FHSAA 1A State Meet Girls Recap

FHSAA 1A Girls 400m Dash
Twaneise Johnson (St. Francis Catholic) 55.84

In her first and last state meet, Twaneise Johnson of St. Francis Catholic did not squander the opportunity in becoming the 1A girls state champion at 400 meters. Prior to her senior year, Johnson had exclusively competed in club meets instead of any sanctioned high school races with a high school but knew she needed to run for a school to showcase her running talents on a bigger stage such as the FHSAA State Championships. 

After winning the event on the same track last month at the Florida Relays in a 54.59 season best,  Johnson still had two challengers to worry about at the state meet in Northside Christian senior Erica Roberts as well as Chaminade-Madonna freshman Tyra Cox. 

Cox had run 55 seconds earlier in the season winning the Dunbar Tigers Guy Thomas Memorial Classic in 55.96 and coming off a 1A Region 4 victory, while Roberts was the state runner-up one year ago in the 400 and running her best of the season recently. 

Roberts to her outside and Cox to her inside, Johnson was still on control of the race at 200 meters and then off the final turn with 100 meters to go before pulling away for a 55.84 victory. Roberts would edge out the freshman Cox for her second straight state runner-up finish in the 400 in a 56.27 personal best. 

Meanwhile, Cox stands to be favorite for years to come with her third place showing of 56.48.