Preps

Wharton boys, girls extend streaks

By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Published April 23, 2004

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TAMPA - As usual, Wharton swept the boys and girls titles in Thursday's Class 3A, District 10 track meet, but this year's championship had more than its share of drama.

"We had broken poles, pulled hamstrings, batons flying everywhere, juries meeting in the infield, disqualifications, coaches fighting with other coaches. It was kind of a stressful meet," Wharton's Victoria Michelotti said.

Nevertheless, the Wildcat senior led her girls team (223 points) to an 81-point victory over runner-up Tampa Bay Tech (141).

Michelotti won the 100 hurdles (15.10), 200 hurdles (48.47), high jump (5-feet-4), and triple jump (36-feet-2). She also anchored the second-place 4x400 relay team, although there was a protest that she stepped off the track at the finish line.

The Wharton girls dominated the hurdles events, sweeping first through fourth in the 300 and first through third in the 100. It was the team's fourth consecutive district title.

The boys team notched its fifth straight title, beating second-place Armwood 188-139.

East Bay's Staley Suber won the long jump with 21-11 and also won the 200 (22.91) and the 400 (51.14). Freedom's Judith Akachukwu won the school's first individual district track title, taking the girls 400-meters in 1:01.85. After running the 4x100 before the 400, she was hurting.

"I felt so bad. When I heard (TBT's) Heather (Morton) in the back of my ear, I thought, "No! I have to win something today,"' Akachukwu said.

Triplets Alissa, Arilicia, and Asya Adkins, along with teammate Kathryn Doyle, led the Armwood girls to a 10:13.02 victory in the 4x800, shaving 12 seconds off their school record.

King's Laura Bowerman easily won the 1600 and 3200 meters, beating East Bay's Paige Williams in both races. Wharton's Paul Pakidis equaled Bowerman's feat in the boys meet.

[Last modified April 23, 2004, 01:20:38]

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