Boys Recap
In a race decided by the lowest score of the five top runners, it is rare that there is a tie in team scoring. But to be in two in your career?
"The last time that I was in a tie was at the 1992 state championships," said Bobcat Head Coach Ron Norris. "My Newberry girls' team won that year as our sixth runner finished ahead of Ransom Everglades sixth runner."
This time Norris' Bobcats were on the short end of the stick as their sixth runner, Nicholas Park, finished 21 places behind Mandarin's sixth runner, Christian Rodriguez as the Mustangs scored the upset.
"We've always been a team that shows up post season, so were hoping that would happen today," said Mustang Head Coach Lucas Shannon. "I expected to be a battle with Fleming Island for second seeing as Buchholz was ranked first in the District. I didn't expect us to win."
The Bobcats got off to a great start with Calum McFetridge leading the way. The Mustangs countered with their pack of Fuad Batteh, Anthony Rukab, and Timothy Ziemathis.
"My strategy was to start out slower and let everyone die off," said senior Anthony Rukab. "Me and Fuad were butting heads at the two mile, but he got the better of me."
The Bobcats' Caden Monk and Isaiah Ransom matched the Mustang pack through two miles with junior Clayton Eiland giving them the edge in team scoring by the two mile mark.
"I was told to go out with Anthony and beat Buchholz's number three, "said senior Timothy Ziemathis. " He [Anthony] did and I didn't."
The one runner who hadn't factored into the scoring was Joshua Guest. The senior who began the season running 19:32.62 and just ten days ago ran 18:30.20 at the Gateway Conference meet lowered his personal best by 59 seconds to finish fifteenth. In all, six of the Mustangs seven runners set personal bests.
"I was just focusing on placements, "said Guest who cited working hard and willingness to run as his reasons for such a large improvement.
"It was a great feeling when coach came up to us and told us we'd run the race," said Batteh, the only runner not to PR Saturday morning. "I knew it would be close, but I didn't know it would be a tie."
Though the race could have been decided by any runner on the either team, sophomore Caden Monk felt some of the blame for the loss. The Bobcats had worked on the last 300 meters of the Sante Fe course this past week and Monk passed Batteh heading into the homestretch as Coach Norris cheered him on. Heading into the final 50 meters Batteh summoned a final burst and passed Monk.
" It's tough to lose by one point and know that if I had pushed a little more, I could have had that district win," said Monk who has dropped his time by 1: 36 seconds in two months." But we have next week to fight them. We definitely want to get to state for Coach Norris."
Coach Norris was proud of his team's effort as Calum McFetridge, Caden Monk, Isaiah Ransom, Clayton Eiland and Troy Davis finished, first, sixth, ninth, thirteenth and twenty-fifth.
"You can't blame any of the kids. They ran really good times. You just have to take your hat off to Mandarin for running so well today."
McFetridge got a clean bill of health from his heart doctor this past week after collapsing at the Mtn Dew Invitational last month and cruised to a winning time of 15 minutes and 59.54 seconds. Next Saturday, he'll take his number two ranking in Class 4A against the state's number one runner, Bryce Bell of Lyman, at the Regional Championship which will also be held at Sante Fe College.
"I didn't get the personal record I wanted, but it's a little tricky when you don't have competition," said McFetridge who won by 14 seconds. "I'm really looking forward to running Regionals against Bryce next week. I think it will be a good race. I'm hoping we can qualify as a team, too."
With eight teams entered four advanced to next week's Region 1 meet. Fleming Island finished third with 60 points, and Flagler Palm Coast finished fourth with 126 points.
Terrance Sessoms of Sandalwood, and John Hutton and Billy Adams of Lee finished fourth, seventh and twelfth qualified individually.