results by Mark Friedline
The 1999 Great Muddy Cross-Country Classic at the University of Mobile
featured high school teams from across the FL/AL/MS Gulf Coast. UM
Track / CC coach Kevin Stoots enlivened the 2.5 mi girls / 3.0 mi boys
winding courses through the campus and surrounding woods with log jumps,
hay bale jumps, and of course the trademark mud pits along the creek.
Weather was cool at 70 with clear skies and low humidity for the morning
meet.
In the men's race Foley HS senior Augie Funk ran 16:05 to defeat
defending Champion Phillip Laird of Niceville. Funk set the pace for a
lead pack of 5-6 runners until he surged in the last 800. Three Nicevile
runners, including Laird, moved after him but ended up finishing in 25
yard spacings behind him.
Niceville (3rd ranked FL pre-season) took the men's team title with a
dominating 7 out of the top 10 for the winning score of 22. Only Funk,
Murphy HS's Daniel Friedline, and UMS-Wright's Adam Hardy managed to
break the Niceville ranks.
Margret Martin of St. Paul's Episcopal won her third straight meet in
15:39. Margret continues to run great tactical races by pouncing on any
weakness shown by the early race pack and accellerating away to break
contact and competitor's spirits. Trisha Devalcourt of Escambia
seconded in 15:52 and McGill-Toolen freshman Elizabeth Wancowicz ran 3rd
in 15:55.
St Paul's narrowly took the women's team victory as Mobile's
cross-country competion intensified yet again. St. Paul's next travels
to Charlotte for the Great American Invitaional.
