On Saturday, Cardinal Gibbons hosted its annual preseason distance carnival which attracted some of the top middle to long-distance runners at the high school and middle school level to compete.
One of the more unique races of the day was Samantha Kavanagh, one of the state's top returnees in the 800 meter run, opting to race in a slower section of the boys 800 meter run instead of the fast section of the girls 800 meter tun to hopefully have better competition to push the Northeast High junior along to a fast time.
The decision proved to be wise as she finished third in her heat and posted a great starting point time to her spring season in the event with a time of 2:13.28. Albeit very early into the outdoor season that is still over week away from officially starting in Florida and just starting up in Texas, Kavanagh's time ranks as the fastest 800-meter time currently outdoors in the nation.
Meanwhile, competing in the actual fast section of the girls 800 meter run was Dillard sophomore Christiana Coleman, who won both of her races that she competed in on Saturday taking first in the fast heat of the 800 and second overall female behind only Kavanagh's time in the 800 at 2:19.33. She just held off a hard closing freshman in Kashia Hoo at 2:19.81.
Earlier in the 1600 meter run, Coleman had a much bigger buffer on second place and she created a 7 second difference between herself and Emma Hencock of St. Brendan (2nd, 5:21) with a winning time of 5:14.78.
The boys 3200 meter run featured two of the top distance runners in the city limits of Boca Raton between seniors Ryan Douihech of West Boca Raton High School and Collin Brooks of Boca Raton High School. The University of North Florida recruit Douihech was able to pull away from the Stetson University commit Brooks to clock a new personal best of 9:32 with Brooks settling for second place in 9:44. It was a big PR for Douihech from a 9:56 prior best as he focused mainly on the 1600 meter run last spring when he dipped under 4:20.
Dillard senior Jaccarri Shakes made a move with 200 meters to go to pass Anthony Herrera (2nd, 1:59.66) of St. Thomas Aquinas to kick away to win the boys 800 meter run in a 1:58.49 for his open race debut at the distance. However, Shakes was a member of last spring's 3A state champion 4x800 meter relay squad produced by Dillard.
Similar strategy, Martin County senior and Florida Southern College commit Anthony Matthew was comfortable letting Zack Zimmerman of Fort Lauderdale High School set the pace and draft off him in the boys 1600 meter before unleashing a furious kick off the final turn for a 4:34.06 victory. Zimmerman finished for second in a 4:35 PR, while Matthew was a bit off his 4:25 all-time best run in the post-season of cross country on the track at West Orange High School.