Zamarii Sanders didn’t win a state title in football or track during his final year at Cardinal Newman. Yet he still graduated as one of the most accomplished high school sprinters in Florida history.
Sanders cemented that status by adding two more national championships to his accolade-filled resume. He won the 100 meters and 200 meters at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals at Penn’s famed Franklin Field in Philadelphia in June.
Hence, Sanders finished at Cardinal Newman with five national titles after his successful defense of the 100 and 200. (Sanders also won the national title in the 100 as a sophomore).
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Sanders took a 12-hour drive to Knoxville to start his college career at the University of Tennessee, where he plans to major in kinesiology, the study of motion.
That’s not a surprising major for this blur of an athlete, but it was a surprise changeup. Sanders was set to attend LSU until last fall. In trading the purple and gold for Tennessee orange, it wasn’t just NIL money.
“I’m super excited,” Sanders told The Palm Beach Post earlier this week. “I’m going out to a different state to represent Florida as a person and athlete, meeting new people, seeing new things and excited to be coached by Coach Ross.”
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Cardinal Newman track coach Carnell Coleman said of the Vols’ track leader, Duane Ross, “He has a great record of producing great sprinters.’’
Sanders has a chance to be a great one. Coleman predicted he will become an NCAA All-American.
“LSU has always been my dream school so after taking a visit, I planned on committing there,’’ Sanders recalled. “But Tennessee hit me up. I gave it a try. It was different, felt like family. It opened my eyes a lot. It was a tough decision between LSU and Tennessee, but I made the decision on what’s best for me and not what I thought I wanted.
“It’s very family-oriented, welcoming me during my visit, showing me around the truths. They really opened up and let me in. It felt like a home away from home.’’
Coleman said Sanders also fell for the surrounding mountains – stark contrast from South Florida.
The 2026 nationals at Penn was another clue to Sanders’ college potential and erased some of the disappointment over his state-tournament showing. In Philly, he clocked a 10.19 in the 100 and 20.4 in the 200.
“To come back my senior and do the same thing, dominate, take over once again and put Florida on the map, that was the goal,” Sanders said. “I’m just satisfied with how I executed everything.”
A prolific Crusaders wide receiver, Sanders decided to leave the Cardinal Newman football program in October over injury fears. He opted out after an October game in Miami against Goleman played in a rainstorm that saw a handful of players go down.
Sanders had been battling groin soreness and a banged-up hand that required stitches after a stiff-arm caught a defender’s helmet.
After that rain delay in Miami, Sanders didn’t want to go back in.
“I already knew I wasn’t going to college for football after my junior year,” Sanders said. “I was coming into senior year with the mindset of finishing the season. But I was getting a lot of stuff with my body. After that game, it was the breaking point. I just can’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to force it if I don’t have to.”
Sanders was a spectator in the stands at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium on Dec. 11 when Cardinal Newman captured its first-ever state 1A football title with a massive upset that ended Chaminade’s dynasty. Sanders could relate as he was a key part of the Crusaders’ first-ever state title in boys track in 2025.
“I didn’t have mixed emotions,” Sanders said. “I was happy for them. At the end of the day, that team were my brothers, whether I was with them still or not. I always support the team. There was no feeling bad. Just happiness. They worked for it.’’
Coleman noted Sanders still maintains “a great relationship” with football coach Jack Daniels. “He wanted to be ready for his last (track) season,” Coleman said.
In college, Sanders feels he will dominate more in the 200 than 100. The indoor season starts Dec. 5.
“The 200 is my better race,” Sanders said. “The 100, my start isn’t the best. I feel like 200 is my best suit. I don’t have to have the best start in the 200 because I can make it up easily in the last 100. I have good endurance and stamina to finish strong.”
While Sanders closed his legendary scholastic career as a five-time individual FHSAA state champion in the 100, 200 and 4×100-meter relay events, the 2026 event in Jacksonville went wayward.
“The perfect storm happened but not in his favor,’’ Coleman said. “Everybody was in total shock.”
Sanders hadn’t lost a race all year but in his heat, a significant headwind slowed down all the times. Sanders said he pushed too hard against the wind, tweaked his hamstring and slowed the final 30 meters. His time of 10.6 was still good enough for third place after which he bowed out of the 200 because of the hamstring twinge.
Sanders doesn’t believe that should dampen his rep as the all-time “Fastest Man in Florida” for high-school sprinters. Luminaries such as Marvin Bracey and Christian Miller also come to mind.
“I have heard that and I do believe I am,’’ Sanders said. “The states was unfortunate, getting injured. Just because of one hiccup, I still firmly believe I am. I know the goal is under 10 but I do believe I’ve been more consistent and have the work ethic to continue being the best coming out of Florida.”
Olympics is on Sanders’ radar – and hasn’t ruled out the Los Angeles Game in 2028, though 2032 seems likelier.
“I feel like every track athlete wants to go to the Olympics,” Sanders said. “It’s a matter of how bad you want it. 2028 is coming up soon but I’m not worried. I feel I can have a chance for the team. I’ll be a sophomore in college. I feel by that time, I’ll be more developed and better as an athlete – faster, stronger. 2028 is on my mind but also the four years after that, it will be a big one for me also.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cardinal Newman’s Zamarii Sanders chases Olympic dream at Tennessee
Reporting by Marc Berman, Special to The Post / Palm Beach Post
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By Marc Berman, Special to The Post | USA TODAY Network
