ALL-COUNTY BOYS TRACK
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Johan Comacho set three school records in track, qualified for states and won the 1600 and 3200 meter runs at the Orange Belt Conference championships. PHOTO/TOHOPEKALIGA H.S
In a season that saw several athletes excel at their specialties, perhaps the most consistent effort came from Tohopekaliga distance runner Johan Camacho, the 2023 Osceola News-Gazette’s Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
Camacho won both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs at the Orange Belt Conference meet, and continued by finishing second and third at districts and then qualified for the state championship in the 3200 meter event by becoming the only male athlete from Osceola County to win an individual regional track championship—taking the 3200 meters in 9:36.62. Camacho capped his season with a 13th place finish at the state meet in 9: 32.4.
A senior, Camacho broke school records this season in the 1600, 3200, and 4 x 800 meter relay team. He also set a school record in the 5K in cross country this past fall.
“There were a lot of outstanding track athletes in the county this year,” Tohopekaliga coach Mathew Fenn said. “But Johan certainly had a phenomenal year for us – setting three school records in track, one in cross country and qualifying for the state championship. He certainly was the MVP of our team and deserving of this award. I am very proud of what he has accomplished with our program and look forward to what he does next.”
Others considered included his teammate Jevon Andrew-Brown, Osceola sprinter Henley Placide, Celebration middle distance runner Evan Amaya, Kowboys field specialist David Buggs, Harmony hurdler Alex Tuyo and St. Cloud high jumper Jahleek Lawrence.
Andrew-Brown won the OBC triple jump and placed third in the high jump. Like Camacho, Placide was a double winner at OBC’s – taking the 100 and 200 meter dash and was third in districts in both. Amaya was the 800 champion at both OBC and the District 4A-5 meet.
OHS’ Buggs took two individual titles at the Orange Belt Conference meet, winning the shot put and discus. He added a third place finish in the javelin. Buggs qualified for the 4A state meet in the discus, where he finished 12th.
Tuyo made it to states in the 400 meter hurdles, where he finished in 15th. He had a pair of OBC titles in the 100 and 400 hurdles and added a district championship in the 400. Lawrence won the high jump at OBC’s, was second and districts and earned an at-large bid to the state championship with a third place finish at regionals.
