By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola High state champion sprinter Tynia Gaither placed second in the 200 meters Monday at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games at Singapore.

Gaither was timed in 23.68 seconds, about one-tenth of a second off of her personal record, OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said.

Gaither won a gold medal in the sprint relays with “Team Americas,” a compilation of runners from several nations. Gaither ran the 200 meters leg.

“It wasn’t bad for someone who wasn’t in shape until she started preparing for this meet,” Pinellas, who supervised Gaither’s workouts early this month, said. “There aren’t many from this area (Central Florida) who have competed in a meet like this, and those that did were usually distance runners.”

Gaither, who won Class 4A state championships in May in the 100 meters and 200 meters sprints, is expected to return home today, Pinellas said. The Youth Olympic Games began Aug. 14.

Gaither is the Osceola News-Gazette Female Track Athlete of the Year.