BY FABIAN LYON [email protected]

At some point during the Class 3A state cross-country final Saturday, the onset of fatigue will hit Pines Charter senior Ryan Davis like a Mike Tyson uppercut.

With the forecast calling for temperatures in the low 40's at Little Everglades Ranch Park in Dade City, Davis' lungs will start to burn as if they had caught fire, and the buildup of lactic acid will cause his legs to feel like jelly.

Not blessed with the blazing speed usually associated with other top-ranked runners, Davis' meteoric rise as a state contender is credited to a relentless determination and uncanny high threshold for pain.

''During the race I know it is going to happen,'' Davis said. ``Pain is not new to me. You have to be mentally strong to push through that pain. You are not running fast unless you are hurting. I am ready to put it on the line in this race.''

That no-pain, no gain philosophy paid dividends again at the Region 4-3A championships last Saturday.

After biding his time behind Okeechobee junior Heriberto Guerrero through the first mile, Davis cruised past Guerrero to take the lead and win in 16 minutes, 17 seconds.

Pines Charter coach Joe Hazera said that.....READ MORE