By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Athletes from five county high school qualified for the Class 3A state track meet Wednesday by placing among the top four at the 3A-2 regional at Tampa Leto High.

Liberty long jumper Markel Brown (23-1.5) won the regional championship, as did St. Cloud’s 4 x 800 girls relay (9:42.50) of Ashlyn Stadtlander, Katelyn Stadtlander, Octavia Gonzalez and Anaya Reid.

The Class 3A state meet is Friday at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Several Poinciana athletes are competing today at the Class 2A state meet at North Florida.

Liberty’s Brown also qualified fourth (46-6) in the triple jump, breaking the school record. Teammate Joshua Wilson (22-5.5) was third in the long jump.

“Markel had an impressive day. He also placed fifth in the final of the 400,” Chargers Coach Robert Pauley said. “Josh Wilson had a great jump on his final to move to third. It’s a great sight to see two jumpers who are just sophomores make it to the state championships.”

Liberty’s Kelila Naules (17-4.5) was third in the triple jump., and the 4 x 100 relay (49.64) was fourth with Samantha Toledo, Bretny Powell, Kadijah Brown and Naules.

St. Cloud’s 4 x 800 time was a school record.

Kirsten Chambers placed third (36-1.5) in the triple jump and in the 100 hurdles (15.48) for the Lady Bulldogs.

St. Cloud shot putter Ian McKenzie (49-3.25) was second.

Two Bulldog relays qualified: The 4 x 100 (42.44) was second with Austyn Jandrew, Jordan Reus, Travon Williams and Eric Pfeifer, and the 4 x 800 was fourth with Bailey Morgan, Matt Cole, Jandrew and Antonio Montalvo.

The Osceola girls are sending two relay teams to state. The 4 x 100 (49.46) was third with Janel Brown, Vallerie Norgaisse, Jodiann Crooks and Charlie Muzeka. The 4 x 400 (4:05.87) was fourth with Norgaisse, Crooks, Muzeka and Chelsea Thomas.

Harmony’s Daniel Foshee qualified in the 110 (14.6) and 300 (40.24) hurdles, and the Lady Longhorns’ Yanese Arevalo (11:47.44) was fourth in the 3,200.

Celebration’s Quincy O’Connor was second (4:27.39) in the 1,600 meters but had to pull out of the 3,200 with shin splints. Celebration pole vaulter David Akins just missed qualifying after jumping 13-0 to finish fifth. He took up the sport in March.

Orlando Evans (121) won the girls championship. St. Cloud (32) was seventh, Liberty (25) was 10th, Harmony (16) was 17th and Osceola (15) was 18th.

Hillsborough (74) won the boys title. St. Cloud and Liberty tied for sixth (29), Harmony (14) was 22nd, Celebration (12) was 24th and Osceola (1) was 34th.

Gateway’s Charnelle Michel (104-1) was second in the discus and Amber Jackson (35-7.25) was fourth in the triple jump at the 4A-1 meet at Flagler Palm Coast Thursday.