The cool February air couldn't chill the heat from the track that was caused by today's athletes at the 3rd Annual Windermere Meet of Champions track meet. The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders boy's and girl's teams came away winners from Saturday's meet, with the boy's scoring 113.50 points and the girls scoring 109 points. The athletes who competed gave great effort, which resulted in fast times and down-to-the-wire finishes. Here are a few performers and performances that stood out to us on Saturday afternoon.
Ugarte, Chatfield battle in 300mH Heat 1
Amaya Ugarte, the senior from Windemere High School had a very productive day on the track and in the field. She won the triple jump, jumping 11.5m, the long jump, jumping 5.53, the high jump, jumping 1.78m and she placed second in the 300h, running a time of 43.96 seconds. After Saturday's performance, she's ranked second in the high jump, eight in the state in the 300 hurdles, sixth in the state in the long jump and third in the triple jump. She's a jack of all trades and she had put on a show.
Christian Leary, the junior from Edgewater ran 10.50 in the 100m, the second fastest time in the state and in Class 3A. The star football player showed that he not only can get it done on the gridiron, but he is a star on the track as well. This was also a new PR for Leary, with his previous best time in the event being 10.80.
Janiyah Townsend, the senior from Jones High School had an impressive showing in both the 100m and the 200m on Saturday afternoon. She won the 100m with a time of 11.88, which is a new PR, the second fastest time in Class 3A and the third fastest time in the state. She also finished second in the 200m, running a time of 24.54, which is a new season's best and the second fastest time in 3A, behind her teammate, Jeniya Burton.
Jeniya Burton, speaking of Burton, the junior from Jones High School ran an impressive time in the 400m, clocking 56.57. This time is the second fastest time in 3A and the fourth fastest time in the state.
Carolyn Brown, the senior from Boone High School won the 800m with a time of 2:20.80, which is the sixth fastest time in Class 4A. Brown won by 3 seconds against a tough field, and she definitely a runner to watch as the season progresses, as she looks to challenge some of the top 800m runners in Class 4A.
Nathan Bailes, the junior from Buchholz High School ran a phenomenal 1600m race, running a time 4:26.39. This is a new PR for Bailes and it gives him the second fastest time in Class 4A. Bailes also finished second to Aiden Arnold (who also dropped a huge 800m PR of 1:58) in the 800m, running a time of 1:59.59.
Emelia Chatfield, the senior from St. Thomas Aquinasand the Texas Longhorns commit ran a cracking 200m time of 24.08 seconds, which is the second fastest time in the state and the third fastest time in the nation. Chatfield has the third fastest time in the nation in the 100 hurdles, the sixth fastest time in the 300 hurdles in addition to her ranking in the 200m.
Chadrick Richards, the junior from Lake Brantley is a star on the rise. We told you last week to keep an eye out him, and he proved our point on Saturday. He ran a new personal best of 21.81 in the 200m, which not only gave him the win, but it's 10th fastest time in the state and the fifth fastest in Class 4A. His 10.79 was also a new PB and the sixth fastest time in Class 4A.