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Athletes on track to regional playoffs

By TERRY JONES
Published April 28, 2006

It's track time again, as track and field athletes from high schools throughout north Hillsborough County have made their mark in the district finals and were looking forward to regional playoffs.

The boys and girls track teams from Gaither and Wharton won district championships, as did the Sickles girls team.

Athletes from Wharton and Chamberlain also triumphed in tennis and softball playoffs. And district baseball tournaments just got started.

The results:

TENNIS

Last week, Wharton's boys team played an early regional meet in which the Wildcats blanked King High 5-0 with victories in all singles matches. Doubles were not necessary.

Winning singles for Wharton were No. 1 Michael O'Rourk, No. 2 Mitch Wong, No. 3 Alex Bartholomew, No. 4 David Bastian and No. 5 Justin Li.

In girls tennis, Chamberlain was the only team in north Hillsborough to qualify for the regional playoffs.

April 21, the Chiefs captured three singles and a doubles match for a 4-2 win over Lakeland's George Jenkins to win their regional tournament and earn a berth in the state meet, scheduled to conclude today in Orlando.

Jen Miller and Chelsea Townes clinched the regional championship with a No. 2 doubles victory, 6-2, 6-3. In singles matches, No. 2 Miller, No. 3 Townes and Mabry Fisher all beat their opponents.

SOFTBALL

Of the eight public schools with softball teams in north Hillsborough, only Wharton and Chamberlain remained in regional competition.

Bloomingdale defeated Wharton 6-0 in its district final, but both teams continued in the playoffs this week.

The big district game was Chamberlain against Plant. After losing two games to a scrappy Plant team in regular-season play, the Chiefs came back April 21 to win the Class 5A District 10 championship by beating Plant 6-0 in the title game.

Part of the victory pie for Chamberlain was home field advantage for the regional quarterfinals.

Heather Van Landingham scattered four hits, striking out 10 to extend her personal pitching record to 11-2.

Chamberlain recorded 10 hits, including a double each by Jessica Mouse and Marisa Menendez.

TRACK AND FIELD

Boys track

Gaither and Wharton both won district championships last week.

The Gaither Cowboys scored 173 points in winning the Class 4A District 6 meet. Chamberlain was second with 110 points.

Taking individual district championships for Gaither were Justin Boyd in the shot put, Reggie Wilson in the discus, Torrey Esomi in the 400 and Brooks Wells in the 2-mile run.

Gaither also won the 4x100 and the 4x400 relays.

Chamberlain's Mike White won the pole vault, and St. Christopher Clemetson won the 110 hurdles. The Chiefs also won the mile relay.

Jefferson placed second in Class 3A District 9 with 116 points, behind the strength and endurance of distance runner Evander Jones. And Leto placed fourth with 87.5 points.

Jones won the mile and the 2-mile. The Jefferson Dragons 4x800 relay team also won.

Leto's Bryant Leonard won both the long jump and the triple jump. Leonard added a third gold with a victory in the 330 hurdles. Dennis Duarte added more gold for the Falcons in the shot put with a first-place throw.

Wharton won the Class 3A District 10 title with 159.5 points. Freedom scored 85 points and was down in the pack.

Speedster Calvin Smith II captured a pair of golds in the 200 and 400 for Freedom. Mikese Morse added another first-place individual finish for the Patriots in the triple jump. Eddie Davis won the 100 for Freedom. The Patriots also won the 4x100 relay.

Wharton won a lot of points with its depth, but the Wildcats also captured many individual titles.

Sadat Kahin won the 800, Erik Moser took the title in the pole vault and Ryan Dixon was first in the long jump. The Wildcats also won the 4x800 relay.

In Class 4A District 5, Sickles was fifth with 90 points, and Alonso scored 24.

Gryphons distance runner Derek Wehunt won both the mile and the 2-mile events. The Sickles 4x800 distance relay team also won.

Girls Track

The girls teams of north Hillsborough were deep and strong. Gaither, Wharton and Sickles all won district championships in different classes and districts.

For the big schools, Gaither won the Class 4A District 6 team championship with 167 points, and Chamberlain was third with 66 points.

Jade Messam won the long jump for the Chiefs and the 200. Natalie Lee added gold in the triple jump. Chamberlain also won the mile relay.

Most of Gaither's points came from its depth and its relay teams. However, Amanda Quick won the 800 and was part of the winning 2-mile relay. The Cowboys also won the 4x100 relay.

In the Class 3A District 9 meet, Jefferson placed third with 87 points, and Leto finished sixth with 56.5.

Marialle Bell won the high jump for the Dragons, and Jasmine Earls captured the triple jump.

Wharton's girls dominated the Class 3A District 10 meet, scoring 214.5 points. Freedom came in a distant fifth with 38 points.

The Wildcats captured five individual firsts and two relay titles. They also placed first and second in several events.

Grace Jones won the high jump. Jessica Forrester won both the mile and the 2-mile runs, and teammate Kristen Galbraith was second in both events.

Teona Rodgers won the 110 hurdles, and Ae'Quoia Diggs won the 100.

Wharton also won both the 4x100 and the 4x800 relays.

Sickles won the Class 4A District 5 meet, scoring 162.5 points. Alonso scored 42.

Stacy Vieux won the triple jump for the Gryphons, Kerry Holloway won both the shot put and the discus throws, and Marissa Hatcher won the 800 in individual competition. The Gryphons also won the 2-mile relay.

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 13:35:19]