Jack Michalak of Belen Jesuit leads all freshmen in the 800m this season with a 1:57.44. Michalak is a part of the Belen mid-distance-distance program and may have found his strong suit lies in the 800m. Here is his 800m progression in the from 2019-2025:
2019 - 2:51.31 (3rd grade)
2020 - 2:43.41 (4th grade)
2021 - 2:38.02 (5th grade)
2022 - 2:32.20 (6th grade)
2023 - 2:15.09 (7th grade)
2024 - 2:00.31 (8th grade)
2025 - 1:57.44 (9th grade)
One might ask about his leg speed. As a 8th grader, he ran 54.78.
The Florida all-time freshman 800m record is held by Michalak's teammate, Joseph Socarras, with a 1:53.73 that he ran in 2023. Socarras currently is the Florida outdoor 800m leader with a 1:51.45. It's early in the season, and seeing how low Michalak can go in the 800 will be interesting. Even if he drops a few more seconds off of his 1:57.44, he will have proven himself as one of the best-ever freshman 800m runners in Florida history. Only 6 Florida boys have gone under sub-1:55 as freshmen since 2000. Jack Michalak is one of Florida's FUTURE STARS.