Tate no longer waits for a win
BRADENTON — Nyron Tate had to wait until his final year of high school track and field to even get a taste of the FHSAA state meet.
But once he finally arrived, the Colonial senior filled his plate with satisfaction on Friday.
Tate completed a yearlong mission when he leaped 23-feet, 8¾ inches to win the Class 4A boys long jump at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
“Last year, I didn’t make it to regions,” Tate said. “Next day I went out and trained from then to now. I really wanted this.”
Tate also had the second best leap of the competition, 23-7½. He finished his Colonial career with eight consecutive victories — including wins at both the FSU and Florida Relays.
Lake Mary junior Juan Trinidad was the runnerup at 22-9¼.
Mount Dora Christian junior Cooper Monn, making her fourth straight state meet appearance since eighth grade, won both throws events in 1A.
Monn dominated the shot put with all six of of her marks good enough to win, topped out by a personal best 38-foot, 11½-inch heave. It was more difficult in the discus, as the she twice hit the net with out of bounds throws before unleashing a legal 125-10.
“It’s been a struggle for me to throw down the middle this year, but I knew if I get it in I have a pretty good chance,” Monn said with a big smile.
MDC also had the 1A boys discus champ. Sophomore Jesiah Pierre spun the plate 155-4 to win by two feet.
Winter Park junior Rafaella Gibbons earned her third consecutive 4A girls 3,200 medal with a third place. She was champion as a ninth grader and runner-up as a sophomore.
Trinity Prep senior Trent Mandato was the 2A boys 3,200 runner-up.
Lake Brantley ninthgrader Ashley Klingenberg had high hopes in the 4A girls 800 but got boxed in behind the leaders early and finished fifth at 2:13.24 in a fast race.
Lake Brantley junior Joab Francois was third in the boys 800 at 1:56.32, one spot ahead of Timber Creek senior Jared Vazquez.
The First Academy ninth-grader Alex Shields was runner-up in the 1A long jump with a careerbest 22-11 effort to hang another medal on a talented track and field family tree. His parents both competed in college for Pitt. His sister, Mikayla, was a state triple jump champion for Lake Nona last season and now competes for South Carolina. Lyman senior Tyreek Thyme and Orange City junior Lorenzo Lingard were the top two qualifiers for both of the 4A boys hurdles finals. Lingard ran 37.01 and Thyme a personal-best 37.31 in the 300 heats.
Reigning state girls 4A 300 hurdles champ Jamiah Jackson qualified No. 1 in that event with a career-best 42.55 time.
Two state all-time bests were broken in gusting winds.
Sebastian River senior Jarez Park shattered a boys discus record set in 1991 with a throw of 210-feet, five inches on his sixth and final attempt. He had to have it to beat a 200-8 effort by Niceville’s Edward Shelikoff, who had to settle for silver despite being only the sixth discus thrower in state history to surpass 200 feet.
Thomas Barber of Miami Carol City set the 1991 record of 205-9.
Miami Northwestern’s girls 4x100 relay sped to a 45.20 prelim clocking to break its own state standard set earlier this season.
A Plantation American Heritage team that owns the nation’s fastest time in the boys 4x100 will not run today. The Patriots did not run their regular lineup Friday and botched two handoffs and failed to advance.