Sunshine State Picks Up Handful Of Early National Top-10 Performances
By Todd Grasley of DyeStat
It may have been Spring Break in Florida, but that didn’t stop the state’s fastest froms competing over the weekend.
University of Miami signee Sophie Haag of East Lake took the trip south to Bradenton and with a little help from the wind set a US#1 all conditions mark of 11.41 seconds (+3.9w) with Evangelical Christian junior McKenzie Travis behind her in second with a time of 11.51 at the IMG Spring Break Invitational.
Haag, who has personal bests of 11.60 and 24.21, swept the sprints with a wind-aided 23.96 in the 200.
Haag’s male counterpart, Dylan Woodruffe, swept the boys 100 and 200 meter dashes in 10.55w and 21.03w.
The Dunbar 4×100 meter relay won easily in 41.77.
In the throws, Sam Romerhaus log IMG Academy launched the hammer 52.81m (173-3). Rosenhaus’ throw from the Ascender Open of 179-3 on March 1 currently is the national leader.
Michelle Smith Runs US#1 In 400 Hurdles
Florida’s biggest meet of the weekend, the Bob Hayes Invitational named after the legendary Olympian, debuted in its new venue at the University of North Florida. Fresh off a trip to Boston for New Balance Nationals Indoor, Montverde Academy’s Michelle Smith, who was fourth in the 400 meters, made her outdoor debut in the 400-meter hurdles. The junior dropped a US#1 time of 59.02.
Seniors Emani George of Sandalwood and Hannah Taylor of St. Thomas Aquinas ruled the 100-and 200- meter dashes, finishing first and second in both races. George’s 11.80 and 24.78 were the winning times and new personal bests. Her Sandalwood teammate, Brittney Jennings, won the 100-meter hurdles in 13.80 seconds.
The St. Thomas Aquinas girls 4×100 meter relay won with a time of 47.80 with Taylor on the anchor leg. Her strong performance earned her meet MVP honors.
Chai’el “Mocha” Johnson of St. Thomas Aquinas, the daughter of NFL legend Chad Johnson, clocked a time of 2:14.65 in her second 800 meters of the year.
On the boys side, Christian Miller of Creekside, one of the nation’s top sprinters, was just shy of his US#1 200 meter time (20.78), running 20.87 in the prelims. However, Miller wasn’t able to improve on that time as he did not compete in the finals.
A trio of freshmen stole the show in the 100 with American Heritage’s Brandon Bennett dropping a stunning 10.51 to lead the top three under 10.60. Kaj Baker, the runner-up in the 100 (10.56), won the 200 in 21.51. Bennett’s…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at RunnerSpace News…