Full 4A Region 1 Meet Results and Coverage
Photo Album by John Calderon (2800 photos)
Video Coverage by Todd Grasley
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For years now 4A Region 1 has been coined the "Region of Death" in both the cross country and track & field seasons. It is known for taking its victims with unexpected surprises and tenacious competition. In most events if you somehow manage to make it out of this Orlando regional championship, you are almost certainly bound for All-State honors. The state's best often are left home and distance athletes in particular are often forced to make decisions to focus on a single event.
Road Ends Prematurely for Jovan Davis
The first victim of the night was Jovan Davis. In a sad twist for the Warrior of the Week winner, it was not the competition but a hurdle that ended his season. After qualifying as the top seed into the finals in the 110 Hurdles, the Wekiva senior took a nasty spill in his specialty the 300 meter hurdles and was done for the day. Davis is one of the top intermediate hurdlers in the nation, but the injury caused him to miss both finals, ending his season at least through the state meet. Hopefully Jovan will be okay and perhaps earn some redemption at post-season meets like the All-Star Showdown, Golden South, or New Balance Outdoors.
Girls Sprints
Fortunately for track fans, Tynia Gaither soldiered back from her injuries suffered at the CARIFTA Games over the weekend and was able to compete--and win--both of her events. Gaither lead the way with an 11.70 in the 100 meters and a 24.17 in the 200 meters. It took a 12.11 and a 25.15 to advanced in those races.
In the 400 meters, it was Olympia senior Shadaey Campbell earning the victory over Bria Goodson of Orange Park 55.39 to 55.87. Campbell had a nice night, also taking second in the 100 to Gaither with an 11.98.
Eleven girls went under 60 seconds a total of 17 times. It took a 58.77 just to get out of the prelims and a 57.14 to earn a trip to the state meet!
The 4x400 was pretty brutal. Colonial head to muster a 3:57.14, tenth best in the state this season, to keep their season going... that got them fourth. They along with champs Olympia (3:54.68), Winter Park (3:56.02), and Wekiva (3:56.39) will advance. Lake Mary (3:58), Evans (3:58), Lake Brantley (4:03), Ocoee (4:05), and Buchholz (4:05) were not so lucky.
Star-studded Osceola earned the 4x100 title with a time of 46.59 that ties their state #3 time they set at Florida Relays earlier this month. Wekiva (47.32), Lake Brantley (48.12), and Deltona (49.00) also move on.
Girls Distance
Bridget Blake of Dr. Phillips took first in the 1600 (5:00.23) and second in the 3200 (11:13.39) as the top double on the night. Our Warrior of the Week after coming back from surgery last week to win her district, Kira Soderstrom punched her ticket twice as well with a second place 5:00.38 in the 1600 and a third place 11:23.98 for eight laps. As did Mary Kate Ponder, who finished third in the 1600 with a 5:02.71 and then came back to win the 3200 in a new personal best 11:11.77.
The 3200 was particularly brutal, leaving home three girls with times in the mid 11:30s. The magic numbers to move on were 2:20.09, 5:14.24, and 11:30.35.
Winter Park (9:33), Dr. Phillips (9:37), Lake Mary (9:41), and Hagerty (9:42) advance to state, with Olympia (9:49) missing the cut.
Girls Hurdles
Jazzmine Wilkerson (Evans) and Carmelia Stewart (Wekiva) qualified in both hurdles. Wilkerson earned the win over Stewart and Samantha McCan (Lake Brantley) at 300H 44.39-to-44.58-44.66. Alexis Taylor of Lake Mary was the final qualifier in that event in 45.19. In the high hurdlers, Jameshia Gant (Osceola) took the tape in a close one over Stewart, 14.81 to 14.85. Camile Hurdley (Lake Mary) and Wilkerson were the other qualifiers in 15.19 and 15.35.
Girls Field
Evans went 1-2-3 in the high jump with Julietta Hypollite earning the championship with a 5-4 and teammates Joy Brown and Lloyencia Matthews two inches lower.
Carmelia Stewart made herself a four-time qualifier by winning the triple jump in 38-1 to go with her hurdles and 4x1 finishes.
The long jump was fiece with DerRenae Freeman, junior from West Orange, hitting a state leading and US #4 leap of 19-10.5... unfortunately, no wind guage on it. Jazmine Bowser of Mandarin was second with a 19-2.5 that is the third best in Florida this year. It took 18-1 to keep the season going in this one.
Lake Mary freshman Erica Sergeant won the pole vault in 10-6... seven girls cleared 9-6.
Kaitlyn Aries of Hagerty won the shot put in 35-7. And Winter Springs sophomore Rebecca Evans was the only double qualifier for the throws... she won the Discus in 113-5 and shot was fourth in 35-0.75.
Boys Sprints
No surprise here, Boone junior Marvin Bracy won both of his events making his 10.41 in the 100 finals (that followed a 10.45 in the prelims) look easy. He followed that by winning the 200 as well in 21.24 (21.37 prelims). It took 10.91 and 22.01 to advance to state in those.
Dr. Phillips sophomore Reggie Glover won the 400 metesr in 47.44 after going 47.51 in the prelims. That gave him two slots at the state meet after finishing second in the 200 (21.55). Minimum to advance was 48.92.
Sub-42 in the 4x100 normally means state medalist, but in the region of death it means that Ocoee's quick 41.98 did not make the cut. Flagler Palm Coast won this one in 41.56, with Boone (41.69), Winter Park (41.88), and Buchholz (41.92) also moving on.
FPC did it again by winning in 3:18.62. Lake Brantley (3:18.63), Colonial (3:19.69), and Olympia (3:20.07) also advance... but 6 other teams who eclipsed 3:25, including Wekiva in 3:21.14, will not.
Boys Distance
Year in and year out... the boys distance races are the main reason for this reason's DEATH monicker. The most distance depth per capita for whatever reason consistently comes from this area of the state. This year was certainly no exception...
Let's start with the 4x800, since it was the first event to have a visit from the grim reaper. Winter Park sails to an 8:00.38, which is the 9th fastest time in the entire state this season... not enough. That got them fifth place and a view from the bleachers next week--tough tough tough! Colonial outlead Lake Brantley 7:54.11 to 7:54.12 for the region of death championship with Dr. Phillips and Winter Springs close behind grabbing the last two tickets in 7:55.04 and 7:57.28.
The 800 meters was also a barn burner. It took Cameron Davis of Fleming Island, who is considered in the hunt for a state title, a 1:54.53 to grab him that last qualifying spot... that is a time that would win most regions and it is the 6th fastest time in the entire state this year. YES... 6th in the entire state (any classifiction), 4th in this regional meet. And that is why it is the region of death. Otniel Teixeira of Lake Brantley, who has perhaps the hardest name to spell in the state, continues his amazing season that has taken a lot of people by surprise. He wins in 1:53.55 with Yeovanti Williams (Flagler Palm Coast) and Daniel Dey (Olympia) taking second (1:53.91) and third (1:54.39).
The other two distance races... I wouldn't call them disappointing... I'd call them strategic! Most of the favorites seemed to divy up the qualifying slots rather than tear each other to shreds. There was clearly some communication and strategery, specifically among teammates, as to who would go after which events.
Sophomore from Colonial Andres Arroyo won a restrained and strategic 1600 race that could have certain required a 4:15 with this field in other circumstances. He won in 4:21.19 with Eduardo Garcia (Mandarin) 4:21.38, Logan Kruse (Dr. Phillips) 4:21.62, and Wiliam Anguish (Winter Park) 4:21.66 falling in line just behind to grab the four qualifying slots. Peter Licari of Hagerty ran a nice 4:23.61, but in the region of death that doesn't get you to the next round. Stars Phil Duncan, Daniel Millay, Chris Godwin, and Daniel Dey all opted to DNF in this one to save some gas for their later events. That decision would pay off for all but Godwin.
JL Hines of Boone looked very fit with a 9:17.81 win in the 3200. Millay and Duncan, both having dropped the 1600, used their relatively fresh legs to earn second (9:26) and third (9:31), relatively conservative times for athletes of their caliber. Eduardo Garcia made himself look like a stud, being the only double qualifier in the distance events by grabbing the fourth slot in 9:32.97 to go with his second in the 1600.
A number of stars will be sitting next week out including Licari, Godwin (9:41 in the 3200), Timothy Nguyen (his 4x8 did advance), and Nick Posada.
Boys Hurdles
Jovan Davis was slated to be the favorite in both events, with the state #2 time in the 300 Hurdles and a 14.10 in the 110 prelims. His injury in the prelims left the door wide open.
Dr. Phillips senior Chris Curtis won the 110s easily in 14.65.
Aquariouse Workman, junior from Dr. Phillips, won a tight race in the 300 Hurdles by beating out Kimllon Dillon of Apopka 38.82 to 38.86.
Boys Field
Six athletes jumped better than 23 feet with Michael Tillman of Buchholz leading the way in 23-11. Karl Barr of Orange Park and Jimel Wright of Deland both hit 23-9.6 and Dereck Knott of Colonial took the final slot with his 23-7.5. Xavier Youngblood of Lake Brantley and Jovan Davis of Wekiva (extending his tough night) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Jared Watkins of Dr. Phillips won the pole vault in a Florida #3 14-7.
JP Friday of Colonial won the triple jump in a Florida #5 46-9.5. Eight athletes were better than 44 feet.
The shot put saw four qualifiers over 50 feet with LaQuentin Smith of DP the victor with a 52-8.5. The discus was won by Middleburg sophomore Derek Freigtag with a 141-1.