Jenkins' continued dominance is among the 8 things to know from the Polk County track meet

LAKELAND — The Polk County Track and Field Meet is traditionally a jumping off point for the postseason as athletes take aim at the postseason. Winter Haven’s nationally ranked triple jumper Jaden Lippett missed the meet, and other athletes missed the meet because of prom, but there still were many top performances.

Here are eight things to know from this years county meet.

Chelsi Williams is back

George Jenkins’ six-time state champion Chelsi Williams, who has battled a hamstring injury, competed in four events for the first time this season and was nearly perfect. After finishing second to Dashanique Henry in the long jump when Henry (18 feet 1 inch) passed Williams (17-10.25) with her final jump, Williams won the triple jump (37-04.75). The girls were jumping into the a stiff wind, while the boys had the wind at their back. Williams is No. 1 in the state in the event.

City Meet: Even with state champion Chelsi Williams limited, Jenkins building deep girls track roster

In her running events, she dropped back under 14 seconds by winning the 100-meter hurdles in 13.83 seconds. It pushed her up to No. 2 in Class 4A and No. 5 overall in the state. She saved her best for last as she ran 1:01.54 in the 400 hurdles, which was just .09 off her personal record she set by finishing second at the state meet last year. Williams beat Winter Haven’s Aliya Candy (1:02.89). The duo are now ranked No. 3 and No. 5, respectively in Class 4A.

Henry a triple threat

Winter Haven’s Dashanique Henry, in addition to winning the long jump, won the 200 with a personal record 24.40 and the 400 in 56.0 seconds. She’s in position to medal in all three events at the 4A state meet as she’s ranked No. 5 in the 200, No. 6 in the 400 and No. 5 in the long jump, one spot ahead of Williams.

Henry, a junior, already has three state medals with her third-race finish in the long jump and seventh-place finish in the 400 as a freshman followed by a second-place finish in the long jump last season.

Daniels, Murray reign as Polk’s fastest runners

The 100 is one of the prestigious and exciting events, and Lake Wales sophomore Todd Daniels and Winter Haven sophomore Desirae Murray are Polk’s fastest runners in the event this season.

Daniels won the boys showdown by running a persona-best 10.70 and also ran a PR in winning the 200 in 21.64.

Murray, a sophomore, ran a personal-best 11.92 then finished second to Henry with another PR in 24.97.

Cross Country champions Baker, Wilkinson still unbeatable

Cross country runners of the year Caden Baker and Emma Wilkinson remained dominant in the distant events as each won the 1,600 and 3,200.

Baker won the 3,200 in 9:42.64 then came back and won the 1,600 in 4:29.83.  He beat out Santa Fe Catholic’s Daniel Welling in both events. Baker also finished second in the 800 to Ridge Community’ Jewlensky Derosiers.

Wilkinson won the 3,200 in 11:45.61 with McKeel’s Elin Jonsson and Lakeland Christian’s Lauren Bayes taking second and third, respectively. Wilkinson then won the 1,600 in 5:32.42 with George Jenkins’ Jaade McBride finishing second.

Lakeland’s Walker the top thrower in Polk

Lakeland senior Micheal Walker won the javelin (161-11.25) and discus (153-00.50) and finished fourth in the shot put that was won by teammate Malik Morris (50-02.75).

Both athletes were on Lakeland’s 2023 state-champion football team.

Lakeland’s Dyer also a multiple winner

The other winner of multiple events is Lakeland hurdler and long jumper Sytrevion Dyer. He won the 110 hurdles in 15.19 and the long jump with a mark of 22-03.75. He also took sixth in the triple jump.

All Saints girls have best showing

The All Saints girls finished in the top 10 at the county meet for the first time. Long-time George Jenkins cross country and track coach Dale Meskimen, who stepped down two years ago so he could help care for his mother, returned to work with the four girls on the team in a less time-consuming situation. The Saints got points in three events as Kelsey Cook and Lindsey Cook finished third and fourth, respectively in the 3,200. Lindsey and Kelsey then finished sixth and eighth in the 1,600 and led the 4x800 team to a second-place finish with Audra Ezell and Caroline Fischer.

George Jenkins boys, girls again reign supreme in team competition

George Jenkins boys track coach Brian Robichaud said his squad lost 70 percent of the points it earned last year at the county meet to graduation but still won the boys competition with 176 points. Lakeland was second with 100, and Winter Haven third with 91.

Baker and pole vaulter Anthony Jenkins were the only champions, but the Eagles used its tremendous depth led by a crop of freshmen and sophomores who could emerge individually in the future. Baker was the only county champion, but Anthony Murray, third in the high jump and long jump and fifth in th triple jump, and Anthony Tillman, second in the high jump, were among the top individuals.

For the girls, Jenkins dominated with 242.5 points, followed by Winter Haven (115) and Lakeland Christians (76.5).

Wilson, discus champion Daniela Peraza-Vasquez and high jumper Jaa'Ln McBride, who also was second in the 400, were individual champions. The Eagles also won the 4x800 and the 4x100 and were second in the 4x400. The Eagles also got strong performances by sophomore Geriah Street, second in the 100 and third in the 200, Synia Sybil’s, third in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the long and triple jumps and Tori Gibson, fourth in the 100 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here are 8 things to know from the Polk County track meet