The official Florida outdoor
season gets underway this weekend. Last weekend, Florida athletes posted
nine US #1s at the Louie Bing Invitational in Miami. This Saturday, we
move across the state to SWFL, to the Dunbar Tigers Classic in Fort Myers.
The meet features Evangelical Christian Sr., McKenzie Travis, in the
100m. On the boy's side, the Belen Jesuit boys will showcase their
distance depth in the 1600 and the 3200.
WATCH LIVE: 2024 Dunbar Tiger Classic
Girl's Spotlight
100m
In the girl's 100m, Mackenzie Travis makes her outdoor debut. The South Carolina commit was the 2022 1A State champion in the 100 (11.71). She ran an 11.39 last season but missed the State meet with an injury. She has come back strong placing 2nd in the Milrose Games with a 7.26 in the 60. At the 55m mark, she was just ahead of the winner Adaeja Hodge of Montverde Academy. Her time is US #3. Four other girls come in with sub-12 times:
Sr. Kayla Hopkins Dunbar 11.73 FL#8 60m 7.69, 3rd in 3A 100m (11.79)
Sr. Jasmine Hornes Palmetto 11.92
Jr. Patchnalie Compere Northeast (OP) 11.97
Sr. Tyler Lowe IMG 11.99
1600m
IMG So., Eliana Black, was the State leader in 2023 with a 4:48.83. She was the 2022 1A State XC Champion (17:55.1) and was the 1A State runner-up in both the 1600 (4:49.73) and 800 (2:19.23) in 2023. Indoors this season she won the Mile in the Florida HS challenge with a 5:03.82. Black should be challenged by Lehigh Sr., Gianna Del Pizzo. Del Pizzo was 4th in the 4A 1600 last spring with a 5:05.08 but was the Florida HS Indoor Champion in the Mile with a 5:00.17 (4:58.43 converted 1600). Del Pizzo also went sub-5 in the Mile earlier in the indoors, running a 4:59.78 mile. (4:58.04 1600 converted). We may see our first girl's sub-5 1600 of the season.
4x100m Relay
The girl's 4x100m Relay features the State #2 ranked Dunbar. Dunbar ran 48.26 last weekend at Louie Bing, finishing 2nd. Other teams to watch, in a race that can come down to exchanges, are Naples (48.87), Gulf Coast(49.84), and North Fort Myers (49.11).
Long Jump
The girl's Long Jump features last year's #3, #5, and #11 ranked jumpers. #3, Sr. Shamoya Clemetson of Barron Collier (5.96), #5, Sr. Sanaa Geter of Lehigh (5.90), and #11, Sr. Genesis Surlin of Naples (5.84).
Discus
In the girl's discus, the spotlight is on two of the State's best and an early season showdown between last year's 4A State Discus champion, Sr. Lydia Kentis of Barbara Goleman, and the 3A State Discus champion, Jr. Julian Lemmon of Fort Myers. Kentis was Fl #2 in 2023 with a throw of 45.9m. Lemmon was FL #3 with a throw of 45.11m.
Boy's Spotlight
3200m
Three boys come in with times under in Florida 9:20. Joseph Ruiz of Belen comes in with a 9:10.89. He was ranked FL #10 last year. He was for in the 3A State XC Meet and part of the Belen team that arguably was one of the best ever in Florida. Belen Fr. Marcelo Mantecon has an impressive resume as a Freshman. His 9:14.38 was run as an 8th grader. He was 2nd in the 3A State in XC with a 15:09.90. He was the Florida MS State Champion in 2023 in the 1500, the 800, and the 3000. He followed that performance up with a 3rd in the 3200 in the 3A State Championships (9:17.03). Gulf Coast Sr. William Montanye was 5th in the 4A State 3200m last spring but has one sub-4:20 already this year with a 4:18.68 win indoors in the Mile at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational.
110mH
Two boys come in with times under 15.00. IMG Sr. Jason Ravelo is the 2024 Florida HS Indoor Champion in the 60mH with an 8.00. He has a PR of 7.97. Outdoors last year he ran a 14.21. He is the FL #3 ranked returner in the 110mH. Thiago Lopes of Fort Myers is the FL #10 returner. The Sr. ran a 14.60w last spring.
100m
IMG Sr. Denver Tucker. Tucker is an experienced runner from Bermuda. He has a 10.68w PR in the 100 and a 21.61w in the 200. Indoors this year he has 6.96 in the 60 and 21.93 in the 200. Tucker's closet challenge may come from Dunbar Sr. Dandre Morrison. Last year Morrison was at Ida Baker and had a shortened season that included a 21.53w PR in the 200. In 2022, he ran a PR of 10.73w 100m. Others to watch for are Fr. Samuel Compere of Northeast (OP) (10.86), Fr. Jy German of Fort Myers (10.92), and Northeast (OP) So. Oshane Parke (10.98).
1600m
This should be a good one. It's not often we see a freshman with talent like Marcelo Mantecon. His 4:14.36 last week in the Belen Pre-Season Meet is not only the number one time in the State at the moment but is the FL #2 All Time 1600m by a Freshman. Nease's Rheinhardt Harrison ran a 4:12.59 in 2022. Two others have run sub-4:20 Gulf Coast's William Montanye (4:17.82) and Mantecon's teammate, Sr. Joshua Ruiz (4:17.93). Montanye ran a 4:18.68 Mile (4:17.18 converted) indoors in 2024 in winning the Jimmy Carnes Invitational. Ruiz was 3rd last weekend in the Belen meet with a 4:22.40. Two others, who have run sub-4:25, will be hoping to go an early season sub-4:20. Fort Myers Sr. Joseph Koraya comes in with a 4:21.40 and Naples Sr. Hector Toro a 4:23.80.
4x100m Relay
Watch for the Dunbar squad of Eric Fletcher, Chris Singleton, Dandre Morrison, and Kelby Tyre to challenge IMG (Avian Edwards-Pla, Denver Tucker, Ty Mathes, and Caine Stanley). Dunbar has run a 41.20. IMG a 41.50. It may come down to who runs for IMG or just how they load the team. Sr, Caine Stanley of IMG, a Unv. of Miami commit, is ranked US #2 indoors in the 200 (21.04) and won the 300m in the Milrose Games in 32.85. The 4x100 is an outdoor event but the IMG boys have a US #3 1:26.28 4x200m this indoor season.
800m
A sub-1:55.00 may be needed to win this. Seven in the final Section have run sub-2:00. Less than 3 seconds separates the seven. dunbar Sr. Joshua Dorestin has the fastest seed time of 1:57.38. Sr. Charles Carreno of Belen 1:58.75, Jr. Marco Prieguez of Belen 1:59.06, So. Prince Valbrin Northeast (OP) 1:59.12, Jr. Jyden White of Dunbar 1:59.27, Jr. Becket Walker of Gulf Coast 1:59.40, and Jr. Jack Gifford of Southwest Florida Christian 1:59.40.
400m
Sr. Caine Stanley of IMG leads a 400m final section with a 47.11. Four other will be looking to go sub-50 for the first time. Belen So. Carlos Rodriguez-Novoa (50.02), Palmetto Sr. Nathaniel Gates (50.19), North Fort Myers Jr. Byron Flemming (50.27), and Naples Sr. Isaiah Bryant (50.97).
200m
The final section of the 200m features six runners under 22.00 that are separated by just .96 seconds. With IMG's Caine Stanley opting to run the 400, this one will be fast and close. You call it!
Jr. Avian Edwards-Pla of IMG (21.01)
Jr. Dylan Woodruffe of IMG (21.03)
Sr. Denver Tucker of IMG (21.11)
Sr. Eric Fletcher of Dunbar (21.69)
Sr. Dandre Morrison of Dunbar (21.69)
Jr. Dorian Mallary Jr of Lehigh (21.96)
Pole Vault
Sr. Luther Mogelvang of Naples is FL#2 ranked for all 2023 returners. He is the 2023 3A State Champion and has 4.65m 15-03.00 PR.
Long Jump
Scheduled to jump are three IMG boys, led by Sr. Ty Mathes who has jumped 7.10m (23-03.50). Sr. Nolyn Johnson III has gone 6.90 (22-07.75) and Sr. Chase Lathrop has jumped 6.55(22-05.75). Joining the IMG trio is First Baptist Jr. Andrew Azunque. Azunque has jumped 6.89 (22-07.25) and is the 2023 1A State High Jump Champion with a PR jump of 1.92 (6-03.50).