In a year marked by several outstanding candidates and performances, St. Cloud’s Kyla Perez is the Osceola News-Gazette’s Girls Track Athlete of the Year.
Athlete of the Year and All-County honors were determined by season-long performance, with special consideration given for results during the Orange Belt Conference championship; as well as district, regional and state competition.
Perez put on an absolute show at the OBC Championships — showing incredible versatility in winning the 400, 800, and 1600-meter races, and then finishing second in the 3,200. She went on to win a district title in the 800, anchored St. Cloud’s 4x800 relay team to another, and qualified for the states in the 800, where she finished 12th in Class 4A state meet.
Along the way, she broke the school record numerous times in the 800 while just missing school marks in the 400 and 1600.
“This was the best year in my career and I had so much fun,” Perez said. “I felt I should have qualified for states during last year’s regional and when I didn’t it was really frustrating. This year, I just decided to leave it all on the track and I ended with a personal best and got through to states.”
Perez added that she is looking forward to her senior season.
“The goal is to set records in the 400 and 1600 and be the best version of myself,” she said. “I want to keep excelling in the 800 but I also want to use my leadership and experience to help my teammates.”
“Kyla is an exceptional athlete, who just works extremely hard on a daily basis,” Bulldogs Coach Kevin Harkema said. “We are really building a great culture in the sport at St. Cloud and Kyla is one of the main reasons that has driven us to that success.”
Osceola’s Aaliya Strachen, a district champ and fifth at state in the long jump with an effort of 18’-3”, Celebration sprinter Anna Balba, and OBC dual hurdles champion Priscilla Rodriguez were also among those in the county-wide athlete race.
All-County Girls Track
Athlete of the Year: Kyla Perez, St. Cloud
All County Team:
100 meters: Nicole Olivera (Harmony), Anna Balba (Celebration), Norlena Forde (Osceola); 200: Aaliya Strachen (O), Balba (C), Olivera (H); 400: Kyla Perez (SC), Forde (O), Strachen (O); 800: Perez (SC), Evelyn Juden (C), Carly Robbins (C); 1600: Perez (SC), Lailana Decker (SC), Claire Rebun (C); 3200: Decker (SC), Rebun (C), Perez (SC); 100 Hurdles: Priscilla Rodriguez (SC), Joy Duncan (Poinciana), Melina Figueroa (C); 400 Hurdles: Rodriguez (SC), Natalia Calderon (P), Kylie Kieran (C); 4x100 Relay: Harmony (D’Vinity Cook, Jamya Louverture, Brianna Collins, Olivera); 4x400 Relay: Celebration (Balba. Robbins, Sophia Meadows, Juden); 4x800 Relay: Celebration (Rebun, Meadows, Robbins, Juden); High Jump: Joy Duncan (P), Sanaa Charles (Tohopekaliga), Ava McCabe (C); Long Jump: Strachen (O), Olivera (H), Jirehis Chicinova (H); Triple Jump: Korbyn Jones (O), Cheyenne Price (O), Calderon (P); Pole Vault: Brooke Bonesteel (SC), Jina Gonzalez (SC), Harper Avedisian (H); Discus: Jazmin Brown (G), Sofia Delgado (T), Rachel Winston (O); Javelin: Sophia Meadows (C), Vanessa Vohs (SC), Savannah Kroener (SC); Shot: Delgado (T), Chloe Barrett (H), Alexys Frias (SC).
