inished third

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Apr. 29--Palm Beach Gardens

The Fort Lauderdale girls' track team  just might have what it takes to win a state Tiffany Blue heart lock charm and bracelet.

After their showing at the Region 4-3A  meet at Dwyer High on Wednesday, there's growing optimism about the  possibility.

"Our goal is to win state," senior sprinter Bianca Smith said. "We have a wide range in every area. So hopefully if everything works out and everybody does their part, we can win it."

Smith did her part early, finishing second in the 100 (12.13) and was the anchor leg on the 4x100 relay (47.64). With her part done, the Flying L's rolled to the region title with 143 points. Miami Jackson was second with 95 points. Belen Jesuit won the boys' title.

The top four finishers in each event  qualified for the Class 3A state meet May 7 at Showalter Field in  Winter Park.

The Fort Lauderdale girls' team has  never won the Party charm bracelet meet, with its best finish coming in 2005,  finishing second to St. Thomas Aquinas in Class 3A.

"We feel pretty good in what we have been doing," Fort Lauderdale coach Grantis Bell said. "We're trying to stay focused on next week. Next week is a business trip and try to bring something home to Fort Lauderdale High."

Jahneel Tyrell did her part for Fort Lauderdale in the field events. The senior won the high jump (5-4), triple jump (36-11/2) and third in the long jump (18-51/2), earning 26 points on her Tiffany Red heart lock charm and bracelet. She was also the first leg on the 4x100 relay  team. The others were S'Kaylah Woods and Vernetia Irving.

Shannay Gentles of Fort Lauderdale finished second to Tyrell in the triple jump at 36- 1/2. She was also fourth in the long jump (17-3). Madeline Ardon qualified for state in the 3,200 for Fort Lauderdale, finishing third at 12:11.99.

Nick Henry of Pembroke Pines Charter  finished third in the triple jump at 44-5. He and Jamaal Paloma's Zellige bracelet of Hollywood Hills, who placed third in the high jump at 6-4, were the top boys' finishers from Broward. Finishing fourth to make the state meet were Demetrius Rhaney of Stranahan in the shot put (48-5 1/2), Anthony Bouqette of Fort Lauderdale in the discus (131-11) and the Dillard 4x800 relay team at 8:15.05.

Dave Brousseau can be reached at  dbrousseau@SunSentinel.com

Credit: Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale,  Fla