The 2014 Florida Relays lived up to it's name as one of the premier track adn field meets in the state and around the country. On day one, we saw new state leaders and nationally ranked times from the likes of Javon Patterson (pictured above), and Terry Jernigan, just to name a few. Our team was on-site with thousands of photos by Jeff Adams and Darrell Laxton as well as interviews and race videos from Dean Headley and our friends at Flotrack. Coverage will be uploaded throughout the weekend so check back and check back often!
On-Site Coverage
DAY ONE TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Boys 3200m
In the final event running event of the night, the boy's 3200m, Coral Reef's Kurt Convey ran away from the field. Convey finished in 9:13.76, the third fastest time in the state, beating second place finisher Keneth Pineiro of Deland by over nine seconds. Adam Bradtmueller, Joshua Jacques, Alex Pedraza, and Tyler Fisher all crossed the line under 9:28. According to Geoff Pietsch and Michael Warre, Kurt Convey's performance puts him on the Nason Line of top 3200m runners in the state, and gives the list the first set of father-son qualifiers. Kurt's 9:13.36 ranks him 64th, while dad Billy won the Florida Relays two mile as a senior at Ransom Everglades in 1983. His time of 8:57.50 is equal to 8:54.40 for 3200m and has h im fifth on the list of all-time bests!
Girls 3200m
Pine Crest sophomore Julia Montgomery showed why she is one of the best young distance runners in the state of Florida. After going 10:53.78 at the FSU Relays, Montgomery clocked a Florida #2 time of 10:44.06. Alexa Cruz of St. Thomas Aquinas, who set a personal best and state leading mark at Texas Relays was second in 10:49.73. Elizabeth Mulford was third in 11:02.97 with Autumn Bartlett fourth (11:04.93), and SIXTH GRADER Tsion Yared in fifth with a time of 11:08.02.
Boys 800m
Boyd Anderson junior Javon Patterson let Olympia's Kyron Hollis do most of the work and saved his energy for when it mattered the most. Hollis lead the pack through the first 400 meters in 54 seconds and 1:22 through 600 meters, but then Patterson swung outside and outkicked the Titan's runner finishing with a new US#2 time of 1:52.04. Matthew Butler slid by Hollis in the final meters to finish with a FL#2 and US#7 mark of 1:53.13. Hollis was third in a FL#3 and US#8 1:53.21, and Kolin Ashbacher was fourth in 1:54.01. Ten runners broke 1:56 including Montverde senior Jesse Wear who came out of heat three to finish 7th overall in 1:55.73!
Girls 800m
FSU signee Maddie Harris leads a very quick 800 meter final and hangs on for the win in in 2:13.33, the fastest time in Florida for 2014, beating her personal best of 2:13.64... Harris, Sinclaire Johnson, (2:13.74), Emily Harding (2:14.74), and Ricardia Cooper (2:15.20) are 1,2,3, and 4 of the top 800 times this season.
Boys 110m Hurdles (Prelims)
If the 100m hurdle prelims are any indicator of what is to come in the finals, it should be a three way battle between Kelvin Williams, Jonathan Hayden, and Terrance Adams who clocked times of 14.15, 14.20, and 14.25 respectively. Don't count out John Battle IV of Hallandale. His prelim time was 14.45, but he has gone 14.10 this year and comes from a strong hurdling group.
Girls 100m Dash (Prelims)
Teahna Daniels, Kaylin Whitney, and Deanna Hill all win their heats in under 11 seconds; 11.76, 11.78, 11.78. Three of the fastest girls in the state and nationally heading to the finals. Interesting note Whitney has not lost in regular season high school competition in her time as a high schooler. The group has met several times including all three at Lake Highland Prep and Whitney and Daniels most recently at Bob Hayes.
Girls 100m Hurdles (Prelims)
Hallandale's Kimani Rushing set a new personal best on day one of the Florida Relays in the 100 meter hurdles. Rushing improved on her 13.87 set at the Hallandale Invitational going 13.81, the best on the day by a good ammount and the third fastest so far in the state and seventh best in the country. Lake Mary's Domonique Turner won her heat in 14.14 while Jones' senior and University of Miami signee Stefani Kerrison was a winner out of heat three in 14.16. Brittany McGee of Admiral Farragut has the fourth fastest time at 14.51.
Boys 100m Dash (Prelims)
Terry Jernigan has posted times of 10.35 and 10.36 already this season. Friday afternoon the East Ridge standout clocked 10.43 in the prelims; not too shabby! That sets the tone for a highly anticipated final tomorrow afternoon. It's the third fastest in Florida this season and tied for 7th nationally! Levi Cadogan of the Barbados national team was the second fastest qualifier on the day with a time of 10.49 to win heat six. Deltron Hopkins and Nigel Bethel of Miami Booker T. Washington both advanced to the finals winning their heat in times of 10.57 and 10.61.
Boys 1600m Run (Non-Invitational)
Joseph Janson and Brandon Bejarano battled it out in the non-invite 1600... with Janson edging him out 4:23.63 to 4:24.05. Lake Mary sophomore Christian Aman third in 4:24.65 and Adam Sommer of Estero rounding out the top four in 4:25.06.
Girls 1600m Run (Non-Invitational)
Junior Morgan Lucy of Episcopal wins the 1600m in a very impressive 5:15.05. Seven girls under 5:30. Not bad for the non-invite 1600's! Way to go ladies!
DAY TWO FIELD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Boys Pole Vault
For the fourth time this season Harry Glasser of Bolles hit 16 feet or better. The University of Florida signee hit 16-0 on the dot to win the boys pole vault by a foot and a half over Nick Catchur of Tampa Jesuit and Carson Waters of Osceola (Seminole).
Boys Discus
Fredrick Jones set a new personal best and state leading throw in the shot put of 62-10.5, beating his old PR by over a foot, and moving him up to number four on the national rankings! Apopka's Jamal Whitaker was four feet back with a throw of 58-02 to finish second.
Girls Discus
How's this for a team battle? One inch separated Miami Northwestern seniors Jontavia Dykes and Akassja White. Both hit their best throws on their fifth of six attemps with Dykes going 143-02 and White 143-01 to finish 1-2.
Girls Long Jump
Darrielle McQueen will tell you it wasn't her best day in the long jump pit, but a wins a win. The 2013 1A long jump state champion leaped 18-09 to get the win. She will compete in the triple jump, her best event, later in the weekend. Lake Weir senior Bejai Fray was second with a mark of 18-06 and Admiral Farragut junior Brittany McGee was third.
Boys Long Jump
Charles Nelson of Seabreeze continued his impressive day. The Oregon football signee won the boys long jump with a very impressive leap of 23-11 which he landed on his final attempt. It's the second best jump for Nelson this year and the tenth best in the country for 2014. Corey Williams of Sarasota and Laron James of nearby Buchholz High School also cleared 23 feet.
Girls High Jump
State leader Stacy Destin did not compete in the high jump so that opened up the door for a number of other athletes to inch closer to that six foot mark including 2x 3A state champion Nicole Greene of Ponte Vedra and 2013 2A state champion Logan Boss of Suwannee. Greene cleared 5-10, a new season best and tying her personal best while Boss came in second with a jump of 5-6.
Day One Race Videos/Interviews
Elite Performances
Girls Highlights
Boys Highlights
The 2014 Florida Relays lived up to it's name as one of the premier track adn field meets in the state and around the country. On day one, we saw new state leaders and nationally ranked times from the likes of Javon Patterson (pictured above), and Terry Jernigan, just to name a few. Our team was on-site with thousands of photos by Jeff Adams and Darrell Laxton as well as interviews and race videos from Dean Headley and our friends at Flotrack. Coverage will be uploaded throughout the weekend so check back and check back often!
On-Site Coverage
DAY ONE TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Boys 3200m
In the final event running event of the night, the boy's 3200m, Coral Reef's Kurt Convey ran away from the field. Convey finished in 9:13.76, the third fastest time in the state, beating second place finisher Keneth Pineiro of Deland by over nine seconds. Adam Bradtmueller, Joshua Jacques, Alex Pedraza, and Tyler Fisher all crossed the line under 9:28. According to Geoff Pietsch and Michael Warre, Kurt Convey's performance puts him on the Nason Line of top 3200m runners in the state, and gives the list the first set of father-son qualifiers. Kurt's 9:13.36 ranks him 64th, while dad Billy won the Florida Relays two mile as a senior at Ransom Everglades in 1983. His time of 8:57.50 is equal to 8:54.40 for 3200m and has h im fifth on the list of all-time bests!
Girls 3200m
Pine Crest sophomore Julia Montgomery showed why she is one of the best young distance runners in the state of Florida. After going 10:53.78 at the FSU Relays, Montgomery clocked a Florida #2 time of 10:44.06. Alexa Cruz of St. Thomas Aquinas, who set a personal best and state leading mark at Texas Relays was second in 10:49.73. Elizabeth Mulford was third in 11:02.97 with Autumn Bartlett fourth (11:04.93), and SIXTH GRADER Tsion Yared in fifth with a time of 11:08.02.
Boys 800m
Boyd Anderson junior Javon Patterson let Olympia's Kyron Hollis do most of the work and saved his energy for when it mattered the most. Hollis lead the pack through the first 400 meters in 54 seconds and 1:22 through 600 meters, but then Patterson swung outside and outkicked the Titan's runner finishing with a new US#2 time of 1:52.04. Matthew Butler slid by Hollis in the final meters to finish with a FL#2 and US#7 mark of 1:53.13. Hollis was third in a FL#3 and US#8 1:53.21, and Kolin Ashbacher was fourth in 1:54.01. Ten runners broke 1:56 including Montverde senior Jesse Wear who came out of heat three to finish 7th overall in 1:55.73!
Girls 800m
FSU signee Maddie Harris leads a very quick 800 meter final and hangs on for the win in in 2:13.33, the fastest time in Florida for 2014, beating her personal best of 2:13.64... Harris, Sinclaire Johnson, (2:13.74), Emily Harding (2:14.74), and Ricardia Cooper (2:15.20) are 1,2,3, and 4 of the top 800 times this season.
Boys 110m Hurdles (Prelims)
If the 100m hurdle prelims are any indicator of what is to come in the finals, it should be a three way battle between Kelvin Williams, Jonathan Hayden, and Terrance Adams who clocked times of 14.15, 14.20, and 14.25 respectively. Don't count out John Battle IV of Hallandale. His prelim time was 14.45, but he has gone 14.10 this year and comes from a strong hurdling group.
Girls 100m Dash (Prelims)
Teahna Daniels, Kaylin Whitney, and Deanna Hill all win their heats in under 11 seconds; 11.76, 11.78, 11.78. Three of the fastest girls in the state and nationally heading to the finals. Interesting note Whitney has not lost in regular season high school competition in her time as a high schooler. The group has met several times including all three at Lake Highland Prep and Whitney and Daniels most recently at Bob Hayes.
