By Jonathan Santucci
News staff writer

STUART - Most of them started running cross country to be in shape for the upcoming soccer season. Then last season, Martin County High School's boys team qualified for state.

Now they not only want to go back, but they're striving for a top 10 finish.

"Once we started running, we realized it was a lot of fun," junior Zach Johnson said.

Five of the Tigers runners - Johnson, Matt Gowan, Steve DeBari, Aric Pell and Ron McGee - started on the soccer team, which reached the regional final last season.

"Any time an athlete can do something to better themselves - and conditioning is so important in soccer - it will make themselves and the team better," former Martin County soccer coach Juan Kalb said. "The competition helps them get mentally and physically ready for the soccer season."

DeBari, the team captain and a forward on the soccer team, started running in the fall "because it was something to do after track season and before soccer started." He doesn't regret the decision.

Gowan, a senior, said his reasons for running are similar to many of his teammates from both squads.

"I kind of wanted to and my dad ran track and he said it would be good for me," Gowan said. "That, and when I was in middle school, there was a rumor that coach Kalb made you run all the time. I think we were all scared of that.

"I don't think that because we run cross country it makes us better soccer players or anything, but it helps with training and it brings us closer together."

Three of them (Johnson, Gowan and McGee) were recognized on the All-Area soccer team and new boys coach James Francke thinks running made a difference.

"It didn't make them better soccer players, but it did get them in better shape," Francke said. "When you're not tired at halftime, it gives you a full game to be able to showcase your talents."

Kalb said the experience on the cross country team helped the players' camaraderie - and translated to better play and cohesiveness on the soccer field.

Regardless of what impact running had on the Tigers' soccer success last season, Martin County's cross country team isn't thinking about that or the upcoming soccer season.

"Right now, we're thinking about getting back to state and I think we can," DeBari said. "I think we can finish in the top 10 this year.

"We're all geared toward cross country and being able to compete at the state level."

Martin County coach Mike Lehning thinks the team has enough talent to accomplish the top 10 goal.

"Zach ran 16:42 in the opening meet last week and that's faster than his best time last year," Lehning said. "Steve's the leader of this team and we need him.

"They're concerned with going back to state and I think they can. Finishing in the top 10 is their goal and I think they can."

There's a long season before then, though. The team will compete in the Martin County/All Golf Invitational at All Golf on S. Kanner Hwy. at 4 p.m. today. The list of participants include Fort Pierce Central, Fort Pierce Westwood, John Carroll, Lincoln Park Academy, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie West Centennial and South Fork.

"Now that Steve is back from an injury, we can compete with Lincoln Park and any team in the area," Lehning said. "We didn't stand a chance without Steve, but he's come back and really pushed these guys and I like our chances of beating them."

Bean, Vero Beach girls run to MCHS Invitational crowns

September 20,2001

By Jonathan Santucci
staff writer

STUART It was a good first cross country meet of the season for Port St. Lucie High School’s Danny Bean and Vero Beach’s girls team.

Bean, who missed the Jaguars’ first two meets of the season with a strained quadriceps, continued the domination of local runners that he started last year by winning the Martin County Invitational at All Golf on Wednesday afternoon.

Bean finished in 16 minutes, 19 seconds, beating Martin County’s J.P. Cook and Zach Johnson by 10 and 11 seconds, respectively.

"I wanted to get off to a fast start," Bean said. "I just wasn’t sure how I would do after that because I haven’t done much cardio vascular work lately.

"I want to start running in the 15-minute range, so this is a good start for me. Hopefully, I can use this as a stepping stone."

Port St. Lucie was scheduled to compete in two meets last week, but they were postponed because of the terrorist attacks and rain. Bean said he was concerned about his leg, but it didn’t bother him too much.

"He was really an unknown coming into the race because he’s missed a lot of training and a lot of cardio work, but I was very pleased with his time." Port St. Lucie coach Doug Atwood said. "He was uncertain going in, but he’s a tough competitor and he did a very good job."

Martin County’s boys won the meet behind the strength of Cook and Johnson’s 2-3 finish. The Tigers finished with 37 points, beating Vero Beach (56) and Port St. Lucie (61).

"We’re finally starting to look like a team," Tigers coach Mike Lehning said. "I’m totally excited about our 3-4-5 guys and they way they ran. Aric Pell ran the best race of his life. We’re putting up some good times. Once we get Steve DiBari (out with an injured hip) back, we’ll be pretty good."

The Vero Beach girls, running their first race of the season, had five runners finish in the top seven. The ran away with the meet (literally) with 22 points, beating Lincoln Park Academy (70) and Martin County (71).

"I’m pleased with the times the girls ran," Indians coach Willie Parker said. "For our first meet of the season, I’m pleased with the way we started.

"I’m not surprised that we won our first meet. I’m one of those coaches, call me greedy, that knows how good we are and how good we should be. We’re where we should be after our first race. We’ll take it."

Vero Beach was led by second- and third-place Amanda Schommer (19:50) and Zakela Jackson (20:57).

"Amanda ran well for the first meet," Parker said. "The girl from Martin County (Devin Gapstur, who won with a time of 19:32) was something of a surprise. Amanda ran well the first mile and gave up a little. She’ll get better and we’ll see the girl for Martin County again."

Gapstur’s time was nearly 30 seconds better than her winning time at the Martin County/All Golf Invitational on Sept. 6.

"She ran much better," Martin County girls coach Michelle Weiler said. "It was a big improvement, but she needs a runner or two to push her. I think she just needs some competition to push her and she got some today."