Dillard’s Gill and Flanagan’s Carter are the Broward Track and Field Coaches of the Year
Fort Lauderdale Dillard’s Davidson Gill has helped engineer the rise of one of the state’s elite track and field powerhouses.
Meanwhile, Flanagan’s Jessica Carter is seeing a similar ascension with her program.
This season, two more milestones were achieved respectively by two of Broward County’s premier young coaches.
As such, Gill and Carter are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Track and Field Coaches of the Year.
Gill is the Girls’ Coach of the Year after leading the Dillard girls to their second consecutive state championship in Class 3A.
And Carter is the Boys’ Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to a program-best third-place finish at the state Class 4A meet.
Gill has led both Dillard’s cross-country and track teams to state titles over the past couple of seasons. Gill also helped the Dillard boys secure a third-place finish at state.
Last season, the Panthers edged Miami Northwestern, ending its 14-year streak of winning state titles. A disqualification of one of Northwestern’s relay teams aided matters.
But a month ago, Dillard repeated as a state champion with an even more convincing victory over the Bulls.
Standouts such as sprinter Ariyanna Griggs and hurdler Alexia Reid, who each came home with individual state titles, led the effort along with eighth-grade distance runner Shynah Collins.
Carter’s Falcons have been climbing the ladder in recent years with a core group, which continues to shine.
Senior Jonathan Carter, the top hurdler in Broward, finished second in the 400-meter hurdles, and was part of the Falcons’ 1,600-meter relay, which placed second behind state team champion Miami Columbus.
Flanagan loses Jonathan Carter next season, but is set to return a strong core highlighted by junior Ronald Daniels, and sophomores Jacob Thomas, Raymond Hawkins, Jordan Evans and Allan Harris.
