BOYS WINNER - Carlos Miranda - Junior @ Palmetto Ridge
What a difference a year has made for Carlos Miranda. The Palmetto Ridge junior was used to getting away with low mileage and settling for being the best in the area. Ray Romero, who has worked with and known Miranda for several years, says the junior was tired of the status quo and decided to do things different in 2011.
"Last year his personal best was at the Shell Point course. It was the first and only time since this year he dipped under 16 minutes and I knew after watching that race it was possible. Until this year he never put in more than 20 miles. Myself and a couple other coaches took him to FSU camp and he ran with former Foot Locker champion Mike Fouts and got a ton of mileage in. He saw what he could do training and running with those top tier college guys. I don't think before he thought he could do it mentally and now he knows he can that he is training more."
Now that Miranda realized he was a big fish in a big fond he started to compete like one. The past two weeks he has finished third. At the flrunners.com Invitational he crossed the line behind Georgia standout Josh Brickell and Belen Jesuit's Elliot Clemente. At the Pre-State Invitational it was Clemente again one spot ahead in second and Colonial junior Andres Arroyo crossing the line first. His time of 15:17.71 at Little Everglades Ranch was a new personal best. Coach Romero was not at the meet, but has watched the video highlights, and was pleased with Miranda's performance.
"From what I saw on the video he and Coach Butts set out a good race plan to hold on as long as he could and surge at a certain point. I think Arroyo did what Carlos wanted to and passed Clemente there at the end."
The Palmetto Ridge star finished 18th at last year's 3A state meet. If he wants to contend for the title he will have to face the frontrunner in Clemente one more time. Romero believes if the conditions are right and everything falls into place anything can happen on that November day.
"To be honest he just has to race the right race at state. Both those races he was behind Clemente, but someone was in front of Clemente. He has the speed to do it. He ran 4:18 in the mile last track season. He just has to be in the right circumstances and peak at the right time. Next year if he keeps doing what he is doing he will be the kid we are talking about and it will be him and Arroyo battling it out for the best overall in the state."
* Note: We tried to reach Palmetto Ridge coach Kim Butts for the story but we're unable to make contact in time to publish the story.
Carlos' Athlete Profile
GIRLS WINNER - Kacy Smith - Junior @ Estero
According to coach Jeff Sommer, Estero junior Kacy Smith ran one of her best races all year when she finished third at the Pre-State Invitational. Smith ran a new season best time of 17:47.21 and ran with a new renewed sense of confidence, something Sommer hasn't seen since last season.
"She feels like she is getting back on track. It's hard when you are up front like she was last year and everyone is gunning for you. She came from behind last year in the state meet and she gave everything she had, but she hasn't responded since then. She had a rough go at nationals and I'm not sure if it became a mental block or what. We told her she needed to race like she trains. She's been a beast in practice and she just needed to show it."
Smith stayed with the lead pack a majority of the race, but started to break off about two miles in. Showing that confidence Smith charged up the hill with hopes of catching the leaders Olivia Ortiz and Lily Williams. The junior fell short, but Sommer loved the effort.
"She didn't sit down at the two mile mark. She came back strong up the hill. It's about trying to get her confidence back and even though she has been down she has been a heck of a leader."
Despite not winning the last several weeks, Smith has led her Estero squad to the team title in each of her races. At Pre-State the junior broke 18 minutes for the first time all year. The last time she ran at Little Everglades Ranch she ran 17:41.10. If her times keep progressing and she is able to ride the momentum Sommer says the 3A battle in November should be a great one.
"We're going to keep working hard the next couple of weeks and taper. She's going to have her confidence up, but all of those girls (Olivia Ortiz, Lily Williams, Carly Thomas, Vanessa Valentine) are all great kickers. If everyone is on that day I wouldn't be surprised to see five kids kicking it out. We haven't thought about being on the podium. It's all about being in the thick of things and taking baby steps. If we don't get there it won't be because of a lack of effort."
Kacy's Athlete Profile