Boys Race Recap
The Boys race was highly anticipated battle between Lyman, Buchholz and Winter Springs on the team side. Individually, the Bobcats and Greyhounds had Class 4A # 2, Calum McFetridge and Class 4A #1, Bryce Bell tangling for top honors.
Three weeks ago at the Bobcat Classic, Bell took it out in 4:47 and cruised to a 15:46.41 win. Saturday, he had company as McFetridge shadowed him through a 4:49 mile with third ranked Terrance Sessom's another two ticks back in 4:51.
"That pace was a little too quick for Calum," said Bobcat Head Coach Ron Norris. "He was running Bell's race."
But Norris charge continued to battle on as he and Bell hit the two mile in 10:00.
Behind them, Alexander McKee and Timothy Doyle of Freedom High School had been patient. There first mile was a modest 5:02 and by two mile they had joined the chase pack in 10:12.
"We've [Alexander McKee] being running the same way all season. Taking it out easy and stay focused," said Doyle.
Bell broke away from McFetridge as he began to once again become wobbly legged and come to a near walk. He was eventually pulled from the course by Assistant Coach Woody Eiland.
"I just could not let him go on," said Eiland. McFetridge was whisked away in an ambulance following the race.
This was familiar territory for Doyle. The 4A mile champ was full of run and as he approached 300 meters to go, he had his sights on Bell whose lead had evaporated to two seconds.
Doyle turned the two second deficit into a five second win as he powered to a time of 15:50.00 a personal best by 28 seconds. Which by the way came three weeks ago at the Bobcat Classic.
"I started to pull away from McFetridge at 2.4 miles. I knew I had to close the gap as soon as possible" said Doyle. "I knew I had to keep my eye on them. I caught up and got first."
Bell finished second in 15:55.20.
With McFetridge out of the race and teammate Clayton Eiland struggling with a knee problem, Buchholz hopes evaporate leaving the door open for Lyman. Bu the #2 ranked Greyhounds were having their own issues and could not sealed the win.
Timber Creek on the other hand was having a monster race.
"We had unbelievable performances today," said Head Coach David Gardner. "We had a few target people and times for our 3, 4 and 5. All year long, it's been about our 1-5 split. Since that Holy Trinity race, it has decreased, decreased, decreased until where we are here now."
The Wolves strategy worked and then some. Having a Billy Millesque across the board- unbelievable for one day: Jared Vazquez led the onslaught knocking 34 seconds off his personal best to finish sixth in a time of 16:07.20.
Juan Casas knocked off the most time of their top five as he came in with a 45 second personal best to finish 17th; Jonah Norfleet scored a 34 second personal best to finish 34th; Julian Rodriguez ran 22 seconds under his personal best to finish 41st; and rounding out the top five, Ryan Anderson ran a 3 second personal best to finish 48th in 17:20.40.
"We came into this race wanting to win. We were ranked seventh," said Jonah Norfleet. "We were focusing on Lyman and staying with them. Also Freedom. We feel really good [to have won the race]. We all came through today."
For Norris it was the end of a storied 42 year career at the helm of PK. Yonge, Newberry and Buchholz Cross Country teams. He won a Girls State Cross Country Title at Newberry in 1992 and Buchholz in 2005. His Buchholz boys' team finished runner-up in 2003. He was elected to the FACA Hall of Fame in 2014.
"The team outcome was disappointing and painful," said Buchholz Head Coach Ron Norris moments after the award ceremony. " I have a sick feeling in my stomach. Being my last region meet, it's sad. We have to move on and everyone has to get better. "