Returning deep squads, Harmony High School will be favorites to defend their Orange Belt Conference boys and girls championships.
At last weekend’s Kowboy Invite, the Longhorns were the top finishers among county schools as the girls placed fifth in the prestigious competition with 56 points; while the Harmony boys placed an impressive second with 64 points. The Osceola girls were in tenth with 30; followed by Celebration in 13th with 13 points. The Tohopekaliga boys’ team was 10th (28.50); followed by Osceola in 15th (16) and Celebration in 16th (15). The Longhorns girls also won the St. Cloud Invitational on Feb. 26; while the Harmony boys were third in the meet – again finishing in front of all Osceola County teams.
“We have a lot of returning veterans in both running and field events,” Harmony boys coach Debra Richardson said. “We broke a 16-year-old school record in the 4x100 relay in our first meet of the season and we believe that team is has a shot of not only qualifying but also reaching the podium at states. The strength of our team includes the relays, sprints and distance events. We’re also strong in the hurdles and some of the throws.”
Anchoring the sprint events for Harmony is senior Isaiah Oquendo and junior Tyler Emans. Junior Alex Tuyo and senior Tyson Job are strong in the hurdles; while state cross country qualifier Joel Jean provides vast potential in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. David Hunter (discus and javelin), Mason Fabrizio (pole vault) Anthony White (high jump) and Noah Tribe (long jump) could provide valuable points in the field events.
Juniors Brynn Magner and Rebekah Wiles give the girls team strength in distance events. Magner qualified for regionals last year in both the 800 and 1600; while Wiles got there in the 1600 and 3200. Freshman Lailana Decker has tremendous potential in the 800, 1600 and 3200, and state weightlifting champion Adriana Rosa handles sprints.
The Lady Longhorns are solid in field events as well. Drea Thompson (8th in high jump) and Thora Gaston (2nd in javelin) return. Elizabeth Hernstrom qualified for states in the pole vault and Vanielis Ramos was a regional qualifier in the triple jump.
“While we may lean a little more on our field events, we still return an outstanding mixture of leaders and talented competitors,” Harmony girls coach Adam Kerns said. “Our overall success will obviously be tied to staying healthy and staying focused.”
Graduation hit both the boys and girls teams from Tohopekaliga, but Coach Tane returns state qualifier Amela Johnson (400) and Alise Paige (throws), high jumper Aaron Campbell and long jump/triple jump specialist Ismeal Sesay.
“Without a doubt it will be a rebuilding season for us,” Crossley said. “But for a young school, we qualified 11 athletes for regionals last year and we hope to continue to use that momentum as we build our young program. We have a lot of freshmen on both teams this year, so their continued development will be a key part to our success.”
Celebration features quality athletes in senior Jared Falchook (800 and 1600), Cooper James and Evan Amaya in middle distance runners, Bruno Neira was a regional qualifier in the javelin and football star Oniel Senatus gives the Storm a solid sprinter.
On the girls’ side, the Storm features cross country runner of the year Catalinia Edwards in the distance events. Edwards’ time of 5:11 in the 1600 has been the best in the state in Class 4A this season. Senior Helena Huyke, an Embry-Riddle signee, is a potential point scorer at OBCs in several events including hurdles, long jump and the relays. Erin Balbontin and Makenna McBroom have shown promise in both the sprints and hurdles.
In her 11th season at Poinciana and 40th year as a track coach, Cathy Esposito has several outstanding Eagles boys returning. Justin Wilson was a state qualifier in the high jump and is already third in his region. Gabe Acre qualified for regionals in the 3200 and Jerome Alexander made it to regionals in 110 hurdles. The addition of sprint newcomers J’Darius Solomon, Mujahid Parks and Kayla Ladouceur will provide both depth in the relays and point scoring potential for the Eagles.
Esposito believes returning veterans Sharmi Sales (sprints), Eva Johnson (400) and Kayla Ladouceur (sprints) will get significant support and point scoring potential from young newcomers freshmen Joy Duncan (hurdles, sprints, high jump), Yamirelis Mercado (hurdles, sprints) and Natalie Nogueira (sprints).
“We have the perfect situation of very experienced and successful athletes along with talented young newcomers,” Esposito said. “With a very large team I will be spending my time putting together the puzzle to get to that championship level program by season end.”
The strength of Eric Pinellas’ Osceola track team will be in the sprints with Shana Levy, Qunaya Jenkins on the girls’ side and Bo Mascoe, Taevion Swint, and Jakeem Jackson on the boys’ side. Tatina George is a point scorer for the Kowboys in both the 400 and 800; while Levy is also an outstanding long jumper. On the boys’ side, football/basketball standout Chris Combs and Cornelius Walls are threats in the long jump.
“Our goal for this year is to put our kids in the best position to advance to the state championships in Gainesville,” Pinellas said.
At St. Cloud, boys John Ortiz (800) and Johnny McNab (1600, 3200) are among the top athletes, while Layla Lara (200, 400) and Tiffany Febus (800, 1600, and 3200) are the top girls athletes.
As the season approaches the halfway point, Osceola County has four athletes ranked at or near the top for Central Florida athletes from all schools covering Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake County. Harmony’s Gaston has had the best javelin mark in girls’ track 116’-1”; Osceola’s Abriella Scott is ranked second in the 300-hurdles (44.95), Celebration’s Edwards is ranked 2nd in girls’ 800 meters (2:19.48) while the Storm’s Falchook had turned in the second best in the boys’ 800 meters (1:56.79).
