MEET THE 2023 KEYS WEEKLY ALL-KEYS GIRLS TRACK TEAM

Monroe County track and field athletes had a very successful season, claiming four state medals, many personal records and some positive attention for the Keys. Coral Shores did not send any girls to the state meet this year, but the young team made solid progress throughout the season. Marathon had a healthy mix of older and younger athletes, but it would be two freshmen who won state medals, setting the stage for some great competition in the coming years. Key West had the advantage of experience, and made the most of it, sending the most athletes to states, including multiple relay teams, and giving a few of their younger competitors a fantastic experience at the state’s top competition.

From the staff of the Keys Weekly, congratulations to the 2023 All-Keys Girls Track and Field Team.

SAVANNAH CHADIC

Senior, Key West

Savannah Chadic won three golds and a silver at the district championships, helping to secure the Lady Conchs’ first-place trophy. She then placed first at regionals in the 200 and 400 meter races. Her blazing speed helped qualify her team in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays at regionals, then at states – where the senior was a very busy athlete. Making the cut to compete at the state level is quite an accomplishment; qualifying in four events is almost unheard of. At the FHSAA 2A State Championships, Chadic won two medals, bringing home the sixth-place medal in the 200 meter dash and eighth in the 400. The double medalist is not done yet; she signed her letter of intent to run at Division I Jacksonville University next year.

CAYLAA MAKIMAA

Sophomore, Key West Makimaa put in some serious distance in the fall, building her endurance and speed in cross country, then parlayed that into success on the track. She placed well in the open 800 and 1600 meter events and ran legs of the Conchs’ 4x800 and state-qualifying 4x400 relay teams.

ANABEL PORTUONDO

Junior, Key West Portuondo claimed a set of silver medals at districts in the pole vault and high jump, qualifying for regionals in both. She went on to take another second place in pole vault at regionals, sending her to states, where she finished 10th.

JENESIS PERLOFF

Senior, Key West

Perloff placed third at districts in both the 100 and 400 meter hurdle events, qualifying for regionals in both. She was also a member of the Conchs’ 4x400 meter relay team but was unable to compete at regionals due to an untimely injury the afternoon prior. Perloff holds the school’s 400 meter intermediate hurdle record.

ABIGAIL COWEN

Junior, Key West

Cowen brought home district gold in the long jump as well as a fourthplace medal in triple jump. She then changed gears and took her skills from the field to the track, running a leg of Key West’s state-qualifying 4x100 relay team.

Keys Weekly

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

Freshman, Coral Shores

Niveah Howard may be young, but her times say otherwise. The sprinter clocked fantastic times in the 100 and 200 meter dashes in her first season racing for the ’Canes, and if her work ethic and determination are any indication, she will continue to improve over the next three seasons.

AVA MERRYMAN

Freshman, Marathon

Ava Merryman earned a seventh-place medal at the state championships this year, breaking her own school record in the pole vault several times during the season. She claimed second place at both districts and regionals in the event and ran legs of the Dolphins’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams during the regular season and at districts.

Freshman, Coral Shores

Sammy Bates posted solid times in the 800 meter race this season, making her a top competitor in the event. The distance specialist is also a contender in the 400 and will have three more seasons to improve her times and perhaps dabble in other distances as well.

DAYSI WILLIAMS

Freshman, Marathon

Daysi Williams learned a new event, broke the school record, and qualified for the state championships in a little over one month’s time. The talented freshman finished fourth in the state in the high jump and with three more years of eligibility, she looks to be a contender in not just high jump but long jump, hurdles and sprinting events as well.

Sabina Naranjo

Junior, Coral Shores Volleyball

Coral Shores’ Sabina Naranjo is expected to be a big part of the Hurricanes’ volleyball team as she moves up from the JV squad, where she was the team MVP last season. A dual-threat athlete, Sabina won the award for most improved as a part of the girls varsity basketball team last season, her first playing basketball for Coral Shores.

Freshman, Marathon

Justice Lee made steady gains all season long in the throwing events for Marathon, also participating in sprinting and jumping events when her team needed her to do so. Lee finished at districts with a fourth place medal in discus, fifth place in shot and sixth in javelin.

NICOLE MERRYMAN Senior,

Marathon

A two-time state qualifier, Merryman finished 11th in the state in shot put. She placed in all three throwing events at the district level, finishing second in shot and fifth in javelin and discus.

Though it is the offseason, she has been hard at work; she is playing club volleyball for Miami Hype and has been a regular at Coral Shores volleyball open gyms. She plans to attend volleyball camp at Florida International University this summer. Coral Shores volleyball coach Sam Ovalle is expecting Sabina to do big things for the Hurricanes this season and has taken notice of her work and improvement. Basketball coach Jarrod Mandozzi is expecting an even bigger junior season from Sabina, who was one of the Hurricanes’ leaders in threepoint field goal percentage as well as one of the team’s top defenders.

For her exemplary work ethic and year-round dedication to improvement, Sabina Naranjo is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald