FLORIDA STATE MEET
Chris Johnson Runs 10.25w/20.40 Double In Class 3A; Patrick Koon Takes Meet Record in 3,200m; Miami Northwestern Girls Win 14th Straight
By Todd Grasley of DyeStat
David Hicks Photos (2A)
The 2023 FHSAA State Championships didn't disappoint with talent rolling through Jacksonville for three consecutive days. Mother nature tried to interfere with the start of the 1A competition, but in true Florida fashion, the showers eventually passed, and action kicked off. From state leaders to state records, and nationally ranked performances the Sunshine State put on a show.
Koon Captures State Title Breaks 22-Year-Old State Meet Record
One of the oldest records in the state fell Friday night when Leon junior Patrick Koon covered the 3,200 meter run in a time of 8:58.83, narrowly beating the 3A meet record of 8:59.03 by Sean Jefferson set in 2001, and defending his 2022 championship.
Koon's 8:44.95 and fifth-place showing at Arcadia is the all-time best in the state of Florida. With one year left it's no surprise he is being courted by some of the best distance programs in the country including Harvard, Virginia and Stanford.
Johnson Takes Schwartz's 200m Record; Uvieghara Sweeps Sprint Titles
NFL wide receiver Anthony Schwartz's name is part of the history books in Florida sprinting. But now, add Dillard senior Chris Johnson to the list. Johnson defended his 3A crowns in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. He scorched the track with a new wind legal and US#2 200 meter time of 20.40, narrowly beating Schwartz's 20.41 from 2018. Johnson also was victorious in the 100 meters with an all-conditions time of 10.25w.
The fastest female sprinter of the weekend didn't hail from South Florida. Palm Harbor University's Rachel Uvieghara proved she didn't just belong at the state meet, but to be in the conversation of the nation's best. The junior ran a US#6 time of 11.38 in the 100 meters and followed it up with a US#6 time of 23.22 in the 200. Uvieghara's was runner-up in both events as a sophomore, and third and fourth respectively as a freshman.
Best Of The Rest: State Leaders & Nationally Ranked Marks
2023 marked the first time that the 400-meter hurdles was contested in the state of Florida. The move up from 300 meters seem to bother Lake Minneola's Kai Evans, who sped to a US#2 mark of 52.35 in the 3A final. It was the lone state championship for Evans, who had a busy day competing in four individual events, the 100, 200, 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles.
Cedric Johnson Jr of Lake Highland Prep (pictured) won the 2A boys 400 hurdles in 55.62.
While the large school short sprints were one of the weekend's highlights, one of the most eagerly anticipated races was the 2A boys 400-meter dash, with three athletes in the field going sub 47 seconds. Florida High junior Micahi Danzy, last year's runner-up, remained undefeated on the year with the win in a personal best, state leader, and US#4 mark of 46.11. Danzy was victorious in the 200 meters as well, in 21.16. Aidan Dixon from Atlantic was second in the 400 in 46.71 and University of Georgia signee Mekhi Gammons of Hialeah Miami Lakes.
Hagerty senior and University of Florida signee Miguel Pantojas won the 4A boys 800 meters a year after finishing runner-up. Pantojas' time of 1:50.30 is a state leader and US#9.
The Dillard girls 4x800 relay came just shy of breaking their own state record, but still managed to defend their 3A championship in a state leading and US#13 showing of 9:05.17.
A total of 14 teams between 3A & 4A broke eight minutes in the boys 4x800 meter relay, led by Belen Jesuit. The Wolverines, a cross country powerhouse, flexed their distance muscles by winning in a state leading and top 20 national time of 7:47.01.
Other top performances from the FHSAA Championships included:
Sunlake senior and University of Florida signee Alex Pena's ran 4:07.97 to win in the 4A 1,600 meters.
Lake Mary senior Markel Jones won the 4A 110-meter hurdles in 13.88 and also the 400-meter hurdles (52.59).
Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines junior Lauren Kirby won the 3A shot put with a new PR and state leading mark of 44-6.25 (13.57m). Kirby was runner-up in the event last year as a freshman.
MNW Girls Win 14th Title In A Row
The Miami Northwestern girls track and field program has been synonymous with winning. Call it a dynasty, call it believing in the program and those that have come before them, or even Coach Carmen Jackson's magic. Jackson will be the first to tell you that with her program, it's more than winning. It's about the coaches, the kids, changing lives and setting the girls up for college. The Bulldogs won their 14th consecutive title.
Niceville won its third consecutive 4A title with 65.5 points. Even more impressive was that 55.5 of those came from field events.
The Miami Southridge girls were well-rounded on the way to the 4A girls team title with 77.5 points. The team tallied points in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and all three relays. Takiyah Ferguson became the state's first 4A 400-meter hurdles champion with 1:01.27 and she was also on the winning 4x400.
The Bolles School has been a powerhouse on both the cross country course and the track. The Bulldogs swept both the 2A boys and girls team championships.
Jillian Candelino ran a time of 10:35.15 to win the 3,200 meters.
Team Champions -
Class 4A- Niceville boys 65.5 points, Southridge girls 77.5 points - RESULTS
Class 3A - Ponte Vedra boys 53 points, Miami Northwestern girls 80 points - RESULTS
Class 2A - The Bolles School boys 63 points, The Bolles School girls 75 points - RESULTS
Class 1A - The Benjamin School boys 91.5 points, Maclay girls 50 points - RESULTS
