GIRLS WINNER: Sarah Candiano - Freshman @ Evangelical Christian
When Sarah Candiano started at Evangelical Christian as a sixth grader it was a physical education teacher that saw her running potential. Candiano picked up the sport and is in her fourth year running. The freshman kicked off her 2011 season with a bang winning the John Cay 5k in an impressive 18:14. Her father, John Candiano, says the plan at the beginning was to stay with the group.
"She was with Katy Solis and Manny Montoya (Erick Montoya's dad). He's a really good runner too and won his age group in that meet. She was also with Rachel who owns Run Shop in Cape Coral. They all ran together for the first two and a half miles then she just dropped them at the end. Her best time coming in was 18:20. I think it was her best race ever."
Over the course of a year Sarah's times have dropped by more than a minute. He says she has learned to not get out front, stay back, and use that strong kick she has developed. Candiano has been running 60-80 miles per week and has been doing intense workouts with the 3D running club and coach Jeff Summer.
"He has done miracles with her and worked with her over the summer. She has learned to be a smarter runner and developed more speed and more endurance. She runs six days a week. It's quite a running group and club. They get up at 3:00 in the morning and run at 4:30 three days a week. Her goals are to get in the 17's and compete against the runner in the class and that's Julie Wollrath. She wants to win states and she has to get in the 17's to be in that position."
Sarah's Athlete Profile
BOYS WINNER: Billy Anguish - Senior @ Winter Park
There are the fast workouts that coach Dennis Kozub likes to do with his team and then there are the long and slow workouts as he describes them. Winter Park senior Billy Anguish definitely prefers the fast workouts.
"He loves the fast stuff and hates the slow stuff. Today we're doing a twelve mile run and he hates it, but yesterday we ran 15 500's with a 300 meter jog in between. He loved it and knocked them out easily."
Anguish's speed was on display at the 31st Mike Gibson Summertime Run. After being in a three way battle up front with Otniel Teixera and Peter Licari, the Wildcat picked up the pace when he hit the track for the last 300 meters. He showed that lethal kick blowing by Licari in the final 100 to finish in 16:18.
"I thought he ran strong. We ran pace miles the day before and I thought he ran very well for being tired. The first mile was pretty slow. When he went by me he had about 3/4 of a mile to go and he looked at me and I knew he'd be fine. He's always had a very good sprint and been able to change gears when he wants too. I knew if he stayed 20 yards ahead of him he'd be fine. He had a strong kick and he pulled it out. He's tough and so is everyone on that team. I'm hoping we can keep him healthy because I think he can get down to low 15's or high 14's before state time."
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