Palmetto senior Jessica McKinnis and Saint Stephen’s freshman Hannah Howell will join the Lakewood Ranch girls cross country team at next Saturday’s state meets at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.
Howell will make her third trip to the Class 1A meet after placing sixth in the 1A-Region 3 meet Friday morning in Tampa in 19:33.
McKinnis will end her high school cross country career with her second trip upstate after placing eighth at the 3A-Region 3 meet in 19:59.
“I’m just happy to be going to states,” McKinnis said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
It has been an uneven season for McKinnis, who battled injuries and learned she was anemic this fall.
She entered Friday’s meet at Charlotte Sports Park with low expectations, which she said turned out to be a great race plan.
“Definitely,” McKinnis said. “I told myself I’m going to have fun. If this is my last race, it’s my last race. No crying.”
The Braden River girls team placed 11th in their first-ever trip to the region meet. Bridget Lanier was 18th in the 3A-Region 3 meet in 20:39. Madison Daunt was 21st in 20:57.
The Saint Stephen’s boys team was paced by Brian Gentry, who finished in 18:28, but placed seventh as a team.
The Manatee boys team, competing in the 4A-Region 2 meet in Tampa, placed 13th. Senior Chris Owens was 37th overall in 17:05.
Prep swimming
CLASS 3A STATE MEET — Manatee junior Rachel Harrington turned in a pair of personal bests on her way to a fifth place and an eighth place at Central Florida YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando. Harrington came in fifth in the 500 free in 4:54.78 and eighth in the 100 fly in 57.88.
Prep football
CARDINAL MOONEY 35, SAINT STEPHEN’S 28 (OT) — Jake Falter scored on the second play of overtime to lift the host Cougars (3-7).
The Falcons (4-6) drew even on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Michael Roberts with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
“The kids played their hearts out,” said Falcons coach Stan Brown, whose team trailed 21-7 at the half.
Cam Allen ran for a touchdown and Roberts hit Sam Mire with a pair of touchdown passes for Saint Stephen’s.
OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY 49, THE VILLAGES 42 (OT) — The Thunder’s first overtime game was a rousing success.
A defensive stand on 4th-and-4 and a 4-yard run by A.J. Strong helped ODA end the regular season with a win over The Villages at Twin Lakes Park.
ODA (8-1) held a 20-6 lead before the Buffalo came back and tied the game at 42 on a late field goal. After losing the toss, the Thunder forced a turnover on downs, leading the way for Strong’s heroics.
“A win is a win, but it’s good to keep the momentum,” said coach Brett Timmons. “It was our first time going into overtime, so hopefully, the experience will bode well for us if we have to it again in the future.”
Champions of Class 1B-District 6 for the first time, the Thunder will play St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut in a Region 3 semifinal 7:30 p.m. Friday at Twin Lakes Park
Girls soccer
LAKEWOOD RANCH 3, SARASOTA 0 — Kristen Hagaman scored a goal and assisted on another as the visiting Mustangs improved to 2-0.
Sarah Miller and Aubrey Riggins also scored for Lakewood Ranch.
— Herald staff
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