On-Site Coverage
- 4A District 6 Meet Page (Complete Results)
- Featured Photo Album By Andy Warrener
- Race Highlights/Interviews By Todd Grasley
The 4A District 6 cross country meet pitted Hillsborough County's finest against each other and even brought in the Pasco County champs (Wiregrass Ranch boys) and the Pasco County runners up (Wiregrass girls). It had to be one of the tougher district meets from top-to-bottom in the region. Still, it was the Hillsborough County champions, Plant boys and Wharton girls that held on to win district titles.
The Wharton girls have come on strong this season and Thursday's district meet at Al Lopez Park in Tampa was no exception. Right from the start, the Wharton girls got out on a mission. They held three of the top four spots for much of the race and wound up taking first (Alisha Deschenes 19:38.3), third (Bryanna Rivers 19:50.9) and fifth (Rania Samhouri 19:57.9). Steinbrenner's Alexandra Straumann took second in 19:45.8 and Plant's Laura Jones took fourth in 19:51.3.
"We trained really hard leading up to this week," Deschenes said.
It paid off as Wharton's top three all cracked 20 minutes, a feat none of them pulled off last week at county.
"Every week it's about the race in front of us," Wildcat girls coach Anthony Triana said. "The girls are so united, they don't let each other lose focus and make sure to support each other the whole way."
The Wharton girls followed up their county win by taking the district crown with 32 to Plant's 41. Steinbrenner grabbed the final qualifying spot in front of Wiregrass Ranch.
In the boys race, Sickles' Paris Williams and Plant's Rob Leverone battled through the first two miles for the lead position before Williams separated and scored the win in 16:11.0.
"This race had a good feel to it, it was good to get my legs moving before regionals," Williams said. "Sarasota is a good group and (Holloway Park) is a tough course. My goal is to get under 16 minutes for that race."
Leverone took second in 16:27.9 with teammates Quasan Markowski (3rd in 16:30.8) and Walker Thomas (4th in 16:36.9) and the Plant boys followed up their county win with a district title, scoring 43 to Steinbrenner's 56. Wiregrass Ranch took the final qualifying spot with 75, barely edging Sickles with 78.
