The Key West High boys' track and field team entered this spring with aspirations of putting together the most successful season in school history.

At the District 16-2A championships this past week at Coral Shores, the Conchs took their first step toward reaching their lofty goals.

The Key West boys easily ran away with the district title in the six-team field, finishing 49 points ahead of second-place Ransom Everglades, and 19 Conchs advanced to the Region 4-2A meet, which will begin Wednesday at Ransom's Hill Family Track at 1 p.m.

Phillip Young and Michel Sohi each won all four events they entered in the district meet, and the Conchs dominated the sprint and relay events.

The 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams easily pulled away for titles, and the only real competition the Conchs' runners faced in the sprints came from each other.

Sohi finished first in the 100-meter dash with teammates Bebito Pierre and Na'Quan McNeill rounding out the top three.

Sohi also won the 200-meter dash, finishing ahead of teammates Bebito and Aldone Pierre, who were second and third, respectively. Coral Shores' Darius Kittle took fourth to qualify for regionals.

In the 400 meters, Clive Georges took first with a time of 50.42, and teammate Michael Arencibia came in second at 49.20. The third-place finisher, Archbishop Carroll's D'Andre Smith, was more than four seconds behind.

The wins were especially satisfying for Sohi, who injured his hamstring just before regionals last year and was unable to compete. He hurt the same hamstring during the 100-meter finals during the district meet this year and said he considered not running in the 200. He eventually chose to run it, mainly because he considers it his strongest event.

"I'm looking forward to it, especially because last year I didn't have a chance," Sohi said of competing in regionals.

Young picked up district titles in the 300-meter hurdles, the triple jump and as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams. He said he is looking forward to continuing that success this week and beyond.

"Those are the four that I'm going to run at states, and I'm hoping to get a gold in all four," said Young, who won a state title in the hurdles last year. "As long as I can keep this going through states, I'll be happy."

They aren't the only ones heading into regionals with some confidence. The Conchs' girls also had a big day, finishing third overall, behind Ransom and Gulliver Prep.

Advancing for the Key West girls are: Courtnie Coleman (second in 100 and fourth in 200), Brittany Wagoner (first in long jump, second in 200, third in high jump), Emma Fehlig (second in pole vault, fourth in long jump), Rachael Dietrich (third in pole vault), Danielle Mariscal (third in triple jump), and Ja'Taure' Mathis (second in shot put and fourth in discus).

For Coral Shores , five boys, plus three relay teams, advanced, while three girls and one relay team will be moving on to the regional meet.

In addition to Kittle, Kyle Hargis (second) and William Rodriguez (fourth) each advanced in the 110-meter hurdles, Eric Hernandez (fourth) will be moving on in the pole vault, and Benjamin Schinella (third) advanced in the shot put.

Qualifying for the Coral Shores ' girls were: Iris Dunn (fourth in 100, third in 100-meter hurdles), Latrice Johnson (third in 200, second in high jump), and Joanna McCoy (first in 3,200 meters, second in 1,600).

• • •

Although Key West softball coach Steve Wells did not know who his team would face in the first round of the District 16-4A tournament this afternoon at 3:30, he said his team is prepared to face any of the five teams from the weak conference.

Overall the Lady Conchs have outscored their district opponents 90-7 during the regular season, but they cannot look past this week.

Wells knows they still have to play between the white lines and hopefully get ready for the district championship at the same time Thursday at Miami Central.

"We're the top seed so we're playing the fourth seed tomorrow," said Wells Sunday night. "I expect it to be (Miami) Jackson, Central or Norland. We've played all of these teams already so I think everyone is aware of the type of team we're playing. I don't want to hype things up too much because it almost hurts us to do so. With these teams, the more relaxed we are, the better we play. My plan is to get our runs early and get our players in the game."

In addition to the varsity, Wells has moved up five JV players who could fill in a lot of gaps when they are called to play.

"I'm going to try and get as many runs as possible without embarrassing anyone," the coach said. "In these games I play my starters a couple of innings and then I'm going to insert all the others. If you're on the bench you're playing."

Regardless of who the Conchs will face today, they will be all business from the first to the last pitch.

"If we don't get past this week there is no next week," he said. "We're going to play one game at a time and then get ready for the next one."