New Coaches, New Faces, New Approach Launch Conchs CC 2007
Things will seem a lot different around the Key West High School Cross Country program this year. Both boys coach Dale Filipowicz and girls coach Stacie Bouchard have left KWHS to pursue other opportunities. Dependable veteran captains Mike Eder and Dillon McLean, along with some significant classmates, have matriculated to collegiate life. There will still be some familiar faces in CC ’07, but they will be outnumbered by the newbies.
Even the season itself has a different flavor, with the Conchs hosting no fewer than six – count ‘em, six – races on their home course at Key West Golf Club. Despite the expanded home schedule, season ticket prices will remain the same.
So, here are some of the things to look for in KWHS CC ’07.
GIRLS TEAM PREVIEW
First-year Coach Debra Bertolini can bank on a solid core on which to build. The top two runners from last year’s team – Tyler Buckheim and Olivia Kent – bring experience and proven ability to the table. The two took turns in the top team spot in ’06, with Olivia being Top Conch 5 times to Tyler’s 4.
Tyler, a senior and team captain, won the Monroe County Championships last year and her best time of 22:09 ranks her 4th all-time for KWHS. She is in her 4th year of CC. An illness forced her to miss her junior track season, so she is especially eager to return to the fray.
Olivia, a junior this year, posted the 2nd fastest 5K time in school history last year. The 21:48 that she ran in Tampa trails only Katie Gonzalez’s 21:03 School Record which has stood since 2001. Olivia’s time also moved her to #1 among sophomores, knocking Tyler Buckheim off that lofty perch.
Behind her formidable front pair, Coach Bertolini can count on a group of four experienced runners. Senior Elizabeth King enters her fourth CC campaign with a PR (personal record) of 26:23, which sits her just on the edge of the KWHS all-time Top 25.
Junior Ariana Bacle posted the 10th best sophomore time (27:45) in KWHS annals last year, and sophomores Raquel Stockton (28:18) and Marlene Thurber (30:14) cracked the Top 10 list for freshmen.
The early season team roster also includes senior Sam Williams, junior Reva Labbe, and sophomores Alex Careaga, Janessa Giannetto, Emily Deroche, Sami Wilhide, Paige Graham, Ashley Simons, and Demi Vazquez. Most of the girls have CC or Track experience, and will push one another to get better and better.
And, of course, the most prominent new face is Coach Bertolini herself. Well known on the local running scene and three-time silver medalist in the Southernmost Runners Grand Prix Series, Debbie has been running for 12 years and has completed 14 marathons including Boston, NY, Chicago, Marine Corps, and Disney. Her marathon PR is 3:38 at Palm Beach in 2004, which was best in her age group. Her PR at 5K is 21:18 at the Hog Trot in 2004. She has also run a dozen half-marathons, with the best coming in Budapest in 2003 (1:36).
Coach B says that her best running memory is the completion of her first marathon at Disney in 1998: “the feeling of accomplishment has never been equaled."I'm looking forward to a great season,” she says. “This year, we are going to ask more from ourselves and from each other, which will translate into success for our team."
Boys Team Preview
Boys Coach Terence White, likewise, enters his first-ever coaching role. But while the girls team boasts some savvy vets, Coach White’s squad is a what would be known in most circles as a “rebuilding situation.” Last year’s Regional qualifying team was comprised of five seniors and two freshmen. Well, the five seniors have gone on to life’s Next Step (best of luck and success to all of you, guys!), and the freshmen will step into the role of team leaders.
This is certainly not cause for panic, though, when the runners in question have the credentials that they do.
Zack Harden was the varsity’s #2 man as a 9th grader, and ran by far the fastest time ever by a KW freshman. The 19:12 he ran at the notoriously slow KWGC course in the team’s final home meet showed that he was ready to make an impressive breakthrough at Counties and Districts. An unfortunate ankle injury shelved him for those two races, however. Still, only 19 Conch runners ever ran faster than Zack’s PR, which also would have ranked him in the Top 10 among juniors.
Classmate Cale Hartle likewise showed great improvement over the course of his freshman season, knocking nearly two full minutes from his early times. Cale PR’ed at Districts with a strong 20:52 and was the varsity’s #5 man. His time jumped him up to 4th best among freshmen, and would also put him on the sophomore Top 10 list.
Both runners are talented athletes, having played varsity soccer and JV baseball, and that competitive edge will serve them well as their sophomore CC season unfolds.
The other spots in the top seven are very much up for grabs as the season begins. This can actually be a very good situation for all concerned, though, as nobody has any preconceived notions about who is better than whom, and it becomes a total intra-team dogfight. It should be a lot of fun to watch as the races come and go.
The way endurance training works, some boys will show good stuff early and others will charge back into the thick of things as their conditioning matures later in the season. Taken in the right spirit, such in-fighting can be the best thing for a team, young or old. Everyone is both the pursued and the pursuer, and everyone improves because of it, and the team just gets better and better.
Junior Vincent LeNeures, who finished the 2006 season as the team’s #7 man, is the only other returning runner with some varsity experience. Sophomores Mike LaBounty and Sebastian Armentrout have some JV races under their belts and could be eying spots in the top seven.
Coach White’s background is radically different from his female counterpart. A key member of perennial Massachusetts powerhouse Chelmsford HS, he continued his career at UMass-Lowell, where he was on the 1991 NCAA II National Champion CC team.
He boasts impressive PR’s of 1:58 for 800 meters, 4:19 for the mile, 9:22 for 2-miles, 14:54 for 5K, 25:10 for 5-miles, 1:23:50 for the half-marathon, and 3:11:45 for the marathon.
After college, Terence took some years off from running, largely due to work commitments, and returned to the sport when he moved to Key West in 2002.
“My favorite thing about running,” he says, “is that there are always goals to shoot for regardless of age or natural ability.”
Both coaches and both teams can look forward to an enjoyable 2007 season.
Speaking of the season, while we’re here, let’s take a look at the schedule and scout the opposition a little.
2007 SEASON PREVIEW
Race 1:
Wednesday, September 5
Annual CC Time Trials, with Coral Shores Hurricanes
Key West Golf Club
4:00 girls run, 4:40 boys run
A tradition dating back to the inaugural year of the KWGC course, the two Keys rivals meet for a workout together. It’s not in uniform, and no score is kept. The appearance of competition helps brings out some fire that just would not be there if we ran alone.
It is always run at the same time on the calendar at the same course, so year-to-year comparisons can give coaches an idea of how their teams look when juxtaposed with prior years.
Race 2:
Saturday, September 8
The Conchs Cross Country Carnival
Key West Golf Club
7:30 boys race, 8:00 girls race
The Youthful Hubris team takes on the Sage Experience squad in a pre-season dual meet on the Home Course. It is basically the KWHS teams, plus a few recent alumni, against the 20-and-overs of the Key West Southernmost Runners. Team scores are kept in each race and then combined to see which really is better, age or youth. It is a friendly mixer that lets the Conchs’ biggest financial supporters interact with the teams they support. There is no entry fee, no prizes, and no souvenir race T-shirts – just pure CC competition.
Race 3:
Monday, September 10
Dual Meet: Key West vs. Marathon Dolphins
Sombrero Country Club, Marathon
5:45 girls race, 6:20 boys race
The Dolphins host the Conchs as we go on our shortest road trip. In Coach White’s Massachusetts days, a 50-mile ride would have been unthinkable; here it’s a joyride.
Marathon has been up-and-down in CC since their program began in 2002. Being a small school, they have tended to have small teams, but have occasionally come up with some pretty good runners.
Last year, sophomore Marquita White and 8th grader Michelle Sandina were the top two girl runners, placing 11th and 12th at the County Meet in 27:00 and 27:30, respectively. For the boys, junior JJ Cadwell led the ‘Phins with an 11th place finish in 21:28 at Counties, but ran a 20:46 to lead his team at Districts. Their #2 was 7th-grader Tommy Dodamead, who ran 23:22 at Districts in ’06. He has also run some races on the KW road circuit this summer, most notably his 22:41 PR that earned him 11th place out of 163 finishers at the Wesley House Wonder Walk in May.
The meet will also serve as a chance for the Conchs to get friendly with the Sombrero CC course, which will be the site of the 2007 Monroe County Meet (MCCCC). It will be a good measure of improvement to compare the early September times to the late October times.
Race 4:
Friday, September 14
Tri-Meet: Key West vs. Coral Shores Hurricanes and Gulliver Prep Raiders
Tropical Park, Miami
4:00 girls race, 4:35 boys race
2006 was a good year for the Canes, as they copped the team crowns in both the boys and girls MCCCC races. Many of their top guns have moved on, but they return enough of their varsity squads to be considered the teams to beat in both genders again.
Soph-to-be Carly Smith split the girls team’s top spot with older sister Courtney, who has graduated. Carly ran 23:16 to place 2nd behind T-Buck at Counties, but did not run Districts or Regionals. Megan Guenther, a junior this year, looks like the next fastest returner, having run a 24:39 at Districts.
For the boys, senior-this-year Tyler Boban ended the 2006 season as the Canes’ top dog, placing 16th at Districts in 18:12, and 23rd at Regionals, also in 18:12, but on the much more difficult Westminster Course. Fellow seniors Max Jones and Aaron Holmbaker – 19:19 and 22:43 respectively, at Districts – also return.
Gulliver is, of course, Gulliver, and programs like theirs don’t rebuild, they reload. Their top girl runner is gone, but 2-3-4-5-6 return from a team that was 2nd at Districts, 4th at Regionals, and 9th at States. Individually, GP’s top girls were in the low-to-mid 21’s. Carrie Davis, their #2 runner at States (just :01 behind their senior captain), ran 21:04 … as a 6th grader.
GP’s boys team was hit pretty good by graduation, with 4 of their top 6 gone. Juniors-to-be Joe Dorfman (3rd at Districts in 16:55), Andy Richter (18th in 18:34), and the enigmatic Newton Porter (44th, 20:15) appear to be the ’07 leaders.
Race 5:
Saturday, September 22
Tri-Meet: Key West vs. Hagerty Huskies
Key West Golf Club
7:30 girls race, 8:10 boys race
In the first of four Saturday morning home meets, the Conchs play host to a Hagerty from Oviedo (near Orlando). To entice teams to make the long ride to the Southernmost City, we arrange a weekend vacation for them. They stay Friday night for free in the KWHS Bunkhouse, run a Saturday morning race, grab some brunch downtown, take a discounted snorkel trip on the Fury in the afternoon, hang out at Mallory Square for the Sunset Celebration, dine at the restaurants of their choosing, enjoy some Duval Street revelry, and then crash in the Bunkhouse again on Saturday night. Some teams choose to do a few things on Sunday as well before boarding the bus or vans for the long ride home.
The Huskies’ boys ended their ’06 season with a 7th place finish at Districts. Their front group of 3 sophomores (17:37, 18:03, and 19:57) and chase pair of freshmen (20:35 and 20:55) fell just a few points shy of advancing to Regionals.
The HHS girls did make the Region 2-2A meet and placed 9th. A trio of juniors led them with 20:18, 20:54, and 23:14, with a trio of freshmen providing the depth (23:24, 23:47, 26:21). They look formidable and will be a stern test.
And that is exactly what these dual meets are all about: honing your racing skills against strong competition. The best way to get better is to test yourself against better runners.
Race 6:
Saturday, September 29
Dual Meet: Key West vs. Gulf Buccaneers
Key West Golf Club
7:30 girls race, 8:10 boys race
The girls of Gulf will not provide much of a breather. A State 3A finalist (18th), they return all 7 from last year’s team. Their top 2 were mid-21’s and their next three ranged from low to high 23’s. They backed that up with two more sub-25’s. They would be a smart pick for a State Meet Top 10 in 2007.
The boys are not quite at that level, fortunately. They placed 10th in the District in ’06 and graduated their #1. Four of their next six were freshman, though, so they have a core to build on. Their returners clocked 19:50, 19:51, 19:55, 20:25, 21:26, and 21:34 in their final race.
The Gulf HS teams were here before, back in 2005, and may look at this as more of a vacation getaway than a high-intensity race. It should be a good one for the KW boys to really go after.
Race 7:
Friday, October 5
FLrunners.com Invitational VIII
Chain of Lakes Park, Titusville
5:00 girls race, 6:00 boys race
This is the biggest CC meet in Florida, and one of the largest in the country. It is also the big Road Trip of the season. The top 6 boys and top 6 girls will trek up to Titusville (an hour east of Orlando, near the Kennedy Space Center) for a double-overnighter. The late Friday races and long travel time (7 hours or so), make a Thursday night stay and post-race stay the best way to go.
Key West will compete in the Small School Divisions, with about 30 other teams in each race. The competition will be tough, and everyone will be fired up for this. Having no other large races on the schedule will make this a sort of baptism-by-fire for the Conch rookies, but the experience will be critical for the end-of-season multi-school races.
Race 8:
Saturday, October 12
Dual Meet: Key West vs. Baker Bulldogs
Key West Golf Club
8:00 boys race
The Bulldogs were here last year and took the top five spots. They went on to place 3rd in the State 3A Finals last year. Fortunately, they were a senior-laden team and their top three runners (McParland, Shepherd and Philip) are no longer there. They come into this season with a threesome of seniors who ran 19:00, 19:09, and 19:12 at KWGC (and about a minute faster at States), but their depth seems to be less than last year’s.
They are still a strong team, with a demanding coach, and will not be here for fun and games.
Race 9:
Saturday, October 19
Dual Meet: Key West vs. Godby Cougars
Key West Golf Club
7:30 girls race, 8:10 boys race
This one could be a headliner. Godby’s boys will be led by Joe Franklin, the reigning State 2A Champ at both 800 and 1600 meters. His 1600 time of 4:08.8 set a new State Record. He won his District and Region CC races last year, and placed 3rd at States. Things could get very interesting if he decides to take a solo run at Bryan Sharkey’s 4-year-old Course Record (16:00). Covering that loop that fast with no comp would be a tall task, even for such a talented runner. Sharkey had to race his behind off to run that time, and didn’t even have the lead until he reached the Moguls.
Behind Franklin, Godby could use some help. They had a freshman run 17:20 last year, and a junior run 19:21, but no other underclassmen appear on any of their results. They typically field a small team, but they will need a couple more bodies.
The Godby Girls made it to Regionals last year and placed 12th there. Their top returning runners ran 22:49 and 23:45. Their next two were in the low-mid 25’s. Nobody else was under 30.
Race 10:
Monday, October 21
Monroe County Cross Country Championship Meet
Sombrero Country Club, Marathon
4:00 girls race, 4:40 boys race
The MCCCC is the first of a string of Races That Matter. All duals and invitationals all season long are only prelude to what will happen in these final weeks. Those races serve only to teach the runners how to pace and how to race. All those learned skills and abilities will then be brought to bear in the Championships Season.
Coral Shores won both races last year, but lost enough to graduation to appear vulnerable. The early-season time trials and tri-meet will give us a clear look at what will have to be done to regain the team crowns.
Marathon and Island Christian make this a 4-team meet, quite small compared to most County Championships, but the competition is spirited with local area bragging rights and familiar individual rivalries on the line.
The early season dual with Marathon will give everyone a look at the course, and late season fitness should mean some significant improvements in times.
Race 11:
Friday, November 2
FHSAA District 8-2A Championship Meet
Site: TBA
Times: TBA
This race starts the Do-or-Done time of year. It’s a simple formula: the top 6 teams and top 15 individuals advance to Regionals. You don’t do it, your season is over.
District 8 includes 17 schools this year, covering Monroe, Miami-Dade, and part of Broward Counties. Class 2A is made up of schools with a population of 538 to 1623. Key West is on the larger end of that scale.
The D-8 list is: American Heritage (Plantation), Archbishop Carroll (Miami), Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale), Belen Jesuit Prep (Miami) [boys only], Chaminade (Hollywood), Coral Shores (Tavernier), Doral Academy (Miami), Gulliver Prep (Miami), Key West, LaSalle (Miami), Mater (Hialeah Gardens), Monsignor Pace (Miami), Ransom Everglades (Miami), Reagan (Doral), St. Brendan (Miami), Somerset (Pembroke Pines), and University HS (Fort Lauderdale).
For the Girls, Ransom Everglades and Gulliver would appear to be the class of the field, with Ransom being the pre-season favorites. Both are loaded with returning runners and should be even better than last year. McCarthy, Doral, Coral Shores, and Key West also made Regionals last year. American Heritage missed out by just 7 points. It was the Conch girls’ 4th straight trip to Regionals.
Doral’s Daniela Bocanegra was last year’s D8 Champion, winning by almost a minute in 19:33. There were only 2 seniors among the top 14 places.
On the Boys’ side of things, the historical hierarchy has been Belen, Gulliver, and Ransom as the top three, and a scramble after that. Last year, Coral Shores took 4th, and McCarthy edged out the Conchs by just 3 points. Key West took 6th and made Regionals for the 6th straight year.
Belen was 2A State Champion last year, and returns 4 from that top 7, including District Champion Guillermo Escharte, who is finally a senior. Ransom also took a good hit from graduation, as 3 of their top 4 are no longer around. In all, 9 of last year’s top 15 are outa here. Of the 6 that remain, 4 run for Belen. Three of McCarthy’s top 4 are also gone.
Race 12:
Saturday, November 10
FHSAA Region 4-2A Championship Meet
Mills Pond Park, Fort Lauderdale
9:30 girls race, 10:30 boys race
The same formula applies here: top 6 teams and top 15 individuals advance to States. The Region 4 race will be comprised of the top 6 teams from D-8 and the top 6 from D-7. Lincoln Park Academy, Pope John II, Jensen Beach, and Cardinal Gibbons are perennial threats from D-7. There will be a full scouting report later in the season, when it becomes relevant.
Race 13:
Saturday, November 17
FHSAA State Class 2A Championship Meet
Little Everglades Ranch, Dade City
9:30 girls race, 10:20 boys race
This is The Goal. The best runners and teams want to be competing, not just watching, on the final day of the season.
In KWHS history, 3 boys teams have made it to this highest level, with the 2004 team’s 14th place standing as the best finish. Only one girl – Katie Gonzalez in 2000 and 2001 – has reached this meet. She finished 60th as a junior, and 56th her senior year.
The Little Everglades Ranch course is a tough test, with rolling hills and soft grass, and the KWGC races will be good preparation.
So that’s the deal on CC 2007. Keep checking in for the results, photos, articles, stats, and other features.