Boone senior Marvin Bracy was featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces In The Crowd section for his record setting performance in the 55 meter dash at the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Youth Meet.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. The University of Florida track and field program, on the heels of top-10 recruiting classes in 2012, has inked 12 student-athletes for the 2013 season, head coach Mike Holloway announced on Wednesday. This class includes eight state champions and several athletes that have international experience. (via www.gatorzone.com)

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  Junior sprinter Jeff Demps (Winter Garden, Fla.) has been named the Southeastern Conference Men's Runner of the Week for his outstanding performance at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet this past weekend, the league offices in Birmingham, Ala. announced Tuesday. (via www.gatorzone.com)

There in the depths of the Pasco County boonies, well-hidden from nearby Highway 301 that travels north from Dade City, lies a beautiful piece of pristine property called Little Everglades Ranch. The FHSAA State Finals has called this 2050-acre working ranch home since 2005, but that era has now come to a close after the successful 2011 state championship.

Not much changed in the latest D1 Rankings. On the men's side Florida and Florida State remain at number two and six respectively. On the womens' side UCF coach Caryl Smith Gilbert has the Knights firmly in fifth while Florida State slips from 9th to 12th.

Gulliver Prep senior Briana Pulido is a versatile athlete who is looking to make a big impact on her new school in 2012.  Last year Pulido finished fourth in the 100 meter hurdles, 5th in the 300 meter hurdles, and 7th in the long jump at the 2A State Championships. See how playing multiple sports have helped her in track and field, her goals for herself and her new team, and the latest college news. 

For this month's Hometown Hero spotlight, we take a look at David Mitchell.(via New Tampa Patch)

The Florida State track & field program has fortified its distance and field event lineups with the addition of five new signees announced by head coach Bob Braman.

A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Florida high school stars.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Gator track and field teams finished the 2012 Virginia Tech Elite Meet on a high note on Saturday, earning five victories, four personal or collegiate bests and an automatic qualifying mark courtesy of junior jumper Omar Craddock (Killeen, Texas). (via www.gatorzone.com)

Held at the brand-new JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, the meet is open for unattached individuals and clubs from around the Southeast.

Lauryn Williams kicked off the 2012 Olympic year at the new Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala., which afforded her the opportunity to run on a fast track and compete in the same meet with her younger sister for the first time. (via www.universalsports.com)

On a recent trip to Texas for the Olympic Marathon Trials, our friend at FloTrack asked me to stop by their headquarters in Austin for a couple of days. In addition to just getting to know them better and seeing their place, they were excited to show me the new project they are working on called Flocoach. I was so impressed with the idea that we signed a partnership right then and there.

Spring is just around the corner, which means high school track season is just around the corner, which means young runners are about to get hurt. It happens every year: Track season starts. Kids are excited. Training begins. Within six weeks, many who were having the time of their lives are halted by shin splints, IT band syndrome, runner's knee, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and on and on.(via Running Times)

Former Lake Wales star Octavious Freeman is making a name for herself on the collegiate stage. Freeman is the latest runner to be added to The Bowerman Women's Watch List.

Today is February 1st, national signing day! Athletes around the country (and world) can now make their college commitments official.

Belleview senior Anne-Marie Blaney has found the right fit to continue her running career. Blaney, a four-time Star-Banner Athlete of the Year between cross country and track and field, signed a national letter of intent to continue both sports with the University of Central Florida on Wednesday night at Belleview High School. via (preps.ocala.com)

There were days when Palmetto Ridge runner Josh Pelletier wondered if it was all worth it. The hours upon hours of running, late night homework sessions and long school days capped off by workouts and practice sessions. After all, during his high school career, Pelletier never won an individual title. (via Naples Daily News)

Florida State track & field coach Bob Braman received a big assist from Jimbo Fisher Wednesday, when two of the nation’s top sprinters – Marvin Bracy and Ronald Darby – signed national letters of intent to play football for the Seminoles.

  With National Signing day approaching on Wednesday, the SEC Digital Network is "priming" you on what's to come in this all important event. In this "Primer", we go behind the scenes at the offices of the Southeastern Conference. We spoke with Associate Commissioner Greg Sankey, who oversees compliance for the conference. Sankey's interview covers a well known practice, but explains what exactly is happening when high school student-athletes sign to play in the SEC., SEC NEWS (via www.secdigitalnetwork.com)

The UCF track and field team has climbed to No. 5 in the latest USTFCCCA national rankings, the association announced Tuesday. (via www.ucfathletics.com)

Chiles senior Lily Williams decided in the final days leading up to National Signing Day that she would run for Vanderbilt University.

If you live in or around Daytona Beach, Florida, you know that from late January to mid-March, it’s all about speed. (Vrooom,vrooom!) First there’s the Rolex Endurance Race (24 hours of beer, fried food, t-shirts, and of course one long sleepless night of non-stop car racing).

A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Florida high school stars.

Todd Grasley and Jeff Adams are on-site in Gainesville for coverage of one of two Florida youth indoor meets this year. There are a lot of big names lined up this Sunday!

Wiregrass Ranch senior Sam Hippely has verbally committed to the University of West Florida. 

Just a couple of years ago, Thomas Christenberry thought he would probably be just another high school runner who posted some decent times and had some fun running cross country and track. A college career? Well, that just didn’t enter his thinking too often. (via www.tboblogs.com)

Wiregrass Ranch senior David Hill has verbally committed to run cross country at Saint Leo, Bulls coach Chris Loth said. Hill will receive a partial athletic scholarship. (via www.tampabay.com)

The Gainesville Sports Commission has released the 2012 Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track & Field Invitational youth schedule of events as well as an up to date performance list. The meet kicksoff Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at the O'Connell Center at the University of Florida. 

Otniel Teixera came up just short in last year's 800 meter race at the 4A Outdoor State Finals. This year the Lake Brantley senior wants nothing but the top of the podium. See his plans for the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Youth Meet, goals for the season, and find out what lucky school has his commitment to run for the next four years.

Danielle Kissel, Plant High’s No. 1 runner when it won the Class 4A state cross country title last fall, will not be participating in track this spring for the Panthers, Kissel told the Tribune on Thursday. (via www.tboblogs.com)

Staging a marathon is a lot like running one. Frankie Ruiz has done both. Ruiz is a founder of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon, which celebrates its 10th anniversary Sunday with a sold-out field of 25,000 runners. He knows what it takes. (via The Miami Herald)

Chiles standout Carly Thomas has chosen her college destination. The 2009 3A Cross Country State Championship will stay in Tallahassee and run for Florida State. In the end she chose the Seminoles over Mississippi State. She says it was her bond with Coach Karen Harvey and current FSU runners that sealed the deal.

Athletes at the collegiate level devote much of their time to the athletic events they compete in — Florida freshman Taylor Burke is no different, except she has it twice as hard. Burke plays goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team in the fall, and she is currently competing in the high jump for track and field. At the Alabama Invitational two weeks ago, the first track meet of her collegiate career, she placed fourth in her event. (via The Independent Florida Alligator)

David Oliver trains at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World in Orlando with famed coach Brooks Johnson. He focuses on the fundamentals while looking toward the London Olympic Games.

When Kyle Krekeler showed up at the Mount Dora Christian Home and Bible School track in July to join a local running group, trainer Vickie Steuben encountered a problem. The 22-year-old Krekeler, who is autistic, would smell her hand and try to put some of her fingers in his mouth. (via OrlandoSentinel.com)

Freedom senior distance runner Ashley Smith, a state qualifier last year in both track and cross country, has accepted a scholarship offer and verbally committed to Augusta (Ga.) State University on Tuesday, her father and coach, Dwight Smith announced. (via www.tboblogs.com)

Paul Spangler, a former Alabama cross country NCAA qualifier and All-Southeastern Conference selection, has returned to the SEC and will join the Gator coaching staff as an assistant coach for distance and cross country, University of Florida track and field head coach Mike Holloway announced today. (via www.gatorzone.com)

Gainesville Buchholz senior Chris Godwin decided to leave his hometown when he picked Florida State over offers from UF, and USF. Godwin capped off his cross country career with a second place finish at the 4A meet and an 11th place finish at the Foot Locker South regional.

Andres Arroyo is only a junior and is raking in the hardware. The Colonial star was recently named the Gatorade Florida Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. 

You probably put a lot of thought into the interval portion of your workouts--how far, how many, how fast. The recovery or rest portion of your workout may be merely an afterthought. Perhaps you should consider it more carefully. (via Running Times)

Senior pole vaulter Sammie Kasmirski will graduate this year without knowing what it is like to compete in front of a home crowd. Though the Sarasota County School District is sinking $90 million into a new campus, there are no plans to replace the non-regulation 5-lane track. (via HeraldTribune.com)

Nease standout Mac Reynolds has committed to the University of Florida. He admits the recruiting process was hectic at first, but after a while things settled down. He chose the Gators over Auburn. He says he knew early on that Gainesville was the place for him.

Santa Fe Catholic senior Ben Knauf won two gold medals at the 1A State Championships in 2011. Knauf placed first in the 100 and long jump and finished second in the 200 meters. The standout also plays football for Santa Fe Catholic in addition to track. It's what he does between the two sports that some people might not know. 

 The Florida men's and women's track and field teams recorded six first-place finishes on Sunday at the 2012 Gator Invite, held at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. (via www.gatorzone.com)

Senior Kemar Hyman stepped out of the shadows and secured Florida State's first NCAA Indoor Championship automatic berth in the 60-meter dash. Hyman tied the Cayman Islands' national record at the Auburn Invitational. (via www.seminoles.com)

A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Florida high school stars.

A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Florida high school stars.

A trio of Sunshine State track stars returned home to train for 2012 season and gear up for the Olympics in London. Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, Jamaal Torrance, and Moses Washington spent a couple of days at the National Training Center in Clermont working on their speed and strength. 

The Orlando Sentinel hypothesizes that Florida State could possibly land Ronald Darby of Oxon Hill, MD. Since the Seminoles already have Marvin Bracy committed that would give them the fastest two sprinters in the country... which could have major repurcusions on the national scene both on the track and the gridiron. (via OrlandoSentinel.com)

The college decision is in for Northside Christian's Katelyn Greenleaf. Greenleaf has decided to take her talents to the University of Alabama and run for the Crimson Tide. 

How much is a spot on an Olympian's shoulder worth? Nick Symmonds put his skin on the eBay auction site, offering to wear a temporary tattoo with the name of the highest bidder as he competes for a spot on the U.S. team for the London Games this summer. (via sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson announced via conference call this afternoon she will kick start 2012 with appearances in Boston and New York City. The 1500 meter champion is scheduled to showcase her skills on the indoor circuit at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on February 4th. Simpson says she will run the 3K in Boston.

Tiara Robinson has been tearing up the AAU circuit for several years. Now a freshman at Ft. Pierce Central she hopes to continue that success on the high school level. Her goals for 2012 are to reach the podium in both the 200 and 400.

Octavious Freeman earns the first honor of the season for the No. 6 UCF track and field team after her stellar collegiate debut over the weekend at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. (via www.ucfathletics.com)

Good running form plays a large role in remaining injury-free, and remaining injury-free plays a large role in being able to run farther and faster. Let's start by looking at five basic elements of good running form. Then we'll get into some tests to see if your body has the structural integrity to maintain those elements of good form. (via Running Times)

Megan Walker was riding by the Port St. Joe track when she first caught a glimpse of the pole vault. The then sixth grader was intrigued at the event.  Her mom made a call to the coach and the next day she was out for practice. Walker remembers the first  time she ever took to the runway.

Cousins Marvin Bracy and Levonte "Kermit" Whitfield have been invited to run in the prestigous Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle. Bracy is the reigning FHSAA 4A State Champion in the 100 and 200. Whitfield is the 2011 2A State Champion in the 100.  Both will compete in the 60 meter race. 

In the end, Plant senior Danielle Kissell said it came down to a choice between making another move or staying close to home. And on that score, the University of Tampa won out over St. Augustine’s Flagler College.(via www.tboblogs.com)

Jeremy Criscione made his marathon debut today at the Olympic Trials of all places! After qualifying with a fantastic 1:04 at the New York City Half Marathon, he got to experience the full today on a big stage. Criscione held his own, along with his Hanson-Brooks Distance Project teammates and was as high as 36th at one point. It finally caught up with him at five miles to go and he felt it big time, but held his own and finishd near the middle of the pack in this elite field with 59th place and 2:20.

An enormous weight was lifted off Chamberlain senior Max del Monte's shoulders when he called Florida State Head Coach Bob Braman and verbally committed to the Seminoles.

Our Warrior of the Year Olivia Ortiz can now add another title to her already impressive resume. The Lakewood Ranch junior was named the Gatorade Florida GIrls Cross Country Runner Of The Year.  Ortiz took home the individual state championship at the 3A meet and advanced to Foot Locker Nationals where she finished 19th among the nation's top runners.

Gators Assistant Track & Field Coach Todd Morgan will take his coaching talents to University of Virginia. Morgan will be the Head Women's Distance Coach for the Cavaliers.

University of Florida two-sport standout Jeff Demps is putting away any NFL aspirations to focus on his track career and a potential spot in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Demps has decided to run for the Gators this spring and then will seek a professional track career rather than one in football. Demps informed Gators head coach Mike Holloway of his plan in recent days after making a final decision after the football season ended. GatorZone (via gatorzone.com)

Stanford Head Coach Edrick Floreal Teaches "Triple Jump For Dummies" at the 2012 Track & Field Clinic. See what he has to say about proper approach, landing, jumping drills, and much more.

When Dentarius Locke graduated from Chamberlain High in 2009, he headed to the University of Tennessee with two state track crowns, a full scholarship and plenty of optimism about his future. (via TBO.com)

NEW ORLEANS – The Bowerman, an award bestowed to collegiate track & field’s best athlete of the year, was awarded to Florida State’s Ngoni Makusha and Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard less than a month ago, but it’s time to look forward to 2012 with the award’s preseason watch list. The men’s list of ten, announced by The Bowerman Watch List Committee, has three semifinalists from the 2011 season.

Connor Guest chronicles the 2011 Ransom Everglade's boys cross country team and their quest for a state championship. Connor is a junior and member of the school's junior varsity squad.  

NEW ORLEANS – Florida’s men and Oregon’s women, both two-time defending NCAA Division I indoor track & field national champions, begin the 2012 season in familiar territory – as the nation’s No. 1 teams. 

NEW ORLEANS – The NCAA Track & Field Subcommitee announced on Monday that the new date formula passed by NCAA Championships Cabinet will go into effect beginning this year. For the first time since World War II, the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held on a Saturday. In addition, the formula places the regional championships preceding the national meet eight days earlier on a Friday.(via USTFCCCA)

Boone senior Marvin Bracy is regarded as one of the top sprinters in the nation. The FSU commit won back to back 100 and 200 meter state championships in Florida and also was victorious in the inaugural Dream 100. He concluded his junior campaign by posting a blazing 10.05 at USATF Nationals which is a All-Conditions US#2 All-Time. Bracy also won the Pan Am Junior Championships 100 meter dash with a time of 10.09. Recently he joined us in our MileSplit Headquarters for an interview to talk about his plans for 2012 and beyond.  

Ajee' Wilson just completed the second major hurdle of her high school track and field career. The first was nearly a forgone conclusion. After a breakthrough sophomore year where she ran the fourth-fastest 1,600 meters in state history and won a NJSIAA Meet of Champions title in the 800 meters, it was only a matter of time before she left and indelible imprint on New Jersey track and field.(via The Star-Ledger - NJ.com)

Most college freshmen have not been featured by ESPN, but then again, most are not Octavious Freeman. (via www.ucfathletics.com)

A week from today, we will all know if Putnam County will have a representative in London for this year's Summer Olympics. (via www.palatkadailynews.com)

In the storm-tossed mind of highly creative individuals, there is no rest, no port that might be called safe harbor. Waves of ideas flood the mind-flowing with inspiration and ebbing with exhaustion. Goals can be short-lived, because new ones quickly take their place. Days are long, and nights short. Even while asleep, the subconscious of these paragons of humanity become a fertile ground of design and innovation.

The 2012 FACA Track & Field Clinic is loaded with great speakers and presentations. Here is a look at what people can expect to see and hear for years to come.  

Kevin Hanson, along with his brother Keith, is a founder and coach of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. For over ten years, the two have spearheaded the Olympic development program to provide successful college athletes with the opportunity to continue training after graduation. (via Olympic Trials)

FLYRA and flrunners.com are proud to announce that the Middle School Track & Field State Championship will have a new home this spring. The meet, which has become the highlight of the middle school season in Florida and a launching pad for future stars, will switch coasts after three years at Holy Trinity in Melbourne. The championship meet will take place on May 5, 2012 at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater.

Boone High football and track star Marvin Bracy has started to focus on his speed workouts this winter and once the Under Armour All-American Game is completed, he and trainer Ricky Argro will be full-fledged devoted to the sprinter’s quest to make the U.S. Olympic team, for which trials are in Eugene, Ore., on July 24 and the London Olympic Games start in August. (via OrlandoSentinel.com)

I would like to convince you to think otherwise. Intelligently adding some double days to your program can help advance your fitness, even if you wind up not significantly increasing your mileage. (via Running Times)

The 2012 Track & Field season in Florida starts next month, with practice kicking up just in a couple of weeks! And then cross country will be back before you know it! Here's a quick look at some important dates for 2012.

Lauren Fleshman arrived at the start of the New York City Marathon in November as a human billboard, wearing temporary tattoos that advertised an energy-bar company she founded with her husband.(via www.nytimes.com)

We take a look back at 2011 and the highlights of the track and cross country seasons, things we'll miss, and coaching honors.

We take a look at the best of the best from each area and county as chronicled by their respective media outlets.

Two former high school standouts have created a website for Christian athletes to network with one another and share their experiences. Tyler Cardillo and Sarah Spann, now freshman runners at the University of Florida started UndefinedChristianAthletes.com in December. Cardillo says the response from the community has been outstanding.

After much consideration following the untimely passing of her husband Jeff Wentworth earlier this month, Marcia Mansur-Wentworth has decided that Steeple Timing will close up shop. She will be moving to Arizona to be closer to family. Inside this article is a letter from Marcia to the flrunners.com community.

Der'Renae Freeman always loved the Gators growing up. Her high school colors at West Orange were blue and orange. So it came as somewhat of a surprise to those around her when the standout chose to join the Florida State track and field program.  Freeman says it was her relationship with Coach Ken Harnden that sealed the deal.

The University of Tampa Spartans will host their 1st Annual Free Track & Field Clinic presented by Asics on Sunday, January 15th, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.. The event is open to all track and field athletes, parents, coaches and siblings.

Belen Jesuit coach Frankie Ruiz talks with mRuns.com about the upcoming ING Miami Marthon & Half Marathon.

Last January, Indiana junior Andy Bayer was on fire, blazing a 3,000m in 7:48.35--a time that broke the school record and was the fastest collegiate mark of the season. The next week he ran a world-leading 3:57.75 open mile.(via Running Times)

After missing parts of three collegiate seasons for various reasons, Ireland’s Ciarán O’Lionaird has at last started to realize the potential he first showed as a juvenile in his native County Cork in Ireland. (via Running Times)

The latest schedule has been released for the 2012 FACA Track & Field Clinic along with news of a very special guest speaker. 

"I don't know that it will ever truly sink in." That's how Jennifer "Jenny" Simpson describes how it feels, three months afterwards, to be the World champion at 1500m. (via www.iaaf.org)

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanzaa! Joyous Festivus! No matter what holiday you celebrate with your family, we wish you the warmest holiday greetings and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

Holy Trinity head cross country coach Doug Butler has more state titles than any other coach in Florida, but that's not the bottom line. (via FLORIDA TODAY)

Cocoa Beach senior Shelby Davidson put an end to her recruitment when she announced she would be attending the University of Florida. Shelby is the second Davidson to become a Gator joining brother Tyler who is currently a sophomore. We had the chance to talk to Shelby shortly after she made her decision about her choice, as well as what she'll remember the most from her high school career.