MIDDLEBURG - Oakleaf High School's boys track team took an overwhelming 100-plus point win at the Clay County Track and Field Championships held Tuesday, March 25 at Middleburg High School while, in the girls event, St. Johns Country Day School snuck up and took a late lead to beat Ridgeview by just 2.75 points for that title.
Oakleaf won the boys title with 232.0 points with Orange Park a distant 92.0 for second place and Ridgeview third at 88.0.
In the girls matchup. St. Johns scored 132.75 points to overtake Ridgeview's 130.0 with Middleburg third at 99.75.
Oakleaf's formula was to have a bucket load of athletes in as many events to score more that on team point total per event with sprinter Devin Collins winning in the 100 and 400 events, but being chased by Oakleaf teammates in both. Oakleaf had the top four finishers in the 100 and four or the top five in the 400 plus the overall winner of the 800 with finishers at fifth, sixth and seventh.
Oakleaf also dominated the top three spots in the 200 with Townsend winning ahed of Warthen and Issac Young.
With the sprint firepower the Knights showed off, a win in the 4 x 100 relay was a tight race with Orange Park.
Orange Park was led by senior jumper Carlder Datilus who won the long jump and triple jump and won the 400 hurdles event.
Javelin thrower Emmett Egger won the javelin with shotputter Mykel Mayo taking second in his event.
For the girls, St. Johns opened with a win in the 4 x 800 with soccer state champion Kaitlyn Sunderhaus opening and creating a 20 yard gap and cross country ace Rebecca Stratton finishing off Ridgeview to win the event.
Much like Oakleaf's boys, St. Johns dominated the distance events with a win in the 1600 from Kate Staten with Stratton third and teammate Ella Hanna fourth for big team points.
In the 3200, Stratton won with teammates at third, fourth and fifth for more team points on the final individual event of the night.
St. Johns also went 1-2 in the 400 hurdles with Eleanor Myers winning in front of teammate Kaitlyn Sunderhaus with finishers also at sixth and seventh.
Ridgeview got a win in the 4 x 100 with St. Johns fifth, but the Panthers got points in the field events with Sarah Michel and Ava Miller second and third in long jump, Alanna Perkins, Miller, Michel and Serenity Lee finishing second, third, fourth and fifth in the triple jump.
Ridgeview's Ameera Donnell won the pole vault and Haniyah Morgan won the high jump.
Middleburg got wins for the girls in javelin-Layla Manis; 100 hurdles-Mikayla Burns, and discus-Madison Underwood with sister Annabelle third.
Orange Park's girls had wins from
Kayleana Henry in the 400 and 800 with Anna Wages third and in the 4 x 400 relay.
In the field events, Orange Park's Katelynn Joseph won the triple jump.
Ridgeview got a win from Bennett Smith in the boys 110 hurdles and a 1-2 finish in the high jump with Steven Yamamoto-Henrichson and William Ziegler.
Fleming Island's David Fuentes won the discus with a 136'1" throw.
Orange Park senior Sean Martin won the pole vault at 10'-4".
Oakleaf's girls got wins from Rayna Lawson in the 100 over Middleburg's Mika Wesley and Clay's Leila Parks. Lawson also won the 200.
Oakleaf finished first and second in shot put with Rayna Autry and Gloria Lewis with Lewis second to Underwood in discus and Autry fifth in discus.