The best high school track and field athletes in Palm Beach County proved they were among the best in the United States this weekend at the Florida Pepsi Relays in Gainesville.
The Spanish River boys 4x800-meter relay team clocked the No. 1 time in the United States while Palm Beach Gardens triple jumper David Lubin won the event with Florida's top mark.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Newman sprinter Zamarii Sanders suffered his first defeat in a 100-meter final in Florida since 2023 but still managed to post a personal record.
Here's a look a deeper look at the top performances from Gainesville:
Spanish River 4x800 sets national standard
The Sharks' 4x800-meter relay team, featuring Max Cescato, Preston Sangely, Casey Sangely and Daniel Reyes, ran the No. 1 time in the United States (7:42.52) this varsity season to win the event.
Reyes ran the anchor leg and was briefly overtaken on the final lap after a strong push from Dillard and Cardinal Newman. He crushed the final 200 meters, however, to finish in a record time.
"Honestly, I think we could run it a little faster," Reyes said in a FLRunners interview after the race. "The time is a construct right now but we all know we can run faster. ... Nobody remembers the time you run all they remember is you were state champs. That's what we're going for."
Individually, Reyes placed fifth in the 800-meter with a personal record (1:54.15), a top 20 time in Florida this season. Casey Sangely placed sixth in the 1600-meter with a personal record (4:16.61), the eighth fastest time in Florida this season.
Zamarii Sanders loses despite scintillating personal record
Cardinal Newman star sprinter Zamarii Sanders notched a 10.27 time in the 100-meter for a personal record despite finishing runner-up to Windermere's Christopher Bronaugh.
It's the first time Sanders hasn't placed first in a 100-meter event final since the 2023 FHSAA postseason.
Sanders' 10.27 time is the second-fastest in Florida this season and No. 29 nationally. It was his second time running s-10.3 in the 100-meter.
Gardens' Lubin unlocks new level
Palm Beach ...
