Commentary | Husband, wife sweep Robinson Preserve 5K
No one could catch the Atkinsons in the seventh annual Robinson Preserve 5K/10K on Friday. Sarasota's Brian Atkinson was the first runner to finish, winning the junior 5K with a course record of 15:06. Two minutes and 40 seconds later, his wife, Kayla Atkinson, crossed the finish line, setting a women's course record of 17:46.
The run also featured an inaugural 10K component. Sarasota's Jon Mott finished first in 32:17. Paige Howard finished first among with women with a time of 37:55.
IMG hosts major tourneys
IMG Academy played host to one of the nation's biggest 7-on-7 football tournaments this weekend and a team from Florida claimed first place. Led in part by IMG wide receiver Emmanuel Greene, Miami's South Florida Express Elite topped Gainesville's Elite Athletic Performance, 38-22, in the IMG 7v7 Southeast Regional Football championship.
Team Tampa, which featured Palmetto quarterback Jack Allison and Ascenders wideout T.J. Chase, finished fourth.
Across campus was the first week of the IMG Academy National Baseball Classic. In the past, this has been a one-week, one-tournament affair, but with more teams interested it turned into a two-week event this year. The first tournament, which concluded Friday, featured both Inspiration Academy and the Ascenders' Varsity Blue, which finished fourth. Tampa Berkeley Prep was the champion. The second tournament began Monday and ends Friday.
Storm breezes to title
The Suncoast Storm '02, host of the USSSA Perfect Storm Showdown Tournament in Lakewood Ranch, boasted one champion from the weekend.
The Storm's U14 team breezed to the tournament's championship game, where it took down Panthers '01 from Fort Myers, 10-9, for the championship.
Sarasota's Team Mizuno-Merrill won the 12U championship and the Clearwater Lady Bombers '04 triumphed in 10U.
Suncoast Championships head to Braden River
The Suncoast Travelball Championships handed out title belts to two teams at Braden River. The Patriots, from Trinity, claimed first place in the National Division. The Tampa-based Strike Force took the belt in the American Division.
David Wilson, prep sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7057 or via email at dwilson@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @DBWilson2.
This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Commentary | Husband, wife sweep Robinson Preserve 5K."