Florey is ready to take the baton at Gulf

This article appeared in the St. Petersburg Times on Nov. 6, 2003.

By JAMAL THALJI

NEW PORT RICHEY - Let's get this straight: Danielle Florey is not Gulf's No. 1 runner.

Yes, she has won as many meets this year, three, as senior captain Melissa Dattoli. Yes, the sophomore stunned the field at the Class 2A, Region 2 meet, winning the title with a season-best 20 minutes, 34.34 seconds to lead the Bucs to team runner-up honors.

The two have pushed each other all season and at the region meet were side-by-side with 150 meters left. But Dattoli's legs died and she had to crawl the last 10 meters to the finish, missing runner-up honors by seven seconds.

It still will be the respected Dattoli leading her teammates to Saturday's Class 2A state meet, the senior's last trip to state. But state also will be a passing of the torch. Because in 2003, Florey has proved she can lead the team in 2004.

"Danielle has truly astounded me and everyone else around here by winning that meet," coach Dean Lofton said. "It bodes well for the future. If she continues to train hard, there's not much she won't be able to accomplish."

Said Florey: "He knew that I could run awesome. It was just, I had to do it myself. I had a good summer, I trained hard. They kept saying I could do it; I had to trust myself and push myself to just go for it."

But at the time, Florey couldn't enjoy her win.

"I was happy for myself," she said. "But Melissa, she was hurt; I was more worried about her than my race. But I was really excited the rest of the night that I got it, and I'm just a sophomore."

Lofton said Dattoli simply was exhausted and is healthy for state. Before the season, the coach declared the senior and sophomore co-No. 1's. "They pushed each other during the region meet," he said, "and I think we can look forward to them pushing each other at state, brining each other along."

Florey was the third Pasco County runner to win a region title in 2003 and the only underclassman. She also is the only one who has to divide her time with band (she plays clarinet).

Lofton hopes this postseason stretch will give Florey a taste of what she can do next year, and the confidence to do it.

"She's excited and she still can't believe she won it," he said. "It's just something new, and she's never really had that kind of attention before."

Lofton said the team was lucky to discover Florey last year as a freshman. She brings an energy the coach can't always handle.

"She's just a lot of fun to have on the team," Lofton said. "She's argumentative at times. She likes to argue, I think she will end up being a lawyer someday because she will debate anything.

"If I said the sky is blue, she would debate it."