ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High opened up its new track facility with a flurry and a new school record as area tracksters tested out the latest rubberized running track in Clay County. The Panthers track athletes now share the state-of-the-art running surface as Orange Park, Middleburg and Keystone Heights as county school district planners move on their goal to upgrade facilities around the county.

On the track on Wednesday, Ridgeview High high jumper T'Vario Willis used the new high jump area to set a school record with a 6 foot, 7.50 inches to ready himself for the upcoming district championships to be held Wednesday at Beachside High School.

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District 4-3A Track and Field
Beachside, Clay, Fleming Island, Matanzas, Menendez, Middleburg, Ponte Vedra, Ridgeview, St. Augustine

Districts at Beachside HS, Wed., April 24

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With the firepower of Ridgeview's Willis in the high jump, sprinter Kimal Marshall in the 100 at 11.09 and Clay's Antonio Thomas at 11.24, plus a 51.42 and 51.86 in the 400 from Clay's Oliver Pierre and Gavin Baillie, the district races should be fast and competitive. Fleming Island has quarterback Cibastian Broughton under 11 seconds with a 41.70 4 x 100 relay team rated second in the state.
In the distance runs; 400-3200, Fleming Island brings the heat with Graham Myers ticking in a 1:55 800 last week as well as a few sub-4:20 miles with wingman John Keester IV a few steps back, plus 800 dude Roman Mollicone breaking a 1:53 plus 800 and 3200 man Jacob Campbell under 10 minutes.
At the Thursday Night Spikes track meet at Bartram Trail High School on Friday, Fleming Island had some choice entries in key events just for a little sharpening with Myers popping off a second place 1:55.20 800 and Mollicone whipping up a 49.77 third in the 400. Campbell ran second in the 3200 in 9:28.67 with Keester fourth at 9:48.47.
For the Fleming Island girls, 800/1600 ace Brooke Reynolds doubled up with a 2:22.11 800 for eighth and a 5:22,18 1600 for seventh.
Clay got a surprise 22.60 200 from Clay soccer ace Jack Wilkening at their rescheduled Bronco Bob Classic on Monday after rain on Friday.
Also at Middleburg, Bronco wide receiver Jaden Boyd hit a 19'-4" long jump for the win.
In the field events, Fleming Island triple jumper Mikayla Shavers has been battling in the top three in the state in her specialty that won her a silver medal in Class 3A last year as a freshman and Middleburg has discus ace Madison Underwood flying in around 130-140 feet as the clear favorite.
Middleburg javelin ace Anthony Pasquale hit 133'-10" at Ridgeview and could be a factor at districts with an additional 10-15 feet.
Shot put is Clay's Omar Goosby near the 40-foot mark with 45 plus able to get to state Goosby threw 46' flat at Middleburg.
In the girls' races at Ridgeview, the top drawer for district 4-3A may be 400-800 ace Erika Martinez of Clay who hit a quick 1:03.47 at Ridgeview in the 400.
In the hurdles, Ridgeview got a 17.66 win from sophomore Adan Benda in the 100 hurdles with Middleburg's Tiana King running 1:14.09 for the 400 hurdles to edge Benda by one second.
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District 3-3A
Orange Park, Baker County, Ed White, Englewood, Riverside, Stanton, Terry Parker, Westside
District meet at Orange Park HS, Tues., April 30
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For Orange Park, led by 400-meter specialist Kayleana Henry and her handful of sub-60 second finishes, sprints are the name of the game with Raider teammate Layla Mazerac running a 2:41.10 800 at Ridgeview with teammate Charlotte Wilson right behind her. Wilson won the 1600 in 5:56.76.

Oakleaf heads to Tocoi Creek High School for their district meet behind the raw speed and power of sprinters jumpers Devin Collins, Takoda Brown and Josber Stimphil.

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District 2-4A at Tocoi Creek HS, on Wed., April 24
District 2-4A: Oakleaf, Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, First Coast, Fletcher, Mandarin, Nease, Sandalwood, Tocoi Creek