By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Six Poinciana High athletes have qualified for the Class 2A state track meet Saturday at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

The Lady Eagles (26.5) were ninth in the 2A-2 regional at Jacksonville Bolles High last week. Poinciana’s boys (15) were 15th.

Poinciana’s Gabrielle Rodriguez (12:18) finished second in the 3,200 run. She also was sixth (5:44) at 1,600 meters. The top for in each event advance.

Also state-bound is Estelle Esperance (1:02.17), third at 400 meters.

Esperance joins teammates Zhane Wilson, Shana Nelson and Majjadah Barnett on the state-qualifying (4th, 4:18.42) 4 x 400 relay.

The 4 x 800 relay (10:25.16) was fifth.

Coach Bryan McLoughlin thinks his athletes can earn medals (top eight) at the state meet Saturday.

“Gabrielle had a good race (in the 3,200) and I think she can drop her time much more. She will be fresh for the 3,200, and the competition will help a lot,” he said. “Estelle is running well, I think she is  just getting in shape and can run sub-60. The girls 4 x 400 was very exciting. During the race we were eighth and battled back to fourth to qualify.”

Ronald Decomo (20-9) finished third in the long jump and fourth (22.24) in the 200 sprint for the Poinciana boys.

“Joey has been very consistent. If he has a great day at state he can jump 23 feet and that will place him in the top eight,” McLoughlin said.

Several Gateway High athletes will compete at the 4A-1 regional at Flagler Palm Coast today.

Gateway’s girls (66) were fourth at the 4A-4 district meet at Winter Park last week. The boys (35) were sixth.

The Lady Panthers’ Amber Jackson (35-4.5) was second in the triple jump and long jump (17-3.75).

Charnelle Michel finished second (101-1) in the discus.

Tricia Davis qualified in the 100 (4th, 12.86) and 200 (3rd, 25.73) sprints.

Sequoia Grant (4th, 1:03.68) advanced in the 400.

Also qualifying for the regional was the 4 x 400 (4:19.17, Davis, Grant, Akilah Chandler, Jackson), finishing fourth.

For the Panthers boys, Zach Smith was second (22.69) in the 200 and third (11.11) in the 100 sprints.

The 4 x 400 (3:29.85, Arron Roman, Byron Vaughn, Smith, Julian JohnLewis) advanced in fourth place.

JohnLewis (5-10) was fourth in the high jump.

“There is always room for improvement, but we were happy with our kids’ effort,” Gateway Coach Scott Sisson said.

Athletes from Liberty, Osceola, St. Cloud, Harmony and Celebration competed at the 3A-2 regional at Tampa Leto High Wednesday. The Class 3A state meet is May 4 in Jacksonville; Class 4A is May 5.