Florida is a unique State when it comes to T&F. We have a growing indoor season and an outdoor season that officially starts in February when most states are still running indoors. Many of our top athletes choose to participate in the indoor nationals, the two biggest of which are the Nike Indoor Nationals and the New Balance National Indoors. At those events, the spotlight tends to be on our varsity athletes. However, this year two young runners moved not only into the state spotlight but into the National as well.
Gulf Breeze HS Fr. Andrew Beroset won the NIN Freshman Boy's Mile in 4:19.57. He doubled back and won the 2-mile in 9:11.75. A great double for any high schooler indoor or outdoor. His mile however is a FL#1 All-Time for Freshmen and US #5 All-Time for Freshmen. His 1600m converted time of 4:18.06 is the FL #4 All-Time outdoors and indoors it is a FL #1 All-Time en route.
Beroset burst onto the Florida HS distance running scene last fall when he placed 4th in the 3A State XC Meet running a 15:25.
Shynah Collins is a 7th grader at Dillard. At the 2023 3A State Meet in Jacksonville, she was 3rd in the 800m as a 6th grader running a 2:13.96. Last fall she was the #2 scorer on the Dillard girls 3A State Championship XC team, placing 3rd in 18:26.50. In January she won the 800m at the RADD Sunshine Showcase in 2:14.29. At the Sam Burley Hall of Fame Invitational ran the lead-off leg for the Dillard girls US #1 8:58.50 4x800m. She split sub: 2:10. At the Nike Indoor Nationals, she ran the 800m 3rd leg in the Dillard girl's 11:49.08 DMR win. She was 6th in the 800m with a 2:10.69. Shattering the FL All-Time Indoors MS Girls record by over 13 seconds. Her time is also FL #2 MS All-Time Indoor or Outdoor. She also ran a leg on the Dillard girls 4x800 that placed second in 8:59.73. Can you ask anything more of a 7th grader and it is only March!
WATCH the Dillard Girl's US #1 4x800m at Sam Burley
Interview with Shynah after winning the 800m at the RADD Sunshine Showcase