Dillard girls track repeats as state champs while Belen wins first boys’ title since 2007

Last year, the Dillard High School track and field team got the team gold it had been waiting for.

But what came down to a matter of a few points last year became a more decisive victory in 2025.

The Dillard girls will bring their second straight first-place trophy back to Fort Lauderdale, while the Miami Belen Jesuit boys accomplished the same feat.

Dillard’s 96 points beat Miami Northwestern’s 85.5-point total at the Class 3A track and field state championships Saturday at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida.

While last year’s title broke Northwestern’s 14-year state title streak, Panthers head coach Davidson Gill said this year’s win meant something different.

“Last year we won but there were a lot of doubters,” he said. “This year we came in as an underdog again, so we constantly feel like we have something to prove. Every year we feel like we have something to prove until people realize we’re here, we’re here to stay.”

The Dillard girls earned first in the 400-meter relay, 3,200-meter relay, 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. The boys came in third with 57 points. Gill noted the team’s ability to handle adversity when the meet was delayed from Friday night to Saturday morning and again into Saturday afternoon.

Among the team’s biggest contributors was senior Alexia Reid. The senior took gold in the 100-and 400-meter hurdles with times of 13.70 and 59.59, respectively.

Reid said she’s always been one of the top athletes but there has been one or two people ahead of her. This year was different, though.

“I’ve never been a state champion in my own event,” Reid said. “ This is the first time which is kind of shocking… I felt like it should have already happened.”

While junior Ariyanna Griggs wasn’t on the team for Dillard’s win last year, she recognized the kind of program she thought was being built. In her first year with the Panthers, she secured gold with a 11.74-second 100-meter dash.

The junior said it was the team’s chemistry that put it over the top once again.

“We’re very supportive of each other,” Griggs said. “We push each other. It’s very competitive.”

Belen Jesuit coach Victor Arrieta said in his 17 years with the team, they had been waiting for their moment to hoist the first-place trophy it hadn’t won since 2007. And as the final relay of the afternoon wrapped up, the school knew it finally achieved its goal.

“They were ecstatic, they’ve been looking for this for a long time,” Arrias said. “The fact that we have elite guys that work hard, and they want to be good, (put us over the top).”

Senior Tiago Socarras left the meet with two gold medals in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs with times of 1:52.27 and 4:10.11, and sophomore Marcelo Mantecon earned first in the 3,200-meter run (8:56.89).

But despite winning individual gold, both athletes pointed to the team’s performance and potential going forward.

“It’s the greatest sendoff you can have,” Socarras said. “It’s just a super special moment for everybody, and especially those that are leaving.”

Said Mantecon: “This is definitely some momentum to build off of. We have a target on our backs, and we’re going to do what we can next year.”

While the Miami Northwestern girls came in second, and the boys came in fourth with 43 points, the program still turned out some strong performances.

Seniors Tywan and Tyra Cox and junior Nyla Christian each won some hardware, with Tywan winning the 400-meter dash (46.06) and Tyra earning gold in the 200-meter (22.99) and dash and 400-meter (51.44). Christian won the long jump (5.99 meters). The boys (3:11.74) and girls (3:38.91) 1,600-meter relay also won first.

“We obviously have one of the best teams in Florida, so it’s like competition,” she said. “The people I run with in practice, that’s who I run with at the meats, so that definitely prepares me and helps me out a lot.”

▪ American Heritage earned gold in the 400-meter relay (40.46), and junior Braylen Bennett won the 100-meter dash (10.59) and 200-meter (20.66).

▪ Somerset Academy’s Lauren Kirby swept the shot put (13.81 meters) and discus (49.28 meters) championships.

▪ Boyd Anderson’s Jayden Cadet won the boys’ high jump (2.02 meters).

▪ In Class 1A, the only South Florida individual state champion was South Florida HEAT senior Jimmy Bernatek, who won the pole vault (4.50 meters).

RESULTS

CLASS 3A

Note: Only events with Dade or Broward top 8 finishers listed.

Team scores - Girls: 1. Dillard 96; 2. Northwestern 85.5; 8. Somerset Academy 20; 9. North Miami 19; Boys: 1. Belen Jesuit 69, 2. Niceville 66; 3. Dillard 57; 4. Northwestern 43; 6. American Heritage 32; 7. Boyd Anderson 22.

Individual girls’ winners plus top 8 Dade/Broward - Long jump: 1. Nyla Christian (NW) 5.99; Javelin: 1. Shelby Plasier (Niceville) 44.28; 8. Katerina Chacon (Lou) 36.54; Shot put: 1. Lauren Kirby (Som) 13.81; 7. Alisa Scott (NW) 12.13; 8. Seychelles D’Andrea 12.07; Triple jump: 1. Mikayla Shavers (Fleming Island) 11.90; 3. Kahalia Hoo (NW) 11.84; 6. Tayla Cochran (Nor) 11.50; Discus: 1. Lauren Kirby (Som) 49.28; 5. Amaya Burrows (NM) 43.30; 8. Alisa Scott (NW) 41.38; 3,200 relay: 1. Dillard 9:09.92; 7. Lourdes 9:29.69; 8. Northwestern 9:30.86; 100 hurdles: 1. Alexia Reid (Dil) 13.70; 2. Kahalia Hoo (NW) 14.17; 3. Nyla Christian (NW) 14.37; 7. Janae Jones (NW) 14.66; 100: 1. Ariyanna Griggs (Dil) 11.74; 2. Patchnalie Compere (NE) 11.75; 3. Tyra Cox (NW) 11.77; 4. Antanyiah Brown (NM) 12.11; 7. Princess Webb (Dil) 12.25; 1600: 1. Ava Heskett (Gulf Coast) 4:50.41; 2. Shynah Collins (Dil) 4:56.33; 400 relay: 1. Dillard 45.85; 2. North Miami 46.79; 400: 1. Tyra Cox (NW) 51.44; 3. Desiree Frazier (Dil) 53.56; 7. Alysia Dortelus (Ely) 55.65; 8. Yamila Elliott (NE) 56.41; 400 hurdles: 1. Alexia Reid (Dil) 59.59; 2. Kahalia Hoo (NW) 1:00.93; 3. Kashia Hoo (NW) 1:00.94; 8. Danielle Ouko-Omundi (Dil) 1:03.80; 800: 1. Ava Heskett (Gulf Coast) 2:09.85; 3. Synah Collins (Dil) 2:13.46; 5. Latiah Gore (Dil) 2:15.32; 8. Abigail Richards (Dil) 2:16.18; 200: 1. Tyra Cox (NW) 22.99; 2. Patchnalie Compere (NE) 23.60; 3. Ariyanna Griggs (Dil) 23.90; 5. Desiree Frazier (Dil) 24.27; 7. Antanyiah Brown (NM) 24.45; 1,600 relay: 1. Northwestern 3:38.91; 2. Dillard 3:42.99.

Individual boys’ winners plus top 8 Dade/Broward - High jump: 1. Jayden Cadet (BA) 2.02; 3,200 relay: 1. Belen 7:44.31; 2. Dillard 7:45.23; 3. Mater Academy 7:54.38; 110 hurdles: 1. Quincy Bend (Westside) 14.45; 4. Terrence Honeywood (Nor) 14.68; 6. Isaiah Rock (Nor) 14.75; 3200: 1. Marcelo Mantecon (Bel) 8:56.89; 4. Armando Cruz (Bel) 9:08.19; 5. Justin Ruiz (Bel) 9:11.51; 7. Joshua Gammage (Dil) 9:12.11; 100: Braylen Bennett (AH) 10.59; 2. Antonio Smith (Dil) 10.69; 4. Kaj Baker (Som) 10.76; 5. J’Vari Flowers (NW) 10.80; 7. Brandon Bennett (AH) 10.84; 1600: 1. Joseph Socarras (Bel) 4:10.11; 2. Marcelo Mantecon (Bel) 4:11.58; 4. Joshua Gammage (Dil) 4:13.43; 6. Marco Prieguez (Bel) 4:16.70; 400 relay: 1. American Heritage 40.46; 3. Dillard 41.09; 6. Northwestern 41.76; 7. Northeast 41.89; 8. Boyd Anderson 42.10; 400: 1. Tywan Cox (NW) 46.06; 3. Ryan Joseph (Dil) 47.44; 7. Leon Sullivan Jr. (Nor) 48.62; 400 hurdles: 1. Tayeshawn Rochelle (Gainesville) 52.44; 2. Makhii Fleming (NW) 52.98; 4. Ethan Campbell (NE) 54.53; 7. Terrence Honeywood (Nor) 55.09; 8. Jimmy Baptiste (Mir) 55.18; 800: 1. Joseph Socarras (Bel) 1:52.27; 2. Joshua Gammage (Dil) 1:54.58; 3. Jack Michalak (Bel) 1:54.60; 4. Alejandro de Bastos (PPC) 1:55.09; 7. Andre Sewel (Dil) 1:55.52; 200: 1. Braylen Bennett (AH) 20.66; 2. Tywan Cox (NW) 20.74; 5. Antonio Smith (Dil) 21.05; 6. Zyrie Stewart-McLaren (BA) 21.28; 8. Leon Sullivan Jr. (Nor) 21.37; 1,600 relay: 1. Northwestern 3:11.74; 2. Dillard 3:16.57; 5. Plantation 3:21.28.

CLASS 1A

Team scores - Girls: 1. Palm Beach Benjamin 61; 30. Palmer Trinity 8; Boys: 1. Melbourne Holy Trinity 59; 9. Westminster Academy 25.5.

Individual girls’ winners plus top 8 Dade/Broward - Pole vault: 1. Elizabeth Dowdy (Maclay) 3.60; 3. Mariana Mendoza (PT) 3.45; Long jump: 1. Aniston Newman (First Baptist) 5.64; 5. Jayde Marley (RP) 5.21; High jump: 1. Louison Guilhem (St. Pete Catholic) 1.62; 7. Sophia Elmer (WA) 1.52; Discus: 1. Joliana Simon (Oxbridge) 40.40; 7. Johanny Jimenez (PT) 34.41; 1600: 1. Mary Summers (Seven Rivers) 5:01.84; 8. Sabrina Martinez (RP) 5:19.74; 800: 1. Sofia Balistreri (Benjamin) 2:14.47; 8. Lauren Martinez-Lejarza (TN) 2:22.88.

Individual boys’ winners plus top 8 Dade/Broward - Pole vault: 1. Jimmy Bernatek (SFH) 4.50; 8. Devin Pierce (WA) 3.90; Long jump: 1. Justin Woulard (Melbourne Central Catholic) 7.35; 5. Joshua Williams (WA) 6.73; High jump: 1. Tanner Schick (Mount Dora) 2.02; 3. Joshua Williams (WA) 1.92; 3200: 1. Evan Spreitzer (HT) 9:09.49; 5. Jonathan Pena (WA) 9:18.79; 6. Augusto Caceres (SFH) 9:22.49; 3200 relay: 1. Holy Trinity 7:48.24; 4. Westminster Academy 8:09.92; 1600: 1. Charles Loftin (Providence) 4:20.15; 3. Jonathan Pena (WA) 4:23.20; 400 relay: 1. Blountstown 42.10; 8. True North 43.36.