Mustangs win district crown

ENGLEWOOD — There was some confusion at the start of the girls Class 3A-District 5 race Friday morning at Lemon Bay High. The pace bicycle was too far ahead of the runners, forcing the leaders to make a wrong turn.

There was no confusion at the end, though.

It was all Lakewood Ranch.

Kristin Zarrella and the rest of the Mustangs quickly made their way back to the course and cruised to the district title, claiming the top four spots and five of the top six.

“Pretty impressive,” Lakewood Ranch coach Mary Quinn said.

Zarrella won the individual title when she completed the 3.1-mile course in 19:27. Zarrella was followed by Olivia Ortiz, second in 19:43, Devin McDermott was third in 20:01, Natalie Novak was fourth in 20:02, and Ashley Platt was sixth in 20:33.

So dominant was the Mustangs performance that Emily Wray, who earned all-district honors with a 12th-place finish in 21:50, didn’t count toward her team’s score.

Braden River, led by Bridget Lanier (ninth in 21:21) and Madison Daunt (13th in 21:56), placed fifth and advanced to next week’s Class 3A-Region 3 meet at the Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte.

Palmetto’s Jessica McKinnis will join them after placing seventh in 21:05.

In the boys race, Braden River’s Ivo Lima was second in a personal-best time of 17:16. He will be joined at the region meet by Palmetto’s Hunter Rayl, who finished 15th in 18:35.

“We’re so happy to make regionals,” Lanier said. “That was the main thing. I wasn’t worried about anything else.”

Daunt was worried about her groin, which she injured three weeks ago.

“It hurt. I’m not going to lie,” said Daunt, who still wore an ice pack an hour after the race. “But I just ignored it.”

There was no ignoring the Mustangs, who formed a line of green at the head of the field that snaked through the course.

Zarrella enjoyed such a comfortable lead that she was able to chat with the person riding the pace bike.

“He told me I had the whole team behind me. I looked back and all I saw was green,” Zarrella said. “I was like, ‘That’s great.’ This is great going to regionals with a race like this.”

Lakewood Ranch will be one of the favorites to win the team title and advance to the state meet Nov. 21 at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

But McDermott, who was a member of the team that flamed out at last year’s regional meet, succumbing to the heat and the hills along the course, said the Mustangs will take nothing for granted, even at Friday’s district meet.

“It’s a three-step process,” McDermott said. “We knew we had to run well (Friday), because you never know. Something could go wrong. It was vital to run well.”

@z-BR Agate Bold Centered:CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 5 MEET

GIRLS

Team — 1. Lakewood Ranch 16, Gulfport Boca Ciega 68, 3. Englewood Lemon Bay 76, 4. Seminole Osceola 88, 5. Braden River 130, 6, Dunedin 170, 7. Tarpon Springs 205, 8. Bayshore 206.