Family. Coach John Stevenson says no matter how much talent his Sarasota girl's cross country team has, they have to believe in each other and support each other. That was the key take away from a 2013 season that saw the Sailors capture the 3A runner-up trophy and fall just 13 points shy of knocking off Estero. The only person that doesn't return from that squad is Emily Harding, who has graduated and is now running for the University of South Carolina. At the helm will be senior Angelina Grebe who was 8th at the Cross Country Finals.
.jpeg)
Behind her is a pair of sophomores Mackenzie Brown and Sage Lyons. All three girls performed well on the track this spring. Brown posted a 5:16.33 1,600m at the FSU Relays with the other two also going under 5:35 for that event. The next four spotswill be a competition between Allison Wright, Amber Kerry, Aubrey Kilduff, Sophie Williamson, and incoming freshman Hadleigih Schwartz. Wright, Brown, Kerry, and Williamson were all members of the 2013 team. Schwartz was the 2014 Sarasota County Middle School Championship in the 1,600 and is very raw with plenty of upside to improve.
The training this summer has been more consistent for the girls. With four sophomores on the team Coach Stevenson was able to increase their mile and tempo work, however, their is relaxed environment as well. Stevenson tries to keep it fresh and fun, incorporating different workouts to build fitness. The team rented a cabin and ran in the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina and took 17 runners to Brevard Running camp to run the hills and enjoy the cold ice streams. Iinn addition to preparing the team physically it also gives the group a chance to bond and become closer as a unit.
Sarasota was unable to compete in the flrunners.com Invitational this year and will instead travel to nearby North Port. Also, circled on their calendars is their first meet of the season, an overnight trip to Jacksonville for the Katie Caples Invitational as well as tune-up for the big dance, the Pre-State Invitational. The Sailors are hoping the competition faced during the course of the fall will prepare them for November and the postseason. With a team average of 19:10.03 and a 1-5 split of just 55 seconds they are the team to beat this year in 3A.
Coach Stevenson Says...
"The major strength of this team is their closeness. These girls laugh together, cry together, and run together. The other strength is that they challenge each other. No spot is guaranteed; therefore they battle during every workout. Our goal like every year is to stay healthy and give nothing but our best. All I want for the girls is the ability to compete at the state level. If the ladies are toeing the line at the state meet healthy and fit, you never know what can happen. "
2014 Returner's Top Times
| 1 | Sarasota HS (FL) | 93 | ||
| 1) Angelina Grebe | 18:40.00 | 4 | ||
| 2) Sage Lyons | 18:51.68 | 7 | ||
| 3) Amber Kerry | 19:19.61 | 23 | ||
| 4) Allison Wright | 19:27.85 | 29 | ||
| 5) Mackenzie Brown | 19:31.00 | 30 | ||
| Average Time: 19:10.03 Total Time: 1:35:50.14 1-5 Split: 51.00 | ||||
| 6) Sophie Williamson | 20:06.00 | 66 | ||
| 7) Aubrey Kilduff | 21:50.02 | 190 | ||
|
Girls 3,200 Meter Run |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:23.84 | Grebe, Angelina | FHSAA 3A Region 3 |
|
| 11:50.84 | Lyons, Sage | FSU Relays |
|
Girls 1,600 Meter Run
| 5:16.63 | Brown, Mackenzie | FSU Relays |
|
| 5:25.23 | Grebe, Angelina | FSU Relays |
|
| 5:35.62 | Lyons, Sage | 4th Annual Marcus Freeman Memorial Invitational |
|
More Coverage