Douglas' Brad Robeson dismissed all talk of a late-season slump with a personal-best 16:18 to place second at the District 5-4A cross-country championships at Quiet Waters Park on Friday.

Robeson, who got a congratulatory pat from his grandmother a few steps after the finish line, said the breakout race will boost his confidence.

''I have been frustrated with my latest performances in the last couple weeks,'' said Robeson, an All-Broward first-team selection last season. ``I didn't have the confidence to go out with some of the more elite runners in the state. I decided to go out with the best today. I just followed the lead pack and was ready to die out there if it came down to it.''

Robeson helped the Eagles pack four runners in the top 15 and finish third in the team standings. The top 15 individuals, top eight boys' teams and top six girls' teams advance to the Region 4-4A Championships at J.C. Bermudez Park on Nov. 15.

A prerace walk-through helped Coral Springs senior Jenevah Porter avert confusion over a changed course and finish fifth -- the highest for any Broward girls' runner.

Porter (21:03) was followed by teammates Candice Patrick (18th, 21:58), Samantha Shreffler (23rd, 22:17) and Gabriele D'Angelo (24th, 22:25) as the Colts (96) finished runner-up to Spanish River (51).

''I was told that I would come in top 10 so I did better than a lot of people's expectations, which is awesome,'' Porter said.

A wrong turn off the course proved disastrous for Douglas' No. 1 girls runner, Lauren Ross, who finished 70th. But even that misfortune couldn't stop the Eagles from finishing third behind sophomore Kristen Tyrie (12th), Paige Leal (19th), Jamie Solomon (21st) and Eunji Choi (25th).

''I am not sure what really happened with Lauren,'' Tyrie said. ``I just pushed. That is all I could do. I ran like it was my last race.''

District 5-4A results: Boys individual qualifiers - 1. Ryan Pickering (JIL) 16:15, 2. Brad Robeson (Doug) 16:18, 3. Gracia (Sant) 16:23, 4. Darling (PV) 16:36, 5. Reynolds (PV) 16:47, 6. O'Neal (Jup) 16:49, 7. Charles (JIL) 16:51, 8. Daniel Cardenas (CS) 16:58, 9. Chris Zilka (Doug)17:00, 10. Santiago Zerda (CGlades) 17:10, 11. Hay (PV) 17:16, 12. Kyle Campbell (Doug) 17:17, 13. Wadford (PV) 17:20, 14. Barber (PBL)17:29, 15. Roland Zech (Doug) 17:33. Team qualifiers - 1. Park Vista 53, 2. John I. Leonard 62, 3. Douglas 69, 4. Coral Springs 113, 5. Jupiter 130, 6. Delray Atlantic 200, 7. Palm Beach Central 206, 8. Palm Beach Wellington 310. Girls individual qualifiers - 1. Ashley Brasovan (Well) 17:16, 2. Farnung (PBC) 20:08, 3. Isdaner (Jup) 20:35, 4. Borden (PBG) 20:52, 5. Jenevah Porter (CS) 21:03, 6. O'Boyle (Well) 21:04, 7. Irwin (SR) 21:07, 8. North (SR) 21:08, 9. Oster (PV) 21:13, 10. Woodhouse (SR) 21:23, 11. Gabrielle (SR) 21:26, 12. Kristen Tyrie (Doug) 21:33, 13. Halty (Jup) 21:38, 14. Bou-Ghannam (PV) 21:40, 15. Siegel (SR) 21:43. Team qualifiers - 1. Spanish River 51, 2. Coral Springs 96, 3. Douglas 105, 4. Wellington 111, 5. Park Vista 116, 6. Jupiter 124.

DISTRICT 7-1A

By time the dust settled at the District 7-1A championships at the Westminster Academy sports complex Friday, the Lions girls' team had pulled off a four-peat while the Upperroom Christian boys' team extended its district streak to seven in eight years. Emanual Kent (17:22), Jahmaine Richards (18:38) and Marc-Kenner Cheribin (18:46) finished first, second and third, respectively, for the Eagles, who scored 45 points.

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