They refer to it as the Green Monster.

It isn't a mountain, but that final 200-meter incline stretch of the state cross country course at Little Everglades Ranch can be a formidable final challenge in a 3.1-mile championship race. Saturday it was where Stephanie Schappert's two-year reign as Class 2A state champion ended in a painful collapse.

The Pope John Paul II senior had a slight lead until Estero's Kacy Smith kicked past her with 50 meters to go. As Smith headed for victory, Schappert began to wobble. Ten meters from the finish, her legs gave out and she hit the ground.

After Shelby Davidson, of Cocoa Beach, passed her, Schappert mustered the fortitude to get up and stagger to a third-place finish before collapsing again.