Lakahawk Track Adds National Qualifier at Embry-Riddle
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Track & Field) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) track and field teams competed at the Embry-Riddle Blue and Gold Meet over the weekend. The team continues to build momentum for the post season with strong performances and several personal bests.
In the 100m, Alexia Benson captured the event title with a mark of 12.14. Jameria Sutton followed close with a runner up finish in 12.31
Isabella Dean also competed, recording a personal best of 12.94. Sydnee Massey followed with a time of 13.66 as well as a personal best from Camila Suarez Mendoza at 13.76.
In the 200m, the Lakehawks swept the top three spots in the leaderboard. Benson recorded her second win of the day in the 200m with a time of 25.05.
Oksanna Smith posted a personal best at 25.13 and Sutton finished third with a time of 25.57. Dean also recorded a personal best time of 27.03 and Mendoza added to the team's finish with a time of 29.22.
Smith also added a victory in the 400m with a time of 57.75.
Jaden Miller added a win in the Long Jump with a mark of 5.65m and a runner up finish in the triple jump at 11.52m. Leah Sowers added a personal best in the Pole Vault clearing the 2.86m mark.
Amaya Mitchell added a solid performance in the high jump with a clearance of 1.48m.
The 800m event highlighted personal best performances from Sade Lee (2:26.36), Neelyanis Lugo Ramos (2:29.86), and Maria Oliveira (2:31.42), while Lily Lewis ran 2:27.74. These performances combined clinched a berth to the NJCAA Championships to compete in the 4x800m relay.
On the men's team, Christopher Morinvil led the sprinters with a strong 49.44 performance in the 400m while Darwin Vega Ramos contributed with a time of 57.41 in the 400m Hurdles.
Noah Kaegi and Dontae Morris both delivered personal bests in the 800m. Morris took second in the event with a time of 1:55.05 followed by Kaegi at 1:55.72.
Issa Issaku also competed in the 800m posting a time of 2:03.80.
Gabriel Graham competed in both the high jump and the long jump. He took sixth in the long jump with a mark of 6.18m and fourth in the high jump at 1.75m
Head Coach Cristy Snellgroves shared her thoughts, "The women's 800-meter group really stepped up with three athletes running personal bests to qualify for nationals in the 4x800m relay. It was an emotional moment and a big milestone for the program."
"The men followed suit with Noah continuing his progression of personal bests week after week and Dontae dropping significant time as well."
"Isabella breaking 13 seconds in the 100-meter was a huge breakthrough as well and she followed that with a personal best in the 200 showing how far she had come. It was especially impressive to see the women take full control of the 100 and 200 meter events, sweeping the 200 podium and setting the tone of the meet," said Coach Snellgroves.
The Lakehawks take the week to prepare for next week's meet on their home track. The PURE Athletics Spring Invitational is set for Saturday, Apr. 25 at the Orlando Health-National Training Center Track & Field Complex.
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