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No Longer Under Radar

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By LARRY BUGG

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Mitchell High cross country coach Jeff Leavey was jumping up and down Saturday at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park.
Leavey watched as sophomore Kelli Williams upset vaunted East Lake High runner Katherine McMeekin to win the Class 4A-District 4 cross country race.

Williams won in 20 minutes, 34 seconds to McMeekin's 20:38.
Leavey had to apply some psychology before the race.

"Before this race, she was nervous," Leavey said. "I asked her, 'Who has been on this course more than you?' She said, 'Nobody.' I said, 'Who has jogged the course and seen the best places to run?' She said, 'Nobody.' I said, 'And you are going to lose because?'

"Carpe diem. She seized the day. I'm shocked that Williams won. The girl from East Lake McMeekin is awesome. She's an all-state runner in both track and cross country."

Williams also was breathlessly excited.

"I didn't expect it," Williams said. "I took the lead over here with about 800 meters left. I know the top 15 goes to regional. I would be happy to be in the top 15. I would be even happier to take first. I tried to run a steady race and see what I could do at the end. This is a hard course. This is my first year running cross country. I did track last year. I did the 400 meters.

"I'm very happy."

With Williams leading the way, Mitchell finished sixth with 164 points. That means the Mustangs qualified for the 4A regional today in Winter Haven.

The Mitchell boys also qualified for the regional with a fifth-place finish.

Sebastian Ruiz finished 15th (17:41) and qualified individually for the meet.

The top six girls and eight boys teams and the top 15 individuals qualified for the 4A regional.

RESULTS

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 4 CROSS COUNTRY MEET

AT J.B. STARKEY WILDERNESS PARK

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

1. Sarasota Riverview 73; 2. Palm Harbor University 109; 3. Sickles 131; 4. Gaither 139; 5. North Port 139; 6. Mitchell 164; 7. St. Petersburg 167; 8. East Bay 192; 9. Sarasota 232; 10. Alonso 235; 11. East Lake 253; 12. Bloomingdale 277; 13. Countryside 297; 14. Durant 311; 15. Pinellas Park 480.

GIRLS TOP 15 INDIVIDUALS

1. Kelli Williams, Mitchell 20:34; 2. Katherine McMeekin, East Lake 20:38; 3. Grace VanDerGrift, Durant 20:49; 4. Danielle Scaffidi, North Port 20:58; 5. Brittany Lisman, Palm Harbor University 20:58; 6. Julissa Lopez, Gaither 21:01; 7. Sandra Pratt, Gaither 21:04; 8. Taylor Stein, Sarasota Riverview 21:05; 9. Colleen Mahoney, Sarasota Riverview 21:16; 10. Penny Markuske, St. Petersburg 21:17; 11. Lauren Verbosky, East Bay 21:18; 12. Morgan Williams, East Bay 21:21; 13. Emily Wehunt, Sickles 21:30; 14. Marissa Chase, Sarasota Riverview 21:30; 15. Kathryn McGinn, Sarasota Riverview 21:40.

BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. Sarasota 45; 2. Countryside 69; 3. Sickles 76; 4. Largo 95; 5. Mitchell 167; 6. Sarasota Riverview 176; 7. St. Petersburg 186; 8. Durant 200; 9. East Bay 231; 10. North Port 245; 11. Alonso 277; 12. Bloomingdale 354; 13. East Lake 372; 14. Palm Harbor University 410; 15. Gaither 456; 16. Pinellas Park 520.

BOYS TOP 15 INDIVIDUALS

1. Derek Wehunt, Sickles 16:08; 2. Jonathan Lanning, Sarasota 16:17; 3. Bryan Reynolds, St. Petersburg 16:32; 4. John Mitchell, Durant 16:57; 5. Gabe Ramos, Largo 17:02; 6. Zachary Christenson, Countryside 17:09; 7. Andrew Mendoza, Sarasota 17:11; 8. James Mason, Sarasota 17:15; 9. Nicholas Ribble, Countryside 17:29; 10. Thomas McGrath, Largo 17:31; 11. Kosta Fotopoulos, Countryside 17:33; 12. Cooper Davis, Sarasota 17:35; 13. Julian Gines, Sickles 17:37; 14. Marc Dejute, Sickles 17:38; 15. Sebastian Ruiz, Mitchell 17:41

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