Hit or Miss:Jen Blanco

For years when it came to track and field, the Lakewood Ranch High School girls were known for their ability in the distance races.

Now they are known for their ability in all the events.

On May 6-7 at the IMG Academy, the Mustangs captured their first girls track and field state championship. 

"What a great day to be a Mustang," head coach Mark Napier posted on Twitter shortly after the girls clinched the state title. "I'm so proud and honored. Way to go girls!" 

Their balance began to surface in the 2015 state meet when the Mustangs had four girls earn medals at the Class 3A meet. It was only the beginning. 

Riding this season on the talent of Sophia Falco, Reide Ryans, Olivia Ogles and Norwegian exchange student Kristine Akervold, the Mustangs fulfilled their goal. 

Lakewood Ranch scored 68 points to win the Class 4A girls state championship, edging Miami Southridge, which was second with 62 points. 

Falco won a gold medal in the long jump, with a mark of 20 feet, 4.75 inches, to go along with a pair of silver medals in the triple jump, where she set a new school record of 40 feet, 2.50 inches, and the 100-meter dash, finishing in 12.23 seconds. She also finished fifth in the 200 in 25.13 seconds. 

Ryans won the high jump after clearing 5 feet, 6 inches. Also a hurdler, she also finished sixth in the 100 hurdles in 15.26 seconds behind Akervold who was fourth in 14.97 seconds.  

Akervold also won a silver medal in the long jump with a mark of 19-01.75. 

Ogles and Cree Lotterer both added to Lakewood Ranch’s medal count, finishing third (12 feet) and fifth (11 feet), respectively, in the pole vault. Ogles also finished seventh in the long jump with a jump of 18-4.25. 

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For Braden River 4x400 relay teammates Breonna Graham, Jecica Altidor, Mia Wiederkehr and Gagnon, their final opportunity to shine came in the Class 3A track and field state championships May 7 at IMG Academy. 

Looking to make history and break the four-minute mark, the girls, who already own the school record in the event with a 4:03, hit the track one final time in the day’s final event. Graham, Altidor, Wiederkehr and Gagnon finished ninth in 4:05.05. 

It was the culmination of a season’s worth of hard work for a foursome that was making its first state meet appearance. 

Making it to the state meet doesn’t just happen over night, but, while it was a surreal feeling for the girls, coach Stefanie Minihan wasn’t surprised to still be coaching them this late in the season. 

“Those are the girls that when practice is over at 4 p.m., are here until 5 p.m.,” Minihan said. “They’re the first to show up and the last to leave.” 

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With the spring season officially winding down, senior athletes are preparing to trade in their helmets and cleats for graduation caps and gowns. 

However, at The Out-of-Door Academy, Parke Phillips and Todd Humphrey will be able to continue their athletic careers after they graduate. Phillips will play baseball for Brown University, in Providence, R.I., while Humphrey will play football for Tufts University, in Medford, Mass.