High school cross country: Naples boys, girls win CCAC meet
Naples High School won the boys and girls cross country titles at the Collier County Athletic Conference meet for the third straight year and won its fourth straight overall title on Wednesday morning at Palmetto Ridge.
Naples’ Zoe D’Antonio led all girls. She placed first, almost 34 seconds faster than second-place finisher Morgan Palmer of Palmetto Ridge.
“It’s my first time winning counties,” D’Antonio said with a smile. “I have awesome teammates so we’re all really good.”
Naples finished with two in the top five, three in the top 10 and seven in the top 20.
“It’s just a matter of the girls’ hard work and their hard work paying off,” Naples girls coach Rich Haralson said.
Naples’ D’Antonio and Morgan Vickaryous, Palmetto Ridge’s Palmer and Sonia Lountchenko, and Gulf Coast’s Camille Strackbein made first team all-conference.
Gulf Coast’s Erika Sodeika and Kennedy Callis, Naples’ Merlica Faustin, Palmetto Ridge’s Miranda Gamino and Barron Collier’s Payton Yoder rounded out the second team.
The Eagles’ boys finished with one in the top five, three in top 10 and five in the top 20. They were led by Brady Gibson who placed second.
“(The win) was a surprise,” Naples boys coach Mary Beth Watkins said. “Gulf Coast has been in front of us all year. It’s a smaller race so we had to break up our packs. We raced great, raced hard. Now we have a target on our back for next week (at district), but it feels great today.”
Gulf Coast’s Nick Kamen won the individual title by 10 seconds over Gibson.
“It feels great to come out here and give it everything I had,” Kamen said. “It gives me confidence knowing turns and where to make a move. Estero has one of the top guys (Hugh Brittenham) in the state so I’m looking to stick with him.”
Gulf Coast’s Kamen, Naples’ Gibson, Palmetto Ridge’s Christian Garcia and Saindeley Dorsainvil, and Lely’s Anthony Alvarez made first team all-conference.
Lely’s Ian Rivera-Garcia, Immokalee’s Christian Cruz, Naples’ Michael Poole and Alexander Rodriguez and Gulf Coast’s Joshua McHarris made second team.
Naples and Gulf Coast will be back at Palmetto Ridge on Tuesday for the Class 3A-District 12 meet.
CCAC meet
at Palmetto Ridge
Boys
Team scores
1. Naples 52; 2. Gulf Coast 57; T3. Palmetto Ridge 75; T3. Lely 75; 5. Immokalee 106; 6. Barron Collier 134; 7. Golden Gate 223
Individual results
1. Nick Kamen (GC) 16:40.50; 2. Brady Gibson (N) 16:50.57; 3. Christian Garcia (PR) 17:06.44; 4. Saindeley Dorsainvil (PR) 17:16.45; 5. Anthony Alvarez (L) 17:25.06; 6. Ian Rivera-Garcia (L) 17:51.76; 7. Christian Cruz (Imm) 17:54.24; 8. Michael Poole (N) 18:04.86; 9. Alexander Rodriguez (N) 18:05.55; 10. Joshua McHarris (GC) 18:11.25
Girls
Team scores
1. Naples 37; 2. Gulf Coast 49; 3. Palmetto Ridge 59; 4. Barron Collier 97; 5. Lely 106; 6. Golden Gate 190
Individual results
1. Zoe D’Antonio (N) 20:06.24; 2. Morgan Palmer (PR) 20:40.21; 3. Sonia Lountchenko (PR) 21:06.59; 4. Morgan Vickaryous (N) 21:42.52; 5. Camille Strackbein (GC) 21:53.13; 6. Erika Sodeika (GC) 21:58.99; 7. Merlica Faustin (N) 22:05.04; 8. Miranda Gamino (PR) 22:12.95; 9. Kennedy Callis (GC) 22:17.34; 10. Payton Yoder (BC) 22:20.89