Liberty senior Anthony Otero improved his mental game to clinch the gold medal in long jump (23-00.50) at the District XI Class 3A Track and Field Championships on May 12 and 13 at Whitehall High School.

“It’s a little bit under my personal best, but I’m still glad for what I did,” said Otero, who achieved the winning jump on his third try. “Once I did the 23, I knew I could settle after that and get ready for states. That’s really what I’m saving my body for.”

Liberty sophomore Elizabeth McClarin also won a gold medal in the 800 meter run (2:12.85).

“Today, I got out fast and then it was a fight to the finish,” McClarin said. “There wasn’t a point in the race where I felt relaxed. I wanted to keep my form. I think having [Parkland’s Lama Mahmoud] there...It kind of helped. She had great pacing throughout the whole thing which led me to my [personal record].”

Before the 800, McClarin placed second in the 1600 meter run (5:01.52), and teammate Katie Drabouski came in third (5:04.39).

Drabouski took second place in the 3200 meter run (11:12.60).

Freedom junior Natalie Ray was the gold medalist in the 200 meter dash (24.82).

“I knew I wanted to win, so I kind of just went off there,” said Ray. “Once I got to the final 50, I knew I split apart, but at the start, I knew I needed to push. Honestly, I feel like it was adrenaline because it was my last chance to win districts this year. I ran that time last week, but I ran 25.10 in the prelims, so I didn’t know what to expect in the finals. I was pretty surprised. I started tearing up.”

Ray was the silver medalist in the 400 meter dash (56.29).

In relay events, Liberty’s girls placed second in the 4x8 (9:30.78) and fourth in the 4x1 (50.01), and Liberty’s boys placed third in the 4x8 (8:17.54) and fifth in the 4x1 (42.81).