Sometimes it's not as important where you finish as whether you meet expectations.

North Broward Prep's Tim Hendricks and Nick Palermo found little to celebrate in being the only boys from the county to record top-10 finishes Saturday in the state cross country finals.

Santiago Zerda missed a medal but found satisfaction in turning in the fastest time by a Broward runner (15:38.75) on the 3.1-mile course at Little Everglades Ranch. Thomas McCarthy was elated to also break 16 minutes and lead St. Thomas Aquinas to eighth place despite missing its No. 3 runner.

Hendricks and Palermo, who qualified as individuals, went for it all in Class 2A. Palermo led early, as he often does. Hendricks took the lead midway through the race, but couldn't respond when Ransom Everglades' Bert Irigoyen surged ahead before the two-mile mark.