Standout transfer Registre nets 2 wins for Evans
It hasn’t taken very long for Jahnile Registre to make a good impression on the track and field program at Evans High.
Registre, a sophomore transfer from West Orange, has more than proven herself in her first spring with the Trojans. Her success continued at the Class 4A, District 3 meet Saturday at Deputy Scott Pine Community Park in Windermere.
In winning the girls 200-meter dash, Registre clocked a personal best time of 24.31 seconds — second best in the coverage area behind the 24.21 turned in on Friday by Janiyah Townsend of Jones High. The dynamic Trojans sophomore also won the girls 400-meter dash with a time of 55.08.
To top off her day, Registre ran the second leg on Evans’ winning 4x400 relay. That foursome, including Janiyah Hall, Aniyah Hall and Amenda Saint-Louis, turned in the area’s fastest time of the year (3:55.52).
Registre, who went to state as a freshman for West Orange in the 400 and the 4x400 relay, says she has felt good since arriving on campus in Pine Hills.
“Meeting my new [teammates], I clicked with them really fast and they made me feel at home,” Registre said. “I was able to practice faster and do what I had to do.”
Her standout performance came while another of the area’s top girl sprinters sat out the district meet with an injury. Olympia sophomore Hannah Douglas was unable to compete due to a hamstring injury to her right leg. She was a leader in the 100, 200 and 400 before getting hurt.
Apopka’s mononymous senior, Yirmyah, set a personal record in winning the boys 300 hurdles in a time of 38.15 seconds that leads Central Florida. After missing out on making it to the state meet in the intermediate hurdles race as a junior, Yirmyah says he has been motivated to get it right this spring.
“I’m back trying to gain what I lost last year. It’s been my whole drive,” he said.
As for his unique name, Yirmyah doesn’t mind when the inevitable questions come. He explains his name is Hebrew for Jeremiah. He is technically Yirmyah II, named for his father.
“It’s a family thing,” Yirmyah said, adding, “So many people ask me about it.”
Amaya Ugarte, the star for the host Windermere High girls team last weekend in the Metro West Conference meet, shined again Saturday. The junior placed first in the triple jump, high jump, long jump and 300 hurdles to lead the second-year Wolverines to a repeat district team title. Evans was a strong second.
West Orange won the boys team title, with Miami signee Russell Robinson having another big performance. Robinson, who won a state title in the long jump in 2018, set a career best in the triple jump (47-feet, 6¾-inches).
Robinson also won the long jump, with two West Orange teammates — Jaylon Carlies and Matthew McDoom — placing second and third, respectively.
Windermere’s boys team, which placed seventh in the district meet a year ago, moved up to second place this spring. The Wolverines edged third-place Olympia.
“It’s awesome because those children get a chance to see what commitment and determination looks like,” Windermere coach Jason Greer said of his boys team’s success. “For them to experience success is what we need and what is needed to build a program.”
Other highlights from the day included:
Ocoee High senior Jeremiah Fails ran a personalbest time of 10.60 seconds to win the boys 100. It is the third best time in the state this season in Class 4A.
Lake Minneola junior Antonio Thomas won an ultracompetitive race in the boys 110-meter hurdles. Thomas’ time of 14.48 seconds beat four competitors who also finished under 15 seconds — a rare occurrence for varsity track.
Already the area leader in the girls shot put, Evans junior Michaelle Valentin upped her season-best to 42-feet, 5 ¼-inches in winning an individual district title.
sprinters shine: Jones’ Janiyah Townsend ran a career-best time of 11.90 seconds as the Tigers swept the top four places in the 100-meter dash at Friday’s Class 2A, District 8 meet. She was followed to the finish by teammates Jaela Hollie (12.04), Kilani Harvey (12.22) and Azaria White (12.30).
The same four girls combined to cruise to victory in the 4x100 relay with a 47.42 time.
Jones went 1-2-3-5 in the 200, with Townsend winning in a 24.21 time that is the best in the area for 2019. Burton was second at 24.41 and Harvey third.
Townsend’s 100 time tied her with Olympia sophomore Hannah Douglas as fastest in the area this season.
Jones totaled 190 points to win the girls team title ahead of runner-up Trinity Prep (117).
Host Lake Highland Prep outscored Bishop Moore 129-121 to claim the boys championship.