Every year it seems Team Florida is well represented at the Adidas Dream 100. Looking back in history, the Sunshine State has had a total of seven champions (four on the girls side and three on the boys) since the meet started in 2011.
Symone Mason, a recent Southridge graduate, and University of Miami signee picked up where fellow Hurricane pledge Amuru Patterson left off in 2016 bringing the belt back to Florida. Mason, the 4A state champion defeated 8th grader Tamari Davis 11.61 to 11.65. Davis beat Mason in their last head to head match up at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon at 200 meters.
"The race didn't really go how i expected," Mason said. "I came into the race wanting to have a Bob Hayes repeat (11.24). I wanted to get out, stay out and PR, but once i realized i was behind in the race, I didn't really care about anything besides to catch up and win."
She went onto say that adding her name to the list of Floridians who have won before her like Patterson, Kaylin Whitney, Shayla Sanders, and Octavious Freeman gave her a proud feeling towards representing her state. As far as her competitor Davis, Mason had nothing but praise.
"I think she is a great competitor," she said. When I ran that fast at her age I had to remain humble and continue to learn. If she does that, the sky is the limit for her."
With two trips to Boston under her belt and not even out of high school Tamari Davis is the one to beat next year. After all she finished third in 2016 and runner-up in 2017. She wants another chance next year.
"Adidas was very fun," she said. "It was a great to race Symone again and next year I'm shooting to win it if I get invited back!"
Next up for Mason is New Balance Nationals, Pan Am trials and then the University of Miami. If she makes the team, she will be traveling and taking summer courses at the same time. Davis will run at Winter Park High School for USATF district next weekend.
On the boy's side Anthony Schwartz posted back to back runner-up finishes. This time the American Heritage rising senior fell to Kalon Barnes of Texas 10.34 to 10.41.
"I feel disappointed because I lost, but I'm also optimistic because it was my first races from injury," he said after the race."
The meet also gave Schwartz a chance to bond with his fellow Floridians in Chauncy Smart, Lavonte Valentine, who train in Central Florida and adds their is no question which state is the best.
"It was great because we already were friendly with each other," Schwartz said. "To have five of the ten sprinters in the field from here, it shows that Florida is the fastest."
Florida went 2-3-4 as 3A state champion Chauncy Smart and 4A state champion Lavonte Valentine were right behind him in 10.57 and 10.59 respectively.
Like Mason, Schwartz will compete at New Balance Nationals and then the Pan Am Trials.
Smart has one more race as well this weekend at Brooks PR Invitational where he will try to improve on his third place finish from last year. Lavonte Valentine ended his season after the Dream 100 and will switch gears to Football
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Every year it seems Team Florida is well represented at the Adidas Dream 100. Looking back in history, the Sunshine State has had a total of seven champions (four on the girls side and three on the boys) since the meet started in 2011.
Symone Mason, a recent Southridge graduate, and University of Miami signee picked up where fellow Hurricane pledge Amuru Patterson left off in 2016 bringing the belt back to Florida. Mason, the 4A state champion defeated 8th grader Tamari Davis 11.61 to 11.65. Davis beat Mason in their last head to head match up at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon at 200 meters.
"The race didn't really go how i expected," Mason said. "I came into the race wanting to have a Bob Hayes repeat (11.24). I wanted to get out, stay out and PR, but once i realized i was behind in the race, I didn't really care about anything besides to catch up and win."
