3A Region 2: Liberty Boys, Lake Nona Girls Claim First Ever Regional Crowns

Apr 24, 2014

On-Site Coverage

Lake Minneola has hosted several postseason meets this season. The final edition for the track season was Wednesday when it played host to the 3A Region 2 championships. Sitting atop a scenic hilltop, the track action was just as awesome as athletes throughout central Florida attempted to punch their ticket to the state championships next weekend in Jacksonville.

The boys from Liberty have made school history in taking the first regional title in any sport at the young high school. Each week the regional virtual point lead went back and forth between Land O Lakes and Liberty, Coach Pauley reminded his team each week where they stood, and what the others had accomplished. Having a clear goal in mind each week to “change the boards”, Liberty moves on to next week hoping to make history in Jacksonville. They dominated the meet from the early going and ultimately finished the day off with 103 points over Gainesville with 64. Liberty advanced athletes in 12 of 17 events. Juniors Rogelio Araiza and Devarius Turner will each compete in 4 events after an impressive series of events. Turner leaves Clermont with wins in the 100 and 4x100, and a new PR in the 200. He ran the 4x400 last week with Araiza (first time for each) and it looks like they each found themselves a new event to shine in. The relay team also includes senior Joshua Wilson, who has 3 events for the big show.

The ladies of Land O Lakes came in as the ‘on paper’ favorites over Lake Nona, but most people know that really doesn’t mean much once the spikes are laced up. Depth was the key to this meet, Lake Nona did not win a single event, but performed well enough to score crucial points, and took the title. Based on their reaction, They too were surprised by the outcome. Sophmore Mikayla Shields said it best “A lot of us hit a PR today, and this was a pleasant surprise win”. This team has several underclassmen who performed well today . Next week might just be a coronation for Miami Northwestern Lady Bulls, but Lake Nona will take several athletes to compete at the state meet. Shields will compete in three events, while teammate Adair Lyden will compete in two.

Video Interviews By Donald Lamb

Liberty coaching staff	Mikayla Shields - Lake Nona High School	Kenric Young - Gainesville High School	Janavious Dawkins - Liberty High School
Sherline Valentin - East River High School

Girls Highlights

100 Meter Hurdles - Juliette Smith (Gainesville HS) 15.30 SB; Haley Rodriguez (Lake Minneola HS) 15.37; Mikayla Shields (Lake Nona HS) 15.79; Monae' Nichols (Auburndale HS) 15.41 SB; Juliette Smith (Gainesville HS) 15.62;
100 Meter Dash - Nia Flagg (Gainesville HS) 12.08 SB; Breona Butts (Mainland HS) 12.17; BeJai Fray (Lake Weir HS) 12.18; Courtney William (Auburndale HS) 12.28; BeJai Fray (Lake Weir HS) 12.19; Breona Butts (Mainland HS) 12.28; Nia Flagg (Gainesville HS) 12.30; Sherline Valentin (East River HS) 12.44; Courtney William (Auburndale HS) 12.50;
1,600 Meter Run - Emily Kerns (Mitchell HS) 5:14.19; Audrey Carpenter (Ocala Vanguard HS) 5:16.25 SB; Alyssa Bayliff (Seabreeze HS) 5:17.02 SB; Adair Lyden (Lake Nona HS) 5:24.44 SB;
200 Meter Dash - Sherline Valentin (East River HS) 25.00; Wilena Little (Springstead HS) 25.18; Payton Ashe (Gainesville HS) 25.26; Breona Butts (Mainland HS) 25.55; Nia Flagg (Gainesville HS) 25.64 SB; Darien Davis (River Ridge HS) 25.83 SB; Sherline Valentin (East River HS) 25.00 SB; Wilena Little (Springstead HS) 25.09 SB; Breona Butts (Mainland HS) 25.61; Robyn Griffin (Kathleen HS) 25.68 SB; Payton Ashe (Gainesville HS) 25.69; Nia Flagg (Gainesville HS) 25.86; Jakeara Evans (Lake Weir HS) 25.80 SB;
300 Meter Hurdles - Monae' Nichols (Auburndale HS) 45.94 SB; Juliette Smith (Gainesville HS) 46.20 SB; Del'Laijha Bouie (Kathleen HS) 47.91 SB; Monae' Nichols (Auburndale HS) 47.07;
3,200 Meter Run - Claire Farnsworth (Lecanto HS) 11:30.84 SB; Emily Kerns (Mitchell HS) 11:35.58; Adair Lyden (Lake Nona HS) 11:35.75; Alyssa Bayliff (Seabreeze HS) 11:38.25 SB; Audrey Carpenter (Ocala Vanguard HS) 11:53.67;
400 Meter Dash - Hallie Grimes (Land O Lakes HS) 57.09; Payton Ashe (Gainesville HS) 58.17 SB; Terion Davis (Kathleen HS) 59.82 SB; Payton Ashe (Gainesville HS) 59.93;
4x100 Meter Relay - Lake Weir HS 47.64; Auburndale HS 49.00; Matanzas HS 49.43; Kathleen HS 49.45; Lake Weir HS 48.05 (prelims); Gainesville HS 48.36 (prelims); Edgewater HS 49.26 (prelims); Auburndale HS 49.52 (prelims); Matanzas HS 49.81 (prelims); Mainland HS 49.94 (prelims);
4x400 Meter Relay - Land O Lakes HS 4:03.94;
4x800 Meter Relay - Seabreeze HS 9:52.12; Land O Lakes HS 10:04.99; Springstead HS 10:07.69;
800 Meter Run - Forever Young (Seabreeze HS) 2:21.67 SB; Erin Blackwell (Springstead HS) 2:21.87 SB; Sophia Thomas (Belleview High School) 2:23.35; Andreanna VanQuelef (Lecanto HS) 2:24.63 SB;
Discus - Tori Henderson (Edgewater HS) 112-3 SB; Gabrielle Durant (Lake Nona HS) 111-7 SB; Alani Alexander (Mitchell HS) 110-11 SB;
High Jump - Clarissa Cutliff (Edgewater HS) 5-4; Victoria Cannata (Land O Lakes HS) 5-2; Laurice Evans (East River HS) 5-2 SB; Alina Merceron (Mitchell HS) 5-2;
Long Jump - BeJai Fray (Lake Weir HS) 18-8.25; Wilena Little (Springstead HS) 18-6 SB; Madison Ash (Lake Nona HS) 17-4.75 SB; Christine McNeal (Lake Weir HS) 17-4.75 SB; Shaniqua Stevens(Kathleen HS) 17-1.5 SB;
Pole Vault - Taylor Anderson (Mitchell HS) 10-6; Kaleena Jesson (East River HS) 10-0; savannah drummonds (Matanzas HS) 10-0 SB;
Shot Put - Shamera McTier (Auburndale HS) 39-10.25 SB; Gabrielle Durant (Lake Nona HS) 38-9 SB; BeJai Fray (Lake Weir HS) 37-3.75; Kelsey Mckee (Land O Lakes HS) 37-0.75 SB; Jhade Hayes (Land O Lakes HS) 36-0.25 SB; Destiny Small (Kathleen HS) 36-0 SB;
Triple Jump - Juliette Smith (Gainesville HS) 36-9.25; Mikayla Shields (Lake Nona HS) 36-8 SB; Kassidy Wallace (Land O Lakes HS) 36-7.5 SB; Shaniqua Stevens (Kathleen HS) 36-6.25 SB; Christine McNeal (Lake Weir HS) 36-0.5 SB; Victoria Cannata (Land O Lakes HS) 35-4.75; Aaliyah Mckenzie (Zephyrhills HS) 35-0 SB;

Boys Highlights

100 Meter Dash - Devarius Turner (Liberty High School) 10.57; Bennie Wesley (Winter Haven HS) 10.60; Kenric Young (Gainesville HS) 10.64 SB; Adrian Killins (Mainland HS) 10.65 SB; Javon Harrison (Kathleen HS) 10.78; Justin Winkler (Liberty High School) 10.88; Bennie Wesley (Winter Haven HS) 10.71; Devarius Turner (Liberty High School) 10.75; Kenric Young (Gainesville HS) 10.87;Adrian Killins (Mainland HS) 10.89; Taylor Dixon (South Lake HS) 10.98; Craig Rucker (Edgewater HS) 11.00; Javon Harrison (Kathleen HS) 11.00;
1,600 Meter Run - Tyler Stahl (Land O Lakes HS) 4:28.38; Rogelio Araiza (Liberty High School) 4:30.91 SB; Fraol Abebe (Lake Nona HS) 4:31.64 SB; Liam Conville (Matanzas HS) 4:33.05 SB; Eric Foster (Sebring HS) 4:34.85 SB;
200 Meter Dash - Kenric Young (Gainesville HS) 21.05 SB; Devarius Turner (Liberty High School) 21.73; Adrian Killins (Mainland HS) 21.84; Bennie Wesley (Winter Haven HS) 21.86; Javon Harrison(Kathleen HS) 21.93; Devarius Turner (Liberty High School) 21.38 SB; Kenric Young (Gainesville HS) 21.60; Bennie Wesley (Winter Haven HS) 21.52; Taylor Dixon (South Lake HS) 22.08 SB; Adrian Killins (Mainland HS) 21.79; Javon Harrison (Kathleen HS) 22.12; Kylan Oates (Gainesville HS) 22.21 SB; Jernir Etienne (Lake Weir HS) 22.24 SB;
300 Meter Hurdles - Kyle Drollette (Lake Region HS) 39.55 SB; Janavious Dawkins (Liberty High School) 39.94 SB;
3,200 Meter Run - Jake Poore (Land O Lakes HS) 9:48.82; Tyler Stahl (Land O Lakes HS) 9:54.89; Antoine Miller (Lake Nona HS) 9:57.75 SB;
400 Meter Dash - Angel Alvarez (Lake Nona HS) 49.15 SB; Renestin St. Louis (Winter Haven HS) 50.10; Jerry Compare (Auburndale HS) 50.39 SB; Daishaun Grimes (Harmony HS) 50.54 SB; Jacob Rice (Lecanto HS) 50.85 SB; Renestin St. Louis (Winter Haven HS) 50.37; Angel Alvarez (Lake Nona HS) 50.74;
4x100 Meter Relay - Liberty High School 41.37; Mainland HS 41.66; Land O Lakes HS 42.42; Auburndale HS 42.49; Mainland HS 42.23 (prelims); Liberty High School 42.42 (prelims);
4x400 Meter Relay - Gainesville HS 3:20.07; Lake Weir HS 3:20.47; Lake Nona HS 3:20.83; Liberty High School 3:24.14;
4x800 Meter Relay - Lake Nona HS 8:01.92; Liberty High School 8:02.51; Edgewater HS 8:08.64; Land O Lakes HS 8:09.47; Lake Weir HS 8:15.40;
800 Meter Run - Calahan Warren (Auburndale HS) 1:56.44 SB; Josh Rodriguez (Lake Weir HS) 1:56.81 SB; Rogelio Araiza (Liberty High School) 1:58.00 SB; Sean Trainor (Edgewater HS) 1:58.38 SB;
Discus - Dylan Stoner (Lecanto HS) 150-6 SB; Gary Demarest Jr (Sebring HS) 149-10 SB; Andre Hale (Lake Nona HS) 142-3 SB; JaDarrius Lyons (Kathleen HS) 140-3 SB;
High Jump - Bobby Harris (Springstead HS) 6-6;
Long Jump - Jordyn Blount (Sebring HS) 22-11.5 SB; Joshua Wilson (Liberty High School) 22-11.25 SB; Marion Brown (Liberty High School) 22-6; Jeremy Lawson (Gainesville HS) 22-4.25 SB;Anthony Brown (Lake Minneola HS) 22-3.75 SB; James Pouncey (Citrus HS) 22-0.5;
Pole Vault - Devon Jerothe (River Ridge HS) 14-6 SB; Garrett Jerothe (River Ridge HS) 13-0 SB; Byron Cobb (Sebring HS) 12-6 SB; Jeff Burnette (Lecanto HS) 12-6; Jon Guilbe (Matanzas HS) 12-6;
Triple Jump - Dontarian Evans (Gainesville HS) 46-0.25; Stefen Zapata (Land O Lakes HS) 46-0; Marion Brown (Liberty High School) 45-11; Jeremy Lawson (Gainesville HS) 45-1 SB; Jernir Etienne(Lake Weir HS) 45-0.75 SB; Bobby Harris (Springstead HS) 44-1.75 SB;