Three of the top six times run this season in the girls 800 meter run for Florida were produced on Saturday night at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers at the Golden South Series #1 with Layla Haynes of IMG Academy, Mary Ellen Eudaly of Cambridge Christian, and Ka'Myya Haywood of Bishop Kenny.
Racing in a co-ed race with boys among the second of three sections in the meet, Haynes was the top female finisher in a 2:09.21 personal best with the University of Arkansas commit Eudaly right behind her at 2:09.52 for second place and Haywood dropping a nearly 5 second PR in third place at 2:10.77.
It was the second time for the IMG Academy junior Haynes breaking 2:10 after winning the Florida Relays earlier this season in 2:09.23. Haynes had taken a little break from running and racing after competing for her native country Barbados at the Carifta Games in late April before building back up her training.
She ironically joins her coach in IMG Academy assistant Michelle Howell as a Golden South champion, who the event in 2013 with a nearly identical time of 2:09.61.
For Eudaly after breaking the FHSAA state meet record in the 1600 meter run previously held by Jenny Barringer Simpson two weeks ago in 4:48.27, the next item to check off her bucket list before she finishes up her high school career is to roll to a new fast PR in the 800 meter run, which she did by over 3 seconds in breaking 2:10 for the first time with the fifth fastest ranked performance in Florida at 2:09.52.
Haywood, who actually took it out on both Haynes and Eudaly with a 61-second first 400 meters, had the biggest breakthrough of them all with her 2:10 effort. The junior at Bishop Kenney and competing on Saturday for Top End Track Club has great range as witnessed on Saturday competing in the 100-meter dash (9th, 12.87).
Beyond the FHSAA 3A state 800 meter race between Chai'iel Johnson (2:08.35), Samantha Kavanagh (2:08.47), and Raquel Edwards (2:08.84), the Golden South girls 800 was certainly the next best 800-meter race that we have witnessed all outdoor season in Florida with another trio posting lifetime best performances.