Cross country: Lely girls settle for 7th in state

New competition also meant tough competition.

The Lady Trojans, who finished second overall at last season's Class 3A state meet, ran into an extremely fast field in finishing seventh at this year's Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A Cross Country Finals on Saturday night at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa.

The Naples boys team finished seventh in the Class 3A meet, the top boys team finish.

While no one could come near Oviedo High junior Jennifer Barringer's state record 16 minute, 55 second finish in the Class 4A race, the top 12 finishers in Class 4A finished under 19 minutes.

Senior Heidi Miller was the first Trojan across the finish line in 30th and Lely placed all five of its runners in the top 70 overall. Eventual Class 4A girls winner Spanish River placed its top four runners in the top 26.

Lely coach Mark McGarity said he was astounded by the Class 4A field's speed.

"We had some tough running to do tonight," he said. "I can't believe the competition out here all the way around. It was the first time we had all the teams together at the same time, and it was kind of overwhelming."

While he said it wasn't the best race for either the boys or girls team, McGarity was proud of his runners.

"The boys and girls did their best," he said. "We're going to graduate a few runners, but we have a lot of younger ones who want to run."

While the local teams couldn't break the top five, some local runners turned in some standout performances. Naples freshman Ashlyn Bickwermert finished 19th overall in her first Class 3A state meet. Naples senior Sean Brann kicked into high gear down the home stretch to finish 21st overall at his final Class 3A meet.

As he rounded the corner and saw the finish line, Brann said he had a few things going through his mind as he began his final kick.

"I knew it was my last meet and I was feeling good," a heavy-breathing Brann said as he cooled down. "I just dug down deep and pushed through. And I was thinking about my team. The higher I finished, the higher the team finished."

St. John Neumann senior Nichole Grothaus ended her high school cross country career finishing 25th overall in the Class A race.

FHSAA Cross Country FinalsEd Radice Sports Complex, Tampa

GIRLS

CLASS 4A

Team Results: 1. Spanish River 97, 2. Buchholz 113, 7. Lely 220 Individual results: Lely -- 30. H. Miller 19:57, 42. Salinas 20:14, 58. Segura 20:36, 71. Walling 20:51, 79. M. Miller 21:09

CLASS 3A

Team Results: 1. Our Lady of Lourdes 84, 2. Chiles 153, 18. Barron Collier 406

Individual results: Barron Collier -- 74. Dixon 21:03, 93. Pena 21:27, 94. C. Johnstone 21:27, 113. A. Johnstone 21:52, 116. Mattio 21:56; Naples -- 19. Bickwermert 19:51

CLASS 2A

Team results: 1. Pope John Paul II 61, 2. Bishop Kenny 66 Individual results: Immokalee -- 51. Manzano 21:22

CLASS A

Team results: 1. Holy Trinity 42, 2. Oak Hall 54, 15. St. John Neumann 363

Individual results: Neumann -- 25. Grothaus 20:36, 72. Gardino 21:56, 99. Webb 23:00, 103.

Joens 23:05, 105. McGinnis 23:08

BOYS

CLASS 4A

Team results: 1. Winter Park 55, 2. Buchholz 70, 13. Lely 306 Individual results: Lely -- 50. Leonard 17:09, 69. Gascon 17:21, 75. Mato 17:28, 93. Hamernik 17:45, 101. Moreno 17:53

CLASS 3A

Team results: 1. Chiles 43, 2. Flagler Palm Coast 100, 7. Naples 258

Individual results: Naples -- 21. Brann 16:20, 30. Bromley 16:28, 45. Roeser 16:40, 95. 104. Milligan 17:22, Scott 17:28; Estero -- 69. Delago 17:02

CLASS 2A

Team results: 1. Bishop Kenny 56, 2. Jesuit 81, 14. Immokalee 383

Individual results: Immokalee -- 38. Trejo 17:19, 65. G. Villa 17:46, 90. D. Villa 18:11, 107. Gijon 18:32, 140. Mendez 19:14

CLASS A

Team results: 1. Episcopal 58, 2. Trinity Prep 113, 17. St. John Neumann 379

Individual results: 70. Clemente 18:03, 71. Roubicek 18:04, 90. Farinacci 18:25, 102. Fogg 18:42, 107. Bentley 18:57; Community School -- 59. Carufe 17:49