HOLIDAY — Nature Coast has dominated the Anclote Invitational over the past two years, but in Friday’s fourth annual edition, the Sharks faced some very difficult competition.
But though they won only three events, the Sharks (101.5 points) still won the girls meet for the third consecutive time, edging runnerup East Lake (92).
Bronte Cameron led Nature Coast, sweeping the two hurdles events. Cameron set a meet record in the 100-meter hurdles (15.84 seconds), and also won the 300 hurdles (50.03). The Sharks also won the 4x400 relay.
Zephyrhills and Pasco dominated the field events with four event wins each. Pirates sophomore Alfreda Steele repeated her meet titles in the 100 (11.51) and long jump (16 feet, seven inches), breaking her own meet records.
Besides a win in the 4x100 relay, three Bulldogs also took individual titles. JaKayla Jones took the 200 (26.52), Kara Young the 400 (1:03.53), and Aaliyah McKenzie set a meet record in the triple jump (33 feet, 8.5 inches).
Junior distance standout Emily Kerns of Mitchell’s repeated her title in the 800, besting her meet record by more than a second by winning in 2:23. She set another meet record in winning the 3,200 in 11:31.
The run for Nature Coast’s boys ended at two meet titles. The Sharks (71.3 points) placed fourth behind champion Countryside (181). The Cougars finished 100 points ahead of runnerup Ridgewood.
It was a dominant performance that featured seven wins out of 17 events. The total included multiple wins for Robert Davis (200, 400) and Andrew Llewellyn (1,600, 3,200).
The North Suncoast’s best day at the meet came from Jamaree Ried in the hurdles. The Anclote athlete swept the 110 (14.61) and 300 hurdles (40.43) with meet records in both.