Osceola County will be well represented when regional track meets begin Thursday as 11 individual district champions, three relay district champion teams and more than 100 athletes from county schools qualified through their district meets.
Harmony hosted the boys’ and girls’ Class 4A, District 9 meet on Thursday, and the big news came when the Lady Longhorns (150) out-distanced 2nd place Vero Beach (109) and third place Viera (105) in the 10-team district; Osceola and St. Cloud tied for fourth with 86 points. It was Harmony’s fourth district championship in school history.
“It was a true testament to the grit and determination of this team, as we knew Vero and Viera where bringing in excellent teams,” Harmony coach Adam Kerns said. “Drea Thompson showed her determination by winning the high jump less than eight hours after competing in a road flag football regional game. Hannah Vickers broke the school triple jump record, Byrnn Magner stepped it up when we needed her the most and Chloe Barnett and D’Vinity Cook got us valuable points when they advanced in their throwing events. It was a total team effort.”
The Lady Longhorns posted individual champions in Brynn Magner in the 800 meter run and Drea Thompson in the high jump. Magner teamed with Shelby Fertic, Rebekah Wiles and Lailana Decker to
Hannah Vickers qualified for regionals in three different events (triple jump, pole vault and javelin). Other county District 10 champions on the girls’ side included Osceola’s Shannon Levy in the 100 and the Lady Kowboys 4 x100 relay team of Levy, Zanaya Bright, Quanaya Jenkins, and Kadreah Varnardo.
In boys’ District 10 meet, Harmony was 4th (85) and Osceola 5th (80) in the 10-team meet. Harmony’s Alex Tuyo won the 400 hurdles. He also qualified for regionals with a third place finish in the 110 hurdles. Cross Country and distance standout Joel Jean will move on in both the 800 and 3,200 meter runs.
Osceola’s Henley Placide qualified for regionals by virtue of third place finishes in both the 100 and 200 and the Kowboys’ 4 x 100 team moves on with a second place finish. David Buggs (shot, discus) and Jalen Bell (triple jump and 400 hurdles) qualified for regionals in two events each with top four district finishes.
St. Cloud’s Jahleek Lawrence turned in the eighth best effort of the year in the high jump, as he moves on to regionals with a second place finish with a leap of 6’5 ½”.
In other county track action, Celebration and Poinciana participated in the Class 4A, District 5 championships last Saturday at George Jenkins High in Lakeland last Saturday. The Storm had strong finishes – placing 4th in the boys meet (92) and 3rd in the girls (95) championship. Poinciana was 5th in the girls meet.
Celebration boys team posted four individual district champions, as Evan Amaya won the 800 meters (2:02.11), Cooper James took the 1600 meter title (4:36.87), and Jose Gonzalez was tops in the javelin throw (134’-7”). The Storm’s other championship came in the 4 x 800 relay team of Alexander Del Puerto, Amaya, James, Justin Quispe (8:36.47) easily outdistanced second place Plant City by more than three seconds to win that event.
On the girls’ side, senior Florida State commit and distance specialist Catalina Edwards had a hand in 26 of Celebration’s 95 points. Edwards won the 3200 meter run in 12:22.99, was second in both 800 and 1600 meters and ran a leg on the 4 x 400 relay team that finished third.
Other top finishers for the Storm girls’ included the 4 x 800 relay team (2nd) and sophomore Makenna McBroom, who took 3rd in the 400 hurdles (1:11.16).
Poinciana saw Zaria Burnham advance in both the 100 (3rd-16.63) and 400 girls’ hurdles (4TH-1:14.39); Gabriel Arce moves in the boys 3200 meter run and 4 x 800 relay. Athletes from those two schools advance to the 4A, Region 2 meet at Sumner High (Riverview) on May 5.
Tohopekaliga was at the Class 4A, District 9 meet at Boone High in Orlando and will also send its qualifiers to the 4A, Region 2 meet in Sumner. In the stacked district, the Toho boys placed 4th (80 points) and girls were seventh. Host Boone won both team titles.
The Tiger boys managed two district champions as Javan Medina took the 800 meters in 1:58.16 and three-sport standout Javon Andrew-Brown won the triple jump (38’-6 ¾”). Johan Comacho advances in both the 1600 (2nd) and 3200 meter (3rd) runs; while Angel Mendoza and Peter De Almeda advance on the strength of a 2-3 finish in the pole vault. The 4 x 800 relay team moves forward with a fourth place finish; as the Tigers advance a total of 12 athletes to regionals.
Tohopekaliga’s girls team sends three athletes to regionals; Brianna Rodriguez (Pole Vault), Sofia Delgado (Shot Put) and Emily Martinez (Discus) all took silver medals.
At the Class 3A, District 8 meet at Eagle Lake on April 22, the Gateway boys (116.5) had a solid second place finish behind team champion Lakeland (150). Lake Wales (140) took the girls title; Gateway (77) was third and Liberty (33) eighth.
The Gateway girls advance five to regionals, including district champions Jazmin Brown (discus 101’-0”) and Molly Soukup in the pole vault (6’-11 ¾”). Double silver medalist Amela Johnson (100 and 200 meters) advances in a pair of events; while Aaliyah Rojas qualifies in three events for the Panthers, with a 2nd in the high jump, 3rd in the long jump and 4th in the triple jump.
Gateway boys will send eight individuals to Thursday’s regionals at Davenport High, including Levi Hill—the district champion in the 110 hurdles. The Panthers also had second place finishes from Jose Calderon (400 meters), Williams Martinez (Pole Vault), and Joshua Fuller (Triple Jump).
For the Liberty Chargers, Bryanna Raguette (100 hurdles) and Denali Daughin (400 hurdles) both advance to regionals, as does the girls 4 x 400 relay team that placed second in 4:21.8.
In order to advance to regionals, individual and relay teams had to finish in the top four in their district championship. A top-two finish in regionals earns an automatic berth to the state championships; while others can qualify for at-large bids by finishing in the top eight state wide with non-automatic qualifying times/distances.
District qualifiers Osceola, Harmony, St. Cloud, and Tohopekaliga will compete in the Class 4A, Region 3 Meet at Dwyer High (Palm Beach Gardens) on May 5; Celebration and Poinciana will be at the Class 4A, Region 2 Championships at Sumner High School (Riverview) on May 4; with Liberty and Gateway participating in the Class 3A, Region 2 meet at Davenport High on May 4.
Osceola County Regional Track Qualifiers — top 4 district finishes (district champions in Bold)
Class 4A, District 10 Meet (Harmony HS, 4/27)
Harmony (Girls): 800 Meters: Byrnn Magner (1st-2:24.82), Shelby Fertic (2nd-2:25.92); 1600 Meter: Magner (2nd-5:34.54), Lailana Decker (4th-5:35.19); 3200 Meter: Decker (2nd-12:11.54); 100 Hurdles: Alyssa Vargo (4th-16.88); 4 x 800 Relay: Magner, Fertic, Rebekkah Wiles, Decker (1st -10:12.05); High Jump: Drea Thompson (1st-5’-5 ¾”); Triple Jump: Hannah Vickers (2nd- 34’-5”); Pole Vault: Vickers (2nd -9’-0 ¼”), Lucy Eckholdt (4th – 7’-10 ½”); Javelin: Vickers (3rd-88’-11”); Shot: D’Vinity Cook (3rd-31’-8 ¾”), Chloe Barrett (4th-30’-01 ¾”)
Harmony (Boys): 400 Meters: Bryce Sanchez (3rd-50.04); 800 Meter: Joel Jean (4th-2:03.52); 3200 Meter: Jean (2nd-9:55.21); 110 Hurdles: Alex Tuyo (3rd-15.19); 400 Hurdles: Tuyo (1st- 55.26); 4 x 400 Relay: Adon Elienist, Connor Flaherty, Tuyo, Sanchez (3rd-3:30.04); Pole Vault: Angel Acevedo (2nd -10’-10”), Mason Shafer (3rd-10’-4”); Discus: Chris Wheeler (2nd- 134’-10”); Javelin: David Hunter (3rd-144’-5 ¾”)
St. Cloud (Girls): 400 Meters: Hannah Kline (4th-1:02.28); 100 Hurdles: Priscilla Rodriguez (2nd- 16.52); 400 Hurdles: Rodriguez (4th-1:09.35); 4 x 800 Relay: Kyla Perez, Isabelle Saice, Jada Schoyer, Jalissa Yarborough (3rd-10:48.38); Triple Jump: Sanaa Charles (3rd-34’-01 ½”), Xelyma Rodriguez (4th-33’-06 ¼”) Pole Vault: Sofia Hauser (2nd-7’-10 ½”)
St. Cloud (Boys): High Jump: Jahleek Lawrence (2nd-6’-5 ½”); Triple Jump: Yadiel Rivera (4th-43’-01 ¾”)
Osceola (Girls): Shannon Levy (1st-12.18); Quanaya Jenkins (3rd-12.72); 200: Jenkins (2nd-25.96), Zanaya Bright (4th-26.56); 800 Meter: Mia Gonzalez (4th-2:29.02); 400 Hurdles: Aaliyah Strachen (3rd-1:07.72); 4 x 100 Relay: Bright, Jenkins, Kadreah Varnardo, Levy (1st- 48.04); 4 x 400 Relay: Aniyah Radcliff, Strachen, Tatiana George, Jenkins (3rd-4:09.86)
Osceola (Boys): 100 Meter: Henley Placide (3rd-11.23); 200 Meter: Placide (3rd-22.86); 110 Hurdles: Jordan Stynes (4th-1:00.30); 400 Hurdles: Jalen Bell (4th-1:00.30); 4 x 100 Relay: Taevion Swint, Alijah Jenkins, Jakyri Watson, Placide (2nd-42.74); Triple Jump: Bell (2nd- 43’-06”); Discus: David Buggs (4th-134’-7”); Shot Put: Buggs (2nd - 44’-7 ¾”); Jamarion McCrimon (4th-42’-7 ¼”)
Class 4A, District 9 Meet (Boone HS, Orlando 4/22)
Tohopekalia (Girls): Pole Vault: Brianna Rodriguez (2nd-8’10 ¼”), Shot Put: Sofia Delgado (2nd - 29’9 ¼”); Discus: Emily Martinez (2nd-83’)
Tohopekaliga (Boys): 800 Meters: Javan Medina (1st-1:58.16); 1600 Meters: Johan Comacho (2nd-4:28.07); Zaniel Lizardo (3rd-4:33.01); 3200 Meters: Comacho (3rd-10:20:15); 4 x 800 Relay: Josua Brito, Anthony Allen, Darwin Vega, and Joaquin Francis (4th-3:32.48); Pole Vault: Angel Mendoza (2nd-12’9 ½”; Pete DeAlmeda (3rd-12’-3 ½”); Triple Jump: Javon Andrew-Brown (1st-38’-6 ¾”); Discus: Jairo Beltran (4th-117’-1”); Javelin: Bryan Mendoza (3rd-124’-9”)
Class 4A, District 5 Meet (George Jenkins HS, Lakeland, 4/22)
Celebration (Boys): 800 Meters: Evan Amaya (1st-2:02:11), Cooper James (2nd-2:03.70); Justin Quispe (4th- 2:06.82); 1600 Meters: James (1st-4:36.67); 4 x 400 Relay: Alexander Del Puerto, Amaya; Mitchell Sparks, Aiyden Amaya (4th-3:32.16); 4 x 800 Relay: Alexander Del Puerto, Amaya, James, Quispe (1st-8:36.47); Pole Vault: Jakobe Vongphrachanh (4th-8’-10 ¼”); Shot Put: Gavin Konopka (4th-38’-4 ¾”); Discus: Konopka (4th-117’-8”); Javelin: Jose Gonzalez (1st-134’-7”)
Celebration (Girls): 800 Meters: Catalina Edwards (2nd-2:25.3); 1600 Meters: Edwards (2nd-5:41.83); 3200 Meters: Edwards (1st-12:22.94); 100 Hurdles: Chelsea Moore (4th – 17.19); 400 Hurdles: Makenna McBroom (3rd-1:11.16); 4 x 400 Relay: Anna Balba, Carly Robbins, McBroom, Edwards (3rd-4:14.32); 4 x 800 Relay: Haylee Schadt, Ayla Moffit, Gabriella DeCesare, Robbins (2nd-10:32.55); Pole Vault: DeCesare 7’-4 ¾”)
Poinciana (Girls): 100 Hurdles: Zaria Burnham (3rd-16.63); 400 Hurdles: Burnham (4th-1:14.39); Triple Jump: Natalie Calderon (4th-33’-2”)
Poinciana (Boys): 3200 Meters: Gabriel Arce (4th-10:49.09); 4 x 800 Relay: Felipe Torres, Xavier Barns, Arce, Levi Lee (3rd-8:40.92)
Class 3A, District 8 Meet (Eagle Lake High, Eagle Lake, FL, 4/22)
Liberty (Girls): 100 Hurdles: Bryanna Ragguette (2nd-17.60); 400 Hurdles: Denali Dauphin (4th-1:14.70); 4 x100 Relay: Asia Antenor, Dauphin, Nehmiah Ives, Ragguette (2nd-4:21.8)
Gateway (Boys): 400 Meters: Jose Calderon (2nd-50.79), Darius Young (3rd-50.81); 3200 Meters: Xavier Rivera-Melendez (3rd-11:09.7); 110 Hurdles: Levi Hill (1st-15.58); 4 x400 Relay: Darius Young, Calderon, Kaleb Hill, John Pagan (4th-3:31.58); 4 x 800 Relay: Rivera-Melendez, Dominic Briggs, Jovani Matos, Aiden Lake (3rd-8:43.31); Pole Vault: Williams Martinez (2nd-11’5 ¾”), Dalton Gould (3rd-9’-5 ¾”); Triple Jump: Joshua Fuller (2nd-40’-8 ¾”), Fahmi Goldston (4th-40’-6 ¼”)
Gateway (Girls): 200 Meters: Amela Johnson (2nd-25.64); 400 Meters: Johnson (2nd-59.23); High Jump: Victoria Silva, Aaliyah Rojas (T2nd- 4’-6”); Long Jump: Rojas (3rd-16’-5”); Pole Vault: Molly Soukup (1st-6’-11 ¾”); Triple Jump: Rojas (4th-32’-2 ¾”) Discus: Jazmin Brown (1st-101’-0”)
