Jets track shows strong in Sunshine State
James Clemens’ Audrey Blakely runs the 400-meter race as rain falls on the track at the Florida State University Relays. She earned a third-place medal in the 4×400 relay with teammates Vada Samuels, Uriah James and Rachel Seeley. CONTRIBUTED
TALLAHASEE – Looking to keep the momentum it’s built during the outdoor track and field season with the Metro Championships just around the corner, James Clemens did just that against a strong national field in the Sunshine State.
The Jets girls, seeded eighth in a field of 126 teams, placed sixth in the Florida State University Relays at the Seminoles’ campus over the weekend.
James Clemens’ boys, who weren’t projected to score any points, instead placed 36th. Only 56 boys teams in the meet scored points.
Schools from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee were entered in the Relays.
The Jets 4×400-meter girls relay team of Vada Samuels, Uriah James, Rachel Seeley and Audrey Blakely brought home medals with a third-place finish in a season-best 4:02.85.
James Clemens’ distance runners had a memorable meet with eight season-best performances.
Jase Bell broke the 3200-meter school record by over 14 seconds with 10:04.86, and the girls 4×8 team of Elise Sheldrick, Seeley, Liz Holcomb and Blakely set a school record with 10:05.88.
Other season-best performances included: Sheldrick (1600, 5:39.37); Korey Shively (800, 2:00.77 and 1600, 4:47.99); Andrew Patrick (1600, 4:57.35); Nicholas Holcomb (1600, 4:59.15); Aaron Beane (3200), 10:24.47; and 800, (2:04.35); and Liz Holcomb (3200, 12:18.98).
Also, Kayla Williams was second in the triple jump (36-02.75) and the 4×1 team of Shayla Gholston, James, Samuels and Williams was fourth (49.28).
The Jets host the Metro Championships, which they’ve won the past two years, Monday and Tuesday.
