In a year where several outstanding Osceola County athletes competed for state championships, Celebration’s Jared Falchook edged out Tohopekaliga’s Orlando Descartes as the Osceola News-Gazette Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
“Jared certainly is deserving of this recognition,” Coach Gerardo Dorta said. “He capped a tremendous career here at Celebration with a great performance in the state meet. He made a lasting impact on our program.”
Falchook, who was the Orange Belt Conference champion in cross country last fall, split time between middle and distance events during the regular season, before concentrating on his best event, the 800 meters, and the relays for the postseason. At the OBC meet, he was a double winner – taking both the 400 and 3200 meter runs.
The Celebration senior won both the district (2:00.42) and regional (1:54.65) championships in the 800 before turning in an impressive fifth place finish in the event at the 4A state meet with a seasonbest time of 1:52.71.
Falchook played a key role in getting both the Storm’s 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams through to the state championships. They won a district title in the 4x800 and took second in the 4x400, and at regionals Falchook’s teams finished in fourth and fifth respectively; with a 10th place finish in the 4x800 at the 4A State Championship meet.
Descartes was nearly as impressive. He took Orange Belt Conference championships in both the high jump (6’-6 ¼”) and the javelin (121’-1”); going on to win the same two events at both the District and Regional meets before clearing 6’-3½” in the Class 4A state meet to take fifth place. He also finished 11th in the javelin.
Harmony’s Isaiah Oquendo (100 and 200) and hurdlers Alex Tuyo and Tyson Job also earned consideration.
Oquendo doubled at the OBC meet, winning the 100 and 200 meters. He would go on to top four finishes in both the district and regional meets in both events – qualifying for the 100-meters and finishing 13th overall in the Class 4A State Championship meet. Oquendo ran a leg on a Harmony’s 4x100 relay, which set a school record and also qualified for the state championships.
Job won both the 110-meter hurdles and triple jump at the OBC meet to go with top four finishes in both events at districts and regionals. Both he and Tuyo made it to regionals in both hurdle events.
In one of the closest battles, Gateway’s Aaron Campbell edged out Celebration’s Gabriel Merino for a spot on the All-County team. Merino finished two spots in front of Campbell at the OBC meet. At different district competitions, Campbell took second (50.65) to Merino’s fourth (51.90). He would then move on with a third place finish at Class 3A, Region 2 meet (49.57) to qualify for states; while Merino ran 52.67 at regionals.
Liberty long jumper Hakeem Alvena won the OBC meet, placed fourth in districts and 12th in regionals.
Osceola’s 4x100 team of Taevion Swint, Ja’Keem Jackson, Henley Placide and Bo Mascoe defeated Harmony’s squad of Tyler Emans, Wathson Cherancy, Oquendo and Alex Tuyo in head-to-head competition at districts, regionals and states. Osceola’s 42.22 was good for 8th place at the state meet, while Harmony (42.56) finished 14th.
The rest of the All-County Team:
Joel Jean, Harmony (1600 meters);
Evan Amaya, Gabriel Merino, O’Neil Senatus (joined Falchook on 4x400 relay);
Cooper James (joined Falchook, Amaya, Merino on 4x800 relay);
Pete Rodriguez, Tohopekaliga (shot put);
Jamarion McCrimmon, Osceola (discus).
