GIRLS WINNER: Daesha Rogers - 8th Grader @ Plantation American Heritage
Daesha Rogers has been a staple on the AAU track and field circuit for years. This summer was no exception as the eighth grade phenom continued to run AAU and compete against the nation's best. Rogers has the range to be an elite athlete in any event from 800 meters to 5k. Since she was coming off a long track season she decided to slow it down this cross country season; working out with the team, but competing in minimal races. Rogers got her four races of the season in by coasting along at smaller meets. However, when the postseason rolled around the Daesha of old was back and rearing to go. Coach Amed Garriga says her district win wasn't scripted, she just wanted it more.
"There was no game plan. She wanted it and she went out there and got it. We are extremely proud of her."
Rogers beat one of the top freshman in the state Julia Montgomery by two seconds in a time of 18:22.30 to claim the district championship. Thursday she beat Montgomery again in a rematch that saw the two run stride for stride a majority of the race. The American Heritage star had a fight on her hands as Montgomery gave it all she had once again, but the same result occured. Rogers won by two seconds outkicking Montgomery in the final 150 meters. Coach Garriga says Rogers is running her best cross country of the year as of late.
"Absolutely. She looks so smooth and strong during her race, you can tell that she has more in her, we’ll have to wait and see what she does at states next week. This is something that she loves to do, plus she seems to have a natural ability for running which is great. She just tries her best each time and that’s all a coach can ask for. Daesha is back, she’s a little more mature and we believe she will do a marvelous job at states this year. "
BOYS WINNER: Costa Stathis - Senior @ Cocoa Beach
Costa Stathis takes everything he does seriously. Academically, he is a member of the IB Program, one of the most demanding in the country, and maintains a 3.89 grade point average. At the same time the senior is one of the top runners on his Cocoa Beach team. He has been the number one for a majority of the season sharing time with Dylan Taylor, and Cory Sayyeau as well. He came into 2012 with a decent ammount of mileage under his belt, but not what you would expect from a number one runner. The reason was an iron deficiency midway through the summer. After finding a solution to that issue, Stathis was back in full force. He has had a consistent season, but has recently kicked it into high gear following a win at the Cape Coast Conference Championships where he ran 16:22.12. Coach Cecilia Walker says Stathis is very coachable and stays on task making it easy for him to peak when it counts.
"I could tell that Costa’s game plan for conference was to win it. He stayed on Titusville’s Xavier Walton’s shoulder the entire race. Costa has such a strong kick, that if anyone is close to him, he can out-kick them. I was amazed at how strong he looked, but even more amazed when he told me that he felt like he had more left. I think if he can run like his conference race into the post season, then he is going to be a strong contender at state."
Conference was the first meet of the week for Stathis and his Cocoa Beach teammates after Hurricane Sandy postponed the event. Three days later it was back to the course where Stathis went head to head with Walton once again, this time finishing on the losing end, but still posting an impressive time of 16:51.98. Coach Walker calls Stathis a leader of this team and is very proud of the way he sets a positive tone for his teammates. Cocoa Beach is a team that relies heavily on running workouts in a pack and that unity has made them one of the top team's in 2A. In order for them to overtake the likes of Bishop Kenny Stathis and the rest of his teammates will have to step up. Coach Walker is excited for the postseason and has high hopes for Stathis and company.
"My goals for Costa are to keep focused over the next two weeks and to run his strongest race of the season at state. I constantly emphasize the importance of team, so I believe that if he sets the tone, the others will follow suit. This team is packed with seniors and I have really enjoyed coaching them over the past few years."