Zephyrhills High distance runner Will Poe wanted the record, so he went out and not only got it, he shattered it. On Oct. 15, at the Sunshine Athletic Conference Cross Country Meet at Sunlake High in Land O’ Lakes, the junior Bulldog set the new 5K school record by posting a 15:53, and taking first place in the meet.
Poe broke the 18-year-old record held by Jose Espinosa, who posted a 16:10 in 2004. Up next is the Class 3A-District 4 tournament in Inverness on Oct. 20, where Poe will look to advance to regionals and eventually the state tournament, where he placed 26th last year. ‘I’ve put a lot of work into this season, so hopefully I can get 15th place or better at states,’ Poe told The Laker/Lutz News earlier this month. ‘The top 15 runners get on the podium and get a medal. It’s that position or higher, or nothing. That is what I’ve been running for all season.’
