End Of The Line By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com Published: Apr 27, 2008
WINTER HAVEN – When the Class 3A FHSAA Finals take place this Friday at Showalter Field in Winter Park, neither Central nor Springstead High will have any male representation.
With both programs in a rebuilding mode, neither could advance anyone beyond Thursday’s Class 3A, Region II Meet at Denison Stadium in Winter Haven.
The only boy from those two teams to earn a district championship the previous week, junior Stephan Philippeaux, finished sixth in the high jump at 6’2”. The top four advanced.
“It feels pretty good,” Philippeaux said. “I think I did good. I got 6’2”, that’s better than my district jump (5’10”). I’m really happy about that. I just wish I came out with better jumps and not be nervous.
“The competition was insane. Kids were jumping 7-foot. That’s pretty good. And I was pretty nervous being my first year, my first regional.”
Philippeaux had not participated in track and field prior to this season, making his near run to states even more impressive.
“I know what’s coming,” Philippeaux said. “I need to workout harder this summer, listen to my coaches; work on my technique so I can get higher jumps.”
Also for the Eagles, Glenn Clarke finished 13th in the 300-hurdles (44.30) and 14th in the 110-hurdles (17.02).
The 4x400 team featuring Ben Noury, Scott Barron, Dan Cougill and Clarke came in 11th (3:34.30).
“I was very happy just with the fact this is my first year. I had to start rebuilding this team,” Springstead Head Coach Josh Criner said. “I’m happy just getting guys here. We want to build on that. I want the guys that are here to use this as a learning experience.
“That 4x4 team just surprised me big time at the district meet. We got beat by all those teams throughout the year. Then they really stepped up when they needed it most. Stephan was a surprise. It was his first year jumping, to get sixth place at regionals is a big deal.
“The big thing is I know a lot of them now, which helps because it’s a young team. I know their weakness; I know their strengths. I can place them better. The key is recruiting, getting kids excited. I think having a big team helps kids come out and then we can have diamonds in the rough like Stephan.”
For Central, sophomore Mason MacKenzie finished eighth in the 1,600 (4:46.06) and 14th in the 800 (2:09.53). Senior Brad Henderson ran the 3,200 in 11:29.39 for 15th.
The Bears’ Jawara Jarrett, Thomas Adams, Paul Robinson and Travis Tyson came in 15th in the 4x400 (3:44.10).
“I’m happy with the way it ended,” Central Head Coach Eric Milholland said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. We’ll work on getting better for next year.”
Class 3A, Region II Boys Team Results
1. Lakeland-George Jenkins 95, 25. Springstead 3, 28. Central 1
Class 3A Region II Boys Individual Results: Top 8 scored points (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1), Top 4 advance to states
LJ - 1. Hardy (VAN) 24’1/4”.
4x800 - 1. Olds, Luna, Freeborn, Moore (GJ) 8:12.38.
110 HH - 1. Cheremont (POI) 14.97, 14. Clarke (SPG) 17.02.
100m - 1. Demps (SL) 10.40.
SP - 1. Hilson (AUB) 54’10”.
HJ - 1. Edwards (POI) 6’8”, 6. Philippeaux (SPG) 6’2”.
DIS - 1. Carpenter (LEC) 143’5”.
TJ - 1. Thomas (LW) 45’9 1/2”.
PV - 1. Dandridge (LEC) 15’0”.
1600m - 1. Noeker (LW) 4:28.10, 8. MacKenzie (CEN) 4:46.06
4x100 - 1. South Lake 41.86.
400m - 1. Dunn (LR) 49.65.
800 - 1. Musgrove (OR) 1:57.36, 14. MacKenzie (CEN) 2:09.53.
200 - 1. Demps (SL) 21.77.
300 IH - 1. Hopkins (LR) 39.44, 13. Clarke (SPG) 44.30.
3200 - 1. Soto (LOL) 9:59.17, 15. Henderson (CEN) 11:29.39.
4x400 - 1. Davis, N. Hney, Chambers, J. Hney (SL) 3:26.50, 11. Noury, Barron, Cougill, Clarke (SPG) 3:34.30, 15. Jarrett, Adams, Robinson, Tyson (CEN) 3:44.10.
Key: Auburndale (AUB), Central (CEN), Lake Region (LR), Lakeland-George Jenkins (GJ), Ocala-Lake Weir (LW), Land O’ Lakes (LOL), Lecanto (LEC), Kissimmee-Poinciana (POI), South Lake (SL), Springstead (SPG), Ocala-Vanguard (VAN).
