Southridge’s McCray, Northwestern’s Jackson, Belen’s Arrieta are Dade Track Coaches of Year
Southridge’s Erin McCray and Northwestern’s Carmen Jackson achieved the ultimate goal of the season: Guiding their teams to a state championship.
Belen Jesuit’s Victor Arrieta came close, with the Wolverines being the only boys’ team in Miami-Dade County to get a runner-up finish.
The three as a result are the Miami Herald’s Track and Field Coaches of the Year. McCray and Jackson are splitting the Girls’ Coach of the Year, while Arrietta won the Boys’ Coach of the Year outright.
McCray guided the Southridge girls to their eighth overall team title and first since 2017. The Spartans dominated the Class 4A field, finishing with 77.5 points to finish well ahead of runner-up Lakeland George Jenkins (48 points).
Southridge won four events at state: Cynteria James took gold in the 400-meter dash (53.75 seconds), Takiyah Ferguson won the 400-meter hurdles (1:01.27) and the Spartans took first in both the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.
James also finished second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 100-meter dash.
For Jackson, it was her 14th consecutive state championship with Northwestern, extending the school’s state record. The Bulls compiled 80 points to win the Class 3A meet and hold off Fort Lauderdale Dillard, which finished runner up with 75.5 points.
Northwestern had three individual state champions: Nyla Christian in the long jump, Shakynah Tresvant in the 400-meter hurdles and the 400-meter relay
The Bulls also had three others top-three finishes: Jaiya Burchell as runner-up in the discus, Tresvant third in the triple jump and a second-place showing from the 1,600-meter relay team.
And as for Arrietta, his Belen team came oh-so-close to winning its second state title and first since 2007. The Wolverines tallied 43 points in Class 3A, falling 10 points short of state champion Ponte Vedra.
Belen’s strength, as is usually the case, came with its distance runners. Joseph Socarras won a state title in the 1,600 meters, with Josh Ruiz finishing fifth in the event and Belen had three of the top six finishers in the 3,200 meter run — Marcelo Mantecon finished third, Ruiz fourth and Evan Torres sixth. The quartet of Ruiz, Roberto Leon, Mantecon and Joseph Socarras combined to win the 3200 relay, as well.