All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1470169
Page 32 www.yoursun.com SUN PREPS ALLAREA TRACK AND FIELD By PATRICK OBLEY SPORTS EDITOR The 2022 season was one of growth for area track and field teams. While seniors dotted the rosters at all schools, it was largely underclassmen who flashed their future potential as Southwest Florida's short spring gave way to early summer-like heat. At Lemon Bay, the future is particularly bright, for the two boys and four girls who made their way onto The Daily Sun's All-Area Track and Field first teams are all juniors. Half of Venice boys' blazing 4x100 relay team are juniors – Keyon Sears and Elliot Washington II. Their names can be found on the All-Area squad, as well. Eight athletes make up each of the boys and girls first- and second-team squads. Of those 32 standouts, just 10 are seniors. The entire girls' first team is se- nior-free, featuring six juniors and two sophomores. A sophomore snuck onto the boys' second team and a freshman, Alivia Tison, bullied her way onto the girls' second team. The youth movement's feats cannot be ignored, but for one last time, we honor the epic senior campaigns of Daunte Douglas (Port Charlotte), LaShawn Powell (Port Charlotte), Tyler Wadsworth (Port Charlotte), Matthew Kelly (Charlotte), Jayshon Platt (Venice), Brian Williams (Venice), Dontavian Smith (DeSoto County), Christlove Lauture (Port Charlotte), Abby Leggett (Port Charlotte) and Tykiriah Thomas (Charlotte). The Boys' Track and Field Athlete of the Year finalists are Wadsworth, Washington II and Platt (Venice). The girls' final- ists are Lemon Bay's Presley Engelauf and Natalee Brown, as well as Venice's Alyson Francolini. Coaches of the Year are Venice's Charlie Powell (boys) and Lemon Bay's Joe Casale (girls). BOYS FIRST TEAM DAUNTE DOUGLAS PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR The Tennessee Wesleyan University signee concluded his prep track career with two ap- pearances at the Class 2A state meet this past Thursday. He finished 14th in the long jump and 17th in the triple jump after qualifying seventh and 14th in those events, respectively in the regional round. JACE HUBER LEMON BAY, JUNIIOR The multi-sport athlete made a splash this season in the high jump, tying teammate Riley Willis for the region title before finishing 12th at the Class 2A state meet. JAYSHON PLATT VENICE, SENIOR The Indians senior finished 12th at the Class 4A state meet in the 200 meter dash on Saturday night after a strong showing at regionals when he turned in the eighth-best qualifying time for Gainesville. He was also a member of Venice's elite 100-meter relay team, which finished second at state with a school-record time of 41.35. LASHAWN POWELL PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Powell is headed to Warner University, the alma mater of first-year Pirates track coach Nick Douglas, following his two-event appearance at the Class 2A state meet. He qualified 12th for state in the triple jump and 16th in the long jump, placing 18th and 17th, respectively. KEYON SEARS VENICE, JUNIOR Another member of the Venice 100 relay team, Sears also competed individually in the Class 4A high jump event, finishing 14th overall. It came on the heels of his powerhouse showing at regionals, when his 1.92-meter clearance earned him the state's fourth-best qualifying mark. TYLER WADSWORTH PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Wadsworth, already a finalist for Cross Country's Athlete of the Year, finds himself a rare two-time finalist after an outstanding turn on the track. At the state meet this past Thursday, Wadsworth snagged a pair of fifth-place finishes in the 800 and 1600 runs. He also advanced to state in the 3200 run, making him the only area athlete — boys or girls — to reach state in three events. ELLIOT WASHINGTON II JUNIOR, VENICE Washington II joined Platt on Venice's epic 100-meter relay team, which set three consecu- tive school records in the event beginning with districts and continuing through regionals. Individually, Washington II arrived at the state meet with the 10th-best qualifying time in the 100 meters, then shocked the field with a blazing 10.69 eort on Saturday night, good for third in the state. RILEY WILLIS LEMON BAY, JUNIOR The Manta Rays' high jumper had the single best finish of all area athletes this spring at the Class 2A state meet. After tying with teammate Jace Huber for first at regionals, Willis cleared 1.97 meters (6-5 ½ feet) in Gainesville to finish second in the state. SECOND TEAM BRAYAN AUGUSTIN CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR EVAN CRANE NORTH PORT, JUNIOR MATTHEW KELLY CHARLOTTE, SENIOR SHANE SCHWARZENBACH NORTH PORT, JUNIOR DONTAVIAN SMITH DESOTO COUNTY, SENIOR CHASE TUDOR LEMON BAY, JUNIOR PAETEN WESTMORELAND NORTH PORT, SOPHOMORE BRIAN WILLIAMS VENICE, SENIOR GIRLS FIRST TEAM OLIVIA BECKER LEMON BAY, JUNIOR One of Lemon Bay's four juniors on the first team, Becker eked into the Class 2A state meet with a discus toss of 26.94 meters, then finished 17th at the state meet, improving on her 18th-place qualifying. SIERRA BLANEY LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Blaney's season-long discus rivalry with Becker paid o handsomely at the state meet. After qualifying 17th, the Mantas junior spun up a 13th- place showing in Gainesville. Youth movement underpins area success SUN FILE PHOTO Charlotte's Adriana Iorda competes in the girls 100m hurdles during this spring's regional track and eld event at Charlotte High. SEE TRACK, 33A