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Ibison Makes Huge Strides At Wiregrass

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By LARRY BUGG Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

Megan Ibison had to be concerned about Hurricane Ike.

The Wiregrass Ranch senior cross country runner used to live in the Corpus Christi area and still has fond memories of her life in Texas.

Ibison, now in her second season of cross country at Wiregrass, was second on her girls team during the Sept. 15 cross country meet at her school. Ariel Grey won with a time of 20:56. Ibison was third overall with a time of 21:51.

Wiregrass has a deep team, and Ibison is an important member of it.

Grey said Ibison is a great teammate and friend, and Ibison's coach thinks highly of the former Texan.

"She really established herself today," Coach Don Howard said after the Sept. 15 meet. "She was four or five seconds off her personal record. We were running in the heat today and she had a great race.

"I'm really happy with where she is at."

Howard's girls reached the Class 2A state meet last season. He thinks Ibison will be one of four girls battling for the No. 2 spot on the team, while Grey has the No. 1 job locked up. Wiregrass could be the best team in Pasco County and likely will be a real contender at the state meet again.

Howard said he thinks he has a realistic goal of having all of his top girls run under 21 minutes by the end of the season.

"We're competitive with each other, but at the same time, we support each other," said Ibison, who brings her own set of intangibles to the table.

"She is our only senior and is a good leader, always positive and upbeat," Howard said. "She is the kind of kid you want on your team. She's a good student."

Her 21:51 time impressed the longtime runner.

"That was an amazing time for me," Ibison said. "This early in the season, it is kind of shocking. I have been running since fifth grade."

She also runs track and plays basketball for the Bulls. In addition to her athletic ability, Ibison happens to be an ace student, taking advanced placement classes. In the face of her academic and athletic commitment, she has a 4.0 grade-point average.

Ibison said she is keeping her options open as far as college goes, saying she believes she will end up at a college in Florida.

But she still misses Texas.

"I was born there and lived there for seven years," she said. "I moved back there for five years. I was born in College Station, Texas."

Florida might lose her someday, but for now, opposing cross country runners might find out they don't want to mess with this Texan.

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