The Florida HS Challenge at the Alachua County Sports and Event Center saw 6 Top 10 US Indoor performances, including a 4:04.65 US #1 and Florida #3 All Time Indoor or Outdoor Mile by Buchholz Sr. Riley Smith.
On the track, both the girl's and boy's 60m races were fast. Montverde Sr. Adaejah Hodge continued in her training for another National 200m title, running a 7.45. Her 7.45 was just off of her Fl #1 and US #2, 7.24 and was a warm-up for her first indoor 200 of the year. She is the National Scholastic record holder in the indoor 200 with a 22.33.
IMG Sr. Caine Stanley started his evening off with a win in the 60. Stanley ran a FL #1, 6.81 and US #13, in his win over a very talented and fast 60m field. It would prove to be a warm-up, just as Hodges 60, for the fireworks that would follow in the 200 later in the evening.
Following the 60m races, Riley Smith of Buchholz stepped on the track in the 1 Mile. Smith, heading to the Unv. of Fl next year was hoping to go sub-4:10. He did not dissapoint, as he had the crowd cheering him on to a US #1 4:04.65. Smith split:
31.18 | 1:01.09 29.91 | 1:30.20 29.12 | 2:00.14 29.94 | 2:30.65 30.52 | 3:01.93 31.28 | 3:33.27 31.34 | 4:04.65 31.38 |
Smith's 4:04.65 is a FL #2 All time indoors behind Nease's Rinehart Harrison. Harrison, at Oregon now, went 4:01.15 in 2022. It is also the FL #3 All Time Indoor/Outdoor time. Harrison went 3:59.33 in 2022 for the FL #1. Flagler Palm Coast HS's Samuel Vasquez ran a 4:03.87 in 2003.
Following Smith's Mile, was a US #2, 53.47 400m, from Montverde's Alivia Williams. William's 400 was a #4 All Time Indoor time. Smith's teammate, So. Skyler Franklin, was 2nd, as Smith nipped her at the finish in an exciting race. Franklin ran a US #3, 53.51. It is FL #6 All Time.
Not to be outdone by his teammates, Montverde Sr. Jayvian Greene continued his winning ways running a 47.69 in the 400m. A FL #1 and US #6.
In the boy's and girl's 200m, the fireworks continued on the fast, Jimmy Carne's 200m track. Adaejah Hodge running her first 200 of the 2024 season, went 23.47. A US #2. Hodge is just ahead in her 200 training and times from where she was at this time last year.
Following Hodge's performance, IMG's Caine Stanley, ran a US #2, 21.04. At the time, it was US #1.
Just two events later, Sr. Madeleine Gear of Foundation Christian Academy ran a 2:12.72 800. Gear's time was FL #1 and is tied for US #10. Last week, Gear ran a FL #1 and US #11 1000.
Capping the evening off, the Montverde girls showcased their 400m depth, running a "B" team, and winning the girl's 4x400 in a US #8, 3:50.52. Montverde leads the nation with a 3:37.63 that they ran at the VA Showcase.
Next weekend some of our Florida athletes will be headed with invites to the Milrose Games on Sunday, February 11, at The Armory in NYC. We will be streaming live the Florida Indoor HS/MS State Championships on Saturday, the 10th. Registration is still open at Direct Athletics through 2/7 at 11:59 pm.