The Bishop Kenny boys cross country season ended the 2012 season with a 2A state championship, their 8th in the program's history. Coach Kevin Curran was impressed with the consistency of last year's squad and returns four of his top seven runners. The team is lead by a trio of seniors in David Yarborough, Alec Sharpe, and Erik Sampayo. Coach Kevin Curran was impressed with the consistency of last year's squad and returns four of his top seven runners. The team is lead by a trio of seniors in David Yarborough, Alec Sharpe, and Erik Sampayo. Yarborough, the runner-up last season, and one of the favorites to win the individual title this year, will be the team's number one runner. Curran said at the end of last season that Sharpe who ran 18:18 as a sophomore in 2011 was one of his biggest surprises of the year. Sharpe ran a personal best in each of his first six races and capped it off with a personal best of 16:47 at the state meet where he was 23rd. After those three, there is a good size pack of guys fighting for the other four spots on varsity. Look for Bradley Franco, Husam Ossi, Dion Thompson-Davoli, and Tim Wagner to be those guys. Franco was 31st at state and has experience as an incoming junior.
The distance boys came up big for the Crusaders during the outdoor track season. Erik Sampay and David Yarborough were members of the 4x800 meter relay team that took fourth. Then Yarborough won the 1600 in a time of 4:20.89 and came back to place fourth in the 3200 meter run. Those 18 points were crucial in Bishop Kenny's 29 total points and fourth place finish as a team. His 1600 meter time leads the group, with three others under 4:47.
After a little summer rest and relaxation, the team recently headed to Brevard, North Carolian for running camp. Coach Curran brought 33 members of the squad and says the training has been about getting in good quality mileage. At last count, 70 runners came out for the team which means depth won't be a problem. He says this should be the deepest team he has ever coached and that depth will play a big factor in what they can accomplish throughout the season. According to the preseason team rankings, Bishop Kenny is pegged for third in a tight battle with Immokalee (runner-up last year) for that spot. The 1-5 split of 1:32.19 will need to be tightened if they want to overthrow Tampa Jesuit (third place last year), and Trinity Prep who moved up from 1A, for a place on the podum.
Coach Curran Says...
"The ultimate goal is to try and repeat the success of last year, but during the season we will look to run strong at our home meet, Katie Caples, and to place well at Great American and Pre-State."
Top Returner's Times (Previous Seasons)
| Boys 5,000 Meter Run | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 15:59.81 | Yarborough, David | FHSAA Cross Country State Finals |
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| 16:47.87 | Sharpe, Alec | FHSAA Cross Country State Finals |
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| 16:57.23 | Franco, Bradley | FHSAA Cross Country State Finals |
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| 17:19.55 | Sampayo, Erik | FHSAA Cross Country State Finals |
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Boys 3,200 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 9:25.06 | Yarborough, David | FSU Relays |
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| 9:59.57 | Sharpe, Alec | FSU Relays |
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Boys 1,600 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4:20.89 | Yarborough, David | FHSAA 2A Outdoor State Finals |
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| 4:38.48 | Sampayo, Erik | Mustang River City Distance Carnival |
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| 4:44.67 | Ossi, Husam | FHSAA 2A District 3 |
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| 4:46.63 | Sharpe, Alec | Danny Brown Invitational |
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