Will Poe knew the exact time.
He also knew the exact runner.
Because it’s a runner he’s trying to catch.
“Jose Espinosa. 16 minutes, 10 seconds,” the Zephyrhills High junior distance runner said, without a second thought.
Poe is referring to the 18-year-old school record Espinosa set for the fastest 5K run in 2004.
“I don’t remember the year, but it was a long time ago, and I’ve been eyeing it for a while,” the distance runner said.
And, he is getting close.
With a 26th place in last year’s cross-country state tournament and his personal best time already at 16:26, Poe is on the verge of setting a new Bulldogs record.
However, his season was nearly derailed when he broke his toe over the summer, making everyone, including his coach, catch their breath.
“It was definitely a scary moment because his dad (Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe) told me, and I was like, ‘Oh … well this is going to be fun!’” second-year coach Matt Page said. “Luckily, it didn’t impact him or his season at all and it’s all water under the bridge now.
“You don’t want to hear it happen to any of your runners, and certainly not your top guy.”
Poe, himself, definitely was worried.
“My cousin broke his toe like a year ago and he had to get surgery, and it messed up the tendons and stuff, so I was pretty nervous I had messed up my foot for running on it,” he said. “But it healed up pretty nice and quick.”
After a collective sigh of relief, Poe went back to work on his goals. Those include not just breaking the school record, but also a return to the state tournament on Nov. 5 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.
But first, there’s the little matter of the competition.
Poe’s biggest competitor has been Sunlake senior Alex Pena, arguably Pasco County’s top runner, who recently posted a 15:30 at the 40th Annual Spanish River XC Invitational in Boca Raton on Sept. 16.
However, with new Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) classifications this season, Sunlake moves up to Class 4A, while Zephyrhills stays in 3A. This helps both Poe and the Bulldogs, because the Seahawks and Pena both finished third as a team and individually in the 2021 state championships.
Yet, runners remain that Poe will try to catch or pace. Cypress Creek senior Zach Poekert is one of those. Poekert finished sixth at states last year, as well as second at the Spanish River Invite, just 11 seconds behind Pena.
There’s also River Ridge senior Chase Thurber, who was chasing Poe at the St. Leo Abbey Invitational on Sept. 24. Poe finished fifth (16:36) and Thurber was seventh (16:37).
In that same race, Cypress Creek junior Dylan Powell finished eighth (16:43), while Wiregrass Ranch junior Hunter Boggs also cracked the top 20 with a 17:06.
“I’ve been battling it out (with those guys) all year and for a long time,” Poe said. “They are my biggest competitors.”
Page, however, says Poe is an easy runner to coach.
“I don’t really have to show him anything, which is great,” said Page, who was a distance runner at Pasco High. “The other day, he literally told me, ‘You’re running with me,’ and so, we ran from Lowe’s in Zephyrhills to Winn-Dixie in Dade City, which is 10 miles. I’m a little sore, but it was fun.”
As much fun as it is to have a coach who can keep up, Poe is focused on one thing between now and Nov. 5.
And that’s to have a place on the podium that day.
“I’ve put a lot of work into this season, so hopefully I can get 15th place or better at states and break the school record at states,” Poe said. “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.”
Cross-Country Postseason:
Sunshine Athletic Conference Tournament
When: Oct. 15
Where: Sunlake High, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Details: This is the annual conference tournament for all Pasco County High School boys and girls cross-country teams.
District Tournaments
Class 4A-District 3
Host: Plant High
When: Oct. 20, 8 a.m.
Where: Rogers Park Golf Course, 7910 N. 30th St., Tampa
Teams: Alonso, Armwood, Bartow, East Lake, George Jenkins, Steinbrenner, Haines City, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Mitchell, Palm Harbor University, Plant, Plant City, Ridge Community, Sickles, Strawberry Crest, Sunlake, Wharton, Winter Haven, Wiregrass Ranch
Class 3A-District 4
Host: Citrus High
When: Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Whispering Pines Park, 1700 Forest Dr., Inverness
Teams: Belleview, Citrus, Cypress Creek, Fivay, Gulf, Lake Minneola, Lecanto, Leesburg, Pasco, River Ridge, Springstead, Tavares, Vanguard Ocala, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills
Class 3A-District 5
Host: King High
When: Oct. 18, 5 p.m.
Where: Mary Help of Christians Center, 6400 E. Chelsea St., Tampa
Teams: Blake, Boca Ciega, Brandon, Clearwater, Countryside, East Bay, Freedom, Gaither, Hillsborough, Hollins, Jesuit, King, Leto, Middleton, Northeast, Osceola, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Spoto, St. Petersburg
Class 2A-District 5
Host: Robinson High
When: Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Mary Help of Christians Center, 6400 E. Chelsea St., Tampa
Teams: Anclote, Bell Creek, Berkeley Prep, Brooks-DeBartolo, Calvary Christian, Carrollwood Day, Chamberlain, Clearwater Central Catholic, Davenport, Discovery, Dunedin, Four Corners, Gibbs, Hudson, Jefferson, Lakewood, McKeel, Mulberry, Robinson, Tampa Catholic, Tarpon Springs, Tenoroc
Class 1A-District 3
Host: Oak Hall
When: Oct. 18, 9 a.m.
Where: Alligator Lake, 420 Southeast Alligator Glen, Lake City
Teams: Bishop McLaughlin
Class 1A-District 5
Host: Indian Rocks Christian
When: Oct. 20, 8 a.m.
Where: Taylor Park, 1100 Eighth Ave., SW, Largo
Teams: Academy at the Lakes
Regional Meets
When: Oct. 26 thru Oct. 29
Where: Various Sites
State Championships
When: Nov. 5
Where: Apalachee Regional Park, 7550 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee
For more information visit, FHSAA.com/sports/cross.
*Bolded teams are Pasco County teams and teams in the publication’s coverage area.
Published October 12, 2022
