Channing Cookerly might be one of the best cross country runners in west Florida, but she might have a hard time finishing in the top three among her own family.
Channing is the youngest of four Cookerlys who were star runners at Sarasota Riverview High. The older three – Carling, Charley, and Shea – all went on to run for the University of Florida, leaving a difficult legacy to follow.
With such a background, it was obvious that Channing would also be a runner, but she knew the comparisons would follow her all the way through Riverview.
"I used to always tell my sisters that someday I would beat them,'' Channing said. "They all encouraged me, but they didn't think I could beat them.''
Channing struggled to a 13th-place finish at the state Class 4A meet last week in Dade City, but she's still weighing college offers and hasn't necessarily committed to Florida, even though she vows to never attend Florida State, the Gators huge rival.
She laughs at the thought o...