WINTER PARK - Coming out of West Hernando Middle School, Tikiera Relaford never expected her rookie high school campaign would end on the state medal stand.
Yet by finishing second to South Lake High's Monica Carney in the Class 3A, District 7 and Region II Meets, the Central High freshman earned her way to the 33rd annual Florida High School Athletic Association Finals.
The Lady Bear shook off nerves and inexperience Friday afternoon at Showalter Field in Winter Park, to leap 5'4".
Though she didn't match her personal best of 5'6" set at regionals a week earlier, that height placed her fourth. The top eight earned medals.
"It's really good, I'm excited," Relaford said. "A lot of practice (made it happen); a lot of hard work. Last year (in middle school) was really easy.
"...I kind of think I could have done better, but everybody has good days and bad days. I wanted to place."
Carney came in second at 5'6", behind state champ Danielle Williams of Pensacola (5'8"). Alexis Muniz of Coconut Creek-Monarch also leapt 5'6" ahead of Relaford.
Suhailah Abdulhaleem of Jacksonville-Terry Parker and Miranda Caquias of Daytona Beach-Seabreeze also got over the bar at 5'4", but used more attempts than Relaford.
Though she didn't put together her best performance of the season, she certainly laid a strong foundation for the remaining three years of her prep career.
"Next year I'll go toward being better," Relaford said. "Maybe get in that first spot."
Central's other participant, freshman Mikayla Bogulski, fell less than a second short of medaling in the 800 with a 10th-place 2:20.90. Maryah Finch of Tarpon Springs High came in eighth at 2:20.35.
That time represented a personal best for Bogulski, but didn't fully erase her disappointment.
"I'm a little upset," Bogulski said. "Tenth, 1/2 second away from getting eighth, but I guess as a freshman I did real good.
"It was very tough. We were all within two seconds in our heat. It was very intense.
"I did (run her best race), there was just more competition. It didn't feel quite as good as getting first, but that's all right."
In districts, Bogulski failed to advance in the 1,600 and responded by winning the 800. This figures to light another fire under her for next year.
"A lot of motivation," Bogulski said. "I want to get a medal next year. I'm going to work really hard. I'm going to do cross country, work that much harder next season and hope for the best."
From the perspective of Central Head Coach Christina Brandel, she now has two young athletes with invaluable experience against top competition.
"I'm impressed. They did very well," Brandel said. "Tikiera didn't PR (have a personal record) but she had very good jumps, placed fourth as a freshman against seniors. And Mikayla had her best run all season. She's learning and she'll be a force to reckon with in coming seasons.
"They set their goals high. This isn't good enough. They want more and that's good. They're still hungry and that will make them better competitors in the future."
SHS: 4x400 comes in 15th
The Springstead High 4x400 relay finally reached states after seeing their previous two seasons end in regionals.
Sophomores Cassandra Crisci and Jackie White, and juniors Caroline Monzo and Taylor Tuomey ran a 4:11.81 to come in 15th.
"It was a great experience," Tuomey said. "We were so excited to run it."
"We appreciate just getting to states," Crisci said. "We did our best. Even though we lost according to the rules, we're still winners I think."
"They (the competition) were ferocious beasts," White said. "We know what we have to run next year, what we have to try to attempt to run."
Head Coach Joel Myers beamed at the performance of his girls, who set a school record of 4:09.14 at regionals, knowing he would have them all back for next year.
He called the meet "an eye-opener for them" and said they were already talking about their preparation for cross country, which he also coaches.
"There are close to 120 other teams that wish they were here," Myers said. "I'm proud of them. Even if they ran another school record, we'd have finished in the exact same spot. It wasn't their best time but they did what they could.
"They're good kids. They do it the hard way. They worked to make themselves into athletes."
Class 3A State Meet Girls Team Results
1. Orlando-Oak Ridge 89, 34. Central 5, Springstead NS
Class 3A State Meet Girls Individual Results: Top 8 scored points (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1), earned medals.
HJ - 1. Williams (PEN) 5'8", 4. Relaford (CEN) 5'4".
800 - 1. Whittaker (WAS) 2:16.32, 10. Bogulski (CEN) 2:20.90.
4x400 - 1. Hall, Whittaker, Milson, McCoy (WAS) 3:50.98, 15. Crisci, White, Monzo, Tuomey (SPG) 4:11.81.
Key: Central (CEN), Pensacola (PEN), Springstead (SPG), Miami-Washington (WAS).
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