In need of a top-four finish at last week’s Class 2A District 16 meet, 14 Royal Lion track and field athletes in 10 events qualified for the regional championships.

ILS’s boys 4×100 relay team of senior Sebastian Giugovaz and juniors Jarrod Carr, James Brill and Jude Servius became district champions after running a season-best time of 43.53 — just 0.06 seconds off the school record. Giugovaz, Brill and Servius, along with junior Vashaud Williams, also headed the 4×400 team that placed third with a season-best time of 3:37.

Giugovaz added to his remarkable afternoon by coming in second in the 400-meter dash, surpassing the sub-50 barrier with a time of 49.88, which broke his school-record mark of 51.58.

“I was extremely happy with my results, as the work that I have been putting in paid off,” Giugovaz said. “But it isn’t over just yet. Now, I’m grinding for regionals, where there are much more competitive heats. I know that if I work hard and continue to follow my coaches’ instructions, I will perform. If all goes well, I can make it to states, which would fill me with joy. But until then, I’m putting down my head and working to the hardest of my potential.”

Senior Gabriel Xirinach placed third in the 300-meter hurdles and recorded a personal-best time of 46.04.

For the girls, freshman Emilie Reyes captured the district championship in the long jump with a personal record of 4.91 meters. Reyes also came in third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.22 — which is her best of the season.

Reyes also headed the girls 4×100 team, along with junior Hanah Gonzalez, sophomore Carly Costaregni and freshman Eugenia Paris. The girls finished second with a season-best time of 51.80. Furthermore, Reyes ran for the 4×400 team that came in fourth with a 4:32.04 time.

“At the moment, Emilie is able to carry her speed to the 400m, a mark that we would like to establish for all our sprinters,” head coach Eddie Cerdeiras said. “Emilie’s success is a tribute to her humility and her willingness to be coachable. As a freshman, she will highly represent LaSalle for the next three years.”

Sophomore Alfonsina Santucho improved her personal-best record in the javelin for the third consecutive meet, as she came in second with a 28.70-meter throw. The girls 4×800 team ran by seniors Victoria Morera and Isabella Juara, sophomore Alessia Quiros, and freshman Mariam Osman, finished in fourth place with a time of 10:54.85.

Next up for the ILS track and field team is the regional meet, which will take place on May 1st at Calvary Christian high school in Fort Lauderdale.