It was a crazy last week of regular season track and field in the state of Florida, which can only mean one thing...BUCKLE UP! The state series is underway and Districts are getting things popping so do yourself a favor and stay tuned to FLRunners for all your coverage. But while your here do yourself a solid and vote for your top male athlete of the week and check back to see who wins later in the week.
Roodolph Antoine- The senior from Dwyer HS put on a show at the Palm Beach County Championships where he won the 100 and the 200 meter dash in a time of 10.59 and 21.63. Antoine's win in the 100m dash gave him the best time in Florida for the week, and he complimented that with the second best 200m dash time of the week also.
Tony Bridges- The Cornell University signee had himself a day at the Fort Lauderdale City Championships where he won the long jump and triple jump, on his way to setting the top triple jump mark of the week in Florida. Bridges' jump of 46-4 feet was good enough to lead the state, yet Bridges continues to be the #2 triple jumper in FL, but he leads 2A and will be the guy to beat in the triple jump.
Daidren Davis- The senior from Bartram Trail HS makes his debut on this list after putting down the fastest 300m hurdle time of the week in a time of 38.09. Davis won the St. John's County River Conference Championships 300 hurdles and leads a Bears squad into the state series. Davis holds the FL #3 time in the 300m hurdles and will be chasing MNW Thomas Burns at the state meet.
AJ Hampton- In the 400 meter dash it was the junior from Wharton HS who took the week's top spot as he won with a time of 47.86. Hampton won the 400m at the Hillsborough County Championships with a big PB coming in the finals. Hampton is coming on strong at the right tim as the time puts him at #7 400m time in FL and #4 in 4A.
Cameron Leiba- The junior from Dillard HS let his presence be felt at the Fort Lauderdale City Championships as he won the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash to sweep the sprints. Leiba squared off against powerhouses such as STA and Pine Crest HS, and was still able to set the top 200 meter dash time of the week in FL with a 21.42.
Michael Phillips- The top four times in FL for the week in the 3200m came from performances out in California at the Arcadia Invitational, and they were led by Syracuse signee Michael Phillips. Phillips dipped under the nine minute mark for the second time this season as he finished 9th in a loaded race with a time of 8:55.53. The Chiles HS senior will be the distance star to watch in 3A as he looks to end his high school career off on a high note.
Anthony Pierce- The senior from Auburndale HS dominated in the circle this week as he won the shot put and the discus at the Winter Haven Invitational. Pierce set the best mark of the week in Florida in the shot put where he unleashed a personal best throw of 57-1. This throw moves him up into the #3 spot in Florida and #2 spot in 3A, right behind Niceville's Elijah West.
Chase Rivera- The junior from Bolles HS continues to make strides in the middle distance events as he won the 800m in a time of 1:54.79. This time ranks as the #2 time in 2A and puts Rivera back into the mix to compete for the 800 and 1600m state championships in 2A. One of the most sought after junior distance runners in the State, look for Rivera to have a solid postseason run.
Austin Thompson- Two guys broke the 15 foot mark in the pole vault this past week as Rohan Kaushal from Countryside HS vaulted an impressive 15-1, but it was the senior from Timber Creek HS who put up the top mark in the pole vault. Thompson vaulted 15-7 to win the pole vault at the Metro East Championship, and that vault moved Thompson up to #3 in FL and the #1 vaulter in 4A.
Terrence Young- The junior from Buchholz HS took the week's best high jump mark in FL as he won the high jump and the long jump at the Steinbrenner Invitational. With the high jump mark of 6-9, Young moves into the #6 spot in FL and the #2 spot in 4A and will be a challenger to Jaasiel Torres at the FHSAA State Championship.