A large contingent of athletes from Osceola County will contend for state titles at the FHSAA Class 1A, 3A and 4A track and field championships this weekend at the University of Florida.
City of Life Academy junior David Buggs competes Wednesday (today) at the Class 1A meet, a qualifier in the discus.
Gateway will compete in the 3A meet on Friday, while athletes from Celebration, Tohopekaliga, Osceola, and Harmony will compete in the 4A meet on Saturday.
To qualify for states, an athlete or relay team had to finish in the top two in their regional meet or qualify for one of eight at-large spots based on performances from all regionals.
Leading the way among county athletes are five regional champions, including Celebration’s Jared Falchook (800 meters), Tohopekaliga’s Orlando Descartes (high jump and javelin), Harmony’s Drea Thompson (high jump) and Elizabeth Hernstrom (pole vault). Gateway’s Paige Alise (javelin) and Amela Johnson (400) also won regional championships.
Falchook will head to states as the fourth overall seed in his event; while Thompson posted the second best high jump across all regionals with a leap of 2.00 meters (6.56 feet). Alise will also compete as a number two seed in the javelin.
But those regional winners are not the only Osceola athletes to earn a spot in the state championships. The Celebration boys’ team will send both their 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams to states. The 4x 800 team of Falchook, James Cooper, Justin Quispe and Sebastian Valez has a real chance of reaching the podium as they will go into the event as the number seven overall seed.
Celebration girls earning spot at the state meet include Catalina Edwards, who will be a No. 2 seed in the 800 meters and a 7th seed in the 1600.
Harmony’s Anthony White qualified for the high jump, as did Isaiah Oquendo in the 100-meter sprint. The Longhorns 4x100 relay team, that features Oquendo and football star Tyler Emans will also compete.
Longhorn women advancing beside Thompson and Hernstorm include Thora Gaston in the javelin. Harmony’s 4x800 relay team also qualified as an atlarge team.
Descartes qualified for two individual events, winning both the high jump and the javelin. A top candidate for the Osceola News Gazette’s Track Athlete of the Year, Descartes will go into the state meet as the top seed in the high jump and second seed in the javelin. He will be joined by his teammates Andrew Brown who qualified in the triple jump and Kameron Davis who had the fourth best toss among all javelin competitors.
Osceola High School’s chances of reaching the podium will rely mainly on their relay teams. Led by football standouts Bo Mascoe and Taevion Swint, the Kowboys qualified their 4x100 relay team, while both the Lady Kowboys 4x100 and 4x400 teams will compete. Shannon Levy also qualified as an individual in the 100 meters, where she will be seeded 12th.
St. Cloud will send one to the state meet. Tiffany Febus qualified in the 800 meter run.
The 3A meet on Friday will feature three from Osceola County. Gateway’s Aaron Campbell will be the 14th seed in the 400 meters after his third place finish at the regional meet at East River; as will Alise and Johnson.
“When you really think about it, the number of kids qualifying from our county is pretty remarkable,” Osceola High Coach Eric Pinellas said. “Orange County has four or five track clubs that kids can get involved in elementary and middle school, Osceola has one. Many kids aren’t even aware of it or may not have the resources to join that club. High school track is their first opportunity to get involved so they are already behind the eight ball by the time they get to this level.”
