JACKSONVILLE - Against a pack of runners that were well known to him, Fleming Island High track runner Graham Myers mixed it up amidst a threat of rain to run two miles in a race worthy of an all classes championship race while, on Saturday, Ridgeview High high jumper T'Vario Willis stamped his name as a "top" leaper for 2024 with a  jump-off that garnered personal best results.

At the Bolles Bulldog Classic on Friday, with tumultuous weather causing delays and precarious track conditions, Myers, third in Class 3A cross country, lined up in the 3200 against the likes of three time Class 3A cross country state champion Patrick Koon of Leon; 4A cross country champion Riley Smith of Buchholz and even two Belen Jesuit teammates; 3A cross country team champions-Marcelo Mantecon (2nd behind Koon) and Joshua Ruiz (fifth behind Myers), to take on the eight laps of the 3200.
After some energetic challenges and battle plans, it was Smith who out kicked Koon, the defending 3A 3200 champion with an 8:58 in May 2023. Smith and Koon broke from the lead pack and initiated a mano-a-mano race that track fans were expecting Koon's late surge for the win, but got tactical courage from Smith for an 8:48.11 win with Koon second at 8:50.31. Mantecon and Myers would follow at 9:03.76 and 9:05.76 with Ruiz fifth in 9:08:48.
In the high jump pit, Willis was taking on Fleming Island's Alton Bacon and finished with a 6'-4" win over Bacon's 6'-2" runner up finish, but his big day was still to come.
A day later, Myers would run the Gate River Run 15K while, in Ponte Vedra, at the Craig Speziale Invitational, Ridgeview High jumper T'Vario Willis picked up from last year's state finish; third at 6'-3.5", was to challenge Ponte Vedra's Jarrell Jimenez, who has just dabbled in high jump with triple jump and hurdles his past specialties, that started with just the duo going head to head at 1.92 meters; 6'-3", as officials set up a jump off for the pair.
Willis prevailed at 6'-3" with Jimenez unable giving Willis the win and a chance for a personal best as officials set up 6'-6" for Willis' final three jumps.
On his second jump, Willis sailed over 6'-6", then the bar was set at 6'-7.5" which Willis missed three tries.
At Bolles, in the 100 meters, Fleming Island football ace Kaylib Singleton rocketed to a second place 10.72 seconds behind Mandarin's Jaylen Lewis who clocked a winning 10.67. Also for Fleming Island, in sixth, Golden Eagle safety Sebastian Cruz finished in 10.92 with quarterback Cibastian Broughton ninth in 11.04.
In the 800, Fleming Island's Roman Mollicone unloaded on three Belen Jesuit challengers and won with a 1:56.67-1:56.68 win over Joseph Socarras, a Jesuit junior.