Track: Lely's orange takes on Golden South

Track's elite from Florida, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia and Canada converged on First Trinity Academy in Orlando, June 3, for the 30th Annual Golden South Track and Field Classic.

Despite a sturdy headwind, three competitors from Lely including senior Christina Octavien, junior Manolitha Joseph and Victoria Howard, a sophomore, represented well for the Trojans alongside the international competition.

Octavian competed in the discus competition bringing home the bronze medal, taking third in the finals with a toss of 118'8". The wind kept the senior just one foot shy of the gold medal winner.

"The discus looked to be really competitive," said Lely girls' track coach Nick Young. "And that is exactly what it proved to be." Despite leading in the long jump preliminaries making 16' 10.5", Howard settled for fourth place in the finals.

With the tenth fastest time in the 100-meter preliminaries, Joseph just missed out on a spot in the finals, which took the top eight times.

"Sprinters from Canada, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, made the field of 21 just outstanding," Young said. "All of the girls had a really good time on a great track with outstanding competition." Olympic champion in the 100-meter, Dennis Mitchell was on-hand to lend advice and encouragement to all the athletes. Mitchell worked individually with Howard on her long jump technique and how she could make improvements.

The next stop for what Young calls his "dynamic trio" will be the Florida State Sunshine Games, June 17-18 in Miami.

Young congratulated the girls on a great effort at the Golden South Classic and wished them good luck at the upcoming games.