Runner makes strides, sets new course record
Heralded distance runner Mickey Hooke, 55, of Bradenton, overcame a partial tear to his plantar fascia tendon on his left foot to break the ribbon at the 10th annual Spring Lake 5K May 28in Brooksville.
Hooke suffered the foot injury in June last year, when he jumped off a boat and landed awkwardly. The injury could not be treated with surgery, so he had to hang up his running shoes for five and a half months to allow the foot to heal. It was his longest break from running in his 20-year career.
He was ready to train in January, 18 pounds overweight, taking it slow with 35 minute walks and soon adding five minutes of light jogging. Slowly and steadily, he increased his running and, by mid-February, he had shed 17 pounds. Another month in, Hooke was back to his full training regimine but had more work to do to achieve his former level of fitness.
He got back in the game with a 5K run May 14 in Punta Gorda, where he finished third overall and set two records in his class. By May 28, Hooke returned to “Florida’s Toughest 5K” in Brooksville.
He says he ran conservatively on the beginning half mile of the thin, twisty rooted trail. As the lead pack left the trail, He stayed with the leader for a tenth of a mile before surging ahead to challenge the three long steep hills that awaited.
Hooke said he was running steady when he pulled away to win the race with a time of 20:09, 41 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
Hooke made his comeback, setting a new course record, as well as masters and grandmasters records.
Congrats to the former islander from The Islander, which has followed his endeavors for 20 years.
Youth soccer playoffs underway, 11-13 division crowns Sugar Beach Digital champion
The regular youth soccer season came to a close and the second season — playoffs — got started June 3 at the Center of Anna Maria Island.
The 8-10 division playoffs saw Lux Carts take its first win of the season — a big one — with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over John Damato PA to open the June 3 playoffs on the outdoor field at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Jackson Pakbaz led the way with two goals for Lux Carts in the win, while Phillipe Baumgartner notched the lone goal for Damato in the loss.
The following day, The Feast showed why they were the top seed in the 8-10 playoffs with a 7-0 victory over Lux Carts, advancing the finals, while ending the season for Lux Carts. Anthony Nguyen led the way with three goals, while Greg Jordan added two goals and Juliet Green finished with one goal for the victory.
The second semifinal match June 4 saw Blue Lagoon Landscaping roll to a 7-0 victory over Wash Family Construction. Aiden Templeton paced Blue Lagoon with three goals, while Marlin Duytschaver, Sam Leister, Nick Yatros and Connor Allan each finished with one goal in the victory.
The 8-10 championship game was set for 7 p.m. Monday, June 6, after press time.
The three-team 11-13 division saw last place Sugar Beach digital earn an upset victory over second place Beach Bums. Sugar Beach received four goals from Nicholas Cavalluzzi and one goal from David Daigle in the victory.
Daniel Sentman and Dalton Guthrie paced Beach Bums with a goal each in the loss.
Sugar Beach continued its winning ways with a 4-2 victory over top-seeded Coldwell Banker in the final championship game. Cavalluzzi again led the way with two goals, while Daigle and Tuna McCracken each added one goal to the victory.
Tyler Brewer scored two goals to lead Coldwell Banker in the loss.
More soccer news
Adult soccer action continued with four games played June 2 at the center.
Jiffy Lube sits atop the standings with a 4-1 record, closely followed by 3-1 Ross Built and Slim’s Place, which sports a 3-2 record and third place. Eason Builders, Island Pest Control, Moss Builders and Wash Family Construction follow in the standings with matching 2-2 records. Blake Medical Center No. 2 holds down the No. 8 spot with a 1-3-1 record, while Blake No. 1 is last with an 0-4-1 record.
Action June 2 saw Wash Family Construction hand Ross Built its first loss on the season in a 7-2 thrashing. Andre Lewis led the way with four goals, while Rico Beissert, Murat Akay and Kyle Lessig scored one goal. Chris Circharo and Connor Bystrom paced Ross Built with a goal each in the loss.
Jiffy Lube showed why it’s in the top spot in the standings with a 7-0 victory over Eason Builders behind two goals each from Drew Mitchell and Matt Plummer. Danny Anderson, BJ Grant and Yorvi Moreira added a goal each in the victory.
Blake No. 1 and Blake No. 2 tied 2-2 in a battle of coworkers in the third game of the night. Chase Bennion and Ryan Besecu scored a goal each to lead Blake-1 while Jermais Gramajo and Michael Aston scored a goal each to lead Blake-2 in the tie.
Slim’s Place closed out the evening’s action with a 5-4 victory over Island Pest Control, thanks in part to a pair of disappointing own goals from Island Pest. Also scoring for Slim’s Place were Matt Kretzman, Sean Sanders and James Lynch. Kevin Roman and Lexi Braxton scored two goals each for Island Pest Control in the loss.
Key Royale golf news
The men’s regular Monday golf action at the Key Royale Club was replaced Memorial Day with a couple’s scramble, followed by a member barbecue.
The team of Al and Helen Pollock and Jim and Penny Auch fired a 2-under-par 30 to tie the team of Tony and Marilyn Niewijk and Dave and Debbie Richardson for first place and clubhouse bragging rights.
Jean Holmes won the closest-to-the-pin contest among women players, while Jim Auch was the men’s winner. Barb Estok won the women’s long-drive contest, while Jack Lowry won it for the men.
Twenty-three Key Royale Club women took to the course May 31 for a nine-hole individual-low-net match that also included a “tee-to-green” side game.
Sue Wheeler fired a 3-under-par 29 to grab first place in the top flight. Debbie Wohlers was alone in second on a 1-under-par 31.
Wohlers took first place in the tee-to-green competition, where only strokes used to get on the green are counted. She took 21 strokes to the putting surface, three strokes better than Helen Pollock.
Roxanne Koche carded a 5-under-par 27 for low-net round of the day and first place in Flight C. Janet Razze and Markie Ksiazek were both one stroke back in a tie for second place.
Terry Westby and Koche tied for first place in Flight C in the tee-to-green game with 28 strokes.
The men reported play for a nine-hole scramble June 2. The team of Art McMillan, Quentin Talbert, Dennis Schavey and Bill Shuman combined on a 4-under-par 28 to take first place on the day.