Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 19, 2011
TAMPA — In a meet featuring roughly 2,000 athletes, Admiral Farragut senior Rayshawn Jenkins managed to distinguish himself in two ways, athletically and aesthetically.
Bedecked in rainbow-striped socks covered with black cheetah prints, Jenkins won the 100-meter hurdles in a personal-best 14.47 seconds at the second annual USF/Steinbrenner Invitational.
"They make fun of me (for the socks)," Jenkins, seated beneath a white tent on USF's campus, said between heavy breaths. "But I can back it up."
Backing up one's words — or wardrobe — was no simple achievement in a marathon meet that organizer and Steinbrenner girls coach Ladd Baldwin said featured 79 schools and more than a dozen heats in some races.
At its hottest, Baldwin said, the 11-plus-hour event had an on-track temperature of 102 degrees.
"It was kind of draining," said Lakewood senior (and Memphis signee) Kala Funderburk, who medaled in two events. "I felt like a lot of burns on my arms and shoulders. I tried to keep putting sun lotion on, trying to stay out of the sun as much as possible."
Like Funderburk, Countryside senior Ricy Brown avoided neither the sun nor spotlight for long stretches.
Pinellas County's standout athlete of the event, Brown ran a personal best 1:55.92 to place second in the boys 800 while also placing fifth in the triple and long jumps.
His performance sparked a collaborative effort for the Cougars boys, who finished second with 48 points, 16 fewer than Hillsborough. Wylan Bernitt (third in the 300 hurdles), Derek Messmore (fourth in the 400), Denzel Thompson (fourth in the triple jump) and the 4x400 relay (second) also excelled.
On the girls side, Funderburk finished second in the 400 to reigning 3A state champ Robin Reynolds of Miami Jackson. She also placed third in the high jump with a personal-best 5 feet 2 inches.
"My shins were bothering me, but I just tried to stick it out," Funderburk said. "I got third mentally more than physically."
Orlando Evans won the girls meet with 56 points. Hillsborough, in fourth with 39, was the bay area's top finisher.
USF/Steinbrenner Invitational
Girls Team Standings (top 10): Orlando Evans 56, Lake Mary 55, Kissimmee Osceola 42, Hillsborough 39, Bradenton Lakewood Ranch 28, Central 28, Miami Jackson 26, Wharton 24.5, Fort Myers 20
Girls Individuals: Discus — Chelsea Gobourne (Sarasota Riverview) 118-3; Shot put — Raqurra Ishmar (Central) 42-8.5; High jump — Tikiera Relaford (Central) 5-8; Long jump — Lloynecia Matthews (Evans) 17-0.5; Triple jump — Dejoun Dennard (Armwood) 34-4.5; Pole vault — Erica Sergeant (Lake Mary) 11-4; 110 hurdles — Ashley Favors (Riverview) 14.27; 100 — Tynia Gaither (Osceola) 11.54; 1600 — Kelli Williams (Mitchell) 5:07.15; 400 — Robin Reynolds (Jackson) 54.21; 800 — Emily Edwards (Fort Myers Canterbury) 2:18.31; 300 hurdles — Narricka Williams (Hillsborough) 44.67; 4x100 relay — Kissimmee Osceola 47.13; 200 — Tynia Gaither (Osceola) 23.17; 3200 — Olivia Ortiz (Lakewood Ranch) 11:21.81; 4x400 relay — Lake Mary 3:54.65
Boys Team Standings (top 10): Hillsborough 64, Countryside 48, Alonso 39, Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley 38, Plant 30, Chamberlain 28, Jesuit 26, Newsome 25, Punta Gorda Charlotte 24, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 22
Boys Individuals: Discus — Ike Edwards (Jesuit) 167-4; Shot put — Hunter Joyer (Wesley Chapel) 59-3.25; High jump — Gigi Petion (Alonso) 6-6; Long jump — Karee Pitts (Ocoee) 21-6.5; Triple jump — Jeremiah Green (Hillsborough) 45-9; Pole vault — Alex Kazanski (Wiregrass Ranch) 14-6; 4x800 relay — Steinbrenner 8:01.85; 100 hurdles — Rayshawn Jenkins (Admiral Farragut) 14.47; 100 — Defario Phillips (Kissimmee Osceola) 10.64; 1600 — Max del Monte (Chamberlain) 4:18.47; 400 — Franklyn Mosely (Alonso) 49.25); 800 — Otniel Teixeira (Lake Brantley) 1:55.10; 300 hurdles — Evan Jennings (Hillsborough) 38.73); 4x100 relay — Lake Brantley 42.40; 200 — Brandon Holloway (Alonso) 21.47; 3200—Tyler Cardillo (Charlotte) 9:33.99; 4x400 relay — Newsome 3:23.46