland George Jenkins' Alex Foss and eight ahead of Armwood's Gilberto Vazquez, who ran the race of his career for third place.

Chiefs twins Brad and Chase Nelson turned in another standout performance, earning fifth and 11th, respectively. Freshman Max Del Monte also turned in an impressive run, taking eighth place, and the Chiefs' final scorer was 17th-place Charles Toledo.

No. 4 Plant had three in the top 15 - Robert Campbell (ninth), Trenor Wilkins (10th) and Bo Nalsen (12th). But with Chamberlain putting five runners in ahead of Plant's fourth man, as well as boasting the overall winner, it was no contest.

"I think we're keeping our attitude positive and having fun right now," Parrish said. "We're putting in the work, and we'll see what happens at state."

Newsome, paced by fourth-place Keegan Bixler, was third (86 points) and Hillsborough, led by 19th-place Mike Bettin, earned its first trip to the boys regional since 1981 by finishing sixth (151).

The girls meet featured a tight battle between Newsome, Lakeland Lake Region and Plant.

Despite having all five of its scorers in the top 15, Newsome was edged by Lake Region 52-55. Newsome had two in the top 10 - Rebecca Webster (seventh) and Lindsay LeSavage (ninth) - and all five of its scorers in ahead of Lake Region. But the Wolves couldn't overcome the fact that Lake Region had the overall winner, Sydney Devore (18:59), and its final two scorers in the top 20.

Plant, led by runner-up Kayla Kennedy and sixth-place Lizzie Goodwin, was third (67) and King, paced by Hilary White (fourth) and Dayna Cline (14th), advanced to the regional by taking fourth place with 107 points.

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456.

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