May 23, 2023
Rachael Uvieghara has placed in the top three at the FHSAA 4A state championship track meet since she was a freshman. But this year, she walked away a two-time state champion.
“This was her first time placing first in both (the 100-meter and 200-meter) events, which is well-deserved,” said Charles Lewis, one of her coaches at Palm Harbor University High School. “Through long, tough endurance practices, technical strength training and technical sprint work, this first place came as a double.”
Uvieghara is no stranger to running her best races at the state competition. She placed second in both events as a sophomore last year. This year, she bested those times by 0.26 seconds in the 100 and 0.63 seconds in the 200. Her personal best times of 11.38 and 23.22 in the 100-meter and 200-meter, respectively, place her among the top 10 in country. The state meet took place at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on May 20.
“She raced against a stellar field of senior stars,” said Lewis. Among them, East Lake's Sophie Haag, who placed second.
Uvieghara also raced in the 400-meter “for fun,” said Lewis.
“Coaching Rachael is amazing,” Lewis said. “She’s dedicated, a hard worker and very analytical. And she puts the team first, which is quite rare with today’s athletes.”
