Jimmy Carnes Day Two: Gordon Breaks Own Meet Record, Lopez Sweeps Distance Events

The first and only indoor meet of the year in Florida is complete and we have had some of the nations top sprinting performances as well as some very impressive hurdle and distance debuts!

On-Site Coverage

Todd Grasley, Jeff Adams, and Danny Duncan are on site for flrunners.com for both days of events.

Day Two Highlights

Lopez Sweeps Distance Events

Belen Jesuit senior Avery Lopez continued his success in cross country and carried it over to the indoor track at the University of Florida. Lopez traveled up with several of his high school teammates for the event. The winning started on Saturday with a win in the 3000 meters in a time of 9:01.74 over South Carolina and University of Florida committment Jack Manesiotis. Lopez came back on Sunday to complete the distance double winning the one mile run after leading most of the race. His time of 4:24.87 was impressive for early on in the season. He was the 3A runner-up in the 1600 last year and finished fourth in the 3200.

Watch the Races: 17-19 3000 Meter Run l 17-19 One Mile Run
InterviewAvery Lopez

Edwards In Stellar Shape, Kelly's Trip South Worth It

Emily Edwards had a great cross country season in 2012, but she is equally as talented on the track. She started off the weekend with a second place showing in the 800 meter run before taking the one mile run on Sunday. Edwards hung on the shoulder of Georgia senior and Ole Miss Annie Kelly. She made her move mid way through the race and never looked back winning by nearly 10 seconds in 5:04.98. Kelly's trip south from the Peach State was well worth it. The senior led a majority of the 3000 meter run and held off a late surge from Hagerty senior and future Florida Gator Bryce Seymour winning in 10:15.51.

Watch the Races: 17-19 800 Meters l 17-19 3000 Meters17-19 One Mile Run 
Interviews: Emily Edwards l Annie Kelly

Daeshon Gordon Breaks Own Meet Record In 55 Meter Hurdles

Last year, at this meet Daeshon Gordon ran a new meet record for the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.27. The sophomore then went onto win a 4A state championship in the 100 meter hurdles. This year, Gordon is on pace for another stellar season. The Boyd Anderson junior beat an impressive field in 8.20 to improve on her time from last year and set a new meet record in the process. That mark also ranks as the 13th best in the U.S. so far this indoor season.

Walter Tucker, the 2A state champion in the 110 meter hurdles improved on his second place finish from last year by beating South Florida rival and University of North Carolina committment Maurice Dix in a time of 7.56.

Watch the Races: Boys 17-19 55 Meter Hurdles l Girls 17-19 55 Meter Hurdles
InterviewsDaeshon Gordon l Walter Tucker

Bahamian Golden Girl Still Golden

One of the winningest athletes in Bahamas history Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie competed against fellow club athletes as well as several collegians in theCollege/Open 55 Meter Dash. Ferguson-McKenzie posted the fastest the time of the day in 6.88 seconds. She trains in Clermont with Pure Athletics and was running against athletes 10-15 years younger. Pretty impressive and proves Debbie isn't quite done.

Watch the RaceCollege/Open 55 Meter Dash
 

Day One Highlights

Antonio James Wows with US #1 55m! Levonte Whitfield and Trayvon Bromell Close Behind with US #2 and #3! Kendal Williams US #2 200m

Going into Saturday, most people expect to see Levonte Whitfield of Jones just kill it with a big national time. Well he did. His time was excellent, catapulting him to the US #2 spot in the event with a 6.32.

And that would hve been US #1; however, had it not been for new star Antonio James of Buchholz. James surged past Whitfield with a 6.28 win and suddenly stamping his name on the "watch list" for this upcoming outdoor season. Coming into this season, James has a 10.56 personal best in the 100m and a 22.03 in the 200m.  He finished in third and eight place at least year's 4A State Meet in the 100 and 200, respectively.

But the speed didn't stop there with Trayvon Bromell breathing down Whitfield's neck. "Kermit" Whitfield held on for the second place position with 6.32 to 6.33. Those performances put Florida in the top three spots nationally for the 55 meters. Well Done! Kendal Williams came through with a US #10 for fourth place in 6.44.

Later in the day, Kendal Williams stepped it up in his premier event to win the 200m with a US #2 21.62, just ahead of US #3 Ceolamar Ways at 21.63.  James finished third with a 22.09. Oh it's going to be an exciting year for Florida sprinters! (Isn't it always??)

Watch the Races:  17-19 55 Meter Dash  |  17-19 200 Meter Dash

Interviews:  Antonio James  |  Levonte Whitfield  |  Kendal Williams |  Ceolamar Ways  | 

Kali Davis-White Doubles, Nabs Two US #4 Spots in the 55 and 200

Boyd Anderson senior Kali Davis-White picked up right where she left off last season! She won impressively in both the 55 meters (7.04) and 200 meters (24.52) to sweep the short sprints. Both times put her as the fourth fastest high school times this season in the US.

Diamond Spaulding of American Heritage was second in both of those races with times of 7.22 and 24.97, respectively.

Watch the Races:   17-19 55 Meter Dash  |  17-19 200 Meter Dash

Interviews:  Kali Davis-White

Erin Ford US #5 with 15-16 Division 400 Meter Win

You can't let the upperclassmen have all the fun! Royal Palm Beach sophomore Erin Ford lit up the 15-16 division with a dominant 56.51 that puts her #5 on the national list on MileSplit. She also took the 200m title at the 15-16 level with a 25.00.

Deja Parrish of American Heritage won the 17-19 division with a 57.64, just a bit off her US #10 57.13 from earlier in the year when she was on a trip to North Carolina.  Parrish also finished third in the 17-19 200m with a 25.16.

Watch the Races:  15-16 400 Meter Dash |  17-19 400 Meter Dash  

Interviews:  Erin Ford  |  Deja Parrish

 


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