Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Somerset’s Samuel wins 3 golds
Aleesa Samuel won all three of her events at the FHSAA Class 3A state track and field championships at Hodges Stadium the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
The Somerset Academy sophomore opened the meet by winning the 100-meter hurdles in 13.67, nearly a full half-second ahead of Rockledge junior Jaida Williams-Goins (14.10). Just moments later, she went back to the starting blocks and topped Atlantic senior Lakesha Smith as she clocked an 11.44 to win the 100.
“I went in and knew the girls, but I didn’t focus on getting first or second or whatever, I just wanted to hit my times,” said Samuel, the daughter of former two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel. “I didn’t hit any PRs, but I was close in the 200. It was good making it to state again.”
Smith, who overcame two knee surgeries that robbed her of her freshman and sophomore track seasons, was pleased with her state performance, especially in the 100 as she ran an 11.61. She was also second in the 200 (24.26).
“My performance was unbelievable,” Smith said. “I was shocked I made it that far considering I had two major knee surgeries. One thing that stood out was my 100-meter dash. Running the time of 11.61, I never thought I would hit this time so soon but when I saw my time on the clock I was beyond happy and shocked.”
Samuel closed out the night winning the 200 dash (23.84) besting Smith again (24.26) and Northeast senior Ashley Shaw (24.48).
“I was a little sad not to get my best times,” Samuel said, “but at the same time, my legs were really tired at the end of the meet.”
For the second consecutive year, Dillard senior and UM football commit Chris Johnson won both the 100 (10.25) and the 200 (20.40).
“I think I did great,” said Johnson, who broke the state record previously held by American Heritage’s Anthony Schwartz of 20.41 in 2018. Schwartz is currently a member of the Cleveland Browns. “I didn’t really feel pressured (because) I knew I was the favorite in the race, but I stayed humble and took advantage of my opportunity.”
Somerset Academy sophomore Lauren Kirby won the shot put with a heave of 44 feet, 6 ¼ inches, while Dillard sophomore Alexia Reid finished second in the 400 hurdles (1:01.92), and third in the 100 hurdles (14.30).
Archbishop McCarthy junior George Sterr finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 47-2½. It came after the basketball player took up track to condition for basketball and the track coaches placed him in the event.
“It’s pretty cool because I have been doing track in general for just three months,” Sterr said. “I didn’t expect to go far. My best before that was 13.76 meters. After regionals, I just worked on the second phase and the landing.”
Dillard had the strongest performance of a Broward or Palm Beach squad, finishing sixth in the Class 3A boys competition with 36 points and second in the girls with 75.50 points, just 4 ½ points behind winner Miami Northwestern.
“The goal for the entire season was trying to put together a team that could compete for a state championship and we were close,” said Dillard coach Davidson Gill. “We lost some kids to spring football and had a few things not go our way. It was good competition across the board, but I still felt we had a good chance.”
Dillard junior Raquel Edwards turned in a solid performance for the Panthers girls’ team by winning the 1,600 (5:01.22), a new race for her this season, and following that up 20 minutes later with a second-place finish in the 800 (2:12.69).
“Honestly, I feel I feel like I accomplished a lot,” said Edwards, who battled a litany of injuries this season. “I was just off my PR in the 1,600 (5:00.00), which was kind of disappointing, but I still managed to win and conserve as much energy as I could for the 800.
“The 800 was trial and error,” she added. “I went out as fast as I could, but my legs were kind of done at that point.”
Ponte Vedra won the boys’ competition with 53 points, while seven points separated second through sixth. American Heritage was ninth in the boys and sixth in the girls. Somerset Academy’s girls were fourth overall. The top Palm Beach team was Atlantic’s girls at ninth with 18 points.
The American Heritage 4×100 relay team won, while Dillard’s 4×100 was fourth.
Archbishop McCarthy senior Sydney Nicholson didn’t hit her personal best in the pole vault, but it was good enough for first place, clearing the bar at 11-9¾. Meanwhile, Archbishop McCarthy senior Sophia McDonald finished fourth in the event (10-10).
“Winning states was amazing,” said Nicholson, who finished second at state as a sophomore and third last season as a junior. “I guess I wanted a different color medal. I worked really hard for this, probably three to four times a week. I didn’t get my PR (12-4 ½), but I got what I wanted.”
Dillard’s girls captured both the 4×400 (3:47.63) and the 4×800 (9:05.17). The 4×800 team cruised to the title in 4×800 winning by 23 seconds, which was a little more than two seconds of the state record of 9:03.27 set last year. They won by 23 seconds.
Northeast senior Samantha Kavanagh won her first state championship in the 800 (2:11.73). She said going into the race she was both nervous and excited.
“I felt confident that I’d win my race,” Kavanagh said. “There was definitely pressure that I put on myself considering the fact that I missed the state title twice previously, but I tried my best to just have fun and relax.
“During the race,” she added, “I made sure I started off strong and led the pack going into the bell lap. I came through my first lap at 1:00 and I felt strong so I made sure I pushed at the 300 and just used my kick to push into the last stretch and finish strong. Overall, I’m happy with my performance and I’m glad I was able to end my season with my first state title.”
Other top five performances at the Class 3A meet included: Boyd Anderson senior Amani Drayton (second in the high jump); Somerset Academy freshman Kaj Baker (second in 100, 200); Dillard senior Jade Shakir (second in shot); Boyd Anderson freshman Desiree Frazier (second in the 400); Suncoast junior Stone Bureau (third in the long jump); Northeast’s 4×100 girls relay was third; American Heritage junior Amaiya Samuel (third in the 400 hurdles); Dillard sixth grader Shynah Collins (third in 800); Northeast’s 4×400 was fourth; American Heritage senior Sydni Studesville (fourth in 800); American Heritage sophomore Arianna Allen (fourth in the 400 hurdles); American Heritage freshman Christien Moreau (fourth on discus); American Heritage’s 4×100 took fourth; Dillard junior Edward Louis (fifth in long jump); American Heritage freshman Zamarii Sanders (fifth in 100 dash); Boyd Anderson junior Majet Bethely (fifth in the 800); American Heritage senior Gianna Hansen (fifth in 100); Dillard junior Christin Facey (fifth in the 400 dash). St. Thomas Aquinas boys second, girls third in Class 4A state meet:
Four locals from Broward and Palm Beach County won Class 4A individual state championships, including two from St. Thomas Aquinas, one from Flanagan, and the other from Palm Beach Gardens high schools.
St. Thomas Aquinas senior Jason Olivera Jr. won the pole vault with a leap of 15 3 . Raiders’ senior teammate Cha’iel Johnson ran away with the girls 800-meter run as she clocked a 2:11.41 for the two laps around the track.
St. Thomas Aquinas was runner-up in the boys’ competition with 48 points. Niceville won the boys with 65.50 points. Spanish River was the top team from Palm Beach with 11 points for 18th place.
In the Class 4A girls’ competition, St. Thomas Aquinas was third with 43.50 points. Miami Southridge ran away with the meet as it scored 77.50 points. Boca Raton finished 11th with 16 points on the girls’ side.
Palm Beach Gardens senior Selena Calix showed why she is headed to FIU on a track scholarship as she won the javelin competition with a throw of 1378. She finished second at state last year with a throw of 132’ 6.5 feet.
Flanagan junior Callia Harris, who finished tenth in the 200 (24.48) and 17th in the 400 (57.69) won the high jump as she cleared the bar at 5’-¾.
Even though distance runner Emma O’Day didn’t pick up a win in either of her two races at the Class 4A state meet, the Boca Raton High School senior was pleased nonetheless.
The St. Thomas Aquinas girls finished second in all three relays – the 4×100 (46.86), 4×400 (3:46.11), and 4×800 (9:23.01). The Raiders’ boys 4×800 relay team placed second (7:49.79), while the 4×400 relay team took third (3:16.62).
Other top five local finishers in the Class 4A competition included: St. Thomas Aquinas senior Anthony Herrera (second in 800); Piper junior Josiah Gaynor (second in long jump); St. Thomas Aquinas senior British Wilkerson (second in 400 dash); West Boca Raton senior Ritch Dieujuste (second in 400 hurdles); St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore Tavius Horne Jr. (third in the 200 dash); Spanish River senior Alex Rosenthal (third in javelin); Nova senior Christian Cabrera (third in high jump); St. Thomas Aquinas junior Lauren Thomas (third in discus); Miramar junior Elijah Smith (fourth in pole vault); Olympic Heights senior Parker Poloskey (fourth in shot put); Dwyer sophomore Presten Augustin (fourth in the 110 hurdles); Taravella’s 4×400 relay team was fourth; Spanish River senior Nicolas West (fifth in the 400 hurdles); Fort Lauderdale senior Azana Wooden (fifth in javelin); Taravella senior Jade Brown (fifth in the 100 dash).
Calvary takes fourth in ambulatory competition: Calvary Christian placed fourth overall in the Ambulatory boys’ competition with 31 points. Miami Carol City took top honors with 45 points. An ambulatory athlete must have a permanent orthopedic, neuromuscular, or other physical disability. An ambulatory division includes visual impairment, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, amputees, and similar physical disabilities.
Calvary Christian freshman Seth Kavanaugh hit the medal podium in all three events he competed in, winning the ambulatory 100-meter dash (11.24); taking second in the ambulatory 200 (23.89), and fourth in the ambulatory javelin throw (635).
Eagles senior teammate Shawn Hickman placed eighth in the ambulatory shot put (146); fifth in the 400 dash (1:14.45) and sixth in the 800 run (3:00.88).