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Running In Elite Company

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By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: November 16, 2008

WINTER HAVEN - Plant junior Trenor Wilkins has been waiting for what he calls a "breakout race" to join the state's elite distance runners. After winning Saturday's Class 3A-Region 2 cross country meet at Polk Community College, Wilkins has arguably reached that goal.

Holding off a strong challenge from two-time defending meet champion Felix Soto of Land O' Lakes, Wilkins won the 5-kilometer race in a time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds. Wilkins had won some smaller meets in his career, but none of this significance.

"There were some great guys out here and to win today, I'm pretty happy," said Wilkins, who was second in this race last season. "I really wanted this one. That was one of my goals."

Wilkins was also shooting for the team title but that was taken by rival Chamberlain. Led by junior Mark Parrish, who was fourth, and Charles Toledo (10th), the Chiefs scored 80 points to edge the Panthers by 11. Chamberlain's other scorers included Max Del Monte (18th), Brad Nelson (23rd) and Chase Nelson (32nd).

Newsome, paced by seniors Keegan Bixler (sixth) and Thomas Loudermilk (13th), had its best race of the season to take third with 102 points. Soto and Matt Schwartz (11th) led the Gators to a fifth-place finish and Wharton's John Grellner finished third to guide the Wildcats (125) to the sixth and final qualifying spot for next week's state finals.

The top 15 individuals also earned berths to the state meet. Earning one of those slots was Armwood's Gilbert Vasquez, who was seventh.

In the girls' meet, Wharton knocked off defending champion Newsome, 67-97. The Wildcats had three runners in the top 15 - Alyssa Franks (fifth), Erin Bailey (11th) and Abby Ritter (13th). Their final two scorers were Brooke Foley (23rd) and Haley Gray (33rd).

Newsome was led by senior Rebecca Webster (seventh) and junior Sydney Coates (15th). Plant's girls qualified for a record 21st consecutive state meet - all under coach Roy Harrison - by taking third place with 123 points. The Panthers were led by the county's top finisher in the girls race, junior Kayla Kennedy, who was fourth (19:49). The winner was Lake Region's Sydney Devore (18:27).

Land O' Lakes, paced by Alyssa Brandt (sixth), qualified for state by taking sixth. Individually, Wesley Chapel's Jessica Furst reached the state meet by finishing 10th.

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