The team earned it's highest place in school history.
“’The State Championships will make or break your heart. It is the best of the best. You all have earned your way and deserve to be champions; this is how we must think, nothing less.’ I tell all athletes this because it’s true, the pressure is real,” Brian Brubaker, Plant City High School (PCHS) Throws and Hurdles Coach said. Brubaker has the experience to give this advice since he is a former NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) decathelete.
This time around, at the State Championships, PCHS won 13 medals—earned for placing first through eighth in a competition. Two PCHS athletes are state champions, and one got a silver medal. Out of 175 4A schools in the state, the girls team finished eighth, while the boys team took the twelfth spot. These placements will go down in the history books as PCHS’s best ever finish in its 53-year history.
“PCHS girl’s javelin was the talk of the state meet,” Brubaker commented. “All the girls came to compete. All performed admirably. All are destined for big things. All four girls did well—and won three medals. Sammi Raines, on her second throw, hit 45.29m, a personal record by three meters and a new 4A state record. Olivia Ennis needed to dig deep. Ninety seconds after Sammi set the record, Olivia broke it by throwing two meters farther than her previous personal best with 46.39m. Olivia is now the official 4A state record holder. With Kyleigh Meiers 33.99m throw—a personal record—these javelin girls scored 19 of the 20 team points. Summer Castro also did well, but did not score. They are the best in the state as a whole. Summer Castro is graduating and will be sorely missed, but the other three will return.”
As a junior, Olivia Ennis’s victory makes her the greatest junior 4A javelin thrower of all time in Florida. She is also ranked 10th in the U.S. Sammi Raines took second at the state championships, and is the top freshman and sophomore to ever throw in Florida. She is ranked 14th in U.S.
“Kaheim Carby had a disappointing day at Regionals, losing his heat and finishing second even though he had a great time in the 110 high hurdles,” Brubaker recounted. “When we arrived at UNF on Saturday, his demeanor changed. I asked how he felt. He looked at me and said, ‘Today, I will bring home the gold.’ No question from me. He looked locked in—focused like I’ve never seen him before. He didn’t disappoint. From the start, there was no question. He had the best start I have ever witnessed out of the blocks. It was jaw dropping. As soon as the gun went off, he was gone. He ran 13.75 seconds, winning by two meters.”
Carby is ranked 22nd in U.S. He will go to Jamaica after graduation to begin training with the Jamaican Olympic Team. He plans to attend Texas Tech to run in the NCAAs.
PCHS athletes who medaled and their points earned are below:
Olivia Ennis – State Champion, new 4A javelin state record holder; Scored 10 points.
Kaheim Carby – State Champion, 110 high hurdles; Scored 10 points.
Sammi Raines – State Champion runner-up, javelin; Scored 8 points.
Christian White – 5th (tie) Pole Vault; scored 3.5 points.
Gavin Tinsley – 6th; high jump, scored 3 points.
Marcellus Preston, Kahiem Carby, Zarian Woodley, Treon Williams – boys 4x100m relay, 7th; Scored 2 points.
Kyleigh Meiers – 8th in javelin;. Scored 1 point.
Janie Williams, E’mari Daniels, Ga’niya Green, Amari Jackson – girls 4x100m relay, 8th; Scored 1 point.
The PCHS head coaches are Benjamin Martucci and Andrew Martucci. Benjamin coaches distance runners, and Andrew coaches jumps and relays. Both were NCAA distance runners.
“It has been exciting to put, ‘Itty Bitty Plant City’ on the state and national stage,” Brubaker said. “I will never forget the meet at UNF, and wonder what this past season will bring for our kids and their futures.”
