Maclay asserts dominance: 2002 Regional Meets

A week ago it was Chiles sweeping the top five places to win the Boys 2A district meet, while Maclay “only” took four of the top five spots in the girls and boys 1A district meets. Saturday though it was Maclay’s boys team asserting its dominance by sweeping the top five spots in the 1A Region One Championship meet on their home turf to score a perfect 15. The team will move on to the state meet in Tampa next week as heavy favorites. The girls team will go as well, but could not better a tough Gainesville Oak Hall team and had to settle for a close second, 46 to 40 points. Chiles will move on again also, but found powerhouse Bishop Kenny to be tough competition at the Miccosukee Greenway in the 2A competition. Bishop Kenny won both the boys and girls competition while Chiles finished second in the boys competition and fourth in the girls.

Leon’s boys team was the only other local team to advance as they finished fifth in the 3A meet in Lake City. Other local teams to compete in the regional meets included NFC’s boys and girls (12th, 1A), Lincoln’s boys (10th, 3A) and girls (8th, 3A), Rickards girls (9th, 3A), Marianna’s boys (15th, 2A), and Wakulla’s boys (16, 2A). Teams must be in the top six to advance.

In the individual competition anyone in the top 15 gets to advance. Ryan Deak led Maclay by capturing the Class A title with a time of 16:03. Ross McMillan (16:43), Brennan Clayton (16:51), Alex Brickler (17:01), and David Huntzinger (17:02) rounded out Maclay’s sweep. Herbie Thiele of Chiles matched Deak’s time with a 16:03 to take second in the 3A regional. Ryan Leary ran an outstanding 15:30 to win the meet while leading Bishop Kenny to its title. Alex Miletich was right behind his Chiles teammate in 16:10 to capture third place, while Stephen Smith was the only other local in the top 15, finishing 13th in 16:55. Logan Wolcott led his Leon team by finishing 17th in 17:11.

The fastest lady finisher was Lincoln’s Allie Hunter who advanced to the state meet by finishing third in the 3A class with a time of 19:39. LaShaunta Arnold became Rickards lone rep at the state meet by taking ninth place in 20:35. Adrianna Piekarewicz led Maclay’s effort when she took second place with a 19:43. Teammates Elizabeth McQueen (20:38), Jennifer Emo (20:49), Jessica Allen (21:06), and Meredith Fraser (21:09) all had top 15 finishes. Maria Hampton (20:26) and Karla Savery (20:33) hit the top 15 for Chiles.

You can find more results at http://flrunners.com/. The state meet will be Saturday, November 23 in Tampa.