Northwestern Girls Win Eighth Straight Track Title

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Miami Northwestern, one of the most dominant girls' track and field programs in Florida history, won its eighth consecutive state crown Saturday at the Florida High School Track and Field State Championships at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

The Lady Bulls topped a Class 3A field of more than 50 teams with 157 points, more than doubling runner-up Northeast with 43.50. Dillard was third with 37 points.

It was Northwestern's 13th state title overall.

Senior Briana Eskridge won the Lady Bulls' first event on Friday in the high jump clearing 5-feet, 8-inches on her third attempt to earn 10 points.

The points continued to pile up in the field events when Taranique Alexander finished second in the long jump in 19-9 ¼. Eskridge was third with a leap of 19 feet.

On Saturday, the Lady Bulls started off with a win in the 4x800-meter relay in 9:17.86 with A'Sja Baker, Shiree Hinds, De'Andreah Young and Ayoola Gbolade and continued to dominate throughout the day.

Northwestern swept three of the top four places in the triple jump. Junior Taranique Alexander won with a jump of 40-1 ¼ and was fourth in the 200 meters in 25.25.

Senior Briana Eskridge was second in 39-1/2. Freshman Dascha Robinson was fourth in 37-11 ¾. Junior Kaylah Clark was third in the shot put with a toss of 40-9. University of Florida-bound senior Timetria Mitchell won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.32 and teammate Ariayanna Val was fourth in 14.72.

Junior Twanisha Terry won the 100-meter dash in a blistering 11.72. She was the only sprinter to dip under 12 seconds. She also won the 200-meter dash in 24.29.

Northwestern took three of the top four spots in the 300-meter hurdles. De'Andreah Young won in 41.85, Mitchell was second in 42.83 and Charlease Rodgers was fourth in 44.54.

The Lady Bulls won the 400-meter relay in 46.37 with Ulani Toussaint, Twanisha Terry, Timetria Mitchell and Taranique Alexander.

The Lady Bulls finished the night with a runner-up finish behind Northeast in the 1,600-meter relay in 3:45.76 with Ulani Toussaint, Young, Mitchell and Baker.

Miami Southridge just missed winning Dade's second girls' team title finishing runner-up in the 4A competition with 62 points. Lakewood Ranch won with 68.

Ransom Everglades was the top 2A Dade girls' team placing third with 48 points.

North Miami won the 4A 1,600-meter relay in 3:52.09 with Javenique McDowell, Asjah Wallace, Daesha Rogers and Charity Johnson.

Other individual state title winners were:

Junior Tiara McMinn of Miami Jackson was a triple winner. She captured the 2A 100-meter hurdles in 14.20, 300-meter hurdles in 43.21 and high jump in 5-8, clinching on her second attempt.

Ransom Everglades junior Debbie Ajagbe won the 2A discus title with a throw of 141-10, her final attempt. She was also second in the shot put with a toss of 39-8 ¾.

Among other top three finishers:

Gulliver Prep eighth grader Natalie Varela was runner-up in the 2A 3200-meter run in 10:51.47 and second in the 1600 in 5:05.73.

Southridge junior Symone Mason was second in the 400 meters in 54.07 and 200 meters in 24.37.

Ransom Everglades junior Anne Gutierrez was second in the 2A pole vault with a vault of 10-6.

Gulliver Prep sophomore Jazmyn Smith was second in the 2A long jump with a jump of 19 feet.

North Miami senior Asjah Wallace was second in the 4A 300-meter hurdles in 42.21.

Ransom Everglades senior Lauren Archer was third in the 2A 800-meter run in 2:15.74.

Southridge junior Shaniya Williams was third in the 100-meter dash in 12.12 and third in the 200 in 24.85.

Junior Kayla Johnson of Southridge was third in the 4A 800-meter run in 2:16.58.

Senior Melissa Zaldo of Southridge was third in the 4A discus event in 125-11.

Southridge junior Courtney Gibson was third in the 4A triple jump in 39-2.

Monsignor Pace senior Jada Johnson was third in the 2A triple jump in 37-4 ½.

In the relay competition, Westminster Christian was second in the 1A 3,200-meter relay in 10:14.32 with Megan Brais, Andrea Zumpano, Elizabeth Figg and Natasha Strump.

Ransom Everglades was third in the 2A 3,200-meter relay in 9:33.07 with Jacqueline Kirk, Lauren Archer, Hannah Tacher and Jatana Folston.

Southridge was third in the 4A 400-meter relay in 48.14 with Troyesha Davis, Shakyra Garnett, Jonae Harris and Shaniya Williams.

Southridge was third in the 4x400-meter relay in 3:52.54 with Diamond Griffin, Kayla Johnson, Jonae Harris and Symone Mason.

BOYS
Freshman Tyrese Cooper of American was Dade's top track athlete, winning the most state titles with two. Dade won one other individual and one relay state title.

Cooper won the 4A 400-meters in 46.34 nearly two seconds ahead of Jamal Walton of Everglades in 48.77. He also won the 200 in 20.87. He was second in the 4A 100-meter dash in 10.68, just 1/100th of a second behind Piper sophomore Bryand Rincher.

Dade Christian sophomore Milton Ingraham won the 1A discus with a throw of 157-10, his third attempt.

Miami Northwestern won the 3A 4x400-meter relay title in 3:14.22 with Tiondre Toomer, Thomas Burns, Steven Henderson and Camrin Lamb.

Miami Northwestern was Dade's top 3A boys team finisher placing fifth with 23 points. Columbus was the top 4A finisher placing fourth with 34.50 points.

In other top three finishes:

Coral Reef was second in the 2A 4x800-meter relay in 7:55 with Carlin Berryhill, Cameron Berryhill, Derwin Moultrie and Jonathon Mckenzie.

Belen Jesuit sophomore Joshua Collins was second in the 3A 3200-meter run in 9:17.39.

Columbus senior Humberto Freire was second in the 4A 1600-meters in 4:16.74.

Columbus pole vaulters Christopher Bentley, a junior, and senior Andres Francisco finished second and third respectively with the same height of 13-6. Bentley won on fewer attempts in the 4A event.

Northwestern sophomore Thomas Burns was third in the 3A 300-meter hurdles in 39.24.

Coral Reef senior Derwin Moultrie was third in the 4A 800-meter run in 153.69.

Senior George Williams of Westminster Christian was third in the 1A 400-meters in 49.47.

Senior Carlin Berryhill of Coral Reef was third in the 4A 3200-meters in 9:28.81

Junior DeWayne Terry of Dade Christian was third in the 1A triple jump in 44-3 ¼.

It was the first time FHSAA held the four classifications over two days at the new site.