Palm Beach Central and FSU commit Karimah Davis had a fantastic weekend at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet. Davis was the runner-up behind Olympian Sydney McLaughlin who set a new high school national record in the event with an US#1 time of 51.61. Her speed pulled Davis to a new PR and US#2 mark of 52.91. She was also 5th in the 200m dash with a time of 23.93.
South Florida continued to bring the speed with club team South Dade Express comprised of runners from Southridge High School. University of Miami signee Symone Mason was one one-hundredth behind Lynna Irby in the girls 200m dash to finish second in 23.62. Mason was also 5th in the girls 60m championship which came down to a battle between her and Irby for the 4th spot.
Symone Mason teamed up with future Cane teammate Kayla Johnson, Shaniya Williams (UCF signee), and junior D'Anna Hallman in the girls 1600 SMR championship. The group which is made up of Southridge High School athletes, but ran under the name South Dade Express, earned the silver medal with a time of 4:00.77. The future is bright for the Spartans as their "B" team ran in the emerging elite section and were awarded with a runner-up trophy for their 4:11.97.
The multi-events aren't featured in Florida, but that didn't stop a trio of Sunshine State athletes for competing against the best in New York. Beatrice Juskevici of Bradenton tallied 3,524 points to place fourth.
East Lake's Kaitlyn Kirby earned All-American honors with her fifth place finish and 3,481 points. Kirby, a USF signee, was first in the group in the long jump with a mark of 17-11.75 and was third in the 60m hurdles in 8.95s. The senior, pictured here in the high jump, finished tied for sixth in this event.
Madi Malone, a senior at Archbishop McCarthy made the final in the 20lb. weight throw, an event not contested in FHSAA competition. She threw the implement 56'5 which USATF FL Youth Throws Director Jim Griffin calls amazing for where she is at in her career.
"She has only been throwing for nine months and only using one turn at this point in her career. Imagine where she will be punching the weight with 3 or 4 turns? Just Awesome."
Other highlights include:
- Kasia Cooper (Southridge High School) - 9th - Freshman Girls 400 - 58.68
- Giana Gayles (Holy Trinity) - 11th - Girls Championship Pentathlon - 3,046 points.
- Sarah Absten (IMG Academy) - 18th - Girls Championship High Jump - 5-5