TAMPA —Wiregrass Ranch’s Kerry Reilly could hardly speak following her finish in the 3,200 meters at Class 4A, District 6 track meet.
But the smile on the freshman’s face showed she knew exactly what she had done.
Reilly, who won in 12 minutes, 10.89 seconds, set a personal record and was the first and only Bull to take home an individual championship Wednesday at Wharton High. Her top spot in the event earned her a spot at the region meet.
“It feels great because I really put a lot of work into this track season,” said Reilly, still breathing hard from her first-place finish. “It’s great to finish my freshman season getting first in my district.”
Reilly was one of seven Bulls who finished in the top four in and individual event, earning a spot in the region meet. Joining her will be Alyssa Woodard (third in the 100, fourth in the 200), Elise Cedre (second in the 3,200), Casey Chitty (second in the pole vault), Leon Tilman (third in the 100, fourth in the 200), Payton Wilson (fourth in the pole vault) and Jordan Mutcherson (third in the shot put).
The Bulls also finished third in both the boys and girls 4x100-meter relays. The girls finished fifth out of six teams at the meet with 64 points, while the boys finished sixth with 42 points.
3A-7: Land O’Lakes swept the team titles, easily outdistancing host Lecanto.
Senior Hallie Grimes played a big role for the Gator girls, winning the 400 meters in 59.56 seconds, and contributing to the 4x400 (4:14.39) and 4x800 (10:20.78) relays that finished first. Sophomore Victoria Cannata (high jump), senior Kelsey McKee (shot put) and junior Jhade Hayes (discus) also were Gator champions.
Other multiple female winners: Springstead senior Wilena Little (200, long jump) and Mitchell junior Emily Kerns (1,600, 3,200)
Land O’Lakes’ boys title came with a little help from veteran athletes. All of the Gators’ individual wins came from seniors — Tyler Stahl (1,600), Jake Poore (3,200), Jamel Clark (110 hurdles) and Stefan Zapata (triple jump). Land O’Lakes also won the 4x100 and 4x800 relays.
Regionals
2A-3: At Berkeley Prep, Holy Names and Jesuit brought home the girls and boys titles, respectively, but Anclote’s Emily Gauvey was a bright spot for the North Suncoast.
The sophomore injured her ankle at districts last week and gutted through the injury at regionals to win the 300 hurdles in 47.16 seconds and clear 5 feet, 4 inches in the high jump to place second.
“When I’m in the zone, I don’t feel it (ankle injury),” Gauvey said. “It’s killing me now.”
Another Sharks winner was senior Devonte Luis in the triple jump (45-02); he also placed fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Also of note for Anclote: senior Jamaree Ried was third in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, junior Madelyn Nurge was third in the 110 hurdles, and senior Andrew Janus was third in the high jump.
2A-2: At Orlando First Academy, Pasco’s Alfreda Steele continued her standout sophomore season, notching victories in the long jump (17.6 feet) and 100 meters (11.64 seconds), and finishing second in the 200 meters (24.43). Steele finished third at state in the 100 last year.
The Pirate girls also finished third in the team standings, 38.5 points behind champion Lake Highland Prep (100.5).
Nature Coast (65) didn’t have an individual champion, but placed second thanks to top-four finishes from junior Rita Jarque (shot put), the 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams, senior Alicia Gentz (100), sophomore Eboni Johnson (400), senior Brianna Horn (800) and sophomore Ashley Gentz (200).
The other North Suncoast winners were Pasco sophomore Lanashia Pope (discus), Ridgewood junior Brian Swanson (pole vault) and Ridgewood senior Chris Branfield (shot put); Branfield also placed second in the discus.
Also of note, Ridgewood senior Thomas Kernan (long, triple jumps) and Nature Coast senior James Harkless (1,600, 800) turned in top-four finishes in multiple events. Ridgewood’s boys also finished second overall, 21 points behind champion Trinity Prep (70).
Correspondent Andy Warrener contributed to this report.
Photo: Anclote sophomore Emily Gauvey, center, qualifies for state after winning the Class 2A, Region 3 title in the 300 hurdles in 47.16 seconds.