In a year of tremendous success on the track for many county athletes, none stood higher on the podium than Poinciana’s Levi Lee.
The senior was the county’s lone state champion, winning the Class 4A state 1,600 meter championship, and is the Osceola News-Gazette Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
Lee’ fabulous year included OBC, district and regional championships in going undefeated in the 1,600 this season. Lee was also All-County in the 800 and 3,200 meter runs —he also qualified for the state meet in the 800.
“Blessed to win a state championship,” Lee said. “Although I was seeded first, I was ill for most of the week leading up to the race. I woke up the morning of the race, prayed and just decided to leave it all on the track.
Lee was in third with 500 meters to go, took the lead then out-kicked Vero Beach’s Parker Banzhaff to win the event by four-tenths of a second.
The performance capped off one of the most decorated distance careers in Osceola County history. He was a multi-time, multi-event county champion in both cross country and track.
Lee was not the only one to reach the podium at states.
Gateway’s Jose Calderon finished fifth in the Class 3A 400-meter run, St. Cloud senior pole vaulter Mason Shafer placed fifth at 13’-3 ½”, and the Bulldogs’ 4x800 relay team of Isaiah Casiano, Jayden Chofooklun, Silas Corchado and Adon Elienist finished fourth in 7:59.86. Three athletes were selected to the All-County track team based on season-long performance with emphasis on OBC, district and regional finishes.
All-County Boys Track
Athlete of the Year: Levi Lee, Poinciana, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Kevin Harkema, St. Cloud
All-County Team: 100 Meters: Jose Calderon (Gateway), Alverez Toussaint (Liberty), Jakari Watson (Osceola); 200: Calderon, Toussaint, Santiago Ochoa (St. Cloud); 400 Meters: Calderon, Darius Young (G), Adon Elienist (SC); 800: Levi Lee (Poinciana), Elienist, Silas Corchado (SC); 1600: Lee, Brody Ansbaugh (SC), Corchado; 3200: Lee, Isaiah Casiano (SC), Jonathan Araya (SC); 110 Hurdles: Tony Doss (O), Alijah Stewart (G), Cameron Burnham (P); 400 Hurdles: Danzel Hawkins (SC), Burnham, Elijah Spencer (P); 4x100 Relay: Liberty (Luke Herron, Zavior Cobb, Kelly Millen, Toussaint); 4x400: St. Cloud (Elienist, Hawkins, Jayden Chofooklun, Yossiel Rodriguez); 4x800: St. Cloud (Elienist, Chofooklun, Casiano, Corchado) High Jump: Jonathan Rodriguez (SC), Maxell Garcon (G), Jerrick Rodriguez (Celebration); Long Jump: Derrick Thimote (G), Tyler Johnson (P), Joseph Ramirez-Parra (G); Triple Jump: Johnson (P), Garcon (G), Chazden Hill (Tohopekaliga); Pole Vault: Mason Shaffer (SC), Dalton Gould (G), Ethan Antle (G); Discus: Gavin Konopka (C), Jaylen Cobb (H), Mekhi Ealy (H); Shot Put: Konopka ( C), Ealy (H), Josh Fuller (G); Javelin: Ivan Ramos (H), Mason Bizzack (C), Antle (G)
