POINCIANA - All Danielle Coyle had to eat before Wednesday morning's Class 3A, Region 2 meet was a breakfast of toast and French fries.
"I can't eat anything on race days," the River Ridge senior said.
Coyle and her empty stomach were formidable Wednesday at Eagle Field.
She won the 800-meters that night with a time of 2:19.35, gritting out that personal record after finishing second in the 1,600 with another P.R. 5:10.
Coyle will lead a talented North Suncoast contingent that finished in the top four, qualifying for the May 7 Class 3A state meet in Gainesville.
The Wesley Chapel boys finished region runnerup, tying Haines City with 46 points, three behind region champion Belleview.
"It was a great effort on everybody's part," coach Brian Colding said. "I don't know what to say. I'm in shock. This is the highest finish I've ever had as a coach."
Ridgewood high jumper Michael Selfe won the region title with a leap of 6-feet, 6-inches. Next stop: the school record, 6-8. "It felt great," Selfe said. "I'm ready to do 6-8 at the state meet. I feel confident."
Citrus' Jamal Galloway won the region long jump title with a leap of 21-11 1/2. "I thought I could do better," Galloway said. "But whatever it takes to get to states is fine with me."
On Monday Hudson pole vaulter Travis Miller's pole shattered in three places. Wednesday on a borrowed pole he became his school's first male athlete to reach state in a decade, placing third with a personal-best 13 foot leap.
Lecanto's Nick Burns was runnerup in the pole vault (13-6), tying the day's best leap. Citrus' Israel Burton was second in the 110-meter high hurdles (15.03 seconds), Land O'Lakes' Dani Shimer second in the 3,200 (11:37.37), Mitchell's Mike Toncich second in the shot put (49-1) and Central's Lani Coates third in the discus (105-7).
The Lecanto girls were second in the 4x800 thanks to Amy Rundio, Taylor Cooke, Deirdra Witherspoon and Tara Haddock (10:15.59). Wesley Chapel's 4x100 crew of Jasmine Cabrera, Isaria Ranson, Melissa Sams and Janice Williams ran a school-record 49.83 to place second.
Mitchell's Jeff Masterson won the 3,200 (9:47.99) and Nick Ferrer was second in the 800 (1:59.18) and third in the 1,600 (4:30.42). The pair teamed with Eric Evans and Jeff Surmin to place second in the 4x800 (8:10.08).
