- April 15, 2024
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The Mainland girls win their first ever district championship. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Shannon Ruane clears a hurdle on her way to the 300-meter district title. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
The boys have won three straight district championships. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
D' Marcus Adams has won eight district championships in the last two years. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
After the Lady Bucs finished runner-up last season, head coach Terrence Anthony said the feeling he got from that feat was better than any other feeling in his 20 years of coaching. That feeling has to move aside, because the Lady Buccaneers won their first district championship on Tuesday, April 18, at Flagler Palm Coast.
“We had a goal from last year,” Anthony said. “With the number of girls we had returning, and, with the addition of others, we felt we had a chance. Today, it really came together. We had girls come out of nowhere and PR and score critical points for us. They put their hearts and souls into it.”
Mainland senior Josilin Mobley has played a major role in helping the Lady Bucs reach their new status, and she was excited that she could reach the promise land before she graduated.
“It’s crazy that we won the very first one!” Mobley exclaimed. “Coach Anthony told us all season that if we put in the work, we would see the results. And, we just proved it.”
The Mainland boys remained the dominant district team, beating second-place Matanzas by 81 points to win its third straight title. The Bucs nearly swept every speed event, and junior D’Marcus Adams led the Bucs as he repeated last year’s feat with another four individual district wins.
While praising all of his athletes, Anthony wanted to make sure he acknowledged his coaching staff, saying “I don’t deserve a lot of the credit. I didn’t run at all, and I didn’t coach everything.” Other members of the staff include Lana Anthony, Lakeisha Elder, Vernon Conaway, Alvin Mallory and Harrington Smith.
Going into regionals, the boys hope to also repeat as champions there, while the girls look to make more history.
Mainland and Seabreeze will compete in the Region 2-3A Meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland.
