Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON // Buy this photo

Estero High's Steven Briner (bib 446) competes in the Class 3A boys cross country final on Nov. 17, 2012 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Kevin Johnson/Staff

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON // Buy this photo

Naples High's Morgan Arnold, left, and Estero's Ricky Ledesma near the finish line in the Class 3A boys cross country final on Nov. 17, 2012 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Kevin Johnson/Staff

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON // Buy this photo

Estero High's Adam Sommer competes in the Class 3A boys cross country final on Nov. 17, 2012 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Kevin Johnson/Staff

TALLAHASSEE — Unable to recapture the magic from two years ago, the Estero High boys cross country team finished ninth out of 24 teams in the Class 3A boys cross country final on Saturday in Tallahassee.

The race marked the end of solid high school cross country careers for seniors Steven Briner, Jose Cartagena and Alex Hernandez. Highlights during the past four years included a bevy of Lee County Athletic Conference, district and regional titles as well as being state runner-up in 2009. Of course, the most significant accomplishment came two years ago when Estero won the 2A state championship. Back on that memorable Saturday morning in Dade City, Briner, Hernandez and Cartagena all finished in the top 28 as the boys team matched Estero’s girls, who had won a state moments earlier.