Hernando High

Cross-Country

DANNY AIELLO
Hernando Today correspondent
Published: November 10, 2012

ORLANDO - Last year, the Nature Coast boys set a new standard for the program by capturing their initial district and regional championships, but this year at the regional meet at Lake Nona High in Orlando, it was all about the Lady Sharks.

Paced by freshman Alexa Lacy, and outstanding pack running, the Lady Sharks won the team title by a tight two-point margin over Orlando-Lake Highland Prep, 54-56.

On a tough circuit-style course and an unexpected hot day, it was Lacy who finished in fifth place with a time of 20:45 and was the first Lady Shark across the line followed by senior Brielle Perlingieri, who came in seventh place with a time of 20:50.

However, the difference was the pack of Mary Thomson, Alyssa DeLigio, Summer March and Crystal Burchhardt.

That Lady Shark quartet finished 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th respectively, and the points earned in that pack was enough for the Lady Sharks to outlast the Lady Highlanders.

"It was a battle," Nature Coast head coach Eric Milholland said. "The heat was tough and the course took away from the speed, but some girls set personal bests."

Nature Coast secured a trip to the state meet Saturday at Tallahassee's Apalachee Regional Park. Also going will be Lake Highland Prep, Crystal River, Gulf, Orlando-Bishop Moore Catholic and host Lake Nona.

Hernando finished eighth (240) and just missed being among the top six teams who advanced.

"Hats off to Hernando," Milholland said. "We get along well with their girls, coaches and parents, and for them to come in (to regional) ranked 10th and walk away with an eighth-place finish is great."

As for expectations for the state meet, Milholland's have not changed.

"We came (to regionals) ranked sixth or seventh, so to walk away with a win is great." Milholland said. "Tallahassee is a fast course and we expect to go up there and compete."

On the boys side, things didn't go as smoothly for the defending champion Sharks.

Coming into the meet they wanted to compete for a title, but on this day nothing was going to stop Lake Nona, as it won by a margin of 33 points.

Lake Nona set the pace with 47 points and was followed by Lake Highland Prep with 80 points, Nature Coast with 97, Gulf with 115, Bishop Moore with 117 and The Villages with 198, all moving on to the state meet.

Despite the third-place finish and fifth trip to states in six years, the Sharks were visibly frustrated.

"We ran awful." said senior Cody Van Natter, the defending regional individual champ who came in 20th in 18:11. "We came in here expecting to challenge for first and to finish third isn't what we wanted."

Van Natter said a change in preparation might have been to blame for the Sharks' finish.

"We tried a new approach, not running yesterday, and it didn't work." Van Natter said. "Better here than at states, though. It's something like a trial and error. Now we know."

Nature Coast top placing came from Kevin Ciccone, as the senior completed the race in a seventh-place time of 17:26.40. Junior James Harkless was 12th (17:44.50).

As for states, the Sharks are set on redemption.

"Obviously today was a bit of a disappointment." Milholland said. "Our guys have seen Tallahassee at the Pre-State meet and they know what they need to go out there and compete. I believe in live to fight another day, and we qualified so we live."

Despite not meeting their high expectations, Van Natter said Tallahassee might breed new life into the Sharks.

"This course had a lot of sharp turns," Van Natter said. "They slowed us down. Tallahassee is more straightforward. It has one hill and once you're over it, I think we will be fine."

Class 2A, Region II Meet

at Orlando-Lake Nona High

Boys

Team (top six advanced to state meet)

1. Orlando-Lake Nona 47, 2. Orlando-Lake Highland Prep 80, 3. Nature Coast 97, 4. Gulf 115, 5. Orlando-Bishop Moore Catholic 117, 6. The Villages 198

Individuals (top 15 advanced to states)

1. George Velez, Lake Nona, 16:34.90; 7. Kevin Ciccone, Nature Coast, 17:26.40; 12. James Harkless, Nature Coast, 17:44.50; 20. Cody Van Natter, Nature Coast, 18:11.00; 32. Joseph Clark, Nature Coast, 18:31.30; 34. Stephen Murphy, Nature Coast, 18:36.50; 54. Tyler Pantley, Hernando, 19:18; 61. Carlton Blackburn, Nature Coast, 19:41; 66. Austin Mulyck, Nature Coast, 20:05

Girls

Team (top six advanced to states)

1. Nature Coast 54, 2. Orlando-Lake Highland Prep 56, 3. Crystal River 93, 4. Gulf 108, 5. Orlando-Bishop Moore Catholic 118, 6. Orlando-Lake Nona 146 8. Hernando 240

Individuals (top 15 advanced to regionals)

1. Adair Lyden, Lake Nona, 19:30; 5. Alexa Lacy, Nature Coast, 20:45; 7. Brielle Perlingieri, Nature Coast, 20:50; 14. Mary Thomson, Nature Coast, 21:14; 15. Alyssa DeLigio, Nature Coast, 21:24; 16. Summer March, Nature Coast, 21:26; 18. Crystal Burchhardt, Nature Coast, 21:29; 38. Cindy Caceres, Hernando, 22:48; 45. Tabatha Loose, Hernando, 23:26; 54. Dominique Reyes, Hernando, 23:54; 60. Kendall Raney, Hernando, 24:23; 63. Ashley Morris, Hernando, 24:28; 66. Berkley LaPorte, Hernando, 24:45; 86. Brianna Horn, Nature Coast, 28:55