Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Stellar senior class to fuel American Heritage’s aspirations for a state title
With one of the most talented senior classes in school history, the American Heritage girls track and field may finally have what it takes to return to the winner’s circle at the Class 2A state championship.
Headlined by seniors Jada Joseph, Myrka Cadet, Sherri-Ann Norton, the Patriots are primed to raise their fifth state title after coming up short the past three seasons. The Patriots were back-to-back runners-up in 2017 and 2018, and placed third at the state championship in 2019.
“Last year, we had a great chance to win the state title. We lost like three seniors that were very significant,” American Heritage coach Greg Barnes said. “We were primed and ready to go last year. This year, we still have those leftover and we have another chance. I told the girls, ‘we just need to stay focused and train.’
“It’s been a little rough because this year’s training had to go a little different because of the pandemic,” Barnes said. “So, we had to change up what we usually do coming off of a season. We might have a month or two off but now we had seven months off. We had to change up what we usually do. But, they’re all ready to compete and we’re looking at the big picture at the end.”
Returning as the team’s top sprinters, Norton will look to repeat as the state champion in the 100 dash, while Cadet aims to improve off her third-place finish in the 200 at states. Cadet and Norton will return as key contributors to the Patriots 4x100 relay team, which won silver at the state championship. Cadet also helped American Heritage win gold in the 4x400 relay.
Joseph, while competing states in 2019, set personal records in both the long jump and triple jump. Winning bronze in the long jump, Joseph followed up her stellar performance by earning silver in the triple jump.
In the case of the St. Thomas Aquinas girls team, the Raiders will continue their search for their third consecutive state championship after the COVID-19 pandemic cut short their aspirations last season.
“Last year, we got off to great start and we were in a position to win another girls state championship,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Alex Armenteros said. “It was heartbreaking for the seniors when it was announced that the season was shut down.”
This year around, St. Thomas Aquinas will depend on seniors Eddiyah Frye and Alexis Glasco to orchestrate another potential run at the state championship.
Frye assisted the Raiders in raising their 13th state title by winning gold in the Class 4A long jump while also contributing points in the 100 hurdles. Glasco, who placed third in 300 hurdles at states, was also a member of the team’s state championship-winning 4x100 relay team.
“Right now, she’s [Frye] ranked like No. 1 in the country in the 100 hurdles and the long jump’“Armenteros said. “We also have [Alexis] Glasco which she’s one of the best 300 runners in the county. She’s right now ranked No. 1 in the state in the 100s.”
The Hallandale girls track and field will have a steep uphill climb to return to the state championship, following the graduation of two-time Class 2A state champion, Ashantae Harvey.
Harvey, who won the Sun Sentinel Broward 2A-1A girls track and field athlete of the year award, raised state titles in the 100 and 300 hurdles to fuel the Chargers’ pursuit of three consecutive state titles. Graduating Harvey in addition to a loaded senior class, the Chargers’ chances of going back to state also took a significant hit as a result of coach Calvin Golson taking the season off.
Donald Heaven will assume coaching duties this season.
For Dwyer’s Natalia Madison, she will go into her senior campaign for the Panthers girls track and field team possessing the goal of placing higher than her fourth-place finish in the Class 3A high jump. Madison also finished 10th in the triple jump. Fellow senior Kayla Kerbs will also be a notable standout for Dwyer following her eighthplace finish in the pole vault at regionals.
On the boys side for American Heritage, the Patriots could potentially be a dark horse when it comes to competing for states with the team having finished as the state runnerups in 2017 and 2018.
Leading the team’s efforts, junior Emory Clemons aided the Patriots’ 4x400 relay team to place fourth at states as well as received silver in 800 run at regionals. Looking to carryover his success from the state championship, Jacolby Spells, who also plays cornerback for the Patriots football team, enters his senior year surrounded by rising expectations after helping the team finish fourth in the 4x100 relay.
“The boys team is actually sneaky good,” Barnes said. “We just have to put it together. Once it all comes together just like the girls team you’ll pretty much see it. This year, we have an outside chance [to make it to states]. If it comes together, they better lookout.”
In pursuit of their first state title since 2004, the Fort Lauderdale boys track and field team will return a talented senior class, highlighted by Michael Fiore and Humberto Ramirez.
Placing in the top 10 in two events at states, Fiore finished seventh in 1,600 run and eighth in the 3,200. Having transferred from Piper in 2020, Ramirez will be one of the top relay members for the Flying L’s, helping Piper place fifth in the 4x800 relay at states.
Similar to Fort Lauderdale, the Park Vista boys track and field team is also bringing back an experienced senior group.
Hopeful to return to the state championships, senior pole vaulters Zachary Dumas and Aidan Cawley are both aiming to finish better than their last go around at states. Dumas placed 19th in the pole vault, Cawley failed to record a height.