2A Region 3: Jesuit Boys Hold Fast, Academy Girls Throw Forward

FHSAA 2A Region 3
Andy Warrener

On-Site Coverage

If there was any chance the boys of Jesuit and the girls of Academy of the Holy Names could repeat their team titles from districts a week ago, things would have to go just right. They did. Even following the same trend that earned them district titles, the Jesuit boys dominated the field events and held on for the win, while the Academy girls trailed most of the way before storming ahead in the 3200m.

Jesuit throwers Jack Taylor and Vincent Jackson continue to dominate. Taylor won both the boys shot (49-9) and the disc (159-7). Taylor’s throw in disc reset his personal record for the second straight week.

“It was a rough day, I scratched on my first two throws and had to take a standing throw just to make the finals,” Taylor said. “I’m going to meet a coach from Spring Hill College tomorrow, so I’m glad to take that throw (in disc) with me.”

Jackson threw 46-01.25 in shot to claim second place. Jacob Rios of Tampa Catholic was runner-up in both events. Ben Root of host Berkeley Prep grabbed third with a throw of 131-7. The Jesuit boys dominated the pole vault, too, taking first, third, fourth and fifth, qualifying three for states. Senior Nick Catchur led the way, clearing 14-0, taking first. Frostproof’s Robby Costine, top-seeded coming in, had to settle for second place at 12-6. Costine cleared 15 feet at districts but broke his pole at practice on Monday and had to jump on a replacement pole he’d only had warm-ups to practice with.

The Jesuit boys got a boost from Dante Newberg clearing 6-2 to win the high jump and scored 70 of their eventual 97 points in the field events.

The Academy girls were out of the picture half-way through the day with Fort Myers Dunbar out to a big lead. However, by the distance races, the Jaguars began to mount a comeback. Claire Snyder and Colleen Doherty grabbed third and fourth, respectively, in the 1600m. Then Snyder grabbed second in the 3200m and Doherty fifth. Jaime Jurado scored, taking seventh in both distance events. By then, the Jaguars had leap-frogged Dunbar and held on to take fifth in the 4x400m relay, scoring 91.5 to Dunbar’s 81.5. Lemon Bay was third with 75.

Academy of the Holy Names was not the only team to surge ahead in the distance races. Immokalee both boys and girls barely registered a pulse in the early going. Their Immokalee distance runners were immaculate. Leading the way was Anita Munoz and Leonel Delacruz. Munoz won the 1600m in 5:14.71, more than five seconds ahead of the field and won the 3200m in 11:19.87, a new personal record and more than 30 seconds ahead of the field. Delacruz won both his events, 4:24.13 in the 1600m and 9:44.33 in the 3200m. Teammate Urias Velasquez kicked in a fourth-place finish in the 3200m and 1600m, stacking the team score up to 58 and forcing a tie with Dunbar. A coin toss decided Dunbar would take the second-place trophy home but Immokalee had made their statement.

“We motivate each other,” Delacruz said. “We work together, we rest together, we hang out together, we’re really close, we’re like a family.”

Past the team scores, some individuals availed themselves Wednesday.

Gibbs senior Jerosan Fletcher won the triple crown, taking the long jump in a personal record 17-10, the 200m in 26.15 and the 400m in another personal record time of 57.59. Fletcher was hampered by an injured shin and having to compete in four events, including the 4x400m relay. Teammate Jaquez President grabbed second place in the boys 400m (49.90) a new personal record and second in the 200m (22.45).

Tampa Catholic was very strong in the 200m and 400m. On the boys side, TJ Harrell won the 200m in 22.25. Teammate Nathan Nammour won the 400m in 49.64. Both teamed up to help the Crusader boys take second in the 4x400m and break their school record with a 3:28.97. Freshman phenomenon  Alise Davis of Tampa Catholic continued her dominance in shot, extending her personal record from last week with a throw of 41-4, now the 11th-best mark in the state. Fellow Crusader Nicole Carroll cleared 11 feet to win the girls pole vault. Host Berkeley’s Addi Harden won the girls disc at 118-08, Davis was second with 107-10.

The Dunedin Dynamic Duo of Ahmad Middleton and Olivia Welsh both won titles. Welsh grabbed second in pole vault at 10-6 but ran a blistering 100m hurdle final in 14.60, setting down her personal record and marking the 16th-best time in the state. Middleton was hit by another runner in the 110m hurdle finals and did not qualify but he made up for by running a 38.82, claiming first place. Middleton also won the boys long jump at 22-0.5.

Anclote’s Emily Gauvey battled through an ankle injury from districts a week ago to win the girls 300m hurdles in 47.16. She also claimed second in the high jump at 5-4. Teammate Devente Luis won the boys triple jump at 45-2 and qualified in the 300m hurdles. Jamaree Ried qualified for both hurdles events.

The Dunbar Tigers got a terrific effort from both sides as they claimed second for both boys and girls. TaQuoya Jones led a strong effort from the girls with a win in the 100m (12.53), a runner-up finish in the long jump (17-6.75) and third in the triple jump (34-4.5). Jones also helped the girls 4x100m relay win in 50.31. Teammate and freshman Te’Niya Jones chipped in a runner-up finish in the 100m hurdles (15.42) as well as a leg on the 4x100m relay. Ireysha Morrison grabbed second in the girls shot (38-5)

On the boys side, Terrance Adams was regional champion in the 110m hurdles in 14.51, topping his time from last week. Adams was second in the 300m hurdles to boot in 38.87, just five-hundredths off the winning time. Christpher Sutherland was second in the high jump (6-0), Ryeshene Bronson was second in the 100m finals (10.93). Adams and Bronson helped the 4x100m relay win in a razor-thin 41.97, a top 16 time in the state according to Flrunners.com. The boys team did not exist four years ago, thus Thomas was very pleased with how far the program has come.

In the final event of the day, the Lake Wales boys provided the entertainment, demolishing the field with a 3:24.92. Assistant coach Stanley Smith guaranteed a 3:19 at states for the 4x400m relay team.

Elite Performances

Girls

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