Bigger and Hopefully Better

Size of Conchs' squads growing by leaps and bounds

BY RON COOKE Citizen Staff Writer

rcooke@keysnews.com

 

KEY WEST -- At the start of the 2011 high school cross country season, Key West fielded the largest ever boys' team, but the girls' squad began the year with only four runners and finished with five.

 

This season, the Conchs have grown for the start of the 2012 campaign.

 

The boys' team, which qualified for the Class 2A state meet, now has 24 runners.

 

The girls' team has tripled in size.

 

Although the Conchs lost three very talented boys and two top girls to graduation, they have reloaded with a group of promising young runners, according to Terence White who begins his sixth year as the Key West mentor.

 

Juniors Brock Guzman and Julian Ramirez and sophomore Everett Wagner all have plenty of postseason experience. They figure to compete for the top three spots. White said seven or eight athletes will vie for the remaining three spots.

 

"Looking at it on paper, we lost all our leaders on the boys' and girls' side, but the talent seems to be there. The real challenge will be to see what kind of leadership we'll have and how that translates into performances in the races," said White last week as he watched his team warm up at the Key West High School Back Yard.

 

"Brock ran pretty well in cross country, but really dedicated himself to a new level in track," White continued. "He's really continued that in cross country this year, so I expect him to run very well. He hasn't set any goals (after) running a mid-18 minute 5K last year. I think he's going to run well above that. I'd like to get him around 17:30 or so and see what happens from there."

 

Guzman knows he has a tough act to follow as a team leader and top runner, but said he is willing to take on the responsibility.

 

"It's going to be hard to work it back up to where we were," Guzman said. "My personal goal is to get in the mid-16s which is about two minutes faster than last year. After the summer running and after track season, it seems pretty possible. If I can get my times down, it will help the team as a whole."

 

For the girls, the possibilities are endless.

 

Returning is a junior Tristan Milliken who garnered Runner of the Year honors along with a pair of seniors.

 

"The good news is we've got a lot of new girls out for the team -- a lot of freshmen," said a very happy White. "We still have Tristan, as well as seniors Liz and Erin Czerwinski. After a year off, Priscilla Welzien is back for her senior season.

 

"Last year we could not score in meets, because we did not have enough girls. We only had four, all of sudden we've got all these freshmen. They can all run. I think we're going to find some talent in there. Because of inexperience, I think we're going to start off a little slow but as the year progresses, I think we're going to see big improvement on the girls' side."

 

Liz Czerwinski, who helped the Lady Conchs qualify for the regional meet, said the team wants to take it to the next level.

 

"Our goals are to improve team and get better individually," said the senior harrier. "Last year my best time was a 22 flat. This year I'm hoping for a 21 and under."

 

Key West had to cancel its only home meet last year, the Cross Country XCursion. This year the meet is slated for Sept. 22 with some very good teams entered.

 

"We have six teams including us right now, all good teams," said White. "Some of the top teams in the state are coming down, so it's going to be a test to see how well we do against high-powered teams. We've got the opportunity to run in front of their parents."

 

Both squads, although young, have a good chance of qualifying for the state meet.

 

"If kids like Brock and Julian can become the leaders I hope they can, I'd like to surpass that," said the coach. "The girls only missed it by two spots. I think if they can work hard they can make it very interesting this year."

 

 

rcooke@keysnews.com

Key West Citizen, 6 September 2012