Destiny Charles of Cocoa wins her heat in the 100 meter dash during Wednesday’s district 13-2A meet at Astronaut High School.
With four state champions, Friday was a big day for Brevard County high school athletes at the FHSAA track and field meet in Bradenton.
Kaira Simmons of Rockledge wins her heat in the 200m during last month’s District 13-2A meet at Astronaut High School.
The county was particularly impressive in the jumps. Kaira Simmons and Giana Gayles won long jump titles, while Tristan Schultheis repeated in the high jump.
Holy Trinity’s Gayles, running in finals for the 100 hurdles and 200 on Saturday, long jumped 19 feet and 3/4 of an inch to win the 1A championship Friday.
Simmons won the Class 2A girls title with a leap of 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches. The Rockledge senior will run in the 200 meter final and compete in the triple jump Saturday.
Astronaut’s Schultheis won his second consecutive 2A high jumping title, clearing 6-10.
Steven Cross, Merritt Island senior and the 3A cross country champion in November, added a 3,200 title. His time of 9:14.71 was almost three seconds faster than the runner-up.
Both Schultheis and Cross posted the best mark in any class for their event.
Jeremy Lawson of Cocoa was the 2A runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 4 3/4 inches. He will compete in the triple jump Saturday. Viera’s Jay Boyd placed fourth in the 3A long jump (22-11), followed by seventh-place Nicholas Barber of Heritage (21-11 1/4). Jalen Olomu-Brown of Holy Trinity brought home a long jump medal as well at 21-9 1/4, sixth in 1A.
Boyd later tied for fourth in the high jump at 6-2, and teammate Nick Bandos finished in a seventh-place tie in the pole vault, clearing 14 feet.
Space Coast doubled up in the 800 meters. Skye Zeller placed second, repeating her finish of a year ago, with a time of 2:15.15. Austin Rodeghier was second among the boys, at 1:58.16.
Satellite’s Tommy Heideman brought home fourth in the shot put, at 53 feet, 1 1/2 inches and eighth in the discus (144-3).
Every athlete finishing in the top eight in an event wins a medal and scores team points.
Other Brevard medalists were Julianna Chaput of Merritt Island, fifth in the pole vault (9-6); girls 3,200-meter runners Samantha Folio of Holy Trinity, fifth in 1A (11:42.99); Amanda Beach of Melbourne Central Catholic, third (11:01.53) and Melbourne’s Natalie Bress in 4A in 11:08.86; and boys 3,200 runners Mason Jones (fifth in 2A at 9:23.91), John Cacciatore (sixth in 2A at 9:35.10).
Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.
Schultheis keeps hitting new heights
State track & field
Bradenton
Girls
Class 4A
Event placers: 3,200 – 6. Natalie Bress (M) 11:08.86.
Class 3A
Event placers: PV – 5. Julianna Chaput (MI) 9-6.
Class 2A
Event placers: 800 – 2. Skye Zeller (SC) 2:15.15; LJ – 1. Kaira Simmons (R) 20-2 1/4; 3,200 – 3. Amanda Beach (MCC) 11:01.53.
Class 1A
Event placers: LJ – 1. Giana Gayles (HT) 19-0 3/4; 3,200 – 5. Samantha Folio (HT) 11:42.99.
Cocoa’s Jeremy Lawson on long jump and more
Boys
Class 3A
Event placers: LJ – 4. Jay Boyd (V) 22-11; 7. Nicholas Barber (H) 21-11 1/4; HJ – T4. Boyd (V) 6-2; PV – T7. Nick Bandos (V) 14-0; 3,200 – 1. Steven Cross (MI) 9:14.71.
Class 2A
Event placers: LJ – 2. Jeremy Lawson (C) 23-4 3/4; Shot – 4. Tommy Heideman (S) 53-1 1/2; 800 – 5. Austin Rodeghier (SC) 1:58.16; Disc – 8. Heideman (S) 144-3; HJ – 1. Tristan Schultheis (A) 6-10; 3,200 – 5. Mason Jones (T) 9:23.91; 6. John Cacciatore (S) 9:35.10.
Class 1A
Event placers: LJ – 6. Jalen Olomu-Brown (HT) 21-9 1/4.
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