By Dave Brousseau
BOCA RATON – Near the halfway point of the Region 4-4A Cross Country championship on Thursday, South Plantation senior David Lazo was among a group of four runners that has separated itself from the field.
Down that home stretch Lazo pulled away from his challengers to become the regional champion with his best time of the year at 15:33.69 at South County Regional Park.
He advances to the Class 4A state meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee on Friday, Nov. 20.
“I worked hard, stay focused and dedicated and tried my best in the race,” said Lazo. “Around about two and quarter mile I decided it was time to go because I knew the other guys were really fast so I ran the kick out of them si they wouldn’t catch me at the end.”
No male runner from a Broward County public school has won an individual state championship since Michael LeValle of Boys Anderson in 1986.
Lazo’s winning time surpassed his personal best of 15:43.9 set at last year’s regional meets. He also won the BCAA Championships earlier this season as a district title last week.
Miami Columbus was the overall team champion. The Cypress Bay and Flanagan boys team finished among the top six teams to advance to the state meet. Grant Evans (South Plantation) and Leonardo Ponce (West Broward) advanced as individual qualifiers.
District champion Elise Brown and BCAA champion Kendall Parrott finished seventh and 13th respectively to lead the St. Thomas Aquinas girls’ team to the region title over second place Spanish River.
Brown’s time was 18:47.29, besting her time of 19:08.9 she ran as the district meet, while Parrott’s 19:09.80 was nearly better than her time at districts.
“I just really wanted to go out with the pack and stay with them,” said Brown. “I did the best that I could. I was proud that I stayed in the race the whole time.”
BOYS REGION 4-4A
Team scores (Top six teams advance to state)
Columbus 45, Braddock 51, Doral Academy 66, Coral Reef 183, Cypress Bay 190, Flanagan 210.
Individual results (Top four individuals not on top six teams advance to state)
1David Lazo (SP) 15:33.69; Nicholas Garcia (COL) 15:46.20; 3. Martin Fernandez (DA) 15:51.33; 4. Jacob Castanedo (BRAD) 16:00.17; 5. Malcom Spence IV (FLAN) 16:02.54; 7. Grant Evans (SP) 16:08.49; 20. Leonardo Ponce (WB) 16:48.88.
GIRLS REGION 4-4A
Team scores (Top six teams advance to state)
St. Thomas Aquinas 104, Spanish River 107, Doral Academy 120, Boone 141, Lake Minneola 200, Viera 221.
Individual results (Top four individuals not on top six teams advance to state)
1 Arabella Duffell (Lake Nona) 17:29.31; 2. Alba Antunez-Perez (SR)18:19.31; Nicole Lewis (DA) 18:25.24; 4. Jenna Mindrup (INNO)18:33.58; Abigayle White (HOR) 18:33.58; 6. Annabella Ekebergh (WIND) 18:45.72; 7. Elise Brown (STA) 128:47.29; 11. Camila Castillo (TARA) 19:05.50; 13. Kendall Parrott (STA) 19:09.80.
1 Arabella Duffell (Lake Nona) 17:29.31; 2. Alba Antunez-Perez (SR)18:19.31; Nicole Lewis (DA) 18:25.24; 4. Jenna Mindrup (INNO)18:33.58; Abigayle White (HOR) 18:33.58; 6. Annabella Ekebergh (WIND) 18:45.72; 7. Elise Brown (STA) 18:47.29; 11. Camila Castillo (TARA) 19:05.50; 13. Kendall Parrott (STA) 19:09.80
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. He was recently inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.