Nature Coast’s track and field program has long dominated the county and district ranks. But when it came to regionals, the attention turned to advancing individuals to states.
In Tuesday’s Class 2A, Region II Meet at Lake Minneola, the Lady Sharks managed to add one more championship trophy to their collection.
For the first time in either gender, Nature Coast collected a regional title, as the girls scored 76 points to edge second-place Gainesville-Eastside with 71. The Lady Sharks were regional runners-up the past two years.
Of course, the task of moving a handful of athletes on to the FHSAA Finals next Friday and Saturday at IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton was also accomplished. The top four finishers in each event earned state berths.
As expected, senior Ashley Gentz secured a return trip to states, where she’ll hope to add to the three state medals she already has in track, one for a second-place showing in the 400-meter run last season.
In this meet, Gentz placed second in the 200 clocking a time of 25.22, second in the 400 with a 58.95 and second in the long jump at 17-4.
Jouie Miller came in second in the shot put (35-11 1/4), while Eboni Johnson added a fourth in the 400 (1:00.15). Kaitlyn Pierce took third in the triple jump (34-6 1/2), followed by Annelise Rentas in fourth (34-6). Nature Coast captured the 4×400, with Velma Brinson, Gentz, Johnson and Pierce running a 4:04.60.
Central’s Arreon Walter was the county’s lone female individual regional champ, as the senior recorded a 106-1 toss in the discus. In second was Weeki Wachee’s Seytia Hill (103-3). Hernando’s Kaitlyn Batten finished second in the 100 hurdles (16.60).
On the boys side, Nature Coast tied Ridgewood for fifth, scoring 36 points. DeShawn Smith was fourth in the 100 (11.03) and the long jump (21-11 1/4). Brian Haygood notched a second in the triple jump (42-4 1/4) and Ishamel Poole placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.95).
Hernando sophomore Trevor Foley captured first place in the 1,600, posting a time of 4:23.40. Also for the Leopards, Christian Dowdell finished fourth in the triple jump (41-5).
Marcus Jones of Weeki Wachee came in third in the 110 hurdles (15.76), and the Hornets’ 4×100 squad of Donte Hauer, Sebastian Class, Montae Bostick and Shawn O’Gorman combined for a second-place 43.85.
Springstead participated in the 3A-II Meet on Friday at Orlando-First Academy. Jacy Scharlow placed fourth in the girls high jump (5-2).
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.