Chamberlain product Parrish earns SEC honor

Posted Sep 21, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Sep 22, 2010 at 01:55 AM

Chamberlain High product and University of Florida freshman Mark Parrish was named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Male Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

In his first race for the Gators, Parrish, who is majoring engineering, grabbed fourth overall at the Mountain Dew Invitational on the UF golf course. Parrish covered the hilly, winding 8-kilometer course (approximately 5 miles) in a personal best of 24 minutes, 58 seconds.

Parrish was Florida’s No. 3 man in the 201-athlete field and one of only two freshmen for the Gators. He was also one of only two freshman to crack the top 10 and run under 25 minutes. The other was former Tallahassee Leon High standout Matt Mizereck, last year’s state champion in Class 3A.

“I was a little surprised at my time but I knew I was in pretty good shape,” said Parrish, the Tampa Tribune’s Runner of the Year for the 2009 prep cross country season. “Hopefully, this puts me on the travelling squad but right now, I’m just focusing on the next day’s training.”

The Gators, who won the meet for the sixth straight season, were also aided by former Sickles star Derek Wehunt, a sophomore who took second in 24:49.