Track Roundup: South Florida Teams Have Strong Showings Around State

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Miami-Dade and Broward high school track and field teams got in some final dress rehearsals at meets around the state as the regular season came to a close this past weekend.

Athletes now begin their quest to qualify for the state meet. First up will be district meets for all classifications this week and next.

The region meets are April 25-30 and FHSAA State Championships on May 6-7 at IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton where all four classes will be held over two days.

Belen Jesuit captured the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Stuart South Fork.

The Wolverines won the boys' title with 146 points finishing ahead of Sebastian River (112) and Jensen Beach (62.5).

Belen Jesuit dominated the distance events winning the 4x800-meter relay in 8:54.50; 1600 and 3200 with Joshua Collins in 4:33.82 and 9:46.90 respectively; 300 intermediate hurdles with Daniel Mejia in 41.02; and high jump with eighth grader Donald Chaney with a 6-foot jump.

Mejia, a senior, was also second in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.99. Juan Zayas, also a senior, was second in the 1600 in 4:42.03 and second in the 800 in 2:08.05. Chaney was also third in the long jump (19-9). Christopher Avallone, a junior, was second in the pole vault (9-0).

Belen Jesuit was also second in the 4x400-meter relay in 3:32.76.

Belen Jesuit swept three of the top four places in the 3200. In addition to Collins, a sophomore, senior Nicolas Rosa was third in 10:15.50 and younger brother Sebastian Rosa, a freshman, was fourth in 10:27.07.

Sophomore Carlos Vela was third in the 400 in 52.69. Senior Kevin Valdes was second in the shot put (47-1).

Youth Fair Championships

Columbus and Southridge captured the team titles at Tropical Park.

Columbus, led by individual winners Humberto Friere and Andres Francisco, won the boys' team title with 81 points followed by Southridge (73.5) and Belen Jesuit (59). Friere won the 1,600 (4:24.16) and Francisco was first in the pole vault (13-0).

Southridge won the girls team title with 126 points. Northwestern, competing with a split squad (85), was second and Ransom Everglades third (54.5). Northwestern had several athletes competing at the Florida Relays.

American freshman sensation Tyrese Cooper won the 100- and 200-meter titles. Cooper won the 100 in 10.60 and 200 in 20.95. Cooper is the freshman national record holder in the 200 and 400.

Symone Mason of Southridge won the 100- and 200-meter races. Mason won the 100 in 11.83 and 200 in 23.86.

Pepsi Florida Relays

American Heritage Plantation boys swept the sprint relays, winning the 4x100-meter relay in 40.95; 4x200 in 1:26.67 and 4x400 in 3:15.27, all school bests at University of Florida's Percy Beach Track.

Chaminade sophomore Shaun Shivers finished second in the 100 meters in a career-best time 10.47 seconds. It was the second fastest time in the state.

Dillard's 4x100-meter girls relay was second in 47.28.

Pine Crest broke a school record in the distance medley relay, turned in eight personal-bests and six season-bests. After finishing 38th two years ago in the 100-meter hurdles, junior Simone Vreeland won the 1,600 in a personal-best 5:12.17.

Teammate Nyla Lindo was fourth in the high jump (5-4) and had a personal best in the triple jump by 6.25 inches in 35-11.25.

Junior Ivan Sonaher of St. Thomas Aquinas won the 1600 in 4:25.34. Shanell Atkins was second in the shot put (44-10).

Junior Twanisha Terry of Northwestern won the 100 meters in 11.51. Northwestern girls won the 4x200 relay in 1:35.65 ahead of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1:40.54, 4x400 in 3:43.63 and 4x800 in 9:15.76.

Taranique Alexander of Northwestern was second in the long jump in 18-4.75 and second in the triple jump (39-08). Teammate Briana Eskridge won the triple jump (40-06) and was second in the high jump (5-6).

Miami Pace senior Alvin McCray won the high jump (6-8) and Daniel Wright of Cardinal Gibbons was second in 6-4.

Calvary Christian was second in the distance medley relay in 10:35.48 and Storm Sims was second in the discus (160-05). Ryan Szklany of Highlands Christian was third in the 1600 meters in 4:28.75.

Coral Springs City Championships

Douglas swept the boys and girls team titles. The Eagles won the boys' title with 142 points. Taravella was runner-up with 111. The girls team won with 235 points ahead of Coral Springs with 158.5.

In the boys' events, junior Michel Normil of Taravella was a double winner in the 1600 in 4:34.15 and 800 in 2:02.43. Other double winners were senior Kimarley Carby of Coral Springs in the high jump (6-0) and 100 meters (11.10) and senior Marlon Ellis of Taravella in the triple jump (4-11.50) and long jump (20-05).

Douglas, buoyed by depth, won the discus with sophomore Giovanni Puglisi (124-00) and pole vault with senior Scott Colbacchini (11-07).

Douglas's girls winners were junior Emilia Thom in the 1600 in 5:49.25 and 3200 in 13:24.33; senior Gillian Morrison in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.72; 4x400 relay in 4:21.03 with Alana Myrie, Diamond Clarke, Kyra Parrow and Sabrina Yuen Orozco; junior Talya Grant in the discus (101-05); senior Gillian Morris in the high jump (5-2), long jump (16-8) and triple jump (34-6.50).

Junior Kyrstlei Everett of Coral Glades won the 100 (13.10) and 200 (27.48).

Texas Relays

In her first U.S. meet as a pro, St. Thomas Aquinas senior Khalifa St. Fort was third in the 100-meters in 11.39 and anchored the winning Trinidad & Tobago 4x100-meter relay to victory at the University of Texas in Austin.

She is now training with her coach Ato Boldon for the April 28-30 Penn Relays.

"To be running 11.39 at this time of the season only gives me more confidence to see what I am running in July," she said. "I know I am going to run sub-11 this year. I am excited to see what the rest of the season holds for me."

DISTRICT MEET SCHEDULES

Tuesday: District 12-4A at Coral Springs, 6:30 p.m., finals.
Wednesday: District 15-3A: at Boyd Anderson, 6 p.m., finals.
Wednesday: District 16-2A: at Tropical Park (Miami Jackson host), 3:30 p.m., finals.
Wednesday: District 16-1A: at Southridge (Westminster Christian host), 4 p.m., finals.
Thursday: District 15-2A: at Calvary Christian, 7 p.m.
Thursday: District 15-1A: at Dade Christian, 5 p.m.
April 19, Tuesday: District 13-4A at South Plantation
April 19, Tuesday: District 14-4A at Everglades, 2:30 p.m.
April 19, Tuesday: District 16-4A: at Southridge Park, 3 p.m.
April 20, Wednesday: District 15-4A at Tropical Park (Hialeah Gardens host), 4 p.m.
April 21, Thursday: District 14-1A at Westminster Academy, 5 p.m., finals.
April 21, Thursday: District 16-3A at Tropical Park (Northwestern host).