1A Boys Recap
The First Academy claimed its first state championship in school history with a dominating performance. They had come oh so close in 2014, 96.5 to 90 to Westminster, and the last time at Hodges Stadium in 2015, they had succumbed by 0.5 and a mere 0.63 seconds in the final event of the night, the 4 x 400 meter relay, to again finish behind Westminster, 69-68.5. They recorded four consecutive runner-up finishes from 2013-16.
But this time at Hodges Stadium, they could not be stopped. Sophomore Alexander Shields again claimed the 110 meter(14.28) and 300 meter hurdles(38.08) , leapt the US #7 mark in the long jump(23-0.8.75),and anchored the winning 4 x 400 meter relay(3:22.96).
Add junior Suresh Black's win in the 200 meter dash in 21.76 and 2nd in the 400 meter(49.24). junior Nathan Alexander 's 4th in the 400m(49.75) and sophomore Lake Ellis 8th place finish in the triple jump(42-10.25) and you can see why they romped to a resounding 64-45 win over Northside Christian. And to think that they are all underclassmen...possibly they could vie for two or three consecutive championships.
Citrus Park Christian's Trevor Foley threepeated in the 800 meter (1:55.27), 1600 meter (4:21.34) and 3200m meter (9:27.53). His self-acknowledged weakest event, the 800 meter and Foley set a new personal best by 2 seconds. After that, it was smooth sailing as he remained close to the leaders before winning going away.
Up next is the Dream Mile in Boston in two weeks where he'll attempt to improve on his PR of 4:12.63(1600 meter). They'll be going after sub 4 and Foley feels that his 4:12.63 where he ran 64, 64, 64 and 59 speak well of his fitness.
"I'm just going to go along for the ride and see how close I can get to 4 minutes," he said. "I've been doing some good miler workouts."