Heritage, Aquinas in hunt for cross-country title

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Heritage, Aquinas in hunt for cross-country title

BY FABIAN LYON The Miami Herald

 Youthful American Heritage, led by seventh-grader Daesha Rogers, and resilient St. Thomas Aquinas, which overcame the loss of its No. 1 runner, are rolling toward the state finals.

 IF YOU GO  

What: The 65th annual FHSAA cross-country state championships.

When: Saturday.

Where: The Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City.

Admission: $9; Children 6 and under free.

Parking: $10 per vehicle.

Meet schedule - Class 3A girls: 8:30 a.m.; Class 4A girls: 8:50 a.m.; Class 3A boys: 9:10 a.m.; Class 4A boys: 9:30 a.m.; Class 1A girls: 9:50 a.m.; Class 2A girls: 10:10 a.m.; Class 1A boys: 10:30 a.m.; Class 2A boys: 10:50 a.m.

Defending boys’ state champions - Class 4A: Columbus; 3A: Belen; 2A: Estero; 1A: Winter Park Trinity Prep.

Defending girls’ state champions - Class 4A: Tampa Plant; 3A: Tallahassee Chiles; 2A: Estero; 1A: Melbourne Holy Trinity.

BY FABIAN LYON

flyon@MiamiHerald.com

St. Thomas Aquinas was written off as a girls’ cross-country state contender after it’s No. 1 runner went down for the season.

American Heritage?

A powerhouse in the making, led by seventh-grade sensation Daesha Rogers — the No. 2 ranked runner in 2A, but dismissed by skeptics as too young to win the big one.

Undaunted, Heritage, ranked No. 4 in 2A, and Aquinas — the top-ranked team in 4A, will be in the hunt for a state title at the FHSAA state finals at Little Everglades Ranch on Saturday. This Raiders team has shown a resolve and competitive streak not seen in the past.

Since Christina Kalis’ injury, which figured to cripple any shot at a state title, the Raiders rallied around each other in their climb to No. 1 in 4A.

“On paper, we’re not the best team, but we are mentally tough,” Raiders coach Trish Butler said. “When the girls lost their number one, their easy ticket was gone. They knew it was just them. Individuals then commited to being a team.”

With Alex Payne (No. 7 in 4A), Megan Schloss, Brianna Rischar, Giselle Suarez, Marina Braynon-Moore and Hallie Leager setting personal-bests by at least 30 seconds, the Raiders posted victories over co-No. 1 Tampa Plant, Olympia (3) and Miami Ferguson (4) — teams Aquinas will have to beat again to claim an elusive state title.

Heritage, which features Rogers, Rachelle Alexander, seventh-grader Calyope Ortega, eighth-grader A’Sja Baker and freshman Jessica Tayon, faces a steeper climb behind Bishop Kenny, Cocoa Beach and favorite Jacksonville Bolles.

Rogers’ biggest challenge to an individual state titles lies with Cocoa Beach’s Shelby Davidson, the top seed, Gulf’s Kari Grippo and Mount Dora’s Ashley Heitling.

“Our girls are young, but they’re very aggressive racers,” Heritage girls coach Maryellen Powers said. “They get up for the big meets. They’re having fun with it. They came into it, saying maybe. Then they started getting results, and now they want it.”

North Broward Prep’s Nicholas Palermo, who is No. 7 in 2A, believes he has saved his best race for states. While reigning state champion Bert Irigoyen looks primed for a repeat, Palermo can draw on running a sub-16 minute on the state course and leading the 2010 state finals through the midway point.

In the girls’ 1A race, Westminster Academy eighth-grader Adair Lyden should challenge for a top-five spot.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/18/2507749/heritage-aquinas-in-hunt-for-cross.html#ixzz1e4gZSlPV