Register for Golden South Series #2 - May 21st @ East Lake High School
First Baptist Academy senior Jacob Panzarella had original plans to attempt all three sprints at the Golden South Series #1 on Saturday coming off a state title double the prior weekend in the 100 and 200 at the FHSAA 1A State Finals.
But after he slipped and had a bad start out of the blocks in the 100 meter with a third-place 10.83 clocking, he opted to skip out of racing the 400 to turn his attention and focus to his best event in the 200-meter dash to finish off the meet at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.
The recalibration paid off with his fastest time ever and wind-legal effort at that with his 21.23 victory at Golden South moving him up to US #27 on all national high school lists in the 200-meter dash.
He had some company though and competition from IMG Academy's Adam Landen, who clocked a 21.47 PR himself for second place. Landen was an adidas Indoor Nationals All-American finisher in the 200 meter dash this past winter.
For Panzarella, the 100-meter dash was a wake-up call after a virtually flawless and unbeaten season locally in the Naples area at First Baptist Academy meets before his state meet victories in Jacksonville this weekend.
His intention is to continue to race in the summer against greater competition as an emerging star statewide in the sprints including likely the next Golden South Series meet on Friday.
