Headed to states! Matanzas boys finish fifth in region


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Landing three of the seven runners in the top 25, the Matanzas boys cross-country team finished fifth in the Region 2-3A meet on Saturday and will advance as a team to the state meet, which will take place Nov. 9, at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.

Matanzas coach John White said his team felt some added pressure because it didn’t qualify last season.

“They worked hard all year to make sure it didn’t happen again,” White said. “I’m proud of how hard the team has worked under the circumstances. Now that they have qualified and have no pressure, I expect great times next week at states.”

Drake Goodman led the team, finishing 12th overall in 16 minutes, 46 seconds. Anthony Colasanti (18th, 17:05) and David Perez (24th, 17:18) both finished in the top 25, too. The rest of the team finished as follows: Liam Conville (40th, 17:39), River Marti (73rd, 18:23), Jon Guilbe (89th, 18:49) and Nathan Hutches (96th, 19:02).

Matanzas finished with 142 team points. Land O‘ Lakes High School won the region with 66 points. The Pirates’ team average was 17:26.

Peck finishes 11th, qualifies for states; FPC finishes eighth at regionals
Markell Peck is Flagler Palm Coast’s lone state qualifier for the Class 4A cross-country state championships after finishing 11th in the Region 1-4A meet, finishing in a personal-best 16 minutes, 22 seconds.

The team finished eighth with 194 points in one of the state’s toughest regions.

The rest of the FPC boys cross-country team finished as follows: Ashton Garrett (27th, 16:53), Brandon Roa (42nd, 17:10), Tyler Diniro (71st, 17:51), Ka’Deem Wynn (73rd, 17:55), Jonathan Ling (84th, 18:18) and Luis Cordero (86th, 18:22).

Peck’s will compete in the state meet Nov. 9, at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.

On the girls side, Darien Halliday (47th, 20:59) and Sophia Clark (58th, 21:16) represented the Lady Bulldogs.

FPC’s Halliday named coach of the year
Flagler Palm Coast cross-country and track-and-field coach Dave Halliday was recently named the boys track Coach of the Year for 2012-2013 by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s track-and-field Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Halliday will be presented with his award on Jan. 9, at an FACA session. Halliday is also up for the national award.

Paiz, Porter lead Lady Pirates to 3-0 start
A senior-freshman offensive combination has led the Matanzas girls soccer team to a 3-0 start.

Senior Gabbi Paiz, who is chasing the 100-goal mark, has five goals and one assist through the team’s first three games. Fellow striker Miracle Porter, a freshman, has eight goals.

The two have combined for 13 of the team’s 18 goals.

Abby Barker, the team’s senior midfielder, leads the team with five assists. Barker also has one goal.

Matanzas has won games against Spruce Creek, Ridgeview and Seminole to begin the season.

Sophomore keeper Bella Benvenuto has 15 saves in three games, all of which have been shutouts.

Grab the clubs: Family Life Center golf tourney set for Jan. 13
Registration for the 21st-annual Family Life Center golf tournament is underway. This year’s tournament will be 12:30 p.m. Jan. 13, at The Conservatory Course.

The tournament will be played in foursomes.

Cost is $80 and includes 18 holes of golf, cart fee, lunch and dinner.

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Family Life Center, which is a private, not-for-profit social service organization that provides services at no cost to families experiencing domestic violence.

For more information, contact Ron Watson, tournament chairman, at 445-4757 or Trish Giaccone, executive director of Family Life Center, at 437-7610.

 

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