By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola High’s six-time state champion sprinter Tynia Gaither will perform on one of track’s biggest stages Saturday at the adidas Grand Prix at Randall’s Island in New York City.

Gaither is one of nine high school sprinters who will run the “Dream 100” at Icahn Stadium. Other high school athletes will run a “Dream Mile” at the Grand Prix, which also will feature six international track stars ranked No. 1 for 2010.

Gaither, Florida’s Class 4A 100- and 200-meters state champion this year, will compete against two other Florida runners: Lake Wales’ Octavious Freeman, who won four Class 2A state championships in the sprints and jumps, and Shayla Sanders, of Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson.

Gaither, despite a muscle injury that nearly prevented her from competing, defeated Sanders at the Class 4A state meet for the 100 and 200 titles.

Gaither, who competes internationally for the Bahamas, will leave for New York today, Osceola High Coach Eric Pinellas said.

Gaither graduated in May.

She holds the nation’s fastest prep time at 200 meters (23.17) and is second (10.41) to Freeman’s 10.29 seconds at 100 meters.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s definitely a different kind of format. It’s just one race, no preliminaries,” Gaither said.

Gaither won three 100 meters gold medals during her high school career, two at 200 meters and the 2009 4 x 100 state championship with her teammates.

She was second at 200 meters in 2009 and the OHS 4 x 100 relay team placed second at this year’s state meet, setting a school record (46.12).

Gaither and OHS teammate Atarah Clark ran on the winning 4 x 100 relay at the Golden South Classic in Orlando two weeks ago.

High school athletes qualified for the Dream 100 and Dream Mile by competing at one of three qualifying meets, including the Golden South, or as at large invitees.

Gaither will compete for the University of Georgia.

Orlando Boone’s Marvin Bracy, who holds the nation’s fastest prep time, will run in the boys Dream 100.

The sprinters will work with Olympic champion Maurice Greene.

Celebration’s double state champion, Tyler Osorio, ran at the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque, N.M., last weekend, where he clocked 21.64 at 200 meters and joined other athletes to run 40.07 in the 4 x 100 relay.

Celebration Coach Joel Fox said Osorio withdrew from the 4 x 400 relay to rest a sore hip flexor.

Osorio won the Class 3A 100- and 400-meters championships at Winter Park last month. He will report to the University of Florida, where he is on scholarship, in two weeks.