By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The track season is gathering momentum and about 20 teams from Central Florida will compete Saturday at the Kowboys Invitational at Osceola High.

Field events begin at 9:30 a.m. The running events begin at 10:15 a.m. The prelims start at 12:45 p.m. The running finals get under way at about 3:30 p.m.

Joining OHS from Osceola County will be Harmony, St. Cloud, Gateway and Poinciana high schools.

Also competing will be Winter Haven, Wiregrass Ranch, Olympia, Lake Wales, Lake Mary, Lake Region, Kathleen, George Jenkins, East Ridge, Mulberry, Gainesville Eastside, Evans, Ocala Forest, Frostproof and Tampa Gaither.

“We’re expecting to run well,” Osceola girls coach Eric Pinellas said.

Liberty’s boys (128) tied Freedom for the boys championship at the Poinciana Invitational last week, the Chargers opening meet of the season. Over 800 athletes from 11 teams participated at Poinciana, Eagles Athletic Director Mal Harpell said.

“We really did well for early in the season,” Chargers Coach Robert Pauley said. “Anytime you can win an invitational is always good news. Coach (Bryan) McLoughlin and his staff always put on a great show. The meet had some great teams and athletes.”

Liberty’s Marion Brown (51.81) won the 400 meters and was second (44-5) in the long jump.

Tyler Haase (10:40) won the 3,200 for the Chargers and ran on the second place 4 x 800 relay with Germin Amadis, Dan Arteaga and Timaris Turpin.

Donald Sims-Sylvester was second (41.73) in the high hurdles and third (16.78) in the 110 hurdles.

“We basically got all the tools out of the garage and cleaned off the rust. Now, we are sharpening up the tools, in a manner of speaking. We know what we need to work on,” Pauley said.

“The distance team looked rough and I was a little disappointed in them, but some other guys had some break out performances. Donald (Sims-Sylvester) looked really good. Marion Brown looked good in the jumps.”

Poinciana (29) was ninth. Ron Decomo (11.32) was second in the 100 meters.

Liberty’s girls (86) were fourth behind winner Lakeland Jenkins (122).

Kelilah Naules won the triple jump (36-3) and long jump (17-1) for the Lady Chargers, and Kadajah Brown was second in the high jump (5-2), triple jump (32-8) and long jump (17-0).

“The long jump was very impressive (for us),” Pauley said. “Right now we are juggling where to put athletes and seeing who can do what.”

The Chargers compete at Lake Highland Prep this weekend.

Poinciana (36.5) was eighth in the girls meet as Estelle Esperance (2:37.05) was second at 800 meters and Gabriella Rodriguez (6:00) was runner-up at 1,600 meters.

Poinciana’s 4 x 400 relay (4:29.70) of Majjdah Barnett, Esperance, Rodriguez and Zhane Wilson placed third.

Lake Wales’ Sabria Hadley won both the 100 (12.43) and 200 (24.88) sprints at Poinciana.

Hadley also won the 4 x 100 with her teammates.