The FHSAA 3A State Championships featured the first sub-40 performance in state history by the young men from American Heritage (Plantation) in the 4x100m relay, clocking a U.S. No. 2 time of 39.39 seconds. The team included included So. brothers Braylen Bennett and Brandon Bennett, Sr. Xavier Lucas, and anchor So. Zamarii Sanders.
Their performance broke the 26-year-old state record of 40.09 held by Boyd Anderson from 1998.
Interview with American Heritage after their Record Run
Starting the running events in the early afternoon, The Dillard girls dropped a new FHSAA State Meet record in the 4-800m Relay. The team of So. Abigail Richards, Sr. Raquel Edwards, 7th grader Shyna Collins and Sr. Christiana Coleman ran an 8:49.73 breaking the record set by their school in 2022 of 9:03.27. They were just off the NFHS record of 8:48.29 run by Grosse Pointe South in 2012.
WATCH the Interview with the Dillard Girls
Dillard Sr. and Unv. of Florida commit, Christiana Coleman capped off her Senior year and her HS career with wins in the 1600m and 3200m. Coleman started of the year as the 3A State XC champion. Yesterday in the 1600m she ran 4:53.58 and in the 3200m a 10:50.88 after her leg on the Dillard girls' record 4x800m Relay.
WATCH the interview with Christiana Coleman after her 1600m win
WATCH the interview with Christiana Coleman after her 1600m win
Jr. Tyra Cox of Miami Northwestern showed why she is one of the best girls sprinters in Florida by winning the very difficult 100m, 400m, 200m triple. She won the 100 in 11.72, the 400 in 52.26 just missing the FHSAA record of 52.25 and the 200 in 23.24. She also anchored the Miami Northwestern girls to a win in the 40400m Relay. (3:42.02).
WATCH the interview with Tyra Cox after her 100m win
WATCH the interview with Tyra Cox after her 400m win
Kai Evans of Lake Minneola proved he is the best hurdler in Florida and one of the best in the nation. The Jr. won the 110mH in 13.81 and the 400mH in 53.02.
WATCH the interview with Kai Evans
Leon Sr. Patrick Koon capped of his High School career by winning the 3200 in 8:56.92. Koon, headed to Stanford is one of the best ever Florida boys distance runners. He is a three-time 3A State XC Champion and a three-time 3200m Champion. Indoors this year he won the 5000m at the Nike Indoor Nationals in 13.59.69. He has PRs of 4:08.41 in the 1600 and 8:41.46 in the 3200.
WATCH the interview with Patrick Koon
In one of the evening's most anticipated races, Jr. Joseph Socarras of Belen Jesuit closed with a strong finish in the boy's 1600 to take the win in a 4:04.53 over Leon's Patrick Koon. His time moved him into the FL #4 All-Time position and was a US #7 for this season.
WATCH the interview with Joseph Socarras
Not to be lost in the boy's 1600m, is that two Freshman ran FL #1 and 2 All-Time 1600's. Belen Jesuit's Marcello Mantecon was third in a 4:10.88. Just behind Mantecon was Gulf Breeze's Andrew Beroset who ran 4:11.27.