By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Although injured, Osceola High senior Tynia Gaither remains one of the nation’s premier sprinters.

She demonstrated that Wednesday by winning 100- and 200-meters championships at the 4A Region 1 track meet at Winter Park.

Gaither also anchored Osceola’s regional champ 4 x 100 relay that includes 100-meters hurdles winner Jameshia Gant, Atarah Clark and Jodiann Crooks.

Osceola (53) placed fourth in the team standings behind champion Orlando Evans (64).

Gaither pulled her right hamstring and has a stress fracture in the big toe on her right foot, Coach Eric Pinellas said.

“She got a couple of massages, so the hamstring was OK and she was pretty much ready to go by 3 p.m.,” Pinellas said. “The toe is causing her a lot of pain when she strikes the track, and it’s hurting her push-off.”

Gaither holds the fastest time in the nation (23.17) at 200 meters this season. She clocked 24.12 at the regional meet, just ahead of Clark (24.6), who set a personal record.

Gaither won the 100 with a time of 11.7 seconds, over her season’s best of 11.54. Clark was fourth at 100 meters in 12.09 seconds.

The top four in each event advanced to the Class 4A state meet May 7 at Winter Park’s Showalter Field.

Gant’s winning time in the 100 hurdles was 14.81. Her season’s best is 14.69.

Osceola’s Defario Phillips (10.8) was second in the 200 for the boys and Marquis Hegwood (39.75) was fourth in the 300 hurdles.

Liberty’s Danyell Kates (36-6.5) was fourth in the triple jump and qualified for the state meet.