FSU Relays: Friday Night Preview - The 800, 200 & 3200

FSU Relays (High Schools)
Mark Stonecipher

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Terry Long FSU Relays: Friday Night Preview - Elite Matchups Set the Stage in Tallahassee

Friday night at the Terry Long FSU Relays is shaping up to be one of the most competitive meets in the Southeast, featuring national-caliber distance showdowns, loaded sprints, and a deep 800 field. With multiple Nike Indoor Nationals performers and sub-9:00 3200m talent, expect another great FSU meet.

Atarah Robinson at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic.

Photo Credit: M. Stonecipher

Girls 800m Preview (6:30 PM)

Meet Record: 800m Caitlin Collier Bolles 2018 2:04.78

The girls' 800m brings one of the most balanced and competitive fields of the meet, with five athletes seeded within four seconds of each other.

Atarah Robinson (Venice) leads the field with a 2:11.28 personal best this season and enters as the favorite, though she'll be doubling back later in the 3200m. She doubled at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic, taking the 800m in her 2:11.28 PR and then winning the Mile in a 4:54.11 PR.

Close behind, Keira Melan (Dutchtown LA, 2:13.76) and Marisa Mantecon (Our Lady of Lourdes, 2:14.95) headline a deep field that also includes Crystal Malaykhan (Lake Nona, 2:14.98) and Keira Merrick (Satellite, 2:15.35 indoor).

Two names to watch: Alexandrea Fraser (IMG Academy) and Angelica Wolfe (Montverde Academy)-both middle schoolers are stepping into the elite race and could be surprises if they can hold contact.

Robinson will be fresh for the 800, however, and she has been running well all season. With her speed, strength, and race experience, she is the favorite in the 800m. It will take a sub-2:10 run to get the win.


Boys 800m Preview (6:30 PM)

Meet Record:  800m Joseph Socarras Belen Jesuit 2025 1:49.09

This is one of the deepest fields of the evening, loaded with sub-1:55 performers.

William DeCuir (Catholic - B.R, 1:51.37) is the top seed and likely pace-setter. He'll be challenged and won't be alone as they come through the 400m. Expect a tightly bunched group including:

And, watch for Jack Michalak (Belen Jesuit, 1:53.92), who just ran an indoor 1:51.32 in a 3rd place finish in the 800m at Nike Indoor Nationals.

This should be a close race, and it may take a sub-1:50 performance to win it.


Girls 200m Preview (7:15 PM - Heat 6)

Meet Record: 200m Karimah Davis Palm Beach Central 2017 23.38

Speed takes center stage in a stacked girls' 200m heat where nearly every lane comes in with sub-24 speed.

Leading contenders include:

The two will go head-to-head again after finishing 3rd and 4th at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, with Waite running 23.37 and Reed, 23.57.

They'll have company and should be pushed by:

If indoors showed us anything, expect this race to be decided like indoors, by hundredths of a second between several of the best in the nation.

Braylen Bennett taking the 100m at the GuyThomas Memorial Classic.

Photo Credit: M. Stonecipher

Boys 200m Preview (7:15 PM - Heat 8)

Meet Record: 200m Issam Asinga Montverde Academy 2023 20.56

The boys' 200 will be just plain old fast, with Brady Pineo (20.93, 20.79 indoors) wanting to make up for his unfortunate false start at The New Balance Indoor Nationals, where he was favored to win. He is going to have a lot of company however, in:

Right behind them:

        Henry Mensman (Catholic - B.R, 20.90)

Bennett and Crumitie know each other well, and with Pineo out for redemption, this should be a fast one in the low 20's.


Girls 3200m Preview (8:00 PM)

Meet Record: 3200m Caroline Wells Winter Springs 2022 10:10.81

The girls' 3200m field is deep and evenly matched, with several athletes clustered in the low 10:30s.

The top entries include:

  • Avery Hartley (Bartram Trail, 10:35). The freshman is gaining experience and confidence and is capable of running with the leaders. She was 2nd to Antunez-Perez at the Bulls Bulldog Classic and expect her to lock onto the leaders or lead.

Celina Coryell (Satellite, 10:42) leads the next wave, while Robinson returns for her second event of the night.

This will be an interesting, early tactical race. Who will make a decisive move in the final mile? All of the girls are experienced, and the field is loaded. It's going to take a sub-10:30 to win. The question is how far under sub-30 the girls will go. 

Marcelo Mantecon, Drew Beroset, and Armando Cruz in last year's FHSAA 3A Boys 3200m State championship. 
Photo Credit: Cedric Gillette

Boys 3200m Preview (8:00 PM)

Meet Record: 3200m Riley Smith Buchholz 2024 8:39.71

I would like to call this the race of the night, but all of the races on Friday are elite, featuring nationally rated athletes. The boys' 3200, however, may be special. It features what may be one of the best early distance matchups in the country. It will be a showdown between two sub-8:50 performers and two nationally ranked junior runners who are both coming off of indoor national PR's in the Mile and 2-mile.  Belen Junior and Marcelo Mantecon won three individual titles at the Nike Indoor Nationals, taking the 5K in 13:57.94, the 2-Mile in 8:48.02, and the Mile in 4:00.66. Andrew Beroset of McCallie ran a 4:05.61 in the same race, getting 5th after nearly falling, and ran an 8:46.85 in the 2-mile at the KYA HS Indoor Classic. The two know each other well, as Beroset ran at Gulf Breeze in Florida last season

Others to Watch

  • Preston Sangely (Spanish River, 9:02.88) 2nd to Mantecon at the Belen Home Meet 1 in the 1600m with a 4:07.31. Sangely also ran a 14:35.01 5K in a 6th place finish at New Balance Nationals Indoor. He has 1:52.45 800m speed.
  • Joshua Hicks (Chiles, 9:07.17) 
  • Armando Cruz (Belen Jesuit, 9:07.25). The other Belen junior has run a 4:10.82 Mile in 11th place finish at the Nike Indoor Nationals. He has 1:53 800m speed.