Flagler Palm Coast: The Start Of A New Era.
By Ka’Deem Wynn/ March 10, 2014 11:24 AM

The Boys’ 4x4 (Centi, Pacifico, Wynn, and Williams) win their first relay race of the season. Flagler Palm Coast is looking to get some more wins this year, as well as run faster times to qualify for the State Meet.

With this being my second track season running under Coach Dave Halliday, I’ve improved in more ways than I thought would ever be possible. Experiences like running in the 4A FHSAA Outdoor State Finals have shown me, as well as a few of my returning teammates, what it really takes to make it that far. We all run different races, and run different times, but we all share one common goal: Success. We may be a young team, but we’re not afraid to compete for what we want. As we like to say, “We’re hungry for success. It’s the start of a new era.”

Halfway through his 20th year of coaching and 10th year at Flagler Palm Coast, Head Coach Dave Halliday has coached many kids, including past State Champions, such as CJ Lockhart, Justin Harbor, Anthony Morales, and Olympians like Samuel Vazquez. As always, he has high expectations for the kids he coaches.

Distance

Led by senior Brandon Roa, and consisting of juniors Ashton Garrett and Markell Peck, FPC’s distance is looking rather good for early in the season.

With Roa leading his teammates in both the 1600m and 3200m, Roa is looking to keep that spot. Already he’s posted his top times in his events, running a PR of 4:38.98 in the 1600m, and 10:00.97 in the 3200m. Roa is looked at as one of the top 3200m runners in the area, behind Deland senior, Keneth Pineiro, who is a formidable foe in the distance arena for runners like Roa. Roa has plans of breaking the 10 minute barrier and is looking for a shot to represent FPC at the State meet.

Juniors Ashton Garrett and Markell Peck are also looked at as key contributors. Peck had a rather impressive first half of his junior year, running a PR of 16:22.80, and being FPC’s lone representative at the 4A FHSAA Cross Country State meet. Peck looks to make an even bigger impact with this being his first track season, already showing fast times by running a PR of 4:44.88 in the 1600m, and a 2:03 split on the 4x800m relay.

Teammate Ashton Garrett is ready to light up the track as well. After being injured twice, each during his freshman and sophomore years, Garrett is finally healed and is ready to shine. A true competitor, Garrett is lined up in the area’s top 1600m and 3200m runners alongside Roa and Peck.

With the trio, FPC is looking to have a very strong and efficient distance crew, which will help Flagler score points at big meets.

Mid-Distance

With me being FPC’s number 1 returning 800m runner, I feel that there’s going to be more responsibility placed upon me than there was last year. But luckily I am not alone. Running right behind me and always helping me to get better in what we do best is senior Josiah Wright.

Josiah is looked at to be a key member of the team, being one of the team members as well as one of the top runners in the 800m. Last year, Wright didn’t run the open 800m much, but ran most of my 4x800m relays with me. However, Wright ran a split of 2:04 last year and just ran a PR of 2:08.02 in the 800m, and is looking to break the 2 minute barrier. Wright is looking to make a positive impact with his efforts on the 4x800m relay as well, and has high hopes for making a trip to the State meet.

As for me, I have a few things in mind for this season. So far this season I’ve ran a season best of 2:00.97. After hitting my goal of breaking 2 minutes in the 800m, running my PR of 1:59.62, I found that each week after, I kept getting a second slower than the week before. After running 2nd leg on the 4x800m relay at the 4A FHSAA Outdoor State Finals and splitting a 2:03, I watched the rest of the race, and we finished 4th in the state. I made up my mind at that moment that I was going to return my sophomore year and we were going to win the 4x800m relay. I want to also qualify as an individual for the State meet. I also want to qualify with the 4x400m relay team as well.

With strong runners like Josiah and I, we both look to help out the team in any way we can. Just like the rest of the team, we’re looking to make a name for ourselves, as well as for our school.

Sprints

They may not run for more than 10 seconds to a minute, but these sprinters are looking to make each and every one of those seconds count, down to the milliseconds.
    
Our leaders in the 100m up to the 400m are Marcel Williams, Jimmie Robinson, Justin Pacifico, and Alex Centi.

Marcel Williams, a junior who is the leader in the 400m, ran a PR of 50.70 last Saturday at the 7th Annual Spruce Creek invitational, placing 1st. Williams is sprinting towards breaking the 50 second barrier. He is also a key member of the 4x400m relay. The junior’s speed doesn’t stop there, as he’s good in the 100m and 200m as well. Williams went to the State meet last year as an alternate for the 4x400m relay, and is looking to qualify this year.

Jimmie Robinson could be a decent 400m runner, but he’s even better at what he does: the 100m. Like many of his teammates, Jimmie Robinson is a junior looking to show off his speed, sometimes with no remorse. Robinson had an impressive football season in the fall, and coaches are expecting an impressive track season as well. So far, Robinson hasn’t let them down. Holding the number 1 spot in the 100m, Jimmie opened the season at the Bob Mosher Classic at Showalter Field, running a solid PR of 11.21 in the 100m. Four days later at the Hammock Hardware’s East Coast Classic, he ran another PR of 11.14, placing 1st. However, his success doesn’t stop there, as last Saturday at the 7th Annual Spruce Creek Invitational he shattered that time by running a huge PR of 11.02, placing 2nd. He also ran a PR of 23.17 in the 200m. Much can be said about this, but one thing is for sure: Jimmie Robinson is a very fast, and very dangerous guy.

Following close behind teammates Jimmie and Marcel is the youngest one out of the group, sophomore Justin Pacifico. Early last season, Pacifico was set on the back burner for a bit, due to a hip flexor injury. But it wasn’t long before Justin Pacifico was able to lace up his spikes and come shooting out of the blocks again. Justin hasn’t broken his PR of 51.63 in the 400m from last year, but it won’t be long before he does. Pacifico ran the 4x100m relay last year, but is now running the 4x400m relay. Also, as Head Coach Dave Halliday likes to do with 400m runners, he put Pacifico on the 4x800m relay last Saturday. And impressive enough for his first 800m, Pacifico split a 2:04, splitting the second fastest time on the relay. The future is looking bright for this sophomore. Justin Pacifico was also an alternate for the 4x400m relay at the 4A FHSAA Outdoor State Finals last year, and is looking to qualify this year.

Last but certainly not least is junior Alex Centi. Known for his sense of humor and funny remarks, Alex Centi is no joke. Coming into his second year of track, Centi is looking to make himself known. Centi ran a season best of 53.55 in the 400m at the Lake Brantley Invitational, narrowly missing his PR of 52.97. He may be behind Marcel and Justin, but a narrow miss isn’t going to stop this young sprinter, as he’s always looking to get faster. Like Pacifico, he sometimes runs the 4x800m relay, and has split a 2:08. Now being part of the 4x400m relay team, he realizes that running fast times and running at big meets is hard work. But also, if he wants to make it to the State meet, he can’t hold anything back.

Field Events: Pole Vault and Triple Jump

The Flagler boys are looking to have more than one field event individual to make it to the State meet this year. Senior Colten Boyd vaulted his way to a spot as the team’s only State qualifier in the pole vault last year. He’s coming back to join the Bulldogs completely healed, after an injury that left him unable to pole vault for a while. Colten finished 5th at the State meet last year, clearing 13ft, and is looked at as one of the state’s top returners. Following close behind him is senior Andrew Betrand and junior Tim Patrick. Both Bertrand and Patrick have relentlessly been training during the off season, also not knowing if Boyd would be returning. Bertrand and Patrick vaulted a height of 12-6 in the pole vault last Saturday at the 7th Annual Spruce Creek Invitational. Bertand’s was a PR and Patrick’s was a PR from the week before. However, Patrick took 1st in the pole vault. Both of the boys have high hopes of making it to the State meet, and taking Boyd along with them.

Junior Ra Blanding: 2013 Five Star Conference Champion in the triple jump. FPC’s best in long and triple jump. When Blanding became the Conference champion, he jumped his PR of 42-8 in the triple jump. He qualified to Districts, jumping 40-1.75. At the Embry Riddle Indoor/Outdoor Challenge, he jumped a season best of 42-7 in the triple jump. Triple jump is Blanding’s main event, but he also does long jump, runs the 200m, recently running a PR of 23.61, and is a key member of the 4x100m relay. Ra Blanding is looking to jump further and run even faster this year, with the goal of qualifying to the State meet.


How We Think…

The boys at FPC aren’t superstars. But you don’t have to be a superstar to have a dream. I asked each of my teammates and coach some questions about the season, and all of them were very optimistic, and all of them, including myself, are eyeing a shot at the State meet.

“I feel real good about the team this year. We have a lot of young guys this year, mainly made up of juniors and sophomores, but we’re getting stronger. I think we have a good chance of having more individuals and more relays at the State meet this year than we did last year. The kids are learning what it takes if they want to be the top runners. We don’t have any superstars, just tough, gritty kids who are willing to work hard.” – Head Coach Dave Halliday

“I feel great! This is my first year on the 4x8, and first year running track. I want to split a 1:57 on the 4x8, and run 1:56 in the open 800m. I’m eyeing a shot for States with the 4x8.” – Junior Markell Peck

“I feel pretty confident right now. A 9:45 would be a nice goal time, but if I can hit 9:30’s that’ll be even better. I want to go to the State meet for the 3200m and rack some people up.” – Senior Brandon Roa

“I feel stronger, more confident. I’m having better training than last year. I want to make more of a statement now that I’m more of a team leader. I look to improve every time I run. I want to be part of going under 8:00 in the 4x8. I don’t really have goal times. I think my best shot of going to States is with the 4x8. If we (the team) went with the 4x8, I think we’d have a pretty good chance at placing.” – Junior Ashton Garret

“I feel pretty confident. We have a good group of guys. We work hard, and there are new changes this year. In the 800m, I want to run under 2:00. I think we have a shot at States with the 4x8 with the group of guys that we have. If we keep working hard and stay on track, we can make it.” – Senior Josiah Wright

“I feel really good about this season. I’m already hitting close to my PR in the 800m and I’m feeling more comfortable running it so I know I can start going faster. I want to run 1:55 or faster if I can run it by the time Sates rolls around. I ran on the 4th place 4x8 relay team last year, so I know what it takes to make it. I want to get a State ring and win the 4x8 and place in the 800m, and win 4x4 as well. I just know God is going to bless us this season.” – Sophomore Ka’Deem Wynn

“I feel very confident after going to the State meet last year and seeing what it takes to qualify. I want to run 21 in the 200m, 49 in the 400m, and 3:19 in the 4x4. Now that I know what it takes, I’m definitely eyeing a shot at States.” – Junior Marcel Williams

“I feel good. I’m healthy, faster and stronger. I want to hit 10.08 in the 100m. I think I have a shot at going to the State meet this year.” – Junior Jimmie Robinson

“I'm feeling good coming into this season. Last year I was battling a hip flexor injury so I'm taking good care of my body this year. Coach always says times will come so for now I'm just trying to run well and do everything Coach Halliday tells me. Everything I do is for my team and to be in Jacksonville on May 3rd with a medal hanging around my neck with either my relays or as an individual.”– Sophomore Justin Pacifico

“I’m feeling pretty good. I feel like I have a pretty good chance to go to the State meet. We’re going to make a lot of improvements this year. I want to run 50-51 in the 400m, and 3:20 in the 4x4. I definitely have to improve and get to the State meet.” – Junior Alex Centi

“Pretty good. I’ve been working all off season so I don’t have to catch up. My main goal at the end of the season is to vault 14ft. I’m eyeing a shot to go to States for sure.” – Junior Tim Patrick

"I feel good coming into this season. I just got a new pole, I'm stronger and faster than ever. I want to hit 13-6 in the pole vault by the end of the season. I'm definitely eyeing a shot to go to States this year." 
– Senior Andrew Bertrand

" I feel better than I did last year. I'm having better training than I did last year. This year, I want to break the school record in the triple jump, and keep my title as the Five Star Conference champion in the triple jump. I think I have a chance of making it to States this year." – Junior Ra Blanding

Flagler Palm Coast has never been known to talk a good game, and fall apart at show time. No matter what the situation is, FPC has always pulled its way through, and prevailed against their opponents. This is a tradition that I believe FPC has kept, and would like to cherish for many more years to come. No one ever knows how a season will end, or what will transpire over the course of it. But one thing is certain at Flagler Palm Coast: It’s the start of a new era.