(Photos by Jeff Adams)
BOYS WINNER: Mac Reynolds - Senior @ Nease
Nease senior Mac Reynolds is used to running alone. Through the conference and district championships he has done just that. Reynolds has been running against the clock and putting up impressive times. At the 3A District 3 meet he broke a course record in 15:44.97. Coach Michael Rivera says it is his ability to separate himself from the pack yet still be able to hammer it down is what makes Reynolds special.
"It was his second course record in two races. He broke Jimmy Clark's at Middleburg for our conference meet as well. I think it kind of starter at Pre-State when he was able to run with Elliot Clemente and Andres Arroyo, and Max del Monte. It really boosted his confidence and he has kind of taken that to where he knows when he faces Elliot again he has to be on his game. He's been using that the last couple of meets to try and at least push himself to his internal limits so that when he faces those guys head to head he has that confidence."
That confidence might be something the old Mac Reynolds didn't have. He realizes he can't control what others do, but this year he has a sense of fire in him.
"I think that's the main change from last year to this year. Last year he was kind of content to be not necessarily in the front, but near the front. This year he's not content unless he's actually in the front and at least for part of it controlling or being with the people who are controlling the pace. Last year he would have not approached races like he did this year. He wants to be recognized with the top kids."
To be with those top kids Reynolds will have to have a good first mile and stick with the pack. Rivera has made it a priority for the senior to do mental checks at certain points during the race. He believes they help him stay focused on the task at hand.
"He's going to have to apply pressure early. A lot of those top guys have a lot more speed than Mac has, but I feel once Mac gets going he doesn't stop. I've been at Nease six years and he is by far the best runner I've coached here."
GIRLS WINNER: Anne-Marie Blaney - Senior @ Belleview
Belleview senior Anne-Marie Blaney has run in the mid 18 minute range most of the year so it might have come as a surprise when she sprung a personal best of 17:39.10 to win the district meet. Blaney is used to big gains and peaking at the right time. Last year she ran mid 19 before a breakout in the postseason where she ran 18:33.17, 18:34.84, and 18:37.17 at the state meet. Coach Jason Pfriender says Blaney is at her best when the season heats up.
"That's the goal. She has gotten stronger this year and put in more miles and she has been working often times by herself. I have a decent team this year, but when you are at her level there are not a whole lot of people to push yourself against. There is a lot of competition in the state and she wants to be there. She is a senior and wants to go and run in college so she knows her times need to be better. She's just been working harder to get them down."
Her time at districts didn't shock Pfriender. The game plan was to get out to an early lead and bring it home. Nikita Shah from Wiregrass Ranch gave her a little bit of a push at the beginning, but after that it was all Blaney.
"I knew she had to get out fast. We talked and she knew that we didn't want to leave it to her sprint. Historically she hasn't done well when she has to outkick someone in the last part of the race. She knew she had to get out strong and thru two and a quarter miles Nikita was right there. At about two and a half miles she just pulled away and didn't leave it to the sprint at the end."
In the past Pfriender has held back on Blaney's training in order to keep her legs fresh and prevent burnout at an early age. This year he increased the intensity early on by stepping up the mileage and speed workouts. Pfriender says he is still pushing her, but the vast improvement is due to having a solid base to work from.
"I tell her all the time I wish she was running 10 or 12 years ago. I saw an 18:40 or something around there won the 3A state title in 2001 or 2002. I wish it was easier for her, but I think it's better in the long run. I'd rather her finish third in 3A then win in an easier classification. It all works out because in the end the goal is to get them better so they are ready at the college level."