200 champion
Orange Park High senior Angela Dimichele blasted the field in the 200 meter dash with her winning 26.91 second time over runnerup Makayla Stewart of Oakleaf’s 27.36 at Tuesday’s Clay County High School Track and Field Championships at Middleburg High School. Oakleaf and Fleming Island tied in the women’s team scores with 152 points apiece with Ridgeview second with 90.
Correspondent photo by Ray DiMonda
800 champion
Fleming Island High’s Cameron Dill holds off charge of Oakleaf High’s David Hall in the 800 meter final at Tuesday’s Clay County High School Track and Field Championships at Middleburg High School. Dill won in 2:01.34 with Hall second in 2:01.44. Fleming Island won the boys title.
Pole Vault champion
Middleburg High pole vaulter Sam Stelmaszek holds to clear 11 feet to win the Clay County High School pole vault. Stelmaszek finished seventh in Class 2A state championships last year and has surpassed her best marks while winning at the prestigious Bob Hayes Invitational last week.
Triple Jump champion
Middleburg High freshman triple jumper Marcus Floyd won at Tuesday’s Clay County High School Track and Field Championships at Middleburg High School with a 43’-00” leap over Melvin Briley of Oakleaf who jumped 42’-2”. Fleming Island’s boys team won the team title over Oakleaf.
11Ks
Oakleaf High pitcher Kelsey Sweatt, with Clay High's Maegan Stone on second base behind her, thwarted numerous Blue Devil scoring opportunities with her 11 strikeouts on the day and timely defense from her fielders.
Clay High third baseman Hailey Stone eyeballs first base after fielding bunt attempt in sixth inning in Blue Devils 7-1 non-district loss to top-ranked in Florida Oakleaf High School on Tues., March 22.
Fleming Island senior Hakeem Reid goes high for head ball in Golden Eagles match against Mandarin in early season action. Reid showed versatility by manning a defensive post for coach Frank Pontore and adding scoring prowess when needed as a forward.
Staff photos by Randy Lefko
Fleming Island senior goalie Jurian Edelenbos pushed the Golden Eagles to an unbeaten regular season and district title with 14 shutouts and a 0.43 goals against average.
Oakleaf High junior Tabitha Weldon is a fearlessly goal wall for the Lady Knights.
Keystone Heights senior Karl Dionisi was driving force in Indians’ district title and region playoff berth.
Clay High junior Lissy Stoffel scored 28 goals with an amazing 55 assists as the Blue Devils competed in same district as Ponte Vedra.
Ridgeview High senior Justin Huff is a relentless attacker that fueled the Panther attack.
St. Johns Country Day School sophomore Abby Newton stormed into post season play with 13 playoff goals as the Lady Spartans won a fifth straight state title.
Oakleaf High senior Sam Henderson is the Clay Today Player of the Year after leading Knights to best season ever.
Correspondent photos by Ray DiMonda
Fleming Island High track coach Suzanne Baker, second from left, runs with former student Rachel DiMonda in Gate River Run 15K. DiMonda, 22, finished in 1:44:26. Baker, 42, finished in 1:48:27.
Fleming Island’s Brian McGready, No. 816, powers down Main Street Bridge in early miles of 2016 Gate River Run 15K race on Sat., March 12. McGready finished in one hour, 11 minutes, 13 seconds.
Orange Park’s Matthew Stratton, No. 417, rolls down Main Street Bridge. Stratton took second in the men’s Under 14 division in 1:05:22.
Orange Park High wide receiver Gianni Ruemmeley reaches high for scoring pass in Lady Raiders 41-7 win over Ridgeview in flag football action at Orange Park High School. See more coverage, page 29.
Fleming Island catcher Will Sarsen sprints around second after blasting triple in 10-1 win over Yulee Monday.
Fleming Island High first baseman Matt Whetstone awaits ball in pick off attempt in Golden Eagles 10-1 win over Yulee on Mon., March 21. Eagles go on the road to take on three returning regional teams; Chiles, North Florida Christian and Creekside.