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Letter to the editor

Wharton roars to track title

Both boys and girls teams win regionals. Two area girls tennis teams score at state tournament.

By TERRY JONES
Published May 1, 2005

Once again, Wharton High School has outrun everyone else. For the third season in a row, Wharton's girls and boys track teams have both won regional titles. Their next stop: The state meet.

And in tennis, a couple of girls from Freedom and Chamberlain high schools made their mark in the state championships.

Here are postseason results so far for the best tennis and track athletes in north Hillsborough:

After not qualifying for the state tournament as a team last year, Freedom placed third in the state tournament Thursday in Class 2A competition with eight points. Laura Gioia won the No. 1 singles in the team brackets and placed second overall, dropping the title match 6-4, 5-7, 2-6. Paige Kensrue placed second overall in the No. 2 position in the team bracket.

Chamberlain freshman Jamie Mera came up just one match short of winning the individual Class 3A No. 1 championship. She was defeated 6-0, 6-2 by Lauren Sabacinski of St. Thomas Aquinas in the title match.

Wharton won the Class 3A, Region 3 regional meet, scoring 93.5 points. Jefferson finished fifth with 48 points.

Wharton's Teona Rodgers won the 100-meter hurdles and placed third in the 300, to qualify for the state meet in both events. Teammate Deanna Simpson placed second in the 100 to give the Lady Wildcats two strong competitors in the event at the state meet early next week.

In the relays, Wharton won the 4x800 and placed fourth in both the 4x100 and 4x400.

Other state qualifiers included Daphne Dunbar, second in the 200; Tiffany Saxton, second in the 800; Kristin Galbraith, third in the mile; Ae'Quoia Diggs, second in 100 meters.

Other regional top four placers and state qualifiers by school include:

Freedom: Judith Akachukwi, third in triple jump; Danielle Brown, fourth in both 100- and 200-meters.

Sickles' 4x800 relay team placed second.

Jefferson's Dartania Jackson won the 100 meters and was second in the long jump; Marielle Bell placed fourth in the high jump; and Sade Hooks was second in the pole vault.

Wharton won the Class 3A, Region 3 meet with 93 points and should be in contention for the state title. Freedom was seventh with 33 points.

Ryan Courtoy won both the mile and 2-mile events and should score some team points in the state meet next week.

The Wildcats also won both 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Tyler Perkins won the shot put and was second in the discus; Sadat Kahin was second in 800 meters; Machel Hunter finished second in the high jump; and Ryan Dixon was third in the 400.

Other area athletes finishing in the top four and qualifying for the state meet by school include:

Sickles: Doug Nelson, fourth in the discus throw; Michael Suarez, second in pole vault.

Jefferson: Devin Giles, second in the 100; Evander Jones, fourth in the mile and third in the 2-mile.

Leto: Jorge Rodriguez, fourth in the 300 hurdles.

Freedom: Eddie Davis, fourth in 100 and second in 200; Calvin Smith, third in 200 and second in 400; Patriots were third in 4x400 relay.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 04:00:06]