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Meet Preview (Updated) - Jimmy Carnes Invitational 2014Published by
Meet Preview - Jimmy Carnes Invitational 2014 by Ricky Quintana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Gainesville, FL- January 15, 2014- Packet Pick-up- At gate 1 of O’Connell Center Please complete hotel questionnaire for those using local hotels for the event Late fees: Cash or money order for late fees which must be paid at packet pick-up. Admission: $5 for spectators for each day. Ticket booth is located at Gate 1 which is the northeast corner of the O’Connell Center facing Ben Hill Griffin Football Stadium. Coach’s passes must be obtained from coach before entering Gate 1. Parking: free at the O’Connell Center Parking lot on Friday. UF parking restrictions for all other parking areas will be in effect so please do not park illegally. On Saturday, free at O’Connell Center parking lot and other areas where available. Please refer to this page for more information http://www.parking.ufl.edu/pages/parkinfofaq.asp Shot puts: Indoor shot puts will be provided. Please do not bring your shot puts to the throwing area at level 1. Clerking area: Will be at gate 3 second level. This is a change from past years. Please access from third level. Gate 2 track level will not be accessible for Saturday’s event because of UF Swim meet. Finish area: Athletes will exit out gate 4 on second level then use stairs to reach third level on Saturday. Autograph signing: Marvin Bracy, Octavious Freeman and other possible world class athletes will be available for autographs at the Gate 1 vendor area on Saturday, January 18 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Awards: Schedule: Friday, January 17 Schedule Saturday, January 18 Schedule- Meet will be contested on a rolling start-Each event following the preceding one with no time schedule
More information is available at the Gainesville Sports Commission Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet page at http://www.gainesvillesportscommission.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GSCJimmyCarnes2014Indoor.pdf Top athletes entered on Friday Marvin Bracy, adidas- US 55m dash High School Record Holder(6.08), 2011 USATF Junior Championship Gold Medalist.
Kendall Williams, Stanton Prep(Jacksonville, FL), Sr - FSU commitment, 2013 US #3 in the 100 meter dash and US #1 in the 200m, Track and Field News All American in 100m and 200m. Tony James of Gainesville High School will be out after suffering an ankle injury in this past weekend’s all-star football game. There are plenty of other contenders who could fill the void in James’ absence. They include: Kenric Young, Gainesville High, Sr- His wind legal best of 21.68(-0.6) came in finishing 4th in the Young Adult division finals at last summer at the AAU Club Nationals. Young was 3rd in last year’s FHSAA 3A 400 meter FHSAA 3A State Track and Field Finals and has a personal best of 47.62. Rasheed Tatham, St. Thomas Aquinas(Fort Lauderdale), Jr. He was 2nd in the 200m in the prep division at the Golden South Classic. His time of 21.96(0.5) was his best of the season. Dontarian Evans, Gainesville High School, Sr- the senior has a best of 49.61 set at the FHSAA 3A Region 1 400 meter dash final. He followed that with a 22.13(0.2) time this past summer in the 200meter dash at the AAU Junior Olympics. Jemarruse Amos, Raines High School (Jacksonville), Sr- 2013 FHSAA Track and Field Finals 4th place 110m Hurdles
Aaron Jane of Mosley(Lynn Haven), Sr- The senior clocked a personal best of 4:25.64 in winning the 1600 meter consolation race at the FSU Relays. Andrew Cacciatore, Holy Trinity (Melbourne), Jr- 2nd in the 2013 FHSAA 1A State Cross Country Final Dominic Williams, Lee (Jacksonville), So- ran 9:16.49 at the 2013 AAU National Junior Olympics Intermediate division. Nicholas Gonzales, The Geneva School(Winter Park), Jr- He was 7th in the FHSAA 1600 meter run final with a time of 4:31.75 and followed that up with a personal best of 4:23.78 8th place finish at the Holy Trinity All-Star Showdown. Kaleb McLeod, Trinity Christian(Dublin, GA), Jr- 2013 GISA 1600m 1st place(4:29.34) and 3200m 1st place(9:43.68), 2013 GISA State Cross Country 1st(15:52.13), 2013 Foot Locker South Regional 14th place(15:08) Cisco Ferre, Hilton Head(SC), Jr- 2013 SC 3A State Cross Country meet 3rd place(15:39.92) Drew McMichael, Evangelical Christian(Fort Myers) cleared 15-06 twice this past summer ,2nd in the FHSAA 1A State Track and Field Finals with a jump of 15-00.00. Nick Catchur, Jesuit(Tampa), Sr- 2013 FHSAA 2A Track and Field Finals 1st place Pole Vault(14-06) Jamal Whittaker, Apopka,Sr- is the top thrower in this year’s event. He has a best of 56 feet 09.50 inches and was fourth in the FHSAA 4A State Track and Field Finals last year. David May, Fleming Island, Sr- 2013 FHSAA 3A Track and Field Finals 3rd place Shot Put(52-10.75) Chedlin Sageese, Santaluces(Lantana), Sr- 2013 New Balance Outdoor Nationals Champion(23-04.25(2.4), 2013 FHSAA 4A Track and Field Finals 5th place LJ(21-02.50, 2013 Golden South Classic 3rd place LJ 22-0(-1.4) Cassondra Hall, Northside(Warner Robbins,GA), So- 2013 AAU Junior Olympics Junior Division 1st place 100m(11.68-2.2), 2013 GHSA State Track and Field Championships 1st place 100m(11.66,1.1) and 2nd place 200m(24.07) Danielle Phillips, Rockledge High School, Sr- LSU commitment. She has jumped 20 feet 0 inches in the long jump and was the FHSAA 2A State Track and Field Final runner-up. Teahna Daniels, The First Academy (Orlando), Jr- has gotten off to a quick start winning the Indoor Alumni Age Group Invitational in 7.53- good for the second best time in the nation. Currently ranked 4th in the US in the 200m as well running 24.93. Deanna Hill, Lake Highland Prep(Orlando), Sr-Southern California commitment. Hill owns an 11.63(-0.4) wind legal best in winning the Golden South Classic last year which qualified her for the Adidas Grand Prix 100m final where she finished 7th. Her best event though is the 200 meter dash where she ran 23.65(1.7) to place second at the FHSAA 2A State Track and Field Finals. She and Daniels could run to the nation’s top marks on Saturday. Erin Ford, Royal Palm Beach, Jr-2013 AAU Club Nationals 3rd place 400m(55.91), 2013 Golden South Classic 2nd place 400m(54.76), 2013 FHSAA Track and Field Finals 2nd place 400m(55.32) Diamond Spaulding, St. Thomas Aquinas(Fort Lauderdale), Jr- 2013 FHSAA 2A Track and Field Finals 1st place 200m(23.59) and 2nd place 100m(11.76), 2013 Golden South Classic 6th place 100m dash(11.86), 2013 USATF World Youth Track and Field Trials 5th place 200,(23.99) Gabrielle Gayles, Holy Trinity (Melbourne), Sr- Stanford commitment, 2013 USATF Junior Olympic Outdoor Track and Field Finals 3rd place Young Adult Division 400m(54.65), 2013 FHSAA 1A Track and Field Finals 1st place 400m(55.22) Daeshon Gordon of Northeast (Oakland Park), Sr- LSU commitment, won the 100 meter hurdles at the Golden South Classic after finishing second at the FHSAA 4A 100 meter hurdle finals. She also finished fourth at the Jamaican National Junior trials in the 100 meter hurdles in 13.70. Sharikka Barnett, Oak Ridge(Orlando), Jr- 3rd at the 2013 USATF National Junior Olympics Intermediate division with a time of 24.42. Hallie Grimes, Land O’ Lakes, Sr- 2013 FHSAA 3A Track and Field Finals 400m 3rd place(57.59), 2013 Golden South 4th place prelims(56.32) Chelsea Francis, Atlantic Coast(Jacksonville), Jr- 2013 FHSAA 3A Track and Field Finals 5th place(12.26) and 8th place 200m(25.07), 2013 Golden South Classic 7th place 100m(11.94) and 6th place 200m(24.45), Emily Edwards, Fort Myers High School, Sr- Alabama commitment- returns to defend her Jimmy Carnes titles. She finished 1st at the FHSAA 3A State Cross Country Finals in November and was the 1600 meter run state champion last spring. She also ran a 2:12.68 to take second at the Florida Relays last year. Regen McGee, Pass Christian(MS), So- sister of UF star, Cory McGee. She was the state champion in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter run last spring. Allie Castro, North Lincoln(Lincolnton, NC), Sr- 2013 NCHSAA State Cross Country Championships 3rd place(18:24.05), 2014 Durham Striders Invitational 2nd place 3200m(11:30.2) Shadayzha Bullock, Eastside, Jr- 2013 FHSAA 2A shot put champion. Katelyn Utley, Tift County(GA),Sr- won the state champion last year with a clearance of 12-06 and was second at Jimmy Carnes meet last year. Carson Dingler, Presbyterian Day School(Georgia), Sr- cleared a new personal best of 12-06 at the Durham Strriders Invitational in Chapel Hill, NC- good for US #5.Cleared 12-00 December 27 and was 2nd in the USATF Junior Olympic Youth division with a leap of 11-11.75. Erica Sergeant, Lake Mary Prep(Lake Mary), Sr- 2013 AAU Club Nationals 1st place Young Adult Division Pole Vault(12_06.25), 2013 FHSAA 4A track and Field Finals 1st place Pole Vault(11-06), 2013 Golden South Classic 2nd place Pole Vault(12-00.00), 2013 Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet 1st place(12-04, meet record),2012 AAU Club Nationals 1st place Intermediate division Pole Vault(12-08) Jennifer Kistemaker, Osceola(Seminole), Jr- 2013 Golden South Classic 3rd place pole vault(12-00.00) - Tamari Davis 100 & 200 2013 AAU National Champion - Will McKnight 100 & 200 2012 AAU National Champion (Hurt last year) - Shaleiya Lee 800 2013 Flrunners Middle School Champion & 6th place at AAU Junior Olympics. - Twaneise Johnson 400 finish 5th at 2013 AAU Junior Olympics - Amber Powell 2013 AAU Junior Olympics discus winner and 3rd place shot put
Ricky Quintana ### ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The meet is scheduled for Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18th. The college/open competitors(ages 19 and up) will compete on Friday and the age group(ages 5 to 14) and high schoolers (9th -12th grade) will compete on Saturday. Admission is $5 for spectators and entries are being accepted through Monday, January 13th. More information can be found at the Gainesville Sports Commission website. Also, fans, spectators and athletes will be able to enjoy the MuscleMilk Recovery Zone. Muscle Milk will be offered as well as foam rollers and yoga mats with professional consultations on athlete recovery from the Muscle Milk staff. The highlights of the meet will span two days and feature some of the brightest stars in track and field. Marvin Bracy is one of those record holders who will be on tap for Friday’s open/college competition which begins at 9:00AM. Bracy set the US High School Record in the 55 meter dash in 2012 with a sizzling 6.08 (video) - for those who think in football terms, that is 4.05 for the 40 yard time. Bracy took his skills to FSU last year and after the indoor season decided to turn pro, signing a contract with adidas. Now training in the Orlando area, the just turned 20 years old (DOB of Dec. 15, 2013) is looking for a breakout season in the pro ranks. Bracy’s 2012 high school record time of 6.08 was just outside of Leonard Scott’s(Tennessee) O’Connell Center Record of 6.07 set on February 20, 1999 at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. He could topple that record with the quick start his is known for. Another record that may be under assault is James Butler’s (Mazda) 20.64 set on February 15, 1987. Another top sprinter who will be on hand will be Bracy’s training mate, Gerald Phiri, a Zambian, who qualified for the 2012 100m dash London Olympics semi-finals. The Texas A & M alum was a silver medalist in the 60m dash at 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships as well and will give Bracy plenty of competition. On the women’s side, Octavious Freeman, a 2013 World Championship 100m dash finalist (8th place) and member of the 4 x 100m relay silver medal winning team will make her indoor pro debut. The Lake Wales High School alum opted out of her final year at the University of Central Florida to turn professional(adidas) after a sizzling 10.87 silver medal winning performance at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (video)- only 13 US women have run faster and Freeman is only 21 years old(April 20, 1992 DOB). Freeman’s indoor best of 7.15 for 55m (4.77 40 yard dash for those football minded) is equal to a 6.55 for 55m- that would beat women’s O’Connell Center record of 6.60 Gwen Torrance(Georgia) set on March 1, 1987. Torrance was a two time gold medalist- 200m Gold in 1992 Olympics Games in Barcelona and 100m World Champion in 1995 in Gothenburg. Freeman also boasts an indoor best of 22.72 which is better than the O’Connell Center best of 22.99 set by Peta Gaye Dowdie (LSU) on February 21, 1999 at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Other top women’s sprint entrants are 2013 4 x 100m relay Gold Medal team member, Samantha Henry-Robinson of Jamaica, and 2011 4 x 100m relay Gold Medal member, Shalonda Solomon of the USA. Saturday’s high school action will be exciting as well. Last year, Tony James of Buchholz High School upset Levonte Whitfield of Orlando Jones (the FSU football player who returned the kick off for a TD in the Seminoles win on Monday night's BCS Game) to win. James(Buchholz, Gainesville, FL), Levonte Whitfield(Jones, Orlando, FL) and Trayvon Bromell (Gibbs, St. Petersburg, FL) ran US #2, US #7 and US #8 US High School best performances in the 55 meter dash (video).
- Brian Oliver of Raines High School is the top entrant in the 55m dash. Expected to return is Kendall Williams of Stanton Prep(Jacksonville, FL), the US #3 in the 100m dash and US #1 in the 200m last year. Tony James of Gainesville High School will be out after suffering an ankle injury in this past weekend’s All-Star football game. There are plenty of other contenders who could fill the void in James’ absence. They include: - Andrew James of Westminster Academy, a junior, is the current top entrant in the 200m dash and 400m dash. He finished 2nd in the 200m dash in 21.51 and was the state champion in the 400m dash last year in last year’s FHSAA 1A State Track and Field Finals. - Gainesville High senior, Kenric Young, will be another top talent in the 200m dash and 400m dash. His wind legal best of 21.68(-0.6) came in finishing 4th in the Young Adult division finals last summer at the AAU Club Nationals. Young was 3rd in last year’s FHSAA 3A 400m FHSAA 3A State Track and Field Finals and has a personal best of 47.62. - Rasheed Tatham, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr. He was 2nd in the 200m in the prep division at the Golden South Classic. His time of 21.96(0.5) was his best of the season. - Dontarian Evans, Gainesville High School, Sr- the senior has a best of 49.61 set at the FHSAA 3A Region 1 400m dash final. He followed that with a 22.13(0.2) time this past summer in the 200m dash at the AAU Junior Olympics. On the boy’s distance side, several events are shaping up to be great ones. Rayford James, is the top entrant in the 800m run. He has a best of 1:56.62 from the Golden South Classic. Joseph Ault of Circle Christian boasts a 1:57.50 personal best set at the Holy Trinity All-Star Classic, good for 4th place (video). Also, look out for Zack Summerall of Sarasota. The junior had a great cross country season and has a 1:56.79 best in finishing 2nd at his FHSAA 3A District 11 meet. In the 1600m the top entrant is Summerall. He finished 4th in the 1600m FHSAA 3A final in a time of 4:25.40 and owns a personal best of 4:22.09 in winning his FHSAA 3A Region 3 meet. He’ll be followed closely by Aaron Jane of Mosley(Lynn Haven). The senior clocked a personal best of 4:25.64 in winning the 1600 meter consolation race at the FSU Relays. Andrew Cacciatore of Holy Trinity (Melbourne) is the top entrant in the 3000 meter run. He was 2nd in the FHSAA 1A State Cross Country Final last fall. Challengers include: - Dominic Williams of Lee (Jacksonville) who ran 9:16.49 at the AAU National Junior Olympics Intermediate division last summer. - Nicholas Gonzalez - The Geneva School, Jr- He was 7th in the FHSAA 1600m run final with a time of 4:31.75 and followed that up with a personal best of 4:23.78 8th place finish at the Holy Trinity All-Star Showdown (video). The boy’s pole vault will also be an exciting event. Drew McMichael of Evangelical Christian cleared 15-06 twice this past summer and is poised to flirt with the 16 foot mark this upcoming track season. He was 2nd in the FHSAA 1A State Track and Field Finals with a jump of 15-00.00. Harry Glasser of Bolles who was 4th at the FHSAA 2A State Track and Field Finals and has a best f 15-00.00 set last summer will be a top contender as well. Jamal Whittaker of Apopka is the top thrower in this year’s event. He has a best of 56 feet 09.50 inches and was fourth in the FHSAA 4A State Track and Field Finals last year. On the girls’ side, there is plenty of talent on the docket for Saturday’s youth final. Octavious Freeman is one of the stars of today who cut her teeth on age group competition at the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field meet. Those stars of tomorrow will get their season started with a bang on one of the world’s fastest tracks. Danielle Phillips of Rockledge High School is so talented, LSU came a knocking and she has committed to their 2014 signing class. She has jumped 20 feet 0 inches in the long jump and was the FHSAA 2A State Track and Field Final runner-up. She is entered in the long jump, the 55m dash, and the 55m hurdles. Teahna Daniels of The First Academy (Orlando) has gotten off to a quick start winning the Indoor Alumni Age Group Invitational in 7.53- good for the second best time in the nation. That would be approximately 6.90 for the 55m dash which would be close to a Jimmy Carnes meet record and better the 2014 US high school indoor best of 7.00 by Carolyn Brown of Phoebus (Hampton, VA). Daniels is currently ranked 4th in the US in the 200m as well running 24.93. The current US best is 24.73 set by Melissa June of St. Anthony (South Huntington, NY) so that may fall as well. Deanna Hill of Lake Highland Prep has committed to Southern California to join up former UCF Head Coach Caryl Smith-Gilbert on the west coast. Hill owns an 11.63(-0.4) wind legal best in winning the Golden South Classic last year which qualified her for the adidas Grand Prix Dream 100m final where she finished 7th. Her best event though is the 200m dash where she ran 23.65(1.7) to place second at the FHSAA 2A State Track and Field Finals. She and Daniels could run to the nation’s top marks on Saturday. LSU signee, Daeshon Gordon of Northeast(Oakland Park) won the 100m hurdles at the Golden South Classic after finishing second at the FHSAA 4A 100m hurdle finals. She also finished fourth at the Jamaican National Junior trials in the 100m hurdles in 13.70. Sharikka Barnett of Oak Ridge(Orlando) is another standout in the sprints. She finished 3rd at the USATF National Junior Olympics Intermediate division with a time of 24.42. Distance wise, Emily Edwards of Fort Myers High School returns to defend her Jimmy Carnes titles. She finished 1st at the FHSAA 3A State Cross Country Finals in November and was the 1600m run state champion last spring. She also ran a 2:12.68 to take second at the Florida Relays last year. She is entered in the 800m, 1600m, and 3000m runs. Expected to challenge her is a familiar name for those who follow the Gator Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Regen McGee, sister of UF star, Cory McGee, is traveling from Pass Christian, Mississippi, to challenge Edwards. She was the state champion in the 1600m and 3200m run last spring. Shadayzha Bullock of Eastside is the defending FHSAA 2A shot put champion. She won last year as a sophomore by a mere 4 inches and will be looking to get off to another great start. In the girl’s pole vault, two Georgians should challenge for the title. Katelyn Utley of Tift County won the state championship last year with a clearance of 12-06 and was second at the Jimmy Carnes meet last year. She will be challenged by up and coming and super talented freshman Carson Dingler of Presbyterian Day School(Georgia) who cleared 12-00 December 27 and who was 2nd in the USATF Junior Olympic Youth division with a leap of 11-11.75 (video interview). The sprint talent does not end with the high schools either. Age group completion is a big part of the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet. Schedule to compete are the following: - Tamari Davis 100 & 200 2013 AAU National Champion - Will McKnight 100 & 200 2012 AAU National Champion (Hurt last year) - Shaleiya Lee 800 2013 Flrunners Middle School Champion & 6th place at AAU Junior Olympics. - Twaneise Johnson 400 finish 5th at 2013 AAU Junior Olympics
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The Jimmy Carnes has historically been a coming out party for some of the best talent in the Southeast and the nation. This year’s meet will certainly live up to those expectations as several of the nation’s best descend on the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the State of Florida’s only indoor track and field meet. With impending renovation of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in the summer of 2015, this could be the last indoor track and field meet in the State of Florida for a long time- the venue opened on Dec. 30, 1980 and has been the site of world, college and high school records in its 33 years.