The 2A region 4 girls started off this year's triple regional meet at Tradewinds Park. As the girls started to settle in after the gun went off, Natalie Varela took an early lead to set the pace. Not long after going into the second mile, Tsion Yared from Pine Crest and Nicole Matysik decided to take over. The two girls battled the whole race but in the end Yared hit the gas pedal at the last mile to go and took home a regional victory. Not only did Yared win the race, her team won first place as well.
Yared was very pleased with her performance and excited how her teamed did. We asled Yared about their team goals for states and here's what she had to say.
"For team goal we defiantly want to go out there and defend our title. We worked really hard throughout this summer and entire season and we just want to go out there and perform the best that we can".
Tsion Yared ended up winning by 30 seconds and crossing the line at 18:54.44. Nicole Matysik fought the whole way but finished with a time of 19:25.26 to take second. Shortly after Matysik finished, two Pine Crest girls finished 3-4. Emily Faulhaber ran 19:43.64 for third and Maya Beleznay, who came in fourth at 19:57.53. Natalie Varela, the lone wolf for her school, advanced to state with a fifth place finish at 20:13.40. With 3 girls from Pine Crest in the top 5, they ended up winning the girl's team title and advancing to states. Moving on with them to states is Satellite High School, St. Brendan, Cardinal Gibbons, Ransom Everglades School, and Rockledge.
Following the girl's race, the 2A region 4 boys took the field which included only one sub 16 minute runner. Troy Smith from Rockledge had an awesome PR of 15:44 at last week's district race. That PR definitely gave him confidence for this regional meet since he took the lead right from the gun. Smith continued throughout the first mile still leading but with half the Satellite team trailing behind him. Smith faced this at districts so wasn't too worried because stayed the path and finished in first place, earning his title as regional champ.
"It was a pretty hot race, very humid conditions," Smith said. "There were a few different muddy spots on the course but other than that it was pretty good. It was a little bit hilly, so it slowed my time down a little but I still felt good."
Smith ended up running a time of 16:34.34 to beat second place Robert Pedroza from Key West, who crossed the line in 16:46.45.
Danny Ferro, who was a favorite in this race, placed third with a time of 16:58.58. Just 4 seconds off Ferro was Owen Allen who clocked 17:03.58 for fourth place. Here are the teams moving on to states Satellite High School, Cocoa Beach, Ransom Everglades, Key West, Rockledge, and Calvary Christian Academy.