Weekend Coverage: March 2-3, 2012

Jason Byrne

Sam Burley Hall of Fame Invitational

On-Site Coverage

Summary

An amazing two days of track with almost a dozen US #1 performances.

Shayla Sanders had her hand in three of those US #1s with blazing wins in the 100 (11.56) and 200 (23.25). Boyd Anderson teammate Kali Davis-White, who made the trip to Seattle with Sanders for the Brooks PR meet last week, was second in both of those races with very quality times of 11.88 and 24.01 herself. The two then helped lead Boyd Anderson's 4x100 Meter Relay team to a national leading 45.94. It should also be noted that these performances were put up against unfriendly wind.

Meanwhile Robin Reynolds nothced another couple of early season national best marks with a stellar 53.84 in the 400 meters, bettering her US #1 from last week at Louie Bing, and she soard to a 19-8.25 to win the long jump. Reynolds also fought hard in the 100 (12.27 for third) and 200 (24.27 for fourth).

 

Seventh grader Daesha Rodgers put up a 2:13.78 in the 800 and 5:10 in the 1600. It will be really incredible to see a seventh grader likely running 2:10ish and 4:50ish this season!

Barbara Vilson tied for the state lead with a 5-6 long jump and added a 37-0.5 (State #5) and a 2:28 800 to go with it.

Flanagan junior Dominique Edward tied for the state lead with a 43-4, to go along with a third place 117-5.  Alysha Lewish won that discus with a 128-0 over Jasmine Williams 118-0.

St. Thomas Aquinas and John A. Ferguson battled each other in the 4x800 and pushed the pace to a Florida #1 and #2. Aquinas won in 9:32.36 to 9:35.56... the times are third and fourth in the nation so far this year.

Arman Hall extended his national lead in the 400 by outkicking Artie Burns to win in 46.41 to Artie's 47.36 (and to think that's not even "his event", he's a hurdler!). Burns took care of business in the 110s and ran a 14.42 into a strong headwind. Maurice Dix took advantage of Burns trying out the 400 and ran to a 37.65 victory, which was just shy of his US #2 from last week.

Hall helped lead his troops from St. Thomas Aquinas to a US #1 in the 4x400 with a 3:15.62, edging out American Heritage's 3:16.20.

Marcus Smith of Carol City dropped six seconds from his season best last year to upset Avery Lopez of Belen Jesuit in a wire-to-wire 1600, 4:23.17 to 4:23.57. A host of others were at or under 4:30, so it was a really nice distance race in the midst of all the sprint action! Lopez came back for redemption though and won the 3200 in 9:42.41 over teammate Fabian Thomas (9:46.41, following his third place 4:37.75 1600). Smith helped Miami Carol City in the 4x800 became the front runner with an 8:01.18 in the 4x800... that one also was a barn burner with Miami Varela on their hells with 8:01.43 and Miami Washington and Central also dipping under 8:10.

Kevin Delgado pushed the shot put 54-2 for a new season best, about seven inches better than last week and putting him in second place in the state in that event.

Girls Elite Performances

Boys Elite Performances