Benjamin wins its first state track title; Chaminade-Madonna 2nd in boys, girls

The last time Benjamin placed in the top five at the FHSAA state track meet, Barrett Saunders was a senior who heavily contributed to the Buccaneers’ fourth-place finish.

Now, the coach at the school, he guided the boys to Benjamin’s first Class 1A state championship as they scored 65 points and squeaked past Chaminade by two in taking home the championship at James G. Pressly Stadium, Percy Beard Track in Gainesville.

“It is something we set as a goal at the beginning of the season,” said Saunders, who graduated in 2003 when the school finished fourth at state. “We felt we had a really good chance to win a state title and everything we told them they good do all season; they went out and did it. Those guys were just great. It was a great cherry on top.”

Saunders, whose father, Stanley, won three state championships at Suncoast from 2000-02, said he was equally proud of winning the county championship, also a first for the school.

South Florida took three of the top four spots as Benjamin won the boys title with 65 points. Chaminade-Madonna was second with 63 and Cardinal Newman was fourth with 39.

Benjamin junior Micah Mays headlined the strong showing at state as he captured a pair of state championships in the 400-meter dash (47.52) and the triple jump (45 feet, 11-¾ inches), while senior C.J. Bowens, an Army football commit, took first place in discus (1539).

The Bucs’ 4x100 relay team (42.46) was state runner-up. Other top finishers for the Buccaneers included sophomore Jacob Cosby-Mosley’s third-place finish (44-10 ¼) in the triple jump, junior Broderick Quinn’s thirdplace finish (162-2) in the javelin and Mays’ third-place finish (6-1 ½) in the high jump.

“Placing in the high jump was a big obstacle that I overcame,” said Mays, who missed his qualifying height last year. He said it bothered him the rest of the meet and led to a runner-up finish in the 400. “When I finished third, it gave me a lot of confidence.

“Winning states this year as an individual and as a team was great and something we all fought for,” said Mays, who also is a football star and member of the school’s basketball team. “It is an unreal feeling that not many people have a chance to do. It doesn’t compare to anything really.”

Cardinal Newman sophomore Kevin Levy won the 100 state title (10.66) and finished third in the 200 (21.54).

Palm Beach County schools shined in the 4x100 relay as Oxbridge Academy girls (48.31) and Cardinal Newman boys (41.91) each placed first.

Chaminade-Madonna gets runner-up spots in Class 1A meet

When Damian Sutton arrived on the scene at Chaminade-Madonna two years ago, he was intent on building the track program — so far, so good.

“I am extremely proud of them,” said Sutton, who spent seven years at American Heritage in Plantation as an assistant before taking over the Lions program. “It was a rough year being known as a football school. We have boys that come out, but then they are doing the 7-on-7s. The kids that stuck with it got rewarded.”

The previous best finish for Chaminade’s boys had been a third-place finish in 1973 and for the girls, it was a ninth-place finish in 2007. The Lions finished second with 43 points as Tampa Cambridge Christian won the state title with 70 points.

“The girls had a great meet,” Sutton said. “We are really young and it would have been difficult to beat Cambridge.”

Chaminade-Madonna junior Duane Thomas Jr. was third in the long jump (22-1¾),

In the boys 110 hurdles, Chaminade Tyson Waters placed third (14.72) and followed that up with a runner-up finish in the 300 hurdles (38.03). Chaminade-Madonna junior D’Angelo Ponds was second in the 100 (10.67) and fourth in the 200 (21.72).

“I was not too happy with my 110 hurdle performance, even though it was a personal best for me,” Waters said. “I went over the first two hurdles with my bad leg, which slowed me down significantly, but I remained calm and tried to get through the hurdles and passed the line as fast as possible.

“I knew the team was going to show up and give their all,” Waters added. “We have been working really hard since the beginning of the season and I knew it would pay off. I expected us to place as runners up, and maybe even win, but we all made too many little mistakes.”

For the Chaminade girls, freshman Kahalia Hoo was second in the 300 hurdles (45.67). South Florida HEAT junior Selah Sims finished third in the event (45.85).

Pahokee seventh-grader Jordan Johnson was third in the girls 800 run (2:17.70).

Individual marks set in Class 2A meet

Calvary Christian senior Ty Noble edged Cardinal Gibbons senior Sam Mrky on a tiebreaker for the Class 2A state pole vault title. Both Noble and Mrky jumped 14-9 however Noble won on a tiebreaker on less misses.

“I did not expect to win this at all,” said Noble, who broke the school record in the event and became the first pole vault state champion at his school. “I broke my pole during warmups at state, so in the end, all of the pieces came together.”

Pompano Beach senior Avondre Walters became the first student at his school to win a track title by winning his specialty the 300 hurdles (38.26). He was also runner-up in the 110 hurdles (14.85). He’s Pompano’s first state champion since pole vaulter Oren Woodward in 1958.

“This is really amazing,” said Walters, who picked up a personal best in the 300. “I tore my PCL last year and missed the whole year and couldn’t go to state. The junior year is the most important in college recruiting, so I am a ghost in the college world. Maybe this will help get a scholarship.”

In the Class 2A meet, American Heritage-Delray senior Destiny St. Cyr was third in the long jump (18-4½).

Somerset surprises with third-place 2A finish

Somerset Academy track coach Leon Sullivan said his young team’s performance at the state meet should turn some heads.

His girls team posted the top South Florida finish in the Class 2A state competition. The Panthers finished with 51 points. State champion Jacksonville Bolles (68) and runner-up Montverde Academy (62) were the only teams ahead.

Somerset Academy freshman Aleesa Samuel paced the Panthers as she won the 100 hurdles (13.73 seconds), which was just two-tenths of a second behind the fastest time run this season in the state in the event. Samuel also finished third in the 100 and 200 races.

“Our school is mostly known for its wrestling program and its arts conservatory,” Sullivan said. “Even though we are mostly eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders, we have some phenomenal kids. I definitely thought we could be top five, but top three was a surprise.”