- November 22, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast has had some fast 4x800 boys relay teams in the past. But the Bulldogs’ current group could end up being the fastest in school history.
FPC won the 4x800 at the second annual North Florida/South Florida Challenge on March 11 at the Bulldogs’ stadium. FPC's time of 7:55.08 is the fastest time in the state heading into this weekend’s events.
We had some good ones here, but I don’t think any have run that fast that early. — DAVE HALLIDAY, FPC boys track coach
“We had some good ones here, but I don’t think any have run that fast that early,” FPC coach Dave Halliday said.
The Bulldogs won state championships in the 4x800 in 2007 and 2008 and were runners-up in 2009 and 2019. The 2009 group set the school record at the state meet with a 7:47.03.
On March 11, FPC’s Isaiah Joseph, Brandon Kalasnik, Peyton Woodward and Kamron Davis edged Miami Belen Jesuit by 1.51 seconds.
“The race was very exciting for the crowd and very exciting for us,” Halliday said.
Davis was about a second and a half behind when he received the baton for the final leg and ran past Belen Jesuit’s Roberto Leon for the victory and the top time in the state.
“He’s a really talented kid,” Halliday said of Davis. “He runs very well with a baton in his hands — better than he does in an individual (800-meter) race. He’s a different person. He runs harder. He’s going to run to not let his teammates down.”
The Bulldogs seem well-prepared to make a run at state with quality depth in Barak Olago and Jack Gilvary.
Another FPC runner who seems poised to make a splash in the postseason is Matanzas transfer Zach Spooner. Running in just his second meet of the season, Spooner finished second in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:22, currently the top time among Class 4A runners.
Spooner finished second behind Belen Jesuit’s Josh Ruiz, who finished in 9:17.13.
Spooner’s time is the third fastest in program history behind Josh Harbor and Matt Cianciulli, who each won multiple state championships and went on to run for major college programs.
“It was (Spooner’s) first time running the 3,200 outdoors against big-time competition,” Halliday said.
Halliday said Spooner will run the 1,600 instead of the 3,200 at the Bob Hayes Invitational on Saturday, March 18, at UNF as to not overwork him.
FPC’s other winners at the meet were Joseph in the boys 110 hurdles (15.19), Haley McLeer in girls pole vault (9 feet, 6.25 inches) and Maya Tyson in girls shot put (34 feet, 11 inches).
Ashton Bracewell placed second in boys discus (144 feet, 6 inches), and Joseph was second in the 400 hurdles (55.49).
Miami Northwestern won both the boys and girls teams titles. FPC’s boys finished third, while the girls were fourth.
“It was different to have different teams there,” Halliday said. “It was a small meet, so the kids got to hang out with each other and talk to each other.”
