Chiefs' Parrish bolts to runner-up spot

In any number of previous state cross country finals, the effort Chamberlain senior Mark Parrish gave would have been good enough to win an individual crown. But after finishing second in Saturday's Class 4A championship race at Little Everglades Ranch, Parrish refused to consider any "what if" scenarios.

If it meant winning without beating the state's best - which on this particular day was Melbourne's Brian Atkinson - Parrish wouldn't want the title.

"I would never want to get into a race where I was automatically going to be state champion," Parrish said. "On paper, I might have the medal, but deep down I would know it wasn't a real race, and I just don't want to win that way.

"I'd rather lose or win against good competition and be racing with a whole bunch of guys who are not only great athletes, but that I'm also good friends with and we enjoy each other's company."

Atkinson certainly qualifies as good competition. He was not only the meet's individual defending state champion, but he also captured a Nike Cross Nationals regional title last season. Parrish said he knew what Atkinson was capable of doing - taking out the leaders in a blistering pace - but what surprised him was how well Atkinson could do it.

Atkinson paced the field through the first mile in an unofficial time of 4 minutes, 45 seconds, then split two miles in about 9:45. By then, Atkinson had gapped the chase pack by more than 20 meters and was pulling away. Despite a talented field that included last spring's state mile champion, Armando Del Valle of Miami Columbus, Parrish was the lone runner to try to answer Atkinson's surge.

By then, Atkinson's lead was simply too much and, finding himself alone in second, Parrish became more concerned about holding his place and not being overtaken by the chase pack.

Atkinson powered up Little Everglades' gradual hill to cross the finish line in a 5-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 20 seconds - the top performance among the day's four classes of competition - while Parrish came home in 15:30. Ten seconds back in third was Greenacres Leonard's Ryan Pickering. Seminole's Chase Nelson was 11th in 16:05.

For Parrish, it was his highest place at state after taking third last season, fourth as a sophomore and 91st as a freshman. It was also his best state meet time and just two seconds off his lifetime best. With the help of sophomore teammate Max del Monte, who was 17th in 16:13, the Chiefs were the top local boys team in 4A at ninth place.

Columbus knocked off Orlando Dr. Phillips 60-126 to take the team crown, and Plant's boys were 26 points behind Chamberlain in 11th place. The Panthers were led by senior Trenor Wilkins, who finished 21st despite missing most of the season with injuries, and junior Bo Nalsen (28th).

Making its 22nd consecutive appearance at the state finals, Plant was the top local girls team in any class with its fifth-place effort. The eight-time state champion Panthers scored 153 points but were one point out of fourth and 48 away from second. No. 1-ranked Winter Park, which boasted individual winner Shelby Hayes (18:13) won with 64.

The Panthers were led by a trio of freshmen - Julia Rodriguez (23rd), Katherine Ralston (36th) and Caroline Gibson (39th).

Wharton, 10th with 307, produced the top-finishing area girl when junior Abby Ritter took 12th in 19:07, the second straight week she has lowered her lifetime best.