FSU Relays Coverage: Distance Showcase

On-Site Coverage

Videos (More Videos)

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Highlights Boys 4x800 Meter Relay Highlights Boys 110m Hurdles Girls 100m Hurdles
Boys 400m Girls 400m Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Boys 4x100 Meter Relay
Girls 800m Boys 800m Interview: Courtney Filliben - Girls 800m Champion Interview: Otniel Teixeira - Boys 800m Champion
Interview: Edward Romero - Boys 800m Runner-Up Interview: Quincy Smith - Boys 400m Champion Interview: Brandon Hollifield - Boys High Jump Champion Girls Elite 3200m Highlights
Interview: Lily Williams -Girls Elite 3200m Champion Boys Elite 3200m Highlights Interview: Andres Arroyo - Elite 3200m Champion Interview: Gil Walton - Boys Elite 3200m Runner-Up
Boys 3200m Girls 3200m Boys 4x200m Relay Girls 300m Hurdles
Interview: Mikayla Barber - Girls 300m Hurdle Champion Boys 300m Hurdles Interview: Nick Frield - Boys 110/300m Hurdles Champion Girls 100m
Boys 100m Interview: Kendal Williams - Boys 100m Champion Girls Invitational 1600m (1st heat) Interview: Olivia Ortiz - 1600m Champion/3200m Runner-Up
Girls 1600m Invitational (2nd heat) Interview: Mary Kate Ponder - 1600m Runner-Up Interview: Kacy Smith Boys 1600m Invitational (Heat 2)
Interview: Andres Arroyo - Elite 3200/1600m Champion Interview: Billy Anguish - 3200m Invitational - Third Place Interview: Abby Hani Interview: Bob Braman - FSU Head Coach

Saturday High School Highlights

Andres Arroyo Wows Us Again

What an incredible week for Andres Arroyo and Colonial!

After his state leading 9:10 on Friday night, Andres does not fail to disappoint coming back for the big elite 1600 on Saturday.  Going at it was greater Orlando area rival Otniel Teixeira of Lake Brantley, who was the big star in the 800m on Friday with a 1:52 state leading victory. The crowd was thick through most of the race with Bert Irgoyen leading through the half way point, but eventually the pack got stretched out and it was just these two. Arroyo kept pounding and Tex simply could not quite keep up with the break neck pace. Arroyo got three seconds of separation in the final 200 to win 4:11.76 to 4:14.78... the time is approximately #26 all-time in Florida and currently leads the nation.

Hey, Andres.... Tex.... when are we going to see an Open 800 battle with you two???

Race Video | Video Interview

Ortiz Strikes Back, Wins 1600 after 3200 Runner-Up on Friday

Olivia Ortiz found herself in an unfamiliar position on Friday night: second place. She made sure she changed that on Saturday.

Kacy Smith of Estero lead the race early on, before Ortiz took over with a couple laps to go. Mary Kate Ponder made a strong gutsy move at the bell at which point it was a three-woman race out front.  Ponder and Ortiz continued to battle it out on each other's shoulders and gapped Smith with about 300 meters to go. Oritz continued to fight off Ponder's advances and kept her on the outside. With 100m to go, Ponder made one more surge but again was rebuffed. Both girls came in for stellar times of 4:56.55 and 4:57.30, respectively. Smith held on for a third place 5:02.05.

Race Video | Interview with Olivia Ortiz | Interview with Ponder | Interview with Smith

Friday High School Highlights

Williams Stakes Claim by Beating Our State's Best Two Milers

During cross country Olivia Ortiz started to get most of the aclaim as "Florida's best distance runner." And this spring it's been hub-bub about Stefanie Kurgatt, who has burst on to the mile scene. So what a great night for Lily Williams tonight at the FSU Relays when she once again stepped out and made a statement!

The Chiles senior stated her claim loud and clear that perhaps SHE once again is the woman to beat in the 3200 Meters this spring. In a field full of state champions and a royal flush of the top distance girls in the state, Lily came out with a ten second advantage over runner-up Olivia Ortiz with a 10:30.53 personal best. Oritz, Bridget Blake, and Nikah Shah were next in 10:40.64, 10:42.50, and 10:42.60, respectively. The field also included well-knowns such as Kurgatt, Vanenssa Valentine, and former state champs Shelby Davidson, Carly Thomas, Julie Wollrath, and Kacy Smith... and many many more.

Not to be over-shadowed, it was a huge outing for Williams' teammate Rachel Givens as well. The junior from Chiles layed out a huge personal best of 10:47.10--behind Shah and ahead of Kurgatt. That time is monsterous considering it is almost 30 seconds better than her previous best 11:16 from the state meet last year. Though she had a great cross country season, going 18:08 at state, she's often been under the radar as the #3 runner on the great Chiles team. But I expect that will change after that performance... and looking toward next year as she will be the team leader in the fall. Great work!

Race VideoVideo Interview with Lily

Arroyo Get to Front, Doesn't Let Off Gas

Colonial junior Andres Arroyo always runs with this expression that to me resembles more a boxer. He is tough as nails. And this year he's been relatively quietly hammering away thus far in track season... including a nasty 1:51 anchor split in the 7:53 4x800 at Metros just two nights ago.

Silent no more... he broke a super-talented field with a huge personal best of 9:10.37 with Gil Walton of Georgia (9:12.34) and Daniel Moore of Holy Trinity (9:15.37) hot on his heels. All and all ten runners broke the 9:30 barrier including eight Floridians.

Arroyo Video Interview | Race Video

Reiman Sets Meet Record in Discus

Bolles senior Victoria Reiman continued her fantastic season by setting a new meet record en route to her new PR with a 137-5 discus victory.

"Tex" Leads Hot 800

Speaking of meet records, Otniel Teixeira of Lake Brantley had one of his own. The USF signee clobbered the older record by a second and a half with a 1:52.28 over Edward Romero of Flanagan's 1:53.04 (which was also under the old meet record). Billy Anguish, just off a double Metro Conference win, was third in 1:55.

Teixeira also helped his Patriot team to a 7:58 victory in the 4x8 over Belen Jesuit's 8:01.

Race VideoVideo Interview with Otniel

Lakewood Ranch Girls Take State Lead from Providence

The Mustangs' stellar top four from cross country are hoping to get it done this spring on the track as well. They had a confidence building win of 9:28.84 to take over the state leadership position and have them dreaming of a shot at a state title after the team finished second last year at state.

Providence, the former state leader, was second in the race in a distant 9:41.

Olivia Ortiz and Devin McDermott came back later in the night to run impressive 3200s of 10:40 and 10:52, respectively.

Race Video

 

Elite Performances

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights