By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The St. Cloud Lady Bulldog cross country team almost exactly met its goal at the Class 3A state cross country meet Saturday at Dade City’s Little Everglades Ranch.

The Lady Bulldogs tied for fifth place (175) with Fort Walton Beach behind champion Estero (69). Fort Walton Beach was awarded fifth-place based on the positions of the sixth-place runners.

Octavia Gonzalez (21st, 19:25) led St. Cloud, followed by Ashlyn Stadtlander (31st, 19:56), Karissa Solorzano (32nd, 20:00), Katelyn Stadtlander (34th, 20:01) and Rebecca Davis (57th, 20:40.95).

Celebration’s Quincy O’Conner, competing as an individual, was fifth overall (15:39.53) in the Class 3A boys race. Harmony’s Matt Henning, also running individually, was the 51st runner across the finish line (16:38.50).

St. Cloud’s boys (458) placed 18th behind Miami Belen Jesuit (26).

Scoring for the Bulldogs were Matt Cole (41st, 16:39), Bailey Morgan (56th, 16:55), Antonio Montalvo (81st, 17:17), Gabriel Sannin (115th, 17:52.55) and Aaron Allcorn (159th, 19:31).

Poinciana High’s Gabriel Rodriguez (51st, 21:05) competed as an individual in the Class 2A meet.