Seven-time Florida Class 4A state champion, four-time NCAA Division 1 title holder at USC reconnects with St. Thomas Aquinas coach Armenteros for prestigious high school track and field event at Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium in Miami

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Kendall Ellis is one of the most decorated competitors in Florida track and field history, winning seven Class 4A state titles from 2011-14 during her career at St. Thomas Aquinas High.

Now, the USC graduate, New Balance professional athlete, Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion is elevating one of the most prestigious high school events in Florida by reconnecting with legendary Raiders’ coach Alex Armenteros.

The Ellis Elite 16 Track and Field Invitational is scheduled for Saturday at Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium in Miami, in partnership with The Ellis Effect and Topo Chico.

Gates open at 7 a.m., with competition in the 3,200 meters beginning at 8 a.m., and admission for the event is $8.

Field events are scheduled to start at 9 a.m., with the 4x800-meter relays at 11 a.m. and javelin throw at 1 p.m.

The Emerging Elite track finals are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., with the Elite 16 running event finals slated to begin at 6 p.m.

The Elite 16 Track and Field Invitational had been held in 2020 and again last year at Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, but Ellis wanted the chance to collaborate again with Armenteros and knew this meet would be the ideal opportunity.

“I’ve talked with Coach Alex in the last year or so about wanting to put on my own high school meet, and he suggested I take over this one,” Ellis said. “Considering how competitive and jam-packed the south Florida track season can be, we didn’t want coaches to have to choose between my meet or another one, and potentially miss out on high level competition or have a poor turnout.

“The Elite 16 Invitational has been successful in the past and Coach Alex and I make a great team, so it made sense to do this together.”

Ellis, a four-time NCAA Division 1 champion and 13-time All-America first-team honoree from 2015-18 at USC, was first coached by Armenteros at age 7 at the outset of her track career and throughout her remarkable career at St. Thomas Aquinas.

“There’s no better person I could see myself hosting a meet with. His experience has made the process of putting a meet together so much easier and I thank him for that,” Ellis said. “This opportunity is so important for me because I’m a big believer in giving back. I’ve been in L.A. for so many years now, but I’m still a very proud South Floridian through and through.”

Ellis, who contributed to the U.S. winning the women’s 4x400 gold medal in 2021 in Tokyo after being part of World Championships in the same relay event in 2017 in London and 2019 in Doha, also captured four consecutive Class 4A state crowns in Florida in the 400 meters and added three more titles in the 4x400 competing for St. Thomas Aquinas.

“It’s important to me that as an athlete that came from South Florida, that I go back and interact with the youth athletes who are there now. South Florida is my community and my home and I never want them, or myself, to forget that,” Ellis said. “A large portion of my career was spent there, so I want to serve as a reminder and role model of the great things that come out of Florida, while being sure to return back to the people and place that molded me.”

St. Thomas Aquinas won both boys team titles at the invitational in 2020 and 2022, with Miami Northwestern securing the girls team championship three years ago and Niceville capturing the girls crown last season.

“I’m really looking forward to the performances,” Ellis said. “I’m well beyond my high school career, and times quite literally have changed, so I’m excited to see how fast and how far these athletes can go.”