East Ridge sophomore Kaylin Whitney becomes the sixth Floridian to receive a "golden ticket" and attend the prestigious dream races in New York City. Whitney, who became the first freshman to attend the meet last year and finished fifth, received the invitation at her school this week. She says she was happy and very excited to have the opportunity to go back again.
"I'm most looking forward to doing better than I did last year. I've learned that I need to mature as an athlete, but I've grown a lot. It's showed me that's how races are going to be in the future, especially in college, and professionally."
Whitney will join five other Floridians including East Ridge teammate Terry Jernigan who is alsy trying to "make history". She is looking forward to visiting NYC again, which she calls her favorite city and adds that the race this year should be a good one.
"It's always very competitive. The difference in the race will be who is great and who is exceptional."
St. Thomas Aquinas junior Krystal Sparling earned an automatic ticket to the Dream 100 after she posted a nation leading 11.34 at the FHSAA 4A Region 4 Championship.
Six time state champion and 2013 Dream 100 qualifier Kendal Williams was one of the first boys to receive a ticket. Here the FSU signee shows off his golden prize in Florida fashion. Who knew it was waterproof?
First Academy junior Teahna Daniels makes her first trip to New York City after winning the Golden South Classic. Daniels ran the second fastest time of her high school career, 11.38 to win the event beating out fellow qualifier Kaylin Whitney.
Captain America, AKA, Terry Jernigan clocked the fastest 100m time in the nation, a wind legal 10.27 to win the Golden South Classic. Whitney and Jernigan are the first male/female duo from the same school to compete in the prestigious event. (Note: former Boyd Anderson standouts Kali-Davis White and Shayla Sanders competed in the event together in 2012)
Sarasota junior Zack Summerall stunned a majority out of state field in the boys mile. Summerall, came out of the third lap with one goal on his mind and that was to win the event and send himself packing for the Dream Mile and winning the race in 4:14.81.
The final question remains do any other Floridians receive a Golden Ticket? Sukhi Khosla of Leon has had the number one time in the 1600m (4:05.96) nationally for the last few weeks. That mark was recently taken down by Joe Hardy of Washington so his time sits at US#2.Khosla is the 3A Cross Country Finals champion as well as 1600 and 3200m state champion. Also, a possibility to go to New York is Andre Ewers of Piper who was the 4A state runner-up behind Jernigan. Ewers went 10.31 and 10.33 at the regional championships and was second behind Jernigan again at Golden South where he ran 10.39 one of the top times in the country. If they get a ticket we will let you know!