Tohopekaliga Invitational 2 2021

Video provided by Karyn-Bell JacksonIn a face-off between Florida's top two ranked athletes in the boys 400-meter dash at the Tohopekaliga Invitational on Saturday in Kissimmee, the end result was nothing more than you can ask for. The race featured two 47 second performers coming in between Markevus Jackson (47.22) of Osceola (Kissimmee) and Weston Baptiste (47.55) of Montverde Academy. The end result was two 46 second performers with Baptiste able to pull just ahead of Jackson in the final stretch for the win and a new national leading time of 46.63, while Jackson's consolation prize in second was joining the sub 47-second club in a US #3 46.84 personal best performance.Since Montverde Academy is a 2A school and Osceola (Kissimmee) is a 4A school, yesterday was a rare and potentially last opportunity for these two quarter horses to go head to head this season. Possibly another clash somewhere in the postseason? We will have to wait and see. Athlete Profile: Weston BaptisteAthlete Profile: Markevus JacksonNational Rankings 400m DashState Rankings 400m Dash 

Video Of Alex Georgiev's 15'5" ClearanceMontverde Academy's Alex Georgiev has quickly become a rising star in the pole vault world, but when you google his name. He is nowhere to be found as the NHL's New York Rangers goalie Alexander Georgiev dominates the top search results instead.The high school freshmen pole vaulter Georgiev is looking to change that over the coming months and the next four years of high school. Georgiev already owns the Florida state freshmen class record in the pole vault with his current season-best of 15'5" (4.7m) this past weekend at the Tohopekaliga Invitational #2.At the time, Georgiev's clearance also briefly held the top pole vault ranking in all of Florida regardless of grade before East Lake's Ethan Riley later in the weekend cleared 15'7" at IMG Academy while competing unattached. Starting out initially as an average distance runner in middle school, the assistant cross country coach at Montverde Academy in David Jones, who also coaches the pole vaulters during the track season, noticed Georgiev doing backflips. He asked George to try the pole vault and it has been a quick rise ever since. Only one other freshmen vaulter in the nation has cleared over 15 feet so far this spring with Georgiev having a five-foot season-best clearance buffer over the next best among his grade. If he continues to develop, Georgiev will not only be competing for state titles instantly in the 2A classification this May at the FHSAA Outdoor Finals, but could be competing for national titles and All-American honors consistently someday as well. Here is to hoping this article will be the first of many to start populating under the google search results for Alex Georgiev. 

Live results from one of the biggest meets this weekend in Central Florida.

A highly anticipated matchup between two of Florida's fastest at 400 meters delivered with the result being the nation's top two times.

Vote for the Florida boys track & field performer of the week. Poll closes on Thursday at 9 PM.

Montverde Academy's Alex Georgiev owns the Florida freshmen class record in the pole vault at 15'5" and is tops in the nation too.