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Florida Notebook: Riley Smith, Patrick Koon Work Together to Leave Lasting Mark on FSU RelaysPublished by
Distance Standouts Run Fastest 3,200 Meters Times In State History To Highlight Weekend By Todd Grasley of DyeStat Anytime Riley Smith and Patrick Koon race head-to-head fireworks are bound to happen, and Friday night's 3,200 meters at the Florida State Relays was the latest example. The duo duked it out on March 1 at the Bolles Bulldog Classic and came into Tallahassee, Koon's hometown, for spectacle for fans despite the lousy weather. Smith, a University of Florida signee, led the first lap, but Koon, who is bound for Stanford, controlled the pace for the next six. Smith saved his best lap for last, covering the 400-meter track in 58.11 to beat out Koon in a state record and US#1 time of 8:39.71. INTERVIEWS by Ricky Quintana Smith is happy with his progress this season and credits it to an increase in base mileage since the start of last fall's cross country season. He added that setting the state record feels great, although he knows it may not be there for too long.
"I’m more excited about where I placed on the all-time list in high school. I knew I could break 8:40, but I didn’t know how small of a group had done it until I looked after."
Coaching Insight Buccholz coach Patrick Douma revealed even more of the strategy and pace-sharing that went into Friday's race and what it means for both runners moving forward. "Riley and Patrick had agreed to exchange the first two 800s with a goal of getting out closer to 4:22ish than the 4:31 high on March 1st," Douma said. "Based on their performances in The Armory (at Nike Indoor Nationals), it was clear they could meet in the middle and put together something faster than their original 3200 on March 1st." The weather was not optimal: 66 degrees with 90 percent humidity.
"In the girls and boys heats leading up to their race, the PR's were not popping like a normal FSU Relays night," Douma said. "At the end of the day, though, neither Riley nor Patrick cared about the weather. They were there to make this race something to witness regardless of mediocre weather. As coaches and spectators, we were very lucky to be around on such a historic distance night. It's great to see how kids can link up before a race and cooperate to elevate the races."
Smith is in the midst of a base training cycle with a focus on peaking around state meet time (May 18) and beyond. One of the events on his calendar is the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis on May 30.
"I know Riley looks forward to having the very best high school milers in the nation toe the line that day," Douma said. TWELVE Girls Under 11 Minutes The girls 3,200 meters was another marquee event of the night one and it didn't disappoint with 12 girls going under 11 minutes. Ponte Vedra senior Lindy White and North Bay Haven junior Margaret Bartlow jostled for position throughout the eight-lap race, but it was White's 76-second closing lap that propelled her to victory in a new personal best time of 10:41.11 over Bartlow (10:42.30). The feeling of victory was even more satisfying for White, who has committed to FSU, because the state-leading performance came on her future home track. Caroline Couch and Mackenzie De Lisle battled for third and fourth, respectively, in 10:44.19 and 10:44.38.
Montverde Girls Win 3rd Straight Team Title
The Montverde girls once again demonstrated why they are one of the most talented teams in the nation. The Eagles edged out IMG Academy 71-66 with all of their points coming in the sprints and hurdles. That's without entering the relay events. Adaejah Hodge (23.58), Alivia Williams (23.67) and freshman Dasia Reed (23.81) went 1-2-3 with Nakira Hudson finishing in fifth. Michelle Smith won individual honors in the 100-meter hurdles (14.12) while Williams was victorious in the 400 meters with a blazing 53.40. Smith also competed in the women's 400-meter hurdles and won against a collegiate field with a time of US#1 56.85 just shy of her personal best of 56.82 Sophomore Skyler Franklin, the reigning Nike Indoor Nationals champion at 400 meters, decided to take on the collegiate athletes and laid it down with a US#1 52.53, representing the club Celerity TC. Rewriting The State Leaderboard Additional highlights from FSU Relays:
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