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Nesi, Roy battle for state spots; Guy wins 1600

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 5/1/19

JACKSONVILLE – Ridgeview High seniors Joel Nesi and Jaden Roy had to overcome rivals of unique sources to earn their state track meet bigs at the region 1-2A track and field championships held …

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Nesi, Roy battle for state spots; Guy wins 1600


Posted

JACKSONVILLE – Ridgeview High seniors Joel Nesi and Jaden Roy had to overcome rivals of unique sources to earn their state track meet bigs at the region 1-2A track and field championships held Saturday at Bishop Snyder High School.

Further south, Keystone Heights High senior Alex Guy won the region 2-2A 1600 and finsihed third in the 800 to also advance to the Class 2A championship races at UNF.

Nesi, a 1600 and 3200 meters specialist under his coach, dad Al Nesi, was to take on his familiar post-season foe in however many Bolles School runners signed up for the event in the early part of track season.

“I just have to train a little harder each year knowing they will be as good every year,” said Nesi. “I’ve had a good senior year.”

For Roy, a high jumper and a district third place finisher last week, an injured quadricep on his plant leg was to be his demon for the day.

“I just have to not think about it,” said Roy. “If I want to go to state, that’s the way.”

In his 1600, Nesi planted himself behind Bolles’ Charles Hicks and in front of Bolles’ Alex Hastings and Chase Rivera, who trailed the frontrunning pair by about 5-8 yards as the race progressed.

Nesi, unwilling to give ground on Hicks’ frontrunning pace, had at least a four minute, 24-25 second effort in mind to hang with the Bolles trio.

“I knew that’s what it would take and had that in my head,” said Nesi.

In the final 100 meters, with Hicks surging and Nesi keeping within five yards, it was Hastings who made a bold push to edge Nesi at the tape for second. Hicks won in 4:25.48, Hastings at 4:27.66, Nesi at 4:27.71 and Rivera at 4:29.13.

In November, Bolles, led by Hicks, went 1-2-3-4-5 in the cross country region championship with Nesi 12th.

Last week, at the district 4-2A 1600 final, Hicks and Rivera pushed Nesi to a 4:22.44 third place finish in another dramatic finish for the Panther senior. Hastings was fourth. Hicks also led a 1-4 Bolles finish in the 3200 with Nesi fifth.

In the high jump, where Roy has cleared over 6’-6” during the season, Wolfson High senior Cameron Harris again took control of the top clearance with his winning 6’-7.5” jump with Godby’s Kojo Ukrugenzi second at 6’-5.5” leaving Roy, Rickards’s Robert Pompey and West Nassau’s Edward Smith all having to take stabs at 6’-3.5” to determine the critical third and fourth place finishers.

Roy pushed the pain of his quad injury to make his the final jump of the day while seizing his injured leg in the mat.

“I just forgot about it, but it hurts now,” said Roy.

Roy’s height has him at 12th-ranked tied with a handful of jumpers with the third best height for Class 2A.