By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
Led by four individual district champions, Poinciana competes today at the 2A-2 regional track meet at Lake Highland Prep.
Liberty, Osceola and Gateway go to Winter Park’s Showalter Field today for the 4A-4 district meet.
Both events begin at 11 a.m.

Esperance was second in the 400 (1:02.94) and 800 (2:37.82).
Zhane Wilson was fourth (14-6) in the long jump for the Lady Eagles.
Also qualifying for Poinciana’s boys were Christian Ramos, third in the 1,600 (5:02) and 3,200 (10:58.18).
Miguel Ortiz qualified in the 100 (16.36) and 300 (42.86) hurdles.
Two relays placed second. The 4 x 400 (3:31.32) with Ticknor, Decomo, Sanabria and Bryan Gonzales, and the 4 x 800 (8:45) with Ticknor, Sanabria, Ortiz and Kevin Ruiz.
“If Evan and Ronald perform, they have a shot (to reach the state meet), and we will see about everyone else,” Eagles boys track coach Rusty Gould said. “Both of the relays have a shot as well if we run a good race.”
The top four athletes in each event at the regional will advance to the Class 2A state meet at Winter Park April 30.
At the 4A-4 meet at Winter Park today, Osceola has the state’s No. 1 Class 4A sprinter in Tynia Gaither, the defending 100 and 200 meters state champion. Along with Atarah Clark, Jodiann Crooks and Jameshia Gant, Osceola has the No. 3-ranked 4 x 100 relay in the nation.
Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas said his team’s runner-up showing to St. Cloud at the Orange Belt Conference meet two weeks ago doesn’t indicate its potential.
“The OBC meet is about quantity; the district, regional and state meets are about quality,” he said. “Our focus always is going to be about having success at the state meet.”
Osceola’s boys have one of the district’s best sprinters in Defario Phillips, who has signed to Florida A&M. Phillips won the 200 meters (22.28) at the OBC meet after losing the 100 meters (10.81) by an eyelash to Celebration’s Tyler Osorio. Oscar McGee (22.96) was third in the 200 at the OBC meet.
Liberty distance runner Robbie Johnroe, hurdler Divanti Bedford, sprinter Marion Brown and thrower Stefan Morales lead a balanced Chargers team to the district meet. Liberty won its second straight OBC boys team championship two weeks ago.
The Lady Chargers should do well in the jumps with Kelila Naules, Danyell Kates and Kadjah Brown, who dominated at the conference meet. Naules won the long jump and high jump and Kates won the triple jump. Brown was second in the high jump and long jump.
Kahmalia-Kalee Sada won the shot put for Liberty.
Despite the depth of talent the Chargers have, Coach Robert Pauley said 4A-4 is loaded with strong programs like Boone, Colonial, Freedom and Winter Park. Boone’s Marvin Bracy is one of the nation’s top sprinters.