FWB boys, girls CC place second at regionals

Neither the Fort Walton Beach boys cross country team nor the girls figured it could win the Region 1-3A meet.

But both teams limbered up Saturday at Miccosukee Greenway Canopy Park in Tallahassee with the mentality that second place was all theirs.

Each Viking team delivered, as Fort Walton Beach's boys placed second with 119 points while the girls finished runner-up with 74 points.

Fort Walton Beach coach Lissette Moller said it was an afterthought that Tallahassee Leon was going to win the boys meet and Tallahassee Chiles the girls meet. Finishing right behind those teams was the ambition.

"We accomplished our goal, so we're very pleased," Moller said. "I think we surprised a lot of people."

The Viking girls had five runners place in the top 28, led by Sarah DeVaux's 10th (19:43). Fort Walton Beach's boys had three runners place in the top 30, led by Matt Bevil's seventh place finish (16:30).

Along with Fort Walton Beach, Niceville will send both its teams to state, doing so after both squads finished fifth at the Region 1-4A meet at Bartram Trail. Christian Ritacco ran a sizzling 16:00.86 to finish second on the boys side, while Laura Nelson raced to sixth in 19:26.90.

Rocky Bayou's and South Walton's girls teams both locked up berths at state after finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, at the Region 1-A meet at Miccosukee. Holly Stanton paced the Knights with a fifth (19:26) while Julie Williamson led the Seahawks in 15th (20:56).

Choctawhatchee's Hakeem Tarpley placed 13th (16:39.36) to qualify individually for 3A state, while South Walton's Jacob Leuze placed 13th to qualify for state in 1A.

Note: Due to a late posting of meet results on the FHSAA Web site, full team results will be available in Monday's paper.