Cross Country season is in full swing and that means more mileage and ice bath galore. 32 days and countingis all that we have left until cross country athletes and fans alike make the trip up to Tallahassee to see who will reign for the next year. This cross country season, I thought I would introduce you to those who are making an impressive charge towards the state meet, athletes that are Under the Radar. This senior has definitely had her fair share of injuries, but has shown her strength by getting through every last one. Amanda Baker of Westminster Academy will be leading the Lady Lions throughout this cross country season.

Denise Spann catches up with three of South Florida's top runners: Kendal Ellis, Andre Ewers, and Javon Patterson, to talk about a variety of subjects! 

As the summer track season is coming to a close there's only one meet left, the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. One of Florida's very own is going to make the trip all the way across the world to compete for his country. Andrew James, a recent Cardinal Gibbons transfer will be running the 400m and representing the USA at this prestigious meet. 

Running the 400m in a competitive state like Florida, where there are so many talented girls in the event makes it hard to shine when it comes to the high school season as well as the summer circuit. Ladies like Kendall Ellis, Sharrika Barnett and Gabrielle Gayles are just a few 400m standouts. Last week at the AAU Club Championships three ladies represented the Sunshine State very well, bringing back some very fast times that look promising going into the next season.

To become a great track athlete you really have to get a head start. It's hard to start in high school. I'm not saying it can’t be done, but by getting multiple years to learn the ropes as well as get to know your competition it really helps create a great all around athlete. To have a range from the 100mh - 1500m is something you don’t see often especially if you’re actually good. Most athletes like this go into the multi events and try their luck there. This young lady has not only tried the multi-event circuit and the hurdles for the first time this year, not to mention she is a multiple time AAU Club National Champion. Daishon Spann runs hard on the track locally and nationally and I am proud to call her my sister. 

As we wind down the 2014 outdoor track and field season, it is fitting to close out this year’s ‘Under the Radar’ series with someone very deserving.  In Florida we’re known for our huge amount of sprinters. Being that there are so many, some great athletes get lost in the crowd behind athletes such as Kendall Williams, Andre Ewers, and Michael Timpson Jr. Now that most of these high class sprinters have graduated, the seniors of 2015 are taking over, and one of those sprinters to watch out for is Isaiah Taylor. Taylor has been rising on the track and field ladder this past year, but very few know of him even though he placed 4th in the 4A state meet this year in the 100m and has a personal best of 10.48.

This past weekend Javon Patterson went down to Jamaica for the 2014 JAAA National Junior Championship to compete in the 800m. Patterson was coming in with the 3rd fastest time out of all 14 boys registered to run. During the two days of competition, they decided to cancel the prelims of the 800m and made it a time final to be run on day two. It was then apparent that the boys in the U20 division were going to be running in 2 sections; Patterson was not in the fast section to everyone’s surprise. 

Last year, Andrew James had an amazing opening high school season going undefeated in the 400m and winning the state title. He then made his move to the summer circuit and blew peoples’ minds. Going into last year’s World Youth Trials he was definitely underestimated, as he wasn’t on the prospect list till right before the trials in Edwardsville, Illinois. Andrew made it back to the finals in the 400m, placing 7th running 49.25. World Youth had been the biggest national high school stage he had ever been on, but it was evident going into the season that James had a new drive, and a whole new feel for the sport. 

Javon Patterson has had a very successful season especially in the 800m. He ran on some big stages such as Florida Relays, Disney High School Track and Field Showcase, Louie Bing, and Golden South. He posted his fastest time of the season at Florida Relays when he ran 1:52.04. Many thought it was a fluke, but each time after that in different race situations and against different athletes Patterson showed up and showed out. 

The road traveled isn't always perfect. For Westminster Academy junior Denise Spann her high school track career has had its ups and downs; from switching schools to battling the injury bug. Spann talks about her road to redemption and being back in the right place as she prepares for the state meet.

Wednesday was our last varsity track workout of the year before state. As practice came to an end, I just remembered how the year started. We were all optimistic and anxious for the season to begin. Getting our two new transfers from Calvary Christian, the girls knew that we were going to be contending this year. As for the guys, they came so close last year to winning, and made the changes needed to be in that first place podium spot. 

Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale) senior Tayler McDuffie is a huge asset to their success as she is one of the top throwers in 2A right now. Last year she placed sixth in the shot put in the 1A State Finals with a throw of 37"0'. Since then she’s increased her personal best by five feet. McDuffie, a University of Central Florida signee is the 2A District 15 shot put winner, and Region 4 runner-up, and is projected to finish second at the 2A state meet. 

On Thursday,  1A Region 4 meet was held, and it sure was a night to remember for many. The day started off late due to a rain delay, so the 4x800m relay popped off at about 2:30. The winner of the relay was one of the major distance powerhouses, Westminster Christian running 10:08.65 finishing in 2nd was South Florida HEAT running 10:19.35.

Westminster Academy senior Brandon Bejarano's times are dropping tremendously as the state meet is approaching. Recently heposted a time of 4:24 in the mile, nearly a seven second personal best and has an 800m PR of 1:57.79. He shows his versatility by being a pivotal leg on WA’s 4x400m. Brandon also runs the 2000m steeplechase, taking 3rd in the USATF World Youth Trials last summer running 6:24.09. Denise Spann caught up with Bejarano before the 1A Regional 4 Championship to talk about the 2014 season. 

Andre Ewers is a senior at Piper High School, who is definitely making his mark in South Florida. His first years of high school track were a little shaky, as his freshman year he came into the season in the middle of January, and his sophomore season he was having a little trouble with grades. Ewers’ junior year was basically his first year truly experiencing everything high school track has to offer. When running in his respective events he was lost in the shadows of the seniors, struggling to fine his best way to shine.

Sergeneno Rankin is a senior at South Plantation High School. Last season, he posted finished 9th at the 4A state meet in the 800 meters. This year, he set a personal best of 1:57.00 at the BCAA Championships and is also a member of the schools' 4x400  as well as the 4x800. This summer with the Plantation Heat Track Club, he ran a personal best of 49.45 in the open 400 meters. Denise Spann caught up with him as we head into the state series.

This past Thursday the MSAA Championships were held at South Plantation. Going into this meet the apparent powerhouses were Lauderdale Lakes girls and boys, William Dandy girls and boys, and Pompano Beach girls. Pompano Beach girls have been fighting for that MSAA championship title, since I was there in the 7th grade. Every time we fell short to either William Dandy or Lauderdale Lakes, this year I know it’s the girl’s mission to win, not only for their coach, but their leaving 8th graders. In this MSAA Championships there were many upsets and people missing from their respective events. But, this MSAA Championships was definitely one for the books.

The future of South Florida track and field is looking bright as these freshmen are not afraid of the upper classmen. Freshmen dominating the scene include Symone Mason, Twanisha Terry, Kayla Johnson, De’Andreah Young and of course Daesha Rodgers. Some freshmen coming in were already running fast times in middle school and aren’t scared of any big meets as most of them have performed at the Junior Olympics where over 11,000 athletes compete from all over. 

The class of 2012, held some very talented athletes all around. Two of those athletes Shayla Sanders and Kyri Tabor, were on top of their game in high school leading the competition, but going to college was a whole different ball game. Both suffered freshman season ending injuries that forced them to reevaluate many things. 

This past weekend Hallandale High School held its preseason meet, 'Hallandale All-Comers'. This preseason meet showed that many athletes from Dade,  Broward and Palm Beach  are running fast with the season only just beginning. This meet in previous years has been used at a foreshadowing of who's going to be a standout during the season. For example, the Hallandale girls last year debuted their all-star team with athletes like Lia King and Regine Williams and they got 3A runner-up with only 6 girls.  As always this meet showcase some great talent from some very young new athletes, and others a little bit older and more seasoned. 

Hey everyone, it's Denise and I'm back! You know what that means, track season is right around the corner. The first official practice dates are January 7th and January 14th for all the classes. In this moment in time everyone is wondering where all the seniors are going to start the next stage of their careers. South Florida is one of the main recruiting powerhouses in the nation when it comes to track and field. 

When you think about the future of track field for the state of Florida, these young kids are on target to be faster than our fastest kids now. Middle schoolers like Daishon Spann and Ulani Toussaint will become high school phenoms from the day they step on a high school campus. This track season  there will be a new freshman phenom. The summer track circuit knows her as Symone Mason. 

Alright, here’s the absolute final recap of the AAU Club Championships: Boys Edition. Even though this meet from a boy perspective was very competitive and a strategic week long competition because you had to make sure you gave just enough to get into the next round, but still have enough for your other races during the rest of the week. 

Well everyone, I’m back with the last AAU Club Championship recap. This whole entire week has been so hectic, with all the athletes that were running and the rain delays, but it’s all over now.

For the most part everyone wants to be a sprinter. When you attend a track meet, you'll see the most athletes in the 100m and 200m. Some say they're the easiest races in track and field. Many don't know how hard it is to actually be a sprinter, unless they actually were actually a sprinter. From the numerous amounts of ab workouts to the drive phase repetitions, Lamark Campbell knows what being a sprinter is all about. So lets get down to it, Who Is Lamark Campbell? 

Hi everyone, it’s Denise and I’m back again with the recap for the day. Today was day 4 of the competition, and let me tell you these kids were running! The events that the kids and I competed in today were the 800m run, 200m dash and the 4x100m relay as well as other field events.

This week is the week of the AAU Club championships in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This meet is where all the high school athletes come out and strut their stuff before they end their season. Kids come from all over America, from as local as Orlando and as far as Seattle, Washington. July 10th through the 15th, I will be doing a blog to let you know who’s blowing out the competition. Wednesdays events included the 3000m run, the 100m dash and the1600m sprint medley.

This series is all about recognizing the people who are working very hard  to rise up  the ladder in the track world. It's about showing these athletes that we know they exist and that it's not always about the athletes who are breaking records and winning state titles.