Alyssa Jones of Southridge, Coach Carmen Jackson of Northwestern win top state track awards
Senior Alyssa Jones of Southridge High School was named the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Track following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school track and field coaches and media representatives.
Jones wrapped up an illustrious high school career by becoming the sixth athlete in state history to win four individual championships in the same year. She won her third straight high jump title, repeated in both the 100 meters and long jump, and added the 200-meter title to finish with eight individual titles in her career. She has signed with Stanford University.
Jones, who was earlier named this year’s Class 3A girls’ track athlete of the year, finished ahead of Class 4A track athlete of the year Jassani Carter of Flanagan, Class 2A award winner Micayah Holland of Montverde Academy and Class 1A award winner Leah Martin-Gonzales of (Naples) St. John Neumann.
Junior Micah Larry of Montverde Academy was tabbed Mr. Track.
Larry, who was earlier named the Class 2A boys’ track and field athlete of the year, finished ahead of Class 4A award winner Cyrus Ways of (Ponte Vedra Beach) Nease, Class 3A winner Kyvon Tatham of Pembroke Pines Charter and Class 1A track athlete of the year Micah Mays of (North Palm Beach) The Benjamin School.
Girls’ Track Coach of the Year
Carmen Jackson of Northwestern High School was named the Florida Dairy Farmers 2022 Girls’ Track Coach of the Year following a final round of voting by a panel of state high school track and field coaches and media representatives.
Jackson led her girls’ team to its 13th consecutive state championship, extending the state record for most consecutive titles, as well as its 18th title overall.
This is her ninth state Coach of the Year award, the second most all-time behind Brandon wrestling coach Russ Cozart, who won the award 10 times. Jackson, who was earlier named the Class 3A Coach of the Year, finished ahead of Todd Brigham (4A) of Niceville, Class 2A COY Mike Rivera of (Jacksonville) Bolles and Class 1A COY William Steinle of (Tampa) Cambridge Christian.
Brigham, the Class 4A Boys’ and Girls’ Coach of the Year, is the Boys’ Track Coach of the Year.
He led Niceville to its second straight state boys’ championship by scoring 77 points with three individual champions who swept the shot put, discus and javelin titles.
Other class winners included 3A COY Alex Armenteros of St. Thomas Aquinas, 2A COY Gerald Phiri of Montverde Academy and 1A COY Barrett Saunders of (North Palm Beach) The Benjamin School.
The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This is the 30th year of these unique awards as it honors the state’s top athletes and coaches in all sanctioned FHSAA sports.
The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
