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Senior Runs Way To 8th In State

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - Although it wasn't quite the run he had in mind, John Mitchell can settle for eighth in the state.

The Durant High senior gave the school its best-ever finish for an individual at the state meet, running the eighth-place time of 15 minutes and 59 seconds across the three-mile course at Dade City's Little Everglades Ranch.

"I was hoping to start off in the top 10 and then try to sprint my way into the top five, but it didn't quite work out that way," said Mitchell, who nonetheless was quite pleased with how his day turned out.

Namely, upon finishing as the best Hillsborough County runner, Mitchell was pretty much instantly invited to compete in a state All-Star event Saturday at Florida State University.

College coaches will be at that meet and were also at the Foot Locker regional meet that Mitchell was to take part in last weekend at Charlotte, N.C. The exposure to the coaches is good for Mitchell, who is still trying to decide where he will continue his running career.

Perhaps Mitchell will be able to solve the stomach cramping that has hindered him much of the season, including at the 4A meet in Dade City.

"I'm dieting right; I eat enough potassium," he said. "But I cramp up every race. The good news is my legs have felt great."

Mitchell said his stomach started to bother him at the two-mile mark at the state meet.

"It's like, 'Oh goodness, here we go again,'" he said.

Still Mitchell's problems were nothing compared with his main county rival. Sickles' Derek Wehunt, who was expected to finish in the top 10, had his whole body cramp up, and he ended up in 100th place. Wehunt will join Mitchell in representing Hillsborough County at this weekend's race in Tallahassee.

Mitchell's finishes in the last three state cross country races have gone with a coincidental math pattern: He was 32nd as a sophomore, then 16th as a junior before finishing eighth.

Now Mitchell turns his attention to playing guard for the Cougar basketball team before finishing up his high school career with track in the spring.

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