Dream Of Gold Keeps Twins Going

TAMPA - Like many twins, Wharton seniors Kathia and Katrina Skinner share many of the same things - thoughts, interests and sometimes even clothes. At times, you can catch them finishing one another's sentences.

And when it comes to their passion for track and field, they share the same dream of standing on the top of the podium at Winter Park's Showalter Field holding an individual gold medal and, along with their teammates, the Class 3A girls state championship trophy.

"It's something we've been dreaming about since we were knee-high," Kathia said. "It's weird because in some of the workouts, even when you're at your lowest points, you're so dead and you don't feel like you can give any more, I have this flash in my mind where I think about how badly I want to win."

Without a break in that thought, Katrina jumps in with her memories of last year's state finals, where she was leading the girls 1,600-meter run most of the race until, in the final few meters, her legs buckled and Satellite's Kaitlin Shiver darted ahead to edge her for first place.

"That race plays in my head in slow motion over and over, every workout every time," Katrina said. "It's a fuel to my fire now. I've had a lot of races where I was completely wiped out and felt like I couldn't put another foot in front of the other. And then I think about that race and how it felt when something was taken away from me after I got so close to winning it."

If Wharton takes its first girls team title in any sport this spring in track, it will again have to overcome powerhouse programs like Orlando Oak Ridge, last year's 3A champion, and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, last year's runner-up. Those two schools have won eight state crowns each and should be contenders again this spring.

For Wharton to win, a lot will have to go right. And the Wildcats will have to do it without Teona Rodgers, the hurdler/sprinter/jumper who scored about half of their points at the state meet.

But with these talented 16-year-old twins - who recently committed to the University of Central Florida - and a strong supporting cast, Wharton should be in the hunt.

"It's going to depend on a lot of factors, and a lot of things have to hit just right, but it's conceivable," Wharton coach Wes Newton said of the Wildcats' chances of winning state. "Of course, a lot will depend on the twins. They will have to shoulder a lot of the pressure and a lot of the leadership role that Teona did last year. But I think they're more than capable of that."

The Skinner twins are going to take on a slightly different role on the track. Newton says their days on Wharton's 4x400-meter relay team are over. Both are going to be running everything from the 400 up, including the 3,200 (about two miles). And as usual, they will be the key to Wharton's 4x800 relay squad.

Running at an indoor meet two weeks ago in Gainesville, the Skinners teamed up with Erin Bailey and Shannon Megs to win the 4x800 relay in 9 minutes, 44.41 seconds. That was just three seconds off the time Wharton posted for fourth place at last year's state finals. And the team the Wildcats beat in Gainesville by nearly six seconds was a squad made up of runners from Oak Ridge.

Along with standout distance runners like Bailey and Brittany Hilliker, Wharton also boasts strong sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers. Junior Amani Bryant was third in last year's state long jump finals and is expected to use her speed in the hurdles for the first time this spring. Joining her in the jumps, sprints and hurdles will be seniors Danielle Sermons and Shantrell Pierre.

"We've also got a lot good, young talent coming in so there's even more expectations for this team," Katrina Skinner said. "Before, I probably would have said it would have pressured me but we've gone through so much and experienced so much that now, it just excites us."

"Now we always say, 'Go big or go home,'" Kathia adds.

ATHLETES TO WATCH

Hillsborough County's top expected returners in girls track and field this season:

NameCl.SchoolEventsErin Bailey So. Wharton DistancesBrittany Barton Jr. Jefferson SprintsAmani Bryant Jr. Wharton Sprints, jumps, hurdlesSydney Coats So. Newsome DistancesOlivia D'Angelo Jr. Berkeley Prep DistancesAlyssa Franks Jr. Freedom DistancesBrittany Hilliker Sr. Wharton DistancesLeRia Jenrette So. Blake Shot put, discusShana Johnson Sr. TBT Sprints, jumpsRikka Lovely Jr. Gaither Sprints, jumpsTanesha Maxwell So. TBT Sprints, jumpsSarita McBride Sr. Armwood SprintsMarissa McElveen Jr. Blake Jumps, sprintsJulianne Morgan Sr. Plant High jumpBianca Morrison Jr. Sickles Jumps, sprintsJoi Nichols Jr. TBT Sprints, jumpsStephanie Nicolas Sr. Brandon Jumps, sprintsShambrey Oliver Sr. Armwood SprintsKaitlyn Ostroski Sr. Plant High jumpYesenia Perez Jr. Gaither Hurdles, sprintsShantrell Pierre Sr. Wharton Hurdles, sprintsPage Price Sr. Berkeley Prep DistancesMorgan Scherschel Jr. Gaither Pole vaultDanielle Sermons Sr. Wharton Sprints, hurdlesKathia Skinner Sr. Wharton DistancesKatrina Skinner Sr. Wharton DistancesLaShae White Sr. TBTSprints, jumpsAshley Wright Sr. Hillsborough Shot put, discus

KEY DATES

Wednesday: First Class 3A/4A meets permitted

March 1: Nash Higgins Relays, Leto

March 7: Disney Relays, Disney Wide World of Sports

March 25: Western Conference divisional meets, Jefferson, Armwood and Spoto

March 28-29: FSU Seminole Invitational, Tallahassee

March 28-29: Disney Open, Disney Wide World of Sports

March 29: Manuel/Griffin/Fraundorfer Relays, Middleton

April 1: Vernon Korhn County Championships, Jefferson

April 4-5: Florida Relays, Gainesville

April 5: Final 1A/2A regular-season meets

April 7-11: 1A/2A district meets

April 12: Final 3A/4A regular-season meets

April 14-18: 3A/4A district meets

April 16-18: 1A/2A regional meets

April 23-25: 3A/4A regional meets

April 24-25: 1A/2A state championships, Winter Park

May 2-3: 3A/4A state championships. Winter Park